fredriley wrote: 

Must be missing something, they were the 'Ornets when I worked there. The Hairnets if you were rooting for the other side.

 BLADERUNNER wrote: 
I read as he became more successful,  he became so obsessed about "losing it", that he would would listen to hits on the charts at the time. Then tried to emulate their success.
Sad indeed.
If he just stuck with his unique formula, he could have led the way instead of sounding like all the other crap on the radio.

 g-rod wrote: 
Is it just my imagination or did Gary Portnoy totally steal that piano riff for the Cheers theme song?  It's not the same?

Beautiful... and I hope its not just because I grew up with it.

 BLADERUNNER wrote: 
Elton strayed away from many folds. I like his old stuff as well but he has done some pretty amazing things as he continued grow. His work branched well beyond music and to where I am sure he had no idea his path would take him. This is a classic for me.

Does nowt for me
sorry

 sirdroseph wrote: 
And then the Lord said unto Moses, Thou shalt refrain from uttering the words Elton John and Godlike in the the same sentence. 

Good old Reg Dwight from Pinner, great singer/songwriter and legendary Watford FC fan. Come on you 'Orns! :o)

Compared to his later commercial work, the older material was so much better.  why did he stray so far from the fold?

 werner wrote: 
It was only vinyl, wasn't it? Glad to see someone else as moved by this song-and the album too. A curious melancholy time-but a very alive time. And like you, Werner, it etched my being too. 

Had in in Venyl back in those days as a student. Always drove tears into my eyes (when I was alone, of course).
Still does the trick....

I grew up in the UK where there was no concept of FM radio or AOR. This would have been a straightforward oldie and therefore marginalized in the top 40 radio I used to listen to.

I am grateful to growing old and Radio Paradise for making me listen to something as excellent as this. 

 Cynaera wrote: 
I hear ya sweetie................

Now this is Godlike!!

 suesblues wrote: 

FYT

I know, I know... But I have a version on MP3 of "Skyline Pigeon" from his first release, and it's a REMIX!  Jayzus - if you want the really good stuff, get the vinyl. At the very least, get the original, unmastered version. I hate technology sometimes...

And I like Border John with Elton Song too. (Sorry Bill, but it had to be said. You are human. You are real. I live here now, so I guess I'm that bad renter who shoots out the lights but cooks a fabulous chicken cacciatore.)

Interesting to hear Elton's humble beginnings.....

 ronniegirl wrote: 
In a way, I'm glad he did. It put a whole new batch of music out there.  But I agree - the duo of Elton and Bernie was as potent as Lennon-McCartney.  Still - sometimes things happen about which we "silly fans" know nothing.  I guess this is part and parcel of being fans - we have to draw the line somewhere, and if a mega-successful duo splits, it's puzzling, but none of our business.

Falling back on Wikipedia for everything regarding this:

Empty Sky according to Wiki

 dctrpunda wrote: 
Hiya!  If you're a staunch Elton John fan, I'd say yes!  Get it. It's a wonderful insight into his beginnings.  And even if you're not a total Elton John fan, it's worth finding because there are some very good songs on it. I have it on vinyl, and "Empty Sky" is one of my favorites (Skyline Pigeon is another...)  You can listen to these songs and see how he evolved as a musician and a vocalist. (This is one of my guilty pleasures, and if I can find it on CD, I'll pay whatever it takes, because I went out of order - bought other albums first, and then discovered "Empty Sky" by chance.)  It's sparse, and he didn't have the mega-band then, but it's still got its own personality.

He should never have split with Bernie. 

 Rooney wrote: 
Could you please tell us how you feel again, only this time larger and redder?

 Cynaera wrote: 
is it worth getting?

The cover reminds me of Woody Allen. Good tune!!!

CLASSIC!!!!

 bubink wrote: 
Bump...He's my brother, let us live in peace.

Oh, I SO needed an Elton John song now, and this is just right.... RP, you're reading my mind again. You skeer me.

 HazzeSwede wrote: 
OM...Holy Moses! I was just thinking that very thought. Earth shaking.