If your a true Elton John fan this album will be one of your favourites. This is certainly one of his best albums ever. The fact that it is not a 'commercial' styled album is its greatest strength. The album itself is 'blue' and reflects harder times in Elton John and Bernie Taupin's lives. But when any musician or poet is depressed, it is a known fact that they produce better work, more meaningful and emotional music. This is 'Blue Moves' all over, it is a masterpiece of artistically written songs, some of the best Elton songs, of all times- ('Tonight' is simply one of Elton's most moving songs). This album is a landmark in Elton John's career and any 'so called critizism' about the album being too long or depressing, is in my view not worth paying attention too. I was very excited when I learned it was a double album- that meant more wonderful music, and that's how a true Elton John fan will see it. Let's face it, were are talking about Music not a 'supermarket product'. This album just proves that Elton's priority is making wonderful music and not money instead.
Elton's 1976 release came off the heels of his huge summer tour of America and just before his now famous interview in Rolling Stone in October of the same year. Blue Moves has held up well over the years but when released, was a dramatic shift from The Captain (John) and Brown Dirt Cowboy's (Taupin) stunning pop chart run that started in 1970.
Starting with a simple instrumental, "Your Starter For.." and then following a heavy orchestral intro to "Tonight", Elton doesn't sing until about 10 minutes into album. "Tonight" is one of Elton and Bernie's best ballads but sets the tone for the rest of the album on a bleak note. "One Horse Town" tries really hard to bring things up with it's soaring strings and pumping bassline but it seems forced. Elton sings about the restlessness of living where there is "nothing to steal because there's nothing much around" and is one of his best rock songs he really should do more in concert. "Chameleon" is a pretty ballad that follows (with help from the Beach Boys - who subsequently turned it down when offered by Elton to record it on their own) and that rounds out the first quarter of the album.
At this point, it's important to understand and realize that Elton had brought in some new band members (gone were Nigel Olsson and Dee Murray) and this is significant because the lineup were heavier on percussion. This is the second album this band produced ('75's Rock of The Westies being the first).
The album continues to stride along from total wasted efforts like ("Boogie Pilgrim" - a Bee Gees meets Earth, Wind and Fire meets Elton John exercise and Where's The Shoorah? an over the top all out gospel song) to potential lost classics such as "Cage The Songbird", "Idol", and the fun rave up "Crazy Water". This inconsistency has always begged the question, are the parts better than the sum?
My answer is unfortunately, yes. While you'll find some great songs here, it goes on too long and varies from jazz, gospel, rock, pop and even eastern India influences.
Blue Moves ends on a nearly 10 minute rock effort called "Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance)" and if you can get through it, it pretty much summarizes everything about this album. At times fun, thoughtful and well crafted. Other times, Blue Moves is bloated, disposable and far reaching in it's attempt to win you over.
It's too bad this band didn't record another album with Elton because on the summer tour which preceeded it, they were a top notch band that took his songs to a new high energy level from the prior band (with no disrespect to the former band members!). After the rock-and-roll "Rock of The Westies" and then "Blue Moves", it would have been interesting to see where they could have gone.
Elton and Taupin were clearly starting to show signs of fatique by this point. Taupin's lyrics were bleak and depressing for most of what is offered here. Elton took a much deserved break after this release and while Blue Moves has some really good songs, trimming it down to 10 songs would have made a stronger and more unified release.
Best Tracks: Tonight, One Horse Town, Chameleon, Cage The Songbird, Idol, Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word.
I guess everbody has their own reasons for enjoying elton'smusic. As a teenager growing up in the 70s i liked what was popular,songs like bennie and the jets. Now i can't stand some of that stuff. It seems that in the 1970s elton's music continued to get more canned, commercial and unauthentic. Many of the songs had that same lack of quality. They would start out with promise only to break into the typical chorus. Little 3 minute songs for the radio that are so common in the don't shoot me to caribu period. Another problem with the music is the way songs were written. With one guy doing all the lyrics and another the music it is expected that something might be lost in the translation. This album is an exception. In blue moves the songs are longer, deeper with more feeling. The lyrics are more profound. Compare the words to "someones final song" with the older stuff. Both elton and bernie were experiencing difficult times and the writings mesh. Then there is the more adventurous music. The orchestrated "tonight" and nice purely instrumental bits like "your starter for" and "out of the blue". The entire album has that smokey jazz and blues feel to it. Some reviewers suggested that this album was the end for elton. I say it means he had grown up some. What's he supposed to do crocadile rock and saturday night forever?
This could be the best Elton John album. Although it's 25 years old, it's instrumentation is some of the best EJ. I've been enjoying this double CD ever since Jay Johnson introduced me to it when I was a junior at Ripon College. "Tonight" is the most incredible song!! :)
Too many songs and too much filler. Still, if you'd have pulled the best songs together and made a single record, it would have been a classic.
"Tonight" is beautiful. "One Horse Town" is a classic. "Cage The Songbird" is lush and wonderful. Many great tunes. Some duds. Tell me how many double LP's are better?
