“Number Ones” contains a pair of underappreciated or frequently overlooked tunes, the heartfelt “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word” from “Blue Moves,” and the catchy “Philadelphia Freedom.” “Freedom,” with its purposeful Indian war drum beat, was written in honor of Elton’s friend Billie Jean King in order to give her tennis team the Philadelphia Freedoms more exposure. Aided by a B-side featuring Elton and John Lennon singing “I Saw Here Standing There” live, “Philadelphia Freedom” earned its ace in April 1975. “Sorry Seems To Be the Hardest Word” is a rarity in Elton’s canon: not only did he write the bulk of the lyrics (90% of the time Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics and Elton composed the music), but it’s a number one with substance. It’s a dark, gloomy commentary on an adult relationship gone sour, hardly the stuff of a chart topper: “What I gotta do to make you love me? What I gotta do to make you care? What do I do when lightening strikes me? And I wake to find that your not there… What I gotta do to make you want me? What I gotta do to be heard? What do I say when it’s all over, babe? When sorry seems to be the hardest word.”

The bulk of “Number Ones” is inhabited by indisputable classics, tired warhorses and compost that somehow made it to the top of the heap. Elton was dead set against releasing the fun 50s stomp “Bennie and the Jets,” because he felt the original recording was too simple and unadorned. Enter producer Gus Dudgeon, who gave it a live feel by adding whistles, off-beat hand claps and applause. “Benny” not only topped the rock charts, it also became Elton’s first number one on the R & B charts. The ballad “Your Song,” (yes, that song again) one of Elton’s earliest hits (1970) drifts along on a hint of classical-influenced piano and Paul Buckmaster’s soft string accompaniment. It contains some of Bernie Taupin’s most unabashedly quixotic and huggable lyrics: “If I was a sculptor, but then again, no, or a man who makes potions in a traveling show. I know it's not much but it's the best I can do, my gift is my song and this one's for you. And you can tell everybody this is your song. It may be quite simple but now that it's done, I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind that I put down in words…How wonderful life is while you're in the world.” It remains one of Elton’s most popular songs, one of his own personal favorites and a must-play at every concert he gives. With sweeping flashes of pedal steel, a reverent, medieval chorus and more vivid strings arranged by Buckmaster, “Tiny Dancer” is an equally memorable heartbreaker, inspired by Taupin’s love for a dancer on Elton’s concert tour.

“Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” disappoints – instead of the original recorded with the sterling back up vocals of Beach Boys Carl Wilson and Bruce Johnston and Toni Tennille (of the Captain and…fame) we get the slick Hollywood version Elton recorded as a duet with George Michael. There’s that blasted #1 rule getting in the way of a good song again. Granted, Michael displays some impressive lung power, but this is the same guy who was in Wham! and shook his butt without remorse in his video “Faith” …And this is before he began lurking in men’s rooms, so credibility is an issue here. Recorded at a concert at Wembley Stadium in 1991, the second version charted higher than the original, catching the wave of Michael’s popularity. It’s a shame. Rarely will you ever hear back ups as immaculate as Wilson/Johnston/Tennille trio on the original.

Other popular chart toping ballads featured on the 17-song CD include the tepid “Daniel,” and “Candle In The Wind,” the embarrassing tribute to Marilyn Monroe. The song was resurrected and revamped by Bernie Taupