The 500 - #136 - Greatest Hits - Elton John

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by New York-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone Magazine's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

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Album: #136
Album Title: Greatest Hits
Artist: Elton John
Genre: Rock, Pop
Recorded: Several Studios
Released: November, 1974
My age at release: 9
How familiar was I with it before this week: Very
Is it on the 2020 list? No
Song I am putting on my Spotify Playlist: Don't Let The Son Go Down On Me

Last spring, I had the incredible opportunity to direct The Lion King Jr. with the talented students at Sir Arthur Currie Public School in London, Ontario. It was a true team effort, and I was fortunate to collaborate with a dedicated group of colleagues who brought the production to life. We had a musical director who led the choir and prepared the songs, two teachers who choreographed the dancers, and a tech lead who managed everything from headset microphones to stage lighting. Several staff members designed costumes and built set pieces, while others handled marketing and ticket sales.

Poster for Sir Arthur Currie’s production of The Lion King Jr.

Nearly 150 students auditioned for just 15 speaking roles (13 of which included singing), and the talent on display was nothing short of extraordinary. Faced with such an abundance of gifted performers, we made the bold decision to double-cast the show, allowing more students to shine on stage. It was a bit of a gamble -- splitting our rehearsal time between two casts made my directorial debut far more challenging than I had anticipated. But in the end, it was worth every moment. I walked away with a deep appreciation for the art of directing and the magic that happens when a school community comes together to create something memorable.

Sir Arthur Currie students performing The Circle Of Life at the conclusion of  The Lion King Jr.

For many of our students, The Lion King Jr. was their first real introduction to the music of Sir Elton John, who composed most of the songs for Disney’s 1994 animated classic, along with lyricist Tim Rice. During our spring rehearsals, John's melodies were absolutely everywhere. They echoed from the stage, floated through the hallways, and popped up in the most unexpected places -- hummed at desktops during work periods, whistled between classes, or softly sung in the yard at recess. E.J. knows how to write a tune that sticks with you, and our school was happily buzzing with his unforgettable music for weeks.

I was about the same age as some of our youngest cast members when I first heard the music of John. I can’t say for sure which song I heard first, but chances are it was the irresistibly catchy Crocodile Rock that pulled me in. That’s the magic of his music – he knows how to craft a hook that sticks. His 1974 Greatest Hits album was an early testament to his talent that expanded exponentially throughout his career.  He followed up with Greatest Hits Volume II  three years later, and his third volume a decade after that. John and his longtime lyricist, Bernie Taupin, were a hit-making machine. In fact, John has landed 29 songs in the Billboard Top 10 -- ranking him fourth among pre-streaming artists, behind only Michael Jackson, The Beatles and Madonna.

Bernie Taupin (left) and Elton John in 2019.

However, he topped those talented performers, by being elevated to the highly exclusive EGOT Club -- reserved for artists who have managed to snag an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony award with their work. Only 21 individuals have achieved this honour. Of them, a mere three entertainers have been pop music performers  –  Elton John, John Legend and Jennifer Hudson.

The memory of The Lion King Jr. at Sir Arthur Currie will fade with each graduating class; however, I feel that Elton John’s legacy will persist. His 1983 hit, I’m Still Standing, a defiant anthem of resilience, made its way onto our classroom playlist this year, a mix of old and new music curated by both students and me. One student in particular, Saqeef, who played Older Simba in The Lion King Jr. (see below), has already set his sights on performing the song at the Spring, 2026, edition of Currie’s Got Talent,  accompanying himself on piano. It’s a fitting choice, and a testament to how John’s music continues to inspire new generations -- after seven decades and 50 years since I first started humming his tunes.

Saqeef (right) as Older Simba in a scene from Sir Arthur Currie's
production of The Lion King Jr.

