Elton John: Rocket Man - The Definitive Hits
Elton John: Rocket Man - The Definitive Hits
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Thursday, 29, Mar 2007 08:50
Mercury Records, out March 26th 2007.
In a nutshell.
Well-known, timeless, venerably Elton John
What's it all about?
The name says as much as any reviewer probably could about this particular release. All in all it is a collection of Elton's biggest and best known tracks, plus a couple of extras tacked on the end - Tinderbox, his latest single; and Are You Ready For Love?, a re-released single that hit the charts for the second time in 2003, 24 years after the first time.
Any self-respecting fan of the great man will know and recognise all of the songs on this album, from the opening chords and stuttery vocals of Bennie And The Jets to the twangy, runaway American success Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton's best known work on the other side of the Atlantic.
The 18 tracks also include some of his all-time hits, including Tiny Dancer, I'm Still Standing and the original version of Candle In The Wind.
Who's it by
As I said, the guy hardly needs an introduction.
Elton John has sold hundreds of millions of albums and singles worldwide. He's made headlines for his outspoken advocacy of gay rights, his flamboyant stage shows and wardrobe; his unparalleled love of retail therapy; and his popularity through the years that has established him as a pop icon around the world.
Although this is his umpteenth "Greatest Hits" album, his work never gets old and continues to be enjoyed by each consecutive generation, regardless of how much of a caricature of himself he becomes.
As an example.
"So excuse me forgetting, but these things I do
You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue
Anyway, the thing is, what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen" - Your Song
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
It is unlikely to win any major awards, simply because there is little fresh material on the album.
It's essentially another Elton John compilation, of which there have been several over the years, with a couple of new(er) songs tacked on the end. It'll sell well though - the man always does.
What the others say
"Following several underperforming albums - here is yet another greatest hits collection. This definitive hits album excludes the tracks you wish to forget. It also includes the average new single Tinderbox" - Manchester Evening News
"Some of its overly sentimental, particularly the latter stuff, but there's no getting away from the quality" - Indie London
So is it any good?
You know when someone has been around a while when they cannot use the words "Greatest Hits" for their greatest hits album and have to think of a synonym like "Definitive" instead.
There is very little that is new on here, other than Tinderbox (Elton's new single) and the "bonus hit" Are You Ready For Love? which despite being a bonus has appeared before on a couple of Elton's previous releases.
Nevertheless, while this features very little that fans will not have heard before, the album is still a great listen. The tunes on here are timeless classics and I defy anyone to listen to this from start to finish without finding at least one track that can get their feet a-tapping.
It's not going to shock many people, but this CD is worth every penny if you're an Elton John fan. Trouble is, for all the genius that it contains, any self-respecting follower of the star will already own most of the songs on here.
7/10
Alistair Potter