# What's Your Favorite Elton John CD? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 13, 2005, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-elton-john-cd/284617 "2005-01-13T23:24:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-elton-john-cd/284617/1 "2005-01-13T23:24:04Z")
OK, so I’m a sucker for Greatest Hits…they’re economical. And, I do have the “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” CD and “The One”. But, I wonder…what else should I buy? Brown Dirt Cowboy? Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only The Piano Player? Rest of the Westies? (I think it’s titled) Caribou? So, tell me…what’s a must for my collection? (Extra Credit: What ever happened to Elton’s “Ego” song of the 1970’s? I can’t find it anywhere…) - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-elton-john-cd/284617/2 "2005-01-13T23:30:45Z")
You’re thinking of Rock of the Westies. My personal favorite is Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only The Piano Player. Second on my list is Honky Chateau. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-elton-john-cd/284617/3 "2005-01-13T23:33:20Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > So, tell me…what’s a must for my collection? (Extra Credit: What ever happened to Elton’s “Ego” song of the 1970’s? I can’t find it anywhere…) - Jinx It can be found on the box set _“…to be continued”_ and the extended remaster of _A Single Man_. I would love to see the video again. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-elton-john-cd/284617/4 "2005-01-13T23:59:56Z")
A Single Man ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-elton-john-cd/284617/5 "2005-01-14T00:22:00Z")
YBR is by far the best. Since you already have it… Actually, this gave me an idea for an OP ---
**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:** [January 14, 2005, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-elton-john-cd/284617/6 "2005-01-14T00:28:14Z")
“Honkey Chateau” is his best, but I’d also suggest "11/17/70\*, " where he really rocks out. \*British title: “17/11/70” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-elton-john-cd/284617/7 "2005-01-14T01:09:23Z")
Nothing else even comes close to **Madman across the water** ``` * Tiny Dancer * Levon * Razor Face * Madman Across The Water * Indian Sunset * Holiday Inn * Rotten Peaches * All The Nasties * Goodbye ``` No filler at all. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-elton-john-cd/284617/8 "2005-01-14T01:28:30Z")
Another vote for **Madman Across the Water**. Although I really like **11/17/70** as well. Actually, I really like most of them. But those are the grooviest, I’d say. ---
**Author:** ![Proudest\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/proudest_monkey/32/13257_2.png) [@Proudest\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Proudest_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-elton-john-cd/284617/9 "2005-01-14T01:30:39Z")
**Honky Chateau** and **Madman Across the Water** are superb, but I have a fondness for **Tumbleweed Connection**. I was away from home one summer way back in high school and nobody else spoke much English. A guy I met did, however, have **Tumbleweed Connection** and we listened to it endlessly. It’s thematic and very different from much of Sir Elton’s other work–and several of the songs kick ass. _Country Comfort_ is a particular favorite. If I had to pick my favorite EJ song it would be _Levon_, hands down. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-elton-john-cd/284617/10 "2005-01-14T01:37:34Z")
I’m not much of a fan of Sir Elton’s works, but even I like the “Beyond the Yellow Brick Road” album. ---
**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:** [January 14, 2005, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-elton-john-cd/284617/11 "2005-01-14T01:39:01Z")
Great Og! I’m agreeing with **Reeder**! 😃 \*\*Madman YBR Tumbleweed\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-elton-john-cd/284617/12 "2005-01-14T01:52:51Z")
IMHO of course. ``` * Ballad Of A Well-Known Gun * Country Comfort * Burn Down The Mission ``` One has to remember that Elton’s lyricist was Bernie Taupin on his early stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-elton-john-cd/284617/13 "2005-01-14T02:36:46Z")
Isn’t Bernie _still_ ELton’s lyricist? Unfortunately I find that I only like a handful of EJ’s songs and so I’m reluctant to commit to an album, though I do have Yellow Brick Road. I might try some of the above suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-elton-john-cd/284617/14 "2005-01-14T02:43:20Z")
> [@1920s Style "Death Ray"](#): > > Isn’t Bernie _still_ ELton’s lyricist? On and off. > [@1920s Style "Death Ray"](#): > > Unfortunately I find that I only like a handful of EJ’s songs and so I’m reluctant to commit to an album, though I do have Yellow Brick Road. I might try some of the above suggestions. I’m surprised that a person of your intelligence and discernment isn’t all over his music. 😉 The guy is brilliant, in my book. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-elton-john-cd/284617/15 "2005-01-14T02:45:01Z")
For some reason I favor Caribou before the others-but it’s tough call-they’re all so good. Flashback to high school days and an 8 track tape player-Woo! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-elton-john-cd/284617/16 "2005-01-14T02:51:11Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > I’m surprised that a person of your intelligence and discernment isn’t all over his music. 😉 > > The guy is brilliant, in my book. You’re too kind (to me), the ones I like, I really really like, there just aren’t enough of them. It’s also a general problem I have with music. I find it fairly difficult to find artists who consistantly put out music that I like–but then I’m not very proactive in my search. ---
**Author:** ![Astacey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@Astacey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astacey)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2005, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-elton-john-cd/284617/17 "2005-01-14T03:00:59Z")
Here is another vote for **Madman Across the Water**. Brilliant! I think Indian Sunset is one of my favorite all time songs. It is so beautiful, but the whole disk is. ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-elton-john-cd/284617/18 "2005-01-15T04:51:09Z")
We chime in for ‘Don’t shoot me, I’m the only Piano Player.’ Cuz it has ‘Crocodile Rock’ on it. SLK ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-elton-john-cd/284617/19 "2005-01-15T11:24:15Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > For some reason I favor Caribou before the others-but it’s tough call-they’re all so good. I love **Tickin**. And of course **I’ve seen the saucers**. I always wanted to do a cover of that song. That and Captian Fantastic are my favourites. Captain Fantastic has some really cool dark lyrics. **We all fall in love sometimes** are some of the best love song lyrics ever written. (they aren’t sticky sweet but have a real life quality to them) ---
**Author:** ![DooWahDiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@DooWahDiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DooWahDiddy)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-elton-john-cd/284617/20 "2005-01-15T20:58:19Z")
Um, I’d hardly describe Elton’s relationship with Bernie Taupin as “on and off”. Of the 26 studio albums Elton has released (i.e. not live albums or compilations), Bernie has been the main lyricist on over 20 of them. And that includes the last 10 albums released. And even on the albums where Bernie didn’t write _all_ the songs, he still wrote most of them. Yes, Elton works with other lyricists for musical theatre projects, etc., but for studio albums they’re still going strong. As for recommendations, I always look at it as if there are two Eltons to choose from: the younger, higher-voiced Elton who occasionally rocked the house, and the soulful, deeper-voiced Elton whose voice gives you chills. I’d say _Songs From the West Coast_, which was the album he released just before his most recent one, is fantastic because he’s got that deep voice, but the songs are reminiscent of those written in the early years, a la _Captain Fantastic_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-elton-john-cd/284617.md?page=2)