The 500 - #158 - Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy - Elton John

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by New York-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone Magazine's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

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Album: #158
Album Title: Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy

Artist: Elton John

Genre: Rock, Pop, Country

Recorded: Caribou Ranch Studios, Nederland, Colorado

Released: May, 1975

My age at release: 9
How familiar was I with it before this week: Very

Is it on the 2020 list? No
Song I am putting on my Spotify Playlist: We All Fall In Love Sometimes/Curtains

A crisp Autumn afternoon in 1975 found a yellow school bus rumbling down a dusty gravel road near the village of Kingsville, Ontario. Kicking up dust clouds it trundled on its daily sojourn from Jack Miner Public School to the patchwork rural neighbourhoods nestled between corn fields, apple orchards and small copses of mixed trees dotted along the northern shores of Lake Erie. Inside, 40 students, aged 5 - 14, bursted with excitement and cacophonous conversation as they were jostled along familiar concession roads.

Perched on the edge of a cracked vinyl seat near the front sat a ten-year-old kid. Quiet and attentive, like a young sparrow on a wire listening to older birds, he soaked in the banter, slang, jokes and gossip being bandied back and forth by teens clumped at the back.. Unannounced, two pretty Grade 8 girls, effortlessly broke into song. Their voices, natural and pleasantly harmonious, rose above the chatter and the bus engine's hum.

"...And someone saved my life tonight
Sugar bear (sugar bear sugar bear...)
You almost had your hooks in me
Didn't you dear?
You nearly had me roped and tied
Altar bound, hypnotized, sweet freedom whispered in my ear
You're a butterfly
And butterflies are free to fly
Fly away
High away
Bye bye"

It was a tune I recognized from the radio -- Someone Saved My Life Tonight from Elton John's latest record, Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy. The song had been inescapable that summer, but hearing those girls spontaneously belt it out transformed the music into something greater. In the dusty sunlight of that moment, it felt like a secret code permitted me to slip into the world of teen-age cool. As I sat there transfixed, I understood that a song was more than lyrics, melody and rhythm. It was a way to belong.

Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy was the ninth studio record released by renowned English musician, singer and songwriter Sir Elton John in 1975. The lyrics provided  an autobiographical account of the early musical career of John (Captain Fantastic) and Bernie Taupin (The Brown Dirt Cowboy) who had been his song-writer since the pair met in 1967. As the story goes, Taupin and John independently responded to a magazine advertisement posted by Liberty Records which was looking to recruit new musical talent in London, England.  

Neither passed the audition, however. As John departed, he mentioned to the desk clerk that writing lyrics was a challenge. He was handed a sealed envelope containing poetry from Taupin, which he read during his ride home on the London Underground. He was dumbfounded and completely rapt by the beauty of the words. More importantly, he could hear them sung in the numerous melodies he'd already composed in his head. The pair soon met and began a partnership that created more than 300 songs, including 40 Top Ten singles.

Elton John (left) and Bernie Taupin in the early 70s.

As an amateur writer, and a dabbler in verse and whimsy, I have been a fan of Bernie Taupin for fifty years. He and Elton became one of the greatest writing teams of all time -- on par with McCartney & Lennon (The Beatles), Jagger & Richards (The Rolling Stones), Benny Andersson & Bjorn Uleveus (ABBA) or the some of the legendary Brill Building Songwriters including Gerry Goffin & Carol King and Jerry Lieber & Mike Stoller. In 1985, ten years after that memorable September bus ride, I went through a heavy Elton & Bernie phase, collecting almost every record in their catalogue for my vinyl collection.

Nine records from Elton in the 1970s, four are on The 500.

Although I liked them all, my favourite was Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy and it was one of the first albums I purchased on compact disc -- a revolutionary technology at the time. It is also one of my favourite records ever. Elton and Bernie were at the height of their musical powers as songwriters on this disc, and the final album featuring the full, classic line-up of Elton's band -- Davey Johnstone (guitar), Dee Murray (bass), Nigel Olsson (drum) and Ray Cooper (percussion). Their tight musicianship and brilliant backing vocals were outstanding. 

