# Elton John -did anyone buy and listen to the albums? Recommendations? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [June 22, 2026, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102 "2026-06-22T13:09:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/21 "2026-06-22T21:08:49Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > That’s kind of a no-brainer. It’s the only Elton John album I ever owned. I don’t consider myself one of his fans, but I could listen to that album anytime during my life and enjoy it. Same here, except for that earworm Bennie. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/22 "2026-06-22T21:34:32Z")
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road has some of my favorite deep cuts. > [@aceplace57](#): > > _Friends_ - Friends ?? I don’t remember this song > [@bordelond](#): > > \*\* _excepting his 1971 soundtrack to the feature film_ Friends. Yeah, Friends was the tile song for a movie about two teenagers who run away, end up on the French Mediterranean coast and eventually have a baby. John, Taupin and Paul Buckminster did the music. The film was not good and the soundtrack is forgettable. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/23 "2026-06-22T22:34:47Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Should I consider buying an album? Which ones? > > I looked at his Discography… > > He often had one or two hits on an album. Wait… you only want to listen to his Top 40 hits? THIS is what’s wrong with civilization, people! Go buy an album and listen to the whole thing, in the order that young Elton painstakingly arranged it. I’d vote for _Madman Across the Water,_ or _Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road_ (his strongest work). Or his early live _11-17-70_ (lots of energy - he does a great “Honky-Tonk Women”!) I’d avoid the later albums. (I think of some past-their-prime bands’ later albums as one “Maybe _this’ll_ get on the radio” single, and the rest is filler.) The “deep tracks” on the the albums that had integrity are the ones that weren’t played to death on the radio, and listening to a whole album lets you experience an artist on their terms (Huh, I just realized I don’t own any “Greatest Hits”, by anyone). ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/24 "2026-06-22T22:38:58Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I’d avoid the later albums. I mostly agree, but “Peachtree Road” is solid. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/25 "2026-06-22T23:14:37Z")
“Friends” was one of my favorite songs at the time. I had no idea about the movie, but it was a perfect complement to “Your Song.” Anybody who bought the album at the time probably has a treasure. It was never re-released as a separate album after the vinyl. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/26 "2026-06-22T23:53:12Z")
Bernie Taupin wrote almost all of Elton’s songs, the words, the structure, Elton just decided to add them to music. A piano player to Bernie’s words. Without Taupin there really would not have been an Elton John. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/27 "2026-06-22T23:57:47Z")
_Honky Chateau_ is his best, with “Honky Cat,” “Mona Lisa and Mad Hatters” (his best melody), “Rocket Man,” and “Hercules.” ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/28 "2026-06-23T00:10:39Z")
Going all the way back to the OP - > [@aceplace57](#): > > Should I consider buying an album? Which ones? If all you know is individual songs, then embrace living in the future - as others suggest, you can easily listen to most albums on Youtube. Listen 2-3 times, because sometimes an individual song doesn’t grab you on first listening. If you end up only liking hit singles, after that, then the best of works just fine for most. We also live in an era where you could, just, buy individual songs if that’s your bag, though if you listen to physical media, it’s ever-harder (not hard, just harder) to get a R/W CD-R drive and discs to make your own mixes later. Generally if you like half an album or more, then I find it’s worthwhile to get the whole thing. Two or three songs is where I go for individual tracks. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/29 "2026-06-23T00:40:23Z")
For me, _Goodbye Yellow Brick Road_ – a double album – is Elton John’s greatest. I’m probably a bit biased because I associate it with some of the happiest times of my youth, but I think it’s widely considered a classic. For anyone looking for what to buy, I’d say forget about looking at the track listing – everything on it is excellent. Get it! I have a new pressing of the actual vinyl double album, and a turntable to play it on. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/30 "2026-06-23T01:20:03Z")
