Elton John makes Saturday night alright (for rockin') Review
Robson Vianna
Posted: October 20
Updated: Today at 6:31 AM
Elton John makes Saturday night alright (for rockin') Review
The rock and roll icon wows a 10,000 Wachovia Arena crowd with volley of hit after hit.
BRAD PATTON For The Times Leader
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Garnering standing ovations after nearly every song, Elton John kicked off the 10 Anniversary Season at the Wachovia Arena Saturday night with an inspired, tour de force performance before an appreciative capacity crowd.
Elton John at the Wachovia Arena -----------------photo by Fred Adams 10-18-08
Elton John at the Wachovia Arena ------------------photo by Fred Adams 10-18-08
Touring in support of "Rocket Man: Number Ones," the man born Reginald Kenneth Dwight performed one hit after another in his third appearance at the Wilkes-Barre Township facility.
Not many artists can release an album that contains nothing but No. 1 hits. And unlike Elvis Presley, The Beatles, ABBA and The Bee Gees, Sir Elton is still re-creating those timeless tunes on stage.
"This is our 10th anniversary," he said before his final number, "and there are more people in the building tonight than ever before."
The crowd, which wrapped around and behind the stage, was estimated at 10,000.
As his band played the opening of "Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding," the pianist strutted onto the stage in a long, black coat with tails over a pink shirt with black slacks, silver shoes and rose-colored glasses. Although he no longer goes into the falsetto he used on such 1970s favorites as "Rocket Man" and "Bennie and The Jets," he was in fine voice as he did 25 songs in about two hours and 45 minutes.
John was backed , as always, by a fine cast of musicians. Longtime drummer Nigel Olsson, percussionist John Mahon and bassist Bob Birch anchored the sound, as keyboard player Guy Babylon and guitarist/musical director Davey Johnstone supplied the flourishes. In contrast to his highly visual "The Red Piano" show in Las Vegas, the road version featured a very simple stage design without the usual rock concert flair (smoke machines, strobe lights and fireworks). When you have a catalog of songs such as those written by John and Bernie Taupin, you don't need such things.
Saturday's show featured six songs from the 1973 double-album masterpiece "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." In addition to the show's opening number and the title track, the band did fantastic renditions of "Bennie and The Jets," "All The Girls Love Alice," "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)" and a solo "Candle in the Wind" (original Marilyn Monroe version). The show was dominated by songs from the decade in which John was the biggest-selling artist on the planet. Early highlights included "The Bitch Is Back," "Madman Across the Water," "Tiny Dancer" and "Levon," which took on an almost gospel-like feel.
The crowd was also treated to "Take Me To The Pilot," "Daniel," "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word," "Rocket Man," "Honky Cat," "Philadelphia Freedom" and a fun version of "Crocodile Rock."
The 1980s and 1990s were represented by "Sacrifice," "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues," "I'm Still Standing," "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" and "Believe."
After signing autographs at the front of the stage for a few minutes, Sir Elton's encore consisted of a rocking version of The Who's "Pinball Wizard" (which John had done in the film version of "Tommy") and a heartfelt rendition of "Your Song," which John dedicated to all those in attendance.
"It's such a great privilege to play music for a living," he said. "I thank you all for that."
If Saturday's concert was any indication, the 10th Anniversary Season at the Wachovia Arena is going to be a great one.
John hits right notes in third Wachovia concert
BY STACY BROWN
STAFF WRITER
Updated: Sunday, October 19, 2008 4:17 AM EDT
The flamboyant John, who has played Wachovia twice before, performed a bevy of hits during his "Rocket Man — Number Ones" concert, including "Tiny Dancer," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," "Crocodile Rock," "Daniel," "Take Me to the Pilot" and "Levon."
Wearing rose-tinted glasses and a spangled and embroidered tuxedo that was complete with tails, the multi-Grammy- winning legend opened the show only a couple of minutes after the scheduled 8 p.m. start time — and before many of the traffic-jam-stalled crowd made it to their seats — with a somber but blazing rendition of the pop epic "Funeral for a Friend."
After his loud and loyal fans settled in during "Love Lies Bleeding," the hall of famer did a backward two-legged kick, climbed atop his black Yamaha piano and belted out "The Bitch is Back," all the while a large red screen behind him showing the silhouette of a scantily clad woman dancing.
