Customer Reviews

Live in Australia

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Elton's Geffen Records contract had run its course and his old home, MCA, made him an offer he couldn't refuse. MCA also wanted to bring Elton back into prominence, to regain the respect and sales he'd accumulated in the 70's. How better to do that, then, than to revisit those early songs in a live context? Better yet, Elton enlisted the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and James Newton Howard to create a televised extravaganza with eyes towards a live album. The set list leaned heavily towards the early years (nearly half the "Elton John" album is here) and tapping some underrated songs like "Tonight" from "Blue Moves" and "Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player's" "Have Mercy On The Criminal."

The orchestration is magnificent, utilizing the original Paul Buckmaster and James Newton Howard arrangements, and on CD they are absolutely majestic. Elton made one of his last forays into costume drama, showing up in full Mozart gear and powdered wig. "Live In Australia" even paved the way for "Candle In The Wind" to finally become an American hit, hitting number 6 in 1987. It is a gorgeous album, lush in sound and giving justification to all claims of the brilliance of Elton and Bernie's songwriting.

Only one problem: Elton's voice was almost shot. He was mere weeks away from major, voice threatening throat surgery and the roughness on his vocal chords shows. He can't sustain the highs and his falsetto is gone. On some of the songs, he makes up for it admirably. In fact, he sounds really good on the songs where range isn't a major requirement (like the dramatic "The King Must Die" or "Take Me To The Pilot"), but the ballads occasionally show the frayed spots (like "Tonight," where the orchestration is very Gershwinesque, or "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word"). Had it not been for those moments where Elton's voice betrays him, this could have been a five-star definitive work, on a par with "Procol Harum Live: In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra." While "Live In Australia" is still pretty darn good, the definitive live Elton remains the remastered "Here and There."

I am a huge Elton John fan. Just saw his Captian and the Kid tour in February. Fantastic! Best 2 1/2 hour show I have ever seen. Just as good as the Fleetwood Mac 2003 Say You Will tour. Anyway, let's all just keep hoping and praying that Universal / Chronicles Music group will put out a Deluxe 2-disc set of Elton John's Live In Australia album, the complete show, including the 90 minute opening set of Elton's band without the Melbourne Symphony (check out the video of the show).

This quote "Remastered" version is no more than a re-issue by Island Records. It has no more output or better sound than my original Live In Australia issued by BMG back in 1986. Don't waste your money if you are looking for improved sound. It does have a nicer booklet and new liner notes, but that's all.

The same thing happened to me when I purchased the 2001 Island version of Elton John's Greatest Hits 1976-1986. I figured the newer version surely would sound better than the old 1992 original version. WRONG. They were exactly the same.

Now you know.

I can listen to this CD over and over and over without getting tired of it. I just absolutely love the orchestra backing up ELton's raspy singing voice, the combination is magical to me. I am not as fond of the music coming from Elton John in the last decade or two as I was in his earlier days, and this album to me is ELton singing the best of the best. I also especially like that at least half of the songs are not his most known songs and so they have not been played on the radio ad nauseum (even though I play them in my car ad nauseum!)

This is one great CD. I love live music and this one is so clear and clean it makes you feel that you are their watching him sing. If you like Elton John you will love this CD.

Elton's voice rarely sounded worse. He's tired, it's been a long tour, his vocal chords are shredded and he is desperately looking forward to a break. It's the final night and the setting could not be more perfect. Elton is joined during this segment of the show by a full symphony orchestra and it causes everyone to bring their best to the stage. It was the spectacular event that everyone hoped it would be........all captured and mastered using the analog technology of the day.

And now, for the first time, this brilliantly conceived event can be heard the way it was meant to be heard. I could write another paragraph about how the violins are now perfectly placed and how the base drum is perfectly something something, blah, blah, blah. Truth is, this is a one of a kind, a moment in time event. If you've owned the vinyl album or the original CD, this new remaster opens the door to all sorts of brilliant sounds that you can enjoy no matter if you happen to be screaming down the highway on the way to work, or listening in your easy chair with some headphones.

It's a great way to enjoy the recording and the remastering is a remarkable upgrade to all of the previous versions. The price won't break the bank and Amazon makes it incredibly easy to get a copy headed to your door. Take the leap and get a copy. I can't imagine you would regret it.

This is a great CD, although I am not a fan of "Live" music CD's, this one is an orchestral CD.
Including Elton John's earliest works, he's great in this setting.

I had bought eltons johns cd live in Australia- i bought it for one song at first. the song about marilyn monroe candle in the Wind.
i liked the wholw cd when i got a chance to listen to it.
it gave me insight Into Elton John and how he sounds live. i had not heard him live before this cd. and i have to say he is very good Live. it was the final show for that tour in 1986 in australia. and i found that i wished i was there to see what a Great singer he is. and i was not a big Elton John Fan until recently. and this was my first time i got a cd from Elton. im glad i got it would buy more from Him.

Elton toured the world during 1985/86 , Elton began a 27 concert tour of Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Rock concerts with orchestras was nothing new but a full tour of a country was something else, and few artists with the professionalism Elton has could pull it off. The songs performed are mostly from his early work, 6 of them from the "Elton John" album which is his most orchestral studio album. It was a great opportunity to play songs that had long been forgotten and performed..."Sixty Years On", "The Greatest Discovery" and "Have Mercy On The Criminal". "Take Me To The Pilot" and "Burn Down The Mission" are just cooking! The classics are here too: "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word", "Tiny Dancer" "Your Song"...all songs which are meant to be played live with an orchestra! Not forgetting "Candle In the Wind"...a version which was released as a single in 1987.

Although Elton John hasn't really made many live albums within the past several years, whenever he does a live record, you absolutely know it is magic. This 2001 re-release of his live concert with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, is a dedicated and deeply driven concert, which mainly highlights his classics from the 70's like Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word, Candle In The Wind and his signature hit Your Song, and lesser-known tracks like Sixty Years On and Tonight from Blue Moves define this dedicated and mellow record that shines brilliantly. I absolutely love this record, and it is still his best live record to date.

Songs: A-

Overall: A-

The music of Elton John and the lyrics of Taupin are showcased in this album of lush orchestral rock. The choice of songs has some of the best loved as well as some of the most underrated songs of the John/Taupin classic years.
All the songs are powerful, evoking emotions that are encouraged by the full rich sound of the orchestration. The resulting album starts off with less well known songs such as 'The Greatest Discovery' and builds to the signature tunes of 'Candle in the Wind' and 'Your Song'.
For younger fans, this is a definitive look at Elton at the peak of his career. For the older fans this is a wonderful look back at the classic years, using pivotal songs, not necessarily the most popular.
For those lucky enough to see Elton John live, this album is a treasured memory. Great live sound, combined with technically superb stagecraft.