I became obsessed with Taupin’s beautifully crafted lyrics—exploring ambition, failure, pressure, friendship, love, and identity. Though deeply personal and introspective, his poetry struck a chord in me; I recognized myself in every line. At least I did as a single, nineteen-year-old clumsily seeking meaning in a gap year between high school and university.

Elton with his band (1975).

Perhaps I still do. Even as I penned this post on a caffeine-fueled Sunday morning, I found myself reflecting on Taupin's words in the eighth track, Writing -- a homage to the collaborative song-crafting process he and Elton navigated for six years. and would for 30 more.

And we were...

Not the kind to dawdle

Will the things we wrote today
Sound as good tomorrow?
We will still be writing
In approaching years
Stifling yawns on Sundays
As the weekends disappear

And as this weekend disappears, I'll leave this post behind, too, hoping it will "sound as good in approaching years". I will be back to talk more Elton and Bernie in about 22 weeks when their 1974 Greatest Hits release appears at #136.

The 500 - #359 - Honky Chateau - Elton John

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by Los Angeles-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone Magazine's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

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Album: # 359

Album Title: Honky Chateau

Artist: Elton John

Genre: Rock, Pop & more

Recorded: Chateau de Herouville, Herouville, France

Released: May, 1972

My age at release: 6

How familiar was I with it before this week: Fairly

Song I am putting on my Spotify Playlist: Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters

Sir Elton John. With a career spanning more than 50 years, this English pianist, singer, songwriter and composer is one of the best-selling musicians of all time, behind only The Beatles, Elvis and Michael Jackson. He has released more than 30 albums and stands alone as the premier artist to have seven consecutive records go to Number One in the United States. Most remarkably, the feat was completed in three years.

Elton John in concert (2019)

That streak began with Honky Chateau, his fifth studio release. It was recorded in France, just north of Paris, at the Chateau de Herouville, an 18th Century villa that was converted to a recording studio with lodgings in 1969.

Château d'Hérouville

It was a popular spot for musicians in the 1970s, particularly British recording artists, including Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Cat Stevens and David Bowie. Elton John would record Honky Chateau and his next two records at the mansion. Not only was it an excellent facility, it also allowed the musicians to avoid heavy taxation in the U.K. At the time, British tax rates for the wealthy were as high as 83%. Escaping to a tax haven, often a tropical locale, was considered "fashionably anti-establishment" and even "James Bond chic" at the time. These days it has lost its charm, becoming standard practise for the uber-wealthy to avoid paying taxes altogether.

Elton and his bandmates taking a break at the Chateau's recording space.

When John, his bandmates and his lyricist Bernie Taupin arrived at the Chateau in mid-January, 1972, they had nothing prepared for recording. However, they quickly fell into a rhythm that John would later describe as a "Motown-Style" composition factory.

Bernie Taupin (left) and Elton John (1970)

Bernie would write pages of lyrical ideas in a room upstairs. His wife, Maxine Feibelman (the band's seamstress - made famous in the song Tiny Dancer,) would correct the spelling and leave the poetry on the piano downstairs.

Elton (right) at Bernie and Maxine's wedding (1971)

John would select the lyrics that intrigued him and compose the music on the piano. Within the day, he would be joined in the studio by his bandmates to begin recording. The percolating creativity resulted in the album being recorded in fewer than two weeks. 

Original Lyrics for Rocket Man by Taupin

That autumn, the band departed on a four-month, 80-city tour of North America. The album quickly topped the charts on the strength of two singles, Honky Cat and Rocket Man. It has since gone platinum and remains a favourite of fans and music critics.

Personal Connection

As always, I listened to The 500 Podcast in preparation for this blog post. On the Honky Chateau episode, Josh Adam Meyers was joined by comedian Bill Engvall, best known as one-fourth of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour.

