Comments for John, Elton, Caribou

Elton John--Caribou --Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me --Bitch is Back This is a great album and shows Elton off at his pop-master best. Elton has complained about his voice and the quality of the production of this album and he's right. But the music is just so good and so much fun--who cares? The album starts out with a riveting rocker hit "Bitch is Back" and doesn't let up. "Grimsby," "You're so static," "Stinker," and the non-sensical "Solar Presitge a Gammon" add sassy hook. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" is a classic piano piece that finds Elton building up to an amazing chorus. I've Seen the Saucers is also a great piece of pop and "Pinky" is a nice little tune too. "Ticking" is a bit long winded (though strong lyrically) and "Dixie Lily" is a bit corny--but the album never loses its pop touch. With the new remastered version--the beginning of "Don't Let the Sun..." should be more audible (its sounds muted now) and adding in "Sick City" and "Pinball Wizard" will add even more to the pop-rock feel of this gem. Jim Hanson

Talk about your high expectations. This album was released after Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, EJ's best-selling and most critically-acclaimed studio album ever. But because of a hectic concert schedule, Elton and Bernie wrote and recorded this one in a week. And it shows. The songs are, for the most part, goofy. I love Elton -- don't get me wrong -- but if it weren't for The Bitch Is Back and Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me, this album would probably, in all honesty, grace the cutout bin of the local Camelot. The songs ARE catchy, though, but rather inane ("Solar Prestige A Gammon"?). Notable exeptions here include "Ticking" (Elton doing some of his best piano ever, with some of Taupin's most evocative lyrics) and "Dixie Lily" (a fun song with a Southern feel). (By the way, if you want a good idea of the effort that went into this album, look at the cover: it's got Elton standing in animal print clothing in front of an OBVIOUSLY fake Colorado background.)

I think this album works well as far as it is not listened to in one take. You have to separate the light numbers from the more sombre ones. The arrangements are extremely well- crafted. What I dislike is the cheap graphics of the inner sleeve lyric side. There is, overall, a sense of cramming too much in too little space. Besides, ending it all with the bitter social commentary of "Ticking", makes for a sort of excuse to the welcome general nonsensical orientation of the lyrics. There was no need for that. Leonardo.

At one time my favourite album--Caribou suffers from R.S.B.D.S.S. ("Reg Strikes Back" disjointed song syndrome.) The songs are good, but a bit rushed (who doesn't know this one was recorded in a week?) "Cold Highway" and "Sick City" seem to capture the best of these sessions, and should've been included on the disc in the first place. The jacket was bad--really BAD.

yes folks the album cover is cheesy to say the least .theres also a noticable dropoff in quality compared to his last three albums. that doesn''t mean theres not alot of good stuff here. ticking ranks among my personal favorites of all time and even though i''d be happy if i never heard don''t let the sun go down on me again, i''ve got to admit it''s a helluva song. there was a time in 1974 that my sixth grade teacher made me stay after school for singing the bitch is back in her class. life is made of memories like these

This album tends to be overlooked though it contains a lot of great songs (including the nonsense song Solar Prestige a Gammon). It is worth getting the newly remastered version for the sound quality and the bonus tracks.

Some good stuff here and some weak filler, sounds like a bit of a rush job. Still a good listen every now and then. Powerful brass arrangements by Tower of Power. Captain Fantastic was real step up from this one.