Throughout the night, when John wasn't wowing his audience with song, he was busy pointing, bowing and letting them know how much fun he was having.
About an hour and a half into the show and following a rousing rendition of "Rocket Man," John walked a complete circle around the stage, acknowledging first his band and then his fans as if the night were complete.
However, much to the delight of the overjoyed crowd, John's night was just half complete. He took a swig of spring water, jumped back on his piano and rocked out to "Honky Cat" and "Sacrifice" before nearly bringing down the house with the memorable "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me."
The 61-year-old rocker took a break only to introduce his dynamic five-piece band before singing the timeless hit, "I'm Still Standing," as a tremendous light show brightened the darkened arena and whipped the crowd into even more of a frenzy.
The crowd begged for dessert, and John was all too happy to put the icing on the night's cake with favorites such as "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues," "Bennie and the Jets," "Candle in the Wind," "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting," "Pinball Wizard" and "Sad Songs Say So Much."
Music Review: Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Published October 18, 2008
This month marks the 35th anniversary of the release of Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. It was his seventh studio album and certainly his most commercially successful.
Recorded throughout May 1973 at the 18th century Chateau d'Herouville, Pontoise, Paris it went on to outsell any of his other work that has been released during his forty year career.
Elton had already recorded both Honky Chateau (1972) and Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player the following year at the French studio. Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Uriah Heep, Jethro Tull, T.Rex, and Cat Stevens had also used the chateau to record. It was very familiar territory and it brought out the best in everyone concerned.
Arriving on the scene with Empty Sky in 1969 his albums had steadily shown increases in worldwide sales. The excellent and sometimes overlooked Tumbleweed Connection, Elton's country album from 1970, continued that trend. Madman Across The Water (1971), and Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player (January, 1973) helped propel him even further into the super league.
All of this set the scene for Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. The sprawling double vinyl with its memorable and highly distinctive album cover represents one of Elton's finest moments. It went to number one in the US, UK, most of Europe and Australia.
It also produced several successful singles, the title track itself, "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting", " Bennie And The Jets", and "Candle In The Wind". The last of which was later re-released having been performed by Sir Elton at the funeral of Princess Diana.
Every song on the album was accompanied by an illustration. Each song tells a story through the lyrics of Bernie Taupin. The album starts with an epic two part "Funeral For A Friend" which blends into "Love Lies Bleeding". Expertly produced by the late Gus Dudgeon, it featured Davey Johnstone's guitar, the late and highly innovative Dee Murray on bass, and drummer Nigel Olsson.
The cast of characters appear one after the other. Marilyn Monroe in "Candle In The Wind". A rock band in "Bennie And The Jets". The sailor's favourite diversion "Sweet Painted Lady". There's the young sixteen year old 'yo-yo' lesbian call-girl in, "All The Girls Love Alice". Even western hero "Roy Rogers" makes an appearancea.
There is a mateus swilling drunk in "Social Disease", a "Dirty Little Girl", a rocking sister in "Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'n Roll)", and a switchblade carrying biker in "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting". "The Ballad Of Danny Bailey (1909-1934)" has the hero being gunned down by 'some punk with a shotgun'. It all comes to a romantic end with the love song that is "Harmony".
The rest of the tracks are all highly individual as well. "Jamaica Jerk Off" is a sunny beach soaked reggae feel good song. "Grey Seal" was actually written nearly four years earlier but the re-worked version recorded here fits superbly. "I've Seen That Movie Too" is classic Elton John supported by a drawing of Clark Gable.
The title track is another typically Elton ballad and should feature in any collection of his work. The only song on the album without an accompanying drawing is understandably "This Song Has No Title".
Elton John was destined to follow this with Caribou in 1974, Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy, Rock Of The Westies (both 1975), before another double album appeared with 1976's Blue Moves.
As successful as all these were they didn't quite live up to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. The album has everything. Great artwork, superb cinematic lyrics, and of course captures Elton John at his song writing zenith.
So, here we have it. A legendary musician produces a legendary album and it was released an unbelievable thirty five years ago this month. So get out your stack heals, spray them with glitter, and step out on the yellow brick road. Okay, a bit extreme. Best to just play the album instead.
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Robson Vianna.
