13. Beppe Bonaventura
"Singles, album, vinyls, CD’s, promos,
bootlegs, tour programs, books, covers, music sheets, … I have the same single
from 10, 20, 30 different countries …" explained me in 2008 when I interviewed him related to the Eltonite's Day. That man is amazing. You could check out his website, that's one of bests fansites in my opinion, http://www.eltonjohnitaly.com/. Even in 1993, he produced a fanzine "Madman" for and dedicated to the heartfelt collectors, until 1996. He's a reference in Italy about Elton. When I was in Milan in 2004 due to the presenting of the "Peachtree Road" album, every one I met was talking about Beppe, so I had to meet Beppe, and the meeting was not disappointing, on the contrary. Beppe, if you made your reviews in english instead of (and also, of course) in italian, you could get the recognition you deserve.This is your turn.
Well, Elton is my life for about 40 years! And not only my musical life ... Year after year his music has marked my life, everyday. Through Elton I've met a lot of people, I've travelled to a lot of countries, I went crazy for collecting records! Since the summer of long long time ago, when I heard Rocket Man for the first time. After that summer, nothing would ever be the same again.
30) Holiday
Inn From Madman, a fresh sound, an
unusual Elton in a track marked by Caleb at the guitar and Davey (!) at the
mandolin. Elton at the top of his
inspiration could make even immortal a song about a hotels chain.
29) Emperor's
New Clothes The comeback with a
great album, SFTWC, after years of mediocrity, and Emperor is an excellent
track that reminds me the early golden era (1969/71), before the pop
transition. A basic production by Pat
Leonard, with a great piano playing in front of you, a pleasant shock at my
first listening.
28) The
Ballad Of Danny Bailey A classic
from GYBR, the Elton storyteller that I like. A great percussive piano that I like very much.
27) Better
Off Dead Such a “cabaret” song from
Captain Fantastic, powerful, it always reminds me of the solo piano shows Elton did with Ray
Cooper, a great song.
26) It
Ain't Gonna Be Easy An unusual
track from A Single Man, a great guitar player as Tim Renwick can duet with the
piano at the same level. An underrated
song from an underrated album. Gary Osborne is not Bernie Taupin, but this is a
great song.
25) Bennie
And The Jets A great live song,
always singing “Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie And The Jets!” at the
concerts. Maybe not his best track, but
it's the “pop” Elton that I like, it's really involving with the piano solos.
24) Where
To Now St. Peter From the “old
West” album, a little masterpiece. He unfortunately cannot write such a piece, this is an unrepeatable Elton’s production from every point of view. We have always the duo Buckmaster/Dudgeon at their top levels.
23) Tiny
Dancer A classic in the discography
of Elton. Too much live versions bored a little the audience, but the original
with great musicians becomes everlasting. A song not to be discussed, we can only appreciate it.
23) Harmony A wonderful song filled with vocal mixtures
already in the legend created by Dudgeon for 70’s albums. Unknown to the non-fans, it’s actually a classic of
his production unfortunately it seems that Elton had forgot it.
22) This
Song Has No Title A fresh
underrated song from GYBR, really nice. One more example about underrated songs by fans themselves, but perfect in their simplicity and
inspiration, it’s the pop period, but at highest level.
21) Mona
Lisas And Mad Hatters. An amazing
tune about NY City from Honky Chateau in the middle of the passage towards pop
of "Don’t Shoot Me" album. Perfect and unique in that genre, a little anomalous in his standard production, with mandolins.
20) Believe Top
20! It’s in my opinion one of the best
track of Elton, after the golden years (60's/70's). It
expresses a dramatic power and a quality that has no comparison in his
production in those years, it’s the gem of 90’s. Paul Buckmaster dislikes this production, but
I like it very much!
19) All
The Girls Love Alice Elton
rocks! My favourite rock song,
fascinating, essential, with, for once, a good guitar riff by Johnstone, it’s
certainly one of the best rock pieces in the whole Elton’s production, it’s
fantastic live too.
18) Seasons
A tune from Friends couldn’t be missing, considered a minor album, but
containing some little gems, and Seasons is one of them, always under Buckmaster’s
sign.
