Music review: Elton John – 鈥榃onderful Crazy Night鈥�
I鈥檝e been an Elton John fan ever since I first heard 1972鈥檚 鈥淗onky Chateau,鈥� featuring the stirring 鈥淩ocket Man鈥� and the winsome 鈥淢ona Lisas and Mad Hatters.鈥�
Like the majority of my early musical influences, this 1972 effort from the flamboyant Englishman was 鈥渂orrowed鈥� from my oldest brother鈥檚 album collection. A year later, the release of 鈥淕oodbye Yellow Brick Road鈥� continued my fascination with John鈥檚 astute musical flair and engaging lyrical prowess. By the time 鈥淐aptain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy鈥� hit the scene in 1975, I became completely hooked and would eagerly await every new album.
With John鈥檚 33rd studio release, my expectations were high for what the 68-year-old singer would have left in his bag of tricks. T Bone Burnett returns to oversee the material after successfully producing John鈥檚 last solo effort as well as the 2010 collaboration between John and Leon Russell on 鈥淭he Union.鈥�
Celebrating nearly 50 years of songwriting together, John and Bernie Taupin weave a wonderfully up-tempo set of soulful scenarios that flow with the ease of two artists who share a magical bond and musical vision.
Many of the lyrical arrangements harken back to the extraordinary work that John and Taupin composed on 1970鈥檚 鈥淭umbleweed Connection.鈥�
For the first time since 2006鈥檚 鈥淭he Captain & the Kid,鈥� John records with this superb touring band along with longtime bandmates Nigel Olsson on drums and Davey Johnstone on guitar.
Highlights include the rousing title track, the graceful 鈥淚n the Name of You,鈥� the charming 鈥淏lue Wonderful鈥� and the simplistically elegant 鈥淭ambourine.鈥�
On my favorite track, John鈥檚 piano and Johnstone鈥檚 guitar playfully joust on the spirited 鈥淟ooking Up鈥� as John declares, 鈥淚鈥檓 looking up more than I look down.鈥�
鈥淓ngland and America鈥� closes out the deluxe edition with a guitar-driven vigor reminiscent of the classic 鈥淪aturday Night鈥檚 Alright for Fighting.鈥�
鈥淲onderful Crazy Night鈥� displays a delightful resurgence for an artist not yet ready to go gently into that good night.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at crhodes@heraldstandard.com.