Elton John is a recording artist with worldwide record sales of over 250 million sold. Elton has won numerous Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Tony Award, and has been knighted by the Queen of England. Elton’s career in music started in the late 1960’s playing with blues legend, Long John Baldry. Elton is still making music after all these years, tours occasionally, and is a fan of the Atlanta Braves baseball team.
Elton Hercules John has had many number one hits, many Top 40 hits, and many songs that all can sing along to on classic and pop radio. Here are some of my favorite Elton John songs with commentary and sample lyrics.
Your Song – From Elton’s second album, Elton John, Your Song was Elton’s first number one hit song. The song has been covered by Three Dog Night, Al Jarreau, Rod Stewart, and Harry Connick Jr, among many others.
Lyric: “…and you can tell everybody that this is your song, it may be quite simple, but now that it’s done…”
Take Me to the Pilot – This is another song from the album, Elton John. Take Me… is a bluesy pop number filled with ambiguous elements, central of a theme contained in most popular music songs.
Lyric: “…take me to the pilot for control, take me to the pilot of your soul…”
Levon – From the album, Madman Across the Water, Levon is one of the most popular Elton songs from his early career. A favorite on popular oldies radio stations playing 1970’s music. Levon has also been covered by New Jersey musician, Bon Jovi.
Lyric: “…Jesus blows up balloons all day, while Levon, Levon slowly dies…”
Tiny Dancer – Another classic from Madman Across the Water. The song has been featured in the movies, Almost Famous, and Aloha, Bobby and Rose. The song has also been recorded by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and country music sensation, Tim McGraw.
Lyric: “…hold me closer tiny dancer, count the headlights on the highway…”
Honky Cat – From the album Honky Chateau, Honky Cat features great piano playing and a horn section. Another top ten song still played on many radio stations worldwide.
Lyric: “… it’s like trying to find gold in a silver mine, it’s like trying to drink whiskey, oh from a bottle of wine…”
Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to be a Long, Long Time) – Another from the album, Honky Chateau. I associate this song with other ‘space’ songs from this era including David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’, and Harry Nilsson’s ‘Spaceman’.
Lyric: “…Mars aint the kind of place to raise your kids, in fact, it’s cold as Hell…”
Mona Lisa and Mad Hatters – One of my favorite Elton John ballads. This song is from the album, Honky Chateau. The song has also been covered by the Indigo Girls, and Heart.
Lyric: “…while Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters, sons of bankers, sons of lawyers, turn around and say good morning to the night…”
Crocodile Rock – From the album, Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only the Piano Player. I first heard this song in Boston on radio station, WRKO, in 1972. The ‘la las’ in the chorus will make anyone sing along to their car radio.
Lyric: “…while the other kids were rockin’ round the clock, we were hoppin’ boppin, to the crocodile rock…”
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – The song is from the album of the same name. This album I had on 8 track tape back in the day. Every song on the tape was fantastic. Other favorite songs include, Harmony, All the Girls Love Alice, Grey Seal, and Bennie and the Jets.
Lyric: “…When are you gonna come down, when are you going to land…”
Bennie and the Jets – From the album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. A number one song for Elton, worldwide in 1974. One of the most popular Elton John songs of the 1970’s.
Lyric: “…you’re gonna hear electric music, solid walls of sound…”
Candle in the Wind – Originally written and recorded as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, the song was re-written and performed at the funeral of Princess Diana of Wales in 1997.
Lyric: “…I would’ve liked to known you, but I was just a kid…”
Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me – Originally appeared on the Caribou album in 1974. The song was released again years later as a duet with vocalist, George Michael.
Lyric: “…although I search myself, it’s always someone else I see…”
Philadelphia Freedom – Released as a single, this song hit number one on the Billboard charts in 1975. Elton also performed the song on R & B music program, Soul Train.
Lyric: “…if you choose to you can live your life alone, some people choose the city…”
Someone Saved My Life Tonight – From the album, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. The song tells the story of how Elton turned away from marriage, and turned toward a career in music.
Lyric: “…and it’s one more beer, and I don’t hear you anymore, we’ve all gone crazy lately…”
Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word – From the album Blue Moves. Elton’s song is sad. In an era where disco music was raising its ugly head, Elton’s song was a breath of fresh air on the FM radio airwaves.
Lyric: “…it’s sad (so sad), such a sad, sad situation, and it’s getting more absurd…”
I Guess Why They Call It the Blues – From the album, Too Low For Zero. This is another one of my favorite all time Elton John songs.
Lyric: “…time on my hands could be time spent with you…”
Elton John has had many hits over the years. Some of his other top hits include Daniel, The Bitch Is Back, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Pinball Wizard, Island Girl, Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, Little Jeannie, Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny), I’m Still Standing, Sad Songs (Say So Much), Nikita, Can You Feel The Love Tonight, Circle of Life, and That’s What Friends Are For.
Elton’s music can be downloaded at iTunes.com or your favorite music downloading service. So much more information is available at www.eltonjohn.com Happy listening!
