One Night Only

by

Elton John

Edit

This greatest hits package was recently recorded live at Madison Square Garden in October, 2000. It was also recorded over a two night period thus creating a title ambiguity. I was present at one of the shows & must say that Phil Ramone did an outstanding job producing the sound quality to CD. Though some of Sir Elton's better numbers, like "Funeral For a Friend," "Someone Saved My Life Tonight," and the seldom heard & appreciated "Little Jeannie" were performed in the show they are omitted from the disc. This might have been better served as a double CD to include the entire performance because Elton was at his best. There still are quite a few classic EJ gems included. Elton's energy is very evident on "Crocodile Rock" while his vocal performance on "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me" shines. There are many guest appearances including a stellar duet on "Sad Songs" with Bryan Adams. Additionally, Mary Blige's vocals on "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" is magnificent. There's also a blast from the past as Elton & Kiki Dee reunite for a vibrant "Don't Go Breaking My Heart." Elton's piano playing talents are emphasized on "Bennie and the Jets" and "I'm Still Standing." While there are very poignant moments with Elton dusting off "Daniel" and "Sacrifice." But Elton's greatest talent has always been the powerful ballad which certainly is present with full band versions of "Candle In the Wind," and the tingling "Your Song." Bernie Taupin's lyrics still hit home with warmth and ingenuity. It was also refreshing to witness the return of Nigel Olsson on drums with Davey Johnstone on guitars from the classic EJ years to comprise a very solid band. "One Night Only" is Elton John's fourth official live in- concert album and would be an excellent addition to anyone who appreciates the enormously talented Captain Fantastic.

Those fortunate enough to have been at the two concerts ELton John performed at Madison Square Garden last month will find the new live cd, "One Night Only", an inadequate representation of the stellar performance. As with many live sets and compilations, One Night Only falls short of its potential as a great cd. For any casual or diehard fan of Elton John's music, it is a must have. Elton's voice sounds the best it has in recent years, and his tight band played with the perfect blend of rock-n -roll energy, and polished musicianship, often sounding more full than the studio arrangements. The cd, like the concert, was immaculately mixed, thanks to producer Phil Ramone. The haste in which the cd was recorded and released is evident right from the title. Elton played two concerts at Madison Square Garden from which the selections were taken, yet chose to call the cd, "One Night Only". The ideal recording would have been the full show of the Saturday night concert, which was considered the better show. Live albums are geared towards an artist's fans, so having a double live cd would not make much of a difference in sales. Perhaps the most annoying part of the cd, was the choice of the song order. My favorite part of the show was the opening, where Elton performed the first four songs from his 1973 masterpiece, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. In the live cd, Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding, possibly his best album opener, was cut, and the rest of the songs were scattered randomly throughout the cd. Elton took the time to write a great setlist for the concert, and the cd should have reflected that. While, One Night Only is a welcome addition to my cd collection, it falls short of the amazing concert experience it was.