Talkin’ About My Revolutions

ELTON JOHN
Tokyo 1971 [no label, 2CD]
Live in Tokyo, Japan, Oct 1, 1971.

Since $ingapore banned long-haired rockers back in the ’70s, most of them headed to Japan or Australia where rock music has a 40-year history. This Tokyo show was Elton’s debut in Japan and judging by the performance and reception, he left a lasting impression.

Interestingly, Elton back then would play solo for the first set. Then his band of just drums and bass would come on. He would do many obscure songs like It’s Me That You Need, Rock Me When He’s Gone, Come Down In Time, Skyline Pigeon and Friends, all rarely performed live.

If you pick up Elton’s bootlegs of outtakes called The Dick James Sessions, in three volumes, you can see how much he recorded and left off his albums. This is something new indie singer-songwriters might want to reflect on. Less is oftentimes more.

Also, back then new talent would pad their shows like they sometimes do today, with covers. Here Elton performs three covers - Honky Tonk Women, Elvis’ My Baby Left Me and Jerry Lee Lewis’ Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On. But to Elton’s credit, you don’t really care for them. It’s his own material that you want to hear.

What you have in this show is a preview of his Madman Across The Water album done live. Unfortunately no Tiny Dancer or Levon. The show is marvelous if recorded a bit shrill and sometimes the vocals are over enthusiastic and off color. The recording is a soundboard and in stereo. A nice one for fans of early Elton John. - Professor Red

CD1
1 It’s Me That You Need
2 Your Song
3 Rock Me When He’s Gone
4 Come Down In Time
5 Skyline Pigeon
6 Rotten Peaches
7 Indian Sunset
8 Ballad Of A Well-Known Gun
9 Friends
10 The King Must Die
11 Holiday Inn
12 Can I Put You On

CD2
1 Country Comfort
2 Honky Tonk Women
3 Border Song
4 Madman Across The Water
5 Amoreena
6 Take Me To The Pilot
7 My Baby Left Me
8 Jam
9 Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On

Click here to download the tracks.

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