17) First
Episode at Hienton Perfectly
inserted in “Elton John” album, melancholy atmosphere. It is one
more example of how magisterially was Bernie’s cryptic lyrics set to music, simply
delicious.
16) Rocket
Man Long time ago, in the
summer of 1973, I discovered the music and Elton John with this song, I can
remember when Rocket Man came out from an old radio in my summer house. It was
a lightning struck! And It will be
always in my heart ...
15) The
Greatest Discovery A simple,
touching track from The Elton John album, a so simple theme of a little brother birth, performed in a perfect way with top
inspiration.
14) We
All Fall In Love Sometimes/Curtains
The end of the concept album Captain Fantastic, a memorable ending
medley, the band at his best, with incredible backing vocals and a memorable
drumming by Nigel. Simply perfect (p.s. This ending is very similar at the
ending of the Desperado album by The Eagles, 1973)
13) Take
Me To Pilot It is already a classic, also in live repertory, even if it
denaturalizes in comparison to the original one, that remains an example of what the real Elton could do. Incomprehensible lyrics, but a wonderful song from an era that was musically wonderful, not only for Elton.
12) Someone
Saved My Life Tonight . Once again from Capitan Fantastic, a piece that
moves me everytime, with the band at their best, fabulous vocal mixtures and a great
inspiration. From this album Elton John Band actually emerges as ensemble.
11) Your
Song It's the trademarck of 40
years of stardom, this song is THE SONG, it's Elton John, there's no Elton
without Your Song. It's not the song of
my life but it's a great universal song in the history of pop/rock music.
10) Goodbye The Top Ten! The last track of Madman
Across The Water, metaphorically it's a goodbye to the early Elton John, from
now it will be the starting as a pop icon too. The track is beautiful is his simplicity,
it's a touching on my heart every time. A Masterpiece!
9) Have
Mercy On The Criminal A dramatic
track from the "Don't Shoot Me" album, very powerful, I like it very much. In there I
find the atmospheres of previous albums with Buckmaster’s arrangements, but this time in a pop key more manifested. Elton and Bernie still
at top.
8) Funeral
For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding. An
instrumental performance nearly perfect, not showing its age at all, it could be written yesterday, it always sounds fresh
and modern. Love Lies Bleeding doesn’t compare but assimilate very well and already
is one that remains in my heart.
7) Sixty
Years On This song has a very
heavy production in the album Elton John, but it's a masterpiece from Elton
and Bernie, incredible mix of music and lyrics. And Sixty always remember me the powerful
sound of the trio (Elton, Nigel and Dee) in the fantastic 17-11-70 live album,
a terrific version.
6) Madman
Across The Water. The title track still sounds so powerful, dramatic and cryptic. As if it
would be written today. I have no words, in my mind, it’s simply a masterpiece.
5) Levon.
Once again from Madman, one more
classic at high level, probably the more cryptic lyrics could excite to the best Elton when he was writing; the album production
then gave a touch of perfection and immortality.
4) Ticking Another very basic song, Elton, his piano
and David Henschel on synth. A
drammatic story, a relentless piano playing in the waiting of a tragic end;
It's not the Elton of the first era, the sound is more artificial, but the
piano playing is incredible, I love it!
3) Talking Old Soldiers From Tumbleweed, Elton and piano at his
best, I love this song, too. Bernie's
lyrics are so touching and piano and voice are only all we need, nothing else. No match. The best track of Elton and a solo
piano, a masterpiece.
2) My
father's Gun Another great song
from a terrific album "Tumbleweed Connection". The imagine of the old West, with a very elaborated production by
Buckmaster and Dudgeon, Elton seems really an American songwriter in this
project. Paul Buckmaster did a fantastic
job on this track, unbelievable.
1) Indian
Sunset And now, the n° 1! A masterpiece from my favourite all time
album A fantastic mix: beautiful song,
beautiful lyrics, Paul Buckmaster at his best with orchestral production, Gus
Dudgeon as the boss, great musicians, the gem from Madman Across The
Water. For me, the ultimate song from
the real, true Elton before the changing towards a popstar stardom. Every time
this track moves me to tears.
Beppe's Eltonite's Day in 2008:
http://eltonjohnallsongslist.blogspot.com.es/2008/06/eltonites-day-from-italy-one-and-only.html
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