If you’re looking at entire albums, then I’d suggest looking at Elton’s earliest; everything from _Empty Sky_ to _Captain Fantastic_. In order, they are: _Empty Sky_ (1969) _Elton John_ (1970) _Tumbleweed Connection_ (1970) _Madman Across the Water_ (1971) _Honky Chateau_ (1972) _Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only the Piano Player_ (1973) _Goodbye Yellow Brick Road_ (1973) _Caribou_ (1974) _Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy_ (1975) While most spawned hit singles, I think that it’s the tracks you never heard on radio that really show off the talent of Elton and Bernie. Check out the poignancy of “First Episode at Hienton” and “The Greatest Discovery”, both from _Elton John_, the loneliness of “Skyline Pigeon” from _Empty Sky_, the fun “Teacher I Need You” from _Don’t Shoot Me_, the haunting “Harmony” from _Goodbye Yellow Brick Road_, and everything on _Captain Fantastic_ There is a lot more to Elton John than just the songs played on the radio, and in my opinion, these entire albums deserve to be heard in their … well, entirety. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/31 "2026-06-23T01:22:57Z")
I appreciate the suggestions. There’s some good material for me to explore. Thank you ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/32 "2026-06-23T01:37:37Z")
For folks that like _Rocket Man_, here’s a fun story from This American Life about putting together a “one-day band” to record a cover of the song: [Musician’s Classifieds](https://www.thisamericanlife.org/223/classifieds/act-three-4) ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/33 "2026-06-23T01:45:27Z")
We listened to Madman Across the Water driving from Cleveland to Chicago last Thursday, and I was very impressed. ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/34 "2026-06-23T02:30:09Z")
I highly recommend “Songs from the West Coast” released in 2001. An excellent return to form with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. Free sample: [https://youtu.be/SsuHAn54wPs?si=oV\_CGHejEIgKZ1Qn](https://youtu.be/SsuHAn54wPs?si=oV_CGHejEIgKZ1Qn) ---
**Author:** ![sboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@sboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sboy)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/35 "2026-06-23T17:01:25Z")
I bought **Madman** back when I did not have much money and I still have it. I also bought it in cassette and CD. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/36 "2026-06-23T17:09:16Z")
Many other posters have pointed to Elton’s early 1970s albums, which, I agree, are the core of his best work. That said, I’ll throw in _Too Low for Zero_, from 1983, which was his comeback album after several years of weaker music, compared to his prime. It contains several hits (“I’m Still Standing,” “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues,” “Kiss the Bride”), but I like the moodier non-single tracks as much as the singles. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/37 "2026-06-23T17:23:09Z")
No love for _11/17/70_? That first live album shows what put Elton John on the map. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/38 "2026-06-25T18:58:55Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Bernie Taupin wrote almost all of Elton’s songs, the words, the structure, Elton just decided to add them to music. A piano player to Bernie’s words. Without Taupin there really would not have been an Elton John. I guess kinda sorta, if you are a lyrics first and foremost kind of person. Otherwise, the above is quite a ridiculous statement. Elton John had an immense talent in writing melodies and crafting music that people loved to hear, album after album, in addition to his considerable piano and vocal skills. In my mind, Taupin had the best gig in the world, getting half of the (huge) profits from writing opaque word salad to music that would have been hit material with any other set of lyrics, as well. Elton has stated that Taupin’s lyrics inspired him greatly, and that he himself couldn’t write good lyrics to save his life. In that regard, Taupin was very important. But so was the backing band of Nilsson, Murray, and Johnstone, who beautifully arranged and played the songs Elton threw at them at an incredible speed. World class, every one of them. As per the OP; yes I bought and listened to the albums. There’s a ton of classic songs in them in addition to the greatest hits. But most also have songs I don’t need to ever hear, and they become more common after the 1970’s. You can only decide for yourself. It is easy to do these days. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/39 "2026-06-25T23:33:44Z")
> [@Toxylon](#): > > Taupin was very important. But so was the backing band of _ **Nilsson** _, Murray, and Johnstone… I didn’t know Harry was in Elton’s backup band! (just kidding) I guessing that might a typo or auto-correct since _ **Nigel Olsson** _ has been his drummer forever. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/40 "2026-06-26T11:33:24Z")
Thanks for the brain fart detection service! My bad, Olsson it of course is. But isn’t NIgel OlSSON kind of a Nilsson? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102.md?page=3)