Customer Reviews

Elton John - Greatest Hits 1976-86

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1 star:		(2)

 

 

I don't have the remastered version of this album but I do have the origional. If you listen closely, you can tell how much technology improved from songs like 'Blue Eyes' to 'Nikita',
No unpleasant surprises on this album - just classic Elton John.

I really do enjoy Elton John's music, and this is a gem. Songs like I'm Still Standing, Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word, and Sad Songs (Say so Much) and everything else was remastered, and you can hardly tell. And one of my favorite songs is on this album - Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny) - Elton's tribute to the late John Lennon. If you haven't heard it, I suggest you do. All in all, A wonderful Album.

After his brilliant run with MCA records, Elton John joined the early roster of mogul David Geffen, who pledged to make his Geffen Records a haven for Artist's Artists. His initial signings were John Lennon, Donna Summer and Elton. His first album for Geffen, "The Fox," had a minor top 40 single on it that isn't even included here, "Nobody Wins." Thus Elton entered a slower period that didn't really reinvigorate until the third Geffen album, "Too Low for Zero" and "I Guess That's Why The Call It The Blues."

After the poorly recieved "Leather Jackets," Elton resigned with MCA and re-established his career with the "Live in Australia" album, Geffen issued a third Greatest Hits collection. It seems Elton must have retained the rights to his materail since this set came out within ten years on MCA and covers hits from "Blue Moves" to "Leather Jackets."

What this set does show is that, even in a somewhat shallow period of success, Elton John still could create finally tuned pop gems. From "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" to "Wrap Her Up" ("Heartache All Over The World" is one of the drops from the prior GHv3 set), this best-off really does pack on hits. It also misses a few key tracks ("Act Of War," "In Neon" and "Nobody Wins" would have been nice), yet includes one bona-fide oldie "Don't Go Breaking My Heart." You're still getting several top tens ("I Guess That's Why..." and "Sad Songs Say So Much" are now classics) to offer that proof of Elton's staying power.

The change between the two GHv3 is that this version has 13 songs (from the Geffen's 12), drops two songs ("Heartache All Over The Word" and "Too Low For Zero"), then adds "Sorry Seems...," "Who Wears These Shoes" and "Don't go Breaking My Heart." The cover art on this one is a step down from the Geffen version, but the sound quality is an improvement. And I always get a smile from hearing Elton and George Michael name-check everyone from Samantha Fox to Nancy Reagen (!?!) on "Wrap Her Up."

This is the CD you should buy for those who think Elton lost his songwriting talents after 1976. Although one of the best tunes in this compilation does date from 1976, "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word", there's also the memorable "I Guess Why They Call It The Blues", "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" and "Nikita"; all of which he wrote with Bernie Taupin in the mid 1980's. Aside from his still excellent collaborations with Taupin, I also like Elton's collaborations with Gary Osborne; "Little Jeannie" and "Blue Eyes". Hopefully Sir Elton John will release a fourth volume of his Greatest Hits soon.

While a case could be made for digging into his earlier albums, 'Greatest Hits 1976-1986' his probably the best way to acquire Sir Elton's work from that particular era - appropriately weeding out the killer from the filler and rounding out one sweet record. Not his best period, but the highlights still rank right up there with the best of his first winning streak. And that's what this CD is: all the wonderful highlights.

Once again, Elton John displays the hitmaking prowess that made him famous. Classic singles abound - highlighted by "Blue Eyes," "Little Jeannie," "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" and "I'm Still Standing." Another standout is "Empty Garden," Elton's heartfelt 1982 tribute to John Lennon. This 1976-86 compilation represents pop craftsmanship of the highest order.

This is a nice wrap-up of Elton's 1980s work, featuring tracks that don't appear on other compilations. It follows on nicely from the second 'Greatest Hits', and begs the question, why not put volumes four and five out? Rocket should be able to do it, picking out the hits of the late 1980s, right up to now. It'd be a coup of sorts, simply for the fact that no other artist could conceivably release five albums of genuine "hits". Imagine that as a baby boomer gift box-- a five disc set of 'Elton's Greatest Hits'.

Listening to this album brought back many fond memories. The quality of sound and convienence of the CD helped bring those memories to life.

I love these songs... but the real reason I'm writing this review is for one of them: "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word". This is one of the most beautiful songs ever written & recorded. If you've never heard this song, you're in for a treat! It was a top 10 hit in 1976 in the USA. I'd buy the whole CD just for that song!!!

It took me a few listens to get into this album, because Elton didn't have as many hits between 1976-1986 as he did in 1968-1975. However, he had memorable numbers in I'm Still Standing, Nikita, the classic Don't Go Breaking.. with Kiki Dee, Sad Songs, Blues, the dramatic orchestra driven Blue Eyes and others. One song doesn't grab me and that's 1984's Who Wears These Shoes. As most people know, Elton added a new residence in Atlanta, Georgia in the late '70s/early '80s after LA and other cities, and some of the songs have that Atlanta feel in its sound. Make you think that you're actually in Atlanta hearing these songs! The John/Bernie Taupin streak of hits kind of stalled in this period, but that didn't stop Elton from writing good records such as the 13 that are on this set.