Elton John
Elton John (Deluxe Edition)
Label:   
Date:  8/1970
Format:  FLAC
Genre:  Pop Rock
    Track Listing:
      Volume 1:
      1.  
      		 Your Song    4:04
      2.  
      		 I Need You To Turn To    2:33
      3.  
      		 Take Me To The Pilot    3:46
      4.  
      		 No Shoestrings On Louise    3:31
      5.  
      		 First Episode At Hienton    4:47
      6.  
      		 Sixty Years On    4:35
      7.  
      		 Border Song    3:21
      8.  
      		 The Greatest Discovery    4:12
      9.  
      		 The Cage    3:27
      10.  
      		 The King Must Die    5:07
      Volume 2:
      1.  
      		 Your Song (Demo Version)    3:35
      2.  
      		 I Need You To Turn To (Piano Demo)    2:12
      3.  
      		 Take Me To The Pilot (Piano Demo)    2:36
      4.  
      		 No Shoe Strings On Louise (Piano Demo)    3:33
      5.  
      		 Sixty Years On (Piano Demo)    4:21
      6.  
      		 The Greatest Discovery (Piano Demo)    3:58
      7.  
      		 The Cage (Demo)    3:21
      8.  
      		 The King Must Die (Piano Demo)    5:24
      9.  
      		 Rock And Roll Madonna (Piano Demo)    3:11
      10.  
      		 Thank You Mama (Piano Demo)    3:20
      11.  
      		 All The Way Down To El Paso (Piano Demo)    2:49
      12.  
      		 I'm Going Home (Piano Demo)    3:05
      13.  
      		 Grey Seal (Piano Demo)    3:19
      14.  
      		 Rock And Roll Madonna (Incomplete Band Demo)    2:55
      15.  
      		 Bad Side Of The Moon    3:13
      16.  
      		 Grey Seal    3:36
      17.  
      		 Rock And Roll Madonna    4:18
      18.  
      		 Border Song (BBC Sessions with Hookfoot)    3:21
      19.  
      		 Your Song (BBC Session)    4:01
      20.  
      		 Take Me To The Pilot (BBC Session)    3:33
      Empty Sky was followed by Elton John, a more focused and realized record that deservedly became his first hit. John and Bernie Taupin's songwriting had become more immediate and successful; in particular, John's music had become sharper and more diverse, rescuing Taupin's frequently nebulous lyrics. "Take Me to the Pilot" might not make much sense lyrically, but John had the good sense to ground its willfully cryptic words with a catchy blues-based melody. Next to the increased sense of songcraft, the most noticeable change on Elton John is the addition of Paul Buckmaster's grandiose string arrangements. Buckmaster's orchestrations are never subtle, but they never overwhelm the vocalist, nor do they make the songs schmaltzy. Instead, they fit the ambitions of John and Taupin, as the instant standard "Your Song" illustrates. Even with the strings and choirs that dominate the sound of the album, John manages to rock out on a fair share of the record. Though there are a couple of underdeveloped songs, Elton John remains one of his best records. [The CD reissue includes the bonus tracks "Bad Side of the Moon," "Grey Seal," and "Rock n Roll Madonna."]