The Blue Collar Comedy Tour Video

Engvall is 64 and has been an Elton John fan since the earliest records. On the podcast he said that he attended Elton John's 1973 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Tour. Podcast host, Meyers, 41, admitted that his first real exposure to John was hearing the soundtrack of the Disney film The Lion King in the early 90s.

The Lion King Soundtrack

Most of us likely had our "Elton John Moment" -- a time when we first became aware of his music, perhaps becoming a fan. With a career spanning 50-plus years, that moment arrived at a different times for each of us.

Mine came in Grade 5 when the radio hit Someone Saved My Life Tonight from Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy, (#158 on The 500) was a hit song on the radio.

Someone Saved My Life Tonight Single Cover- Elton John

I had just moved to the rural village of Kingsville, Ontario and was trying to make inroads with my new Grade 5 classmates. A particularly cool (and pretty) girl named Sandra would sometimes sing the chorus while we lined up by our lockers. Needless to say, I was taken--by her and the song. I lost contact with Sandra more than 40 years ago, but I remain an Elton John fan to this day.

When was your Elton moment? Let me know in the comments below.

The 500 - #458 - Elton John - Tumbleweed Connection

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

My plan (amended). 

• 1 or 2 records per week & at least 2 complete listens.
• A quick blog post for each, highlighting the important details and a quick background story.
• No rating scale - just an effort to expand my appreciation.

Album # 458

Album Title: Tumbleweed Connection
Artist: Elton John
Released: October, 1970
My age at release: 5
How familiar am I with it: I own it on vinyl, purchased 1985
Song I am putting on my Spotify Mix: Amoreena
Great Lyric:
Bring your family down to the riverside,
Look to the east to see where the fat stock hide.
Behind four walls of stone the rich man sleeps.
It's time we put a flame torch to their keep.
(Burn Down the Mission)

I went through a heavy Elton John phase from 1985 to 1987. During that time, I regularly stalked the aisles of our local used record shop (Dr. Disc) and purchased nearly every studio release the store had on vinyl. Tumbleweed Connection was one of the first I found.

Initially, it didn't win me over. It's a concept album based on American Country and Western themes and, at that time in my life, I wasn't a fan of that genre. I absolutely loved the albums Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Captain Fantastic & the Brown Dirt Cowboy, which we will get to eventually at #91 and #158, respectively. However, over time, this album grew on me and I would often regularly play Side Two in order to hear Burn Down the Mission, which remains one of my Top Ten Elton John songs.

 This version of Burn Down the Mission is from a BBC television appearance in 1970, the same year Tumbleweed Connection was released. It includes an introduction of Elton's band mates Dee Murray and Nigel Olson, both of whom would play with him for decades - Murray until his untimely death in 1992 and Olson, who still performs with John today.

Although I settled on the song Amoreena, my initial plan was to put Burn Down the Mission on my Spotify The 500 Playlist. The version on this record is great but I adore the Phil Collins' Cover from the tribute album Two Rooms - Celebrating The Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin. If you haven't checked out this collection, it is absolutely worth the investment. The name, Two Rooms, is apt. After all, lyricist Taupin writes the lyrics and delivers them to John who puts them to music. An incredible catalogue this was literally constructed in two locations. 

I have a few Elton John related stories but I'll save them. He has four more records on this list. 

Things I learned...

• Rod Stewart covered the song Country Comfort on his record Gasoline Alley the same year as Tumbleweed Connection (1970). Which is strange, usually artists cover material from farther back in time.
• Dusty Springfield of Son of a Preacher Man fame sings back-up on this record.
• Elton John and Bernie Taupin shared a mutual fascination with the American West. They loved cowboy movies and their common interest was at the core of this record's creation.
• The wrap-around artwork for the record was taken at a railway station outside London. It features John and Taupin on either side. It is intended to represent rural America but they intentionall decided to use an English location to highlight their nationality.