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All rights reserved.Live In Australia With The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra [LIVE] - John, Elton (CD 2001)
Album Notes Personnel: Elton John (vocals, keyboards); Davey Johnstone (guitar); Raul D'Olivera, Paul Spong, David Bitelli, Rick Taylor (horns); Fred Mandel (keyboards, synthesizer); David Paton (bass); Charlie Morgan (drums); Jody Linscott (percussion); Shirley Lewis, Alan Carvel, Gordon Neville (background vocals). Recorded live in Sydney, Australia on December 14, 1986. All tracks have been digitally remastered. Elton John spent much of the '80s in a whirlwind of personal upheaval and his musical unevenness included working with lyricists besides Bernie Taupin (an unthinkable notion during their run at the top of the charts during the '70s). EJ went for a fresh start by auctioning off all the costumes and props that he'd become renowned for during his over-the-top live shows. Right before doing this, the flamboyant entertainer revisited the past one more time by recreating his greatest hits live using orchestral accompaniment. The resulting LIVE IN AUSTRALIA found the John donning a powdered wig and 17th century garb to lead this ensemble, along with members of his regular touring band. Older material such as "Burn Down The Mission," "Madman Across The Water" and "Take Me To The Pilot" is particularly breathtaking as presented in all its symphonic splendor while more obscure numbers such as "Have Mercy On The Criminal" and "The Greatest Discovery" remain odd yet interesting choices. The oddest result of this album's release was that "Candle In The Wind" unexpectedly became a hit 14 years after its original release. A slightly rewritten version dedicated to the late Princess Diana repeated this trick a decade later. -IMPORT In England, this has so far only been released as a limited, numbered (5,000) edition, in a 12 X 12 box with deluxe booklet and other goodies. | Find errors in the product description? Submit a catalog update request now. | ||||||||||||||||
  A must-have for Elton FansReview created: 03/30/00 by: SBCLynn -- a member of Epinions  Pros: A powerful live performance combining this star's pop music with the backing of a symphony orchestra. Cons: Sometimes difficult to find in stores; Recorded prior to Elton's throat surgery, his voice is a bit rough in quality. Elton John Live In Australia With The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra" (MCA Records, released 1987) is an incredible album. Elton John is a showman and musician extraordinaire in his own right, but when coupled with a symphony orchestra backing him musically, the results are phenomenal. Every song is powerful; one not only hears the music, but feels it. The fourteen tracks bear a sound that outdoes the original recordings. As stated on the jacket's back cover, the concert took place on December 14, 1986 before an audience of eleven thousand people in Sydney Entertainment Centre. The album's length is approximately 68 minutes, and contains the second half of the performance when Elton and his 13-piece band are joined by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, conducted by James Newton Howard--a man not unknown to Elton fans for his involvement with many of E.J.'s studio recordings. The tracks are: Sixty Years On, I Need You To Turn To, The Greatest Discovery, Tonight, Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word, The King Must Die, Take Me To The Pilot, Tiny Dancer, Have Mercy On The Criminal, Madman Across The Water, Candle In The Wind, Burn Down The Mission, Your Song, and Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me. One of the most impressive performances on this album is The Greatest Discovery, about a young boy's reaction to the arrival of his "brand new brother." The original recording on the "Elton John" album is touching, but hearing this version gives the tune much more feeling. Not only does the orchestra add a depth that builds to the song's end, but Elton himself lends an extra sensitivity to the lyrics through his performance, despite the difficulties he was having with his voice at the time (prior to his throat surgery). Another song originally on the "Elton John" album is Sixty Years On, again performed with a revitalizing sound that gives it a breath of life that listeners might even prefer to the original recording. This album ranks at the top of my collection, and is one that everyone I have forced to listen to it has enjoyed immensely, whether fans of Elton John or not--including my late mother-in-law (who was in her early 70's at the time), who kept telling me to "turn it up some more!" The concert is also on video, covering both halves of the performance; it is very difficult to find but well worth the hunt. Review ID: 10000000000222821 Epinions.com ratings are not included in the item's average rating. Links in this review may have been removed. |
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