In the early 70s, you couldn’t turn on the radio without hearing an Elton John song. He was the single most influential musician of the 70s. During that time, Elton John was able to amass several gold records. But many of his best songs remain hidden deep on album tracks. Here is a list of the 10 best Elton John album tracks of the 1970s.
10) My Fathers Gun
“My Fathers Gun” comes from Elton John’s 3rd album Tumbleweed Connection. Although lacking a major single, Tumbleweed Connection remains one of John’s most popular albums. In the last couple of years, “My Fathers Gun” has been associated with the movie Elizabethtown. Another song that is heavy on a repeated chorus.
9) Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy
Taken from the album of the same name, “Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy” could be Elton John’s most successful country effort. The heavy acoustic guitar and piano are at the forefront, as Elton soulfully sings the sewn lyrics of Bernie Taupin.
8) All The Young Girls Love Alice
For hardcore Elton John fans, “All The Young Girls Love Alice” isn’t a rarity. Because of its rockin’ tempo and heavy guitar riffs, it has become a staple of Elton Johns live shows. Even though casual fans don’t know the song, it often gets them up dancing and moving around. This is another great example of how Elton John can take a morbid lyric (the song is about a lesbian call girl), and turn it into something completely opposite. “All The Young Girls Love Alice” comes off the album “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” The album is often considered John’s greatest album.
7) Indian Sunset
Indian Sunset comes from 1971’s Madman Across The Water album. The song was placed fifth on the nine song album, fitted between “Madman Across The Water” and “Rotten Peaches”. “Indian Sunset” is as lyrically astounding as it is vocally epic. The young Elton John trademark voice carry with it a weightless innocence. The song is a great example of how perfectly meshed music and lyrics can turn a song into a movie in the mind of the listener.
6) Better Off Dead
In the same vein as 1972’s “I Think I’m Gonna Kill Myself,” “Better Off Dead” is a fun piano pop song that flows like a river. The harmony that the band provides is so complete you would think they were trained professional harmonics. The ending is the best part of the song, as Elton repeats the lyric “Better off dead” as Nigel Olsson’s heavy drumming adds to the drama of the finishing tune.
5) I Think I’m Gonna Kill Myself
Based on its title one would think this song is dark and depressing. You couldn’t be more wrong. The jaunty song, complete with pub playing piano and tap dancing by “Legs” Larry Smith. The song breezes through swiftly, with funny lyrics that are kind of tongue in cheek. The piano playing is upfront and catchy, and refreshing since many of Elton Johns songs hide his fantastic piano skills.
4) High Flying Bird
As the closing track on Elton John’s 1973 album “Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player,” “High Flying Bird” leaves the listener clamoring for more, and yet satisfies their quench for good rock and roll music. “High Flying Bird” lives large with emotion, a full vocal arrangement helping Elton with the chorus. “High Flying Bird” is like a really good meal. You’re happy to have eaten it, and you cannot wait to taste it again.
3) The Greatest Discovery
Elton John wrote the music and Bernie Taupin penned the lyrics about the birth of his younger brother. The song was produced for Elton Johns second album. “The Greatest Discovery” is the eighth track on the album. And overall, it places second best only to Your Song. The long winded lyrics flow beautifully with the melancholy but mid tempo piano and string arrangement. No bells and whistles in this song. This song is as pure as it gets.
2) Ticking
The song “Ticking” comes from Elton John’s 1974 album “Caribou.” The album is largely considered one of his more lackluster albums of the early 70s. But within it hides a gem called “Ticking.” The final track on the album tells the story of a young man who is driven insane and goes on a shooting rampage. Again the words are written by longtime friend and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The song is vivid and imaginative. And unfortunately, it’s a more accurate portrayal of todays youth than it was in 1974.
1) Curtains
One of the most epic and dramatic Elton John songs of all time. The song starts off slow and builds to an unbelievable crescendo. A slow and sad song, but with lyrics that let the listener relates it to anything they want. It’s unique and Elton John hasn’t written a song like it since. Some say Elton’s writing can be lazy at times and many of his songs sound the same, but “Curtains” is completely original and a true diamond to treasure.