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christmas 1975 got aeromith -toys in the attic, elton john-captain fantastic, queen - a night at the opera and kiss - dressed to kill. man i still listen to all 4 of these. try listening to "captain fantastic" and the new "captain and the kid" back to back
The title track introduces thee two main characters, these being Captain Fantastic (Elton) and the brown dirt cowboy (Bernie). Although it doesn't say so in the liner notes, I think this was recorded for a Beatles tribute album (All this and world war two). Apparently, Elton never recorded the song, but thought that merely including the lyrics in the booklet was sufficient to make his point.The songs that actually made up the original album are presented in the order in which the events that inspired them occurred. This album is a series of songs about the sixties, beginning when Elton and Bernie first met and ending when Elton's first album, Empty sky, was released. It takes a few plays to get into, but it is a fascinating album and is further strengthened by the bonus tracks. Lucy in the sky with diamonds, a cover of the Beatles classic, should be instantly recognizable.
Two other singles appear on this re-release as bonus tracks, together with one of their B-sides.
Subsequent tracks show some of the resentment that Elton and Bernie felt about the moguls who controlled the music business.
The other A-side single presented here as a bonus track, Philadelphia freedom, , also topped the American singles chart but just missed the British top ten.
As such, it is likely to be best appreciated by those who are familiar with the story behind the songs, but as most people who listen to this album don't know the men personally and haven't read any biographies about Elton (and I'm not sure how much those biographies say about the period in question anyway, since I haven`t yet read any of them), the music here has to stand on its own merit.The CD booklet, like the original vinyl album insert, contains lyrics for Dogs in the kitchen, a song attacking music industry bosses that never appeared on the original album.
In any case, it was a hugely successful single, become an American number one and British top ten hit.
This is particularly evident on Bitter fingers, which explains that it is hard to simply write songs to order, especially if you're told what kind of song is required.
Away from the music business itself, other songs tell of life growing up as young men in the sixties, a good example being Tell me when the whistle blows.The only single released from the original album was Someone saved my life tonight, which made the top ten in America but didn't do so well in Britain, where it just messed the top twenty.
The interesting fact about this song is that Elton and Bernie wrote it following a request by Billie Jean King, the famous tennis player, for a theme song for her team.This isn't the most accessible Elton John album.
Serious Elton John fans definitely need this album.
My CD came very quickly and was in perfect shape. I've been enjoying my trip down memory lane.
The period between 1970 and 1975 were the nadir of Elton John and Bernie Taupin's creative output and "Captain Fantastic" would prove to be the end of an era for the duo. The rest of the album tells the story from the opening title track to the closer "Curtains" chronicling the duos highs and lows trying to make it in the music business of the late 60's and early 70's.
The rest of the 70's, 80's, 90's, and 00's would find him putting out rather inconsistent material that although having high points never was as cohesive as this, or his previous couple of albums. For me this is probably Elton's last great album.
It remains a great song and one that I never tire of. "Captain Fantastic" is a concept album that tells the story of Elton and Bernie's early years and their rise to fame and fortune.
The album only contained one hit single, "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" which to my ears ranks up with the very best songs the duo ever wrote together. The album has held up remarkable well, with only the disco-ish "Tell Me When The Whistle Blows" sounding overly dated.
Second only to "Yellow Brick Road" in the Elton John catalogue "Captain Fantastic" is an essential Elton album.
One of the BEST Elton John albums EVER. Grew up with the album and could not find the CD for years. So glad that I searched Amazon. This is the only CD that rides in my truck and I listen to it at least once a week.
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