Elton in classic mode. His songs rang with priceless sincerity. There was no one better in these years, long before he became caricature of himself, and FM radio annihilated his artistry with endless repetitions of the execrable Bennie and the Jets. 

 jhorton wrote: 
Maybe he was out of his mind on booze and coke when he made the music that everyone loves from the 70's. 

I love the mandolin in this.

Oh yes, Elton and Bernie at their best.

Back to me youth we go. still in high school..elton was ruling the airwaves, parting ways or not using Mr Taupin anymore...mistake imho.

 h8rhater wrote: 

Or maybe he was just out of his mind on booze and coke for roughly two decades.....

 mread wrote: 
Maybe Elton just followed the money in the 80's, lost his credibility, and couldn't get back to where he was (like Phil Collins and Rod Stewart).  Maybe he lost his grounding in Taupin's absence (the album that he collaborated with Taupin on in '07, The Captain and the Kid, is actually quite good and harkens back to those early albums).  Maybe old people just can't make good music because they are not young, enthusiastic, and optimistic (a patently absurd position). 

Maybe Elton followed his own desires, created the music he wanted to, and it just didn't appeal to others as much as the older material.  Just because an artist isn't ringing-your-bell anymore, doesn't mean he isn't following his own.

One of the best NYC tributes out there. Also love the Indigos cover.

 Rooney wrote: 
The Anti-Beatles? Started off, bubble gum and poppy, then Strawberry Fields, and then Abbey Road, which is one of the best albums. Ever.

Always reminded me of saving my pennies until I could buy "Honky Chateau" for $5.29 at the age of 13.  Until that scene in "Almost Famous".  Now I think of that when I hear this song.

I remember driving a uhaul on the upper east side with my fiancée and best friend and this song came on - we were all moving into the city. It was one of those clear, fall days in nyc, I had the windows down and shoddy stereo blasted. It was one of the best moments of my life.

 tphord wrote: 
. . . and boatloads of cocaine.

On the subject of how and why do artists music evolve over the years... in many peoples view, often for the worse.

My thought is that it is very tied to their evolution and growth as individual people affected and changed over time by their life experiences.

I think the early music is inspired by the dreams, hope and optimism of youth... the change (or cessation) of an artists music later in life a direct result of the cynicism or perhaps perspective that comes as we mature, and changes those early emotions significantly.

Just a thought...

"And I thank the Lord for the people I have found"...truly I do...

 mread wrote: 
Can't help but wonder if the record companies didn't finally have their way with them .............just saying...........

 Hannio wrote: 
Yes, pronounced as in singe and hinge. Winj. Meaning as in whine.

 lmic wrote: 
(Sorry, have to weigh in, too...)  With Elton John, the "change" seemed inevitable.  His stuff was so good and unique and he was so successful that it was too good to be true.... couldn't last forever.  lmic expressed that idea well.  With REM, their evolution seemed more deliberate than inevitable.  Hence the muddle.

What about Joni Mitchell?  Early stuff super good, later stuff has no appeal to me, yet she was such a creative genius and innovator that there was no way she would keep to her early form.  So, one is stuck between anger and resignation.

 Randomax wrote: 
Elton was always the melody man.  Taupin did the lyrics and not much else.  The "commercialization" began before they split — started showing up on Yellow Brick Road, as far as I'm concerned.

 Toke wrote: 

Just out of curiosity, how is "whinge" pronounced?  Similar to "singe" or "hinge", or like "whine"?

 sirdroseph wrote: 
They used to make good music, but now they make bad music. If that's not the definition of irony then I don't know what is!

 lmic wrote: 

I don't see that, I have no anger towards REM or Elton, just think that pretty much everything Elton did after around 1977 and REM after 1992 or so pretty much sucks ass and it is really strange and ironic. I wish them both well and thank them for the wonderful music they put out in the early periods of their respective careers. I just wish that both of them would stop recording is all (Stones too).

 xkolibuul wrote: 

I had a Janis Joplin album like that, every time I hear the song I stumble when it doesn't skip

Ah yes....the old stuff..........but doesn't the change have a lot to do with splitting w/Bernie Taupin?  Were they still together for this album?  I would bet they were....IMHO it all fell apart after that...once EJ had to write (or co-write) and be the melody man it just turned to commercial crap (altho it wasn't ALL crap - but def. different!)

this song is great, 1972 huh linzie wrote: 

 lmic wrote: 
Interesting, and I think you're generally right! Perhaps the Elton fans think he just changed as an artist, whereas the REM fans felt they sold out. I'm guessing, 'cause I like both old and new REM—for different reasons.

 michaelgmitchell wrote: 

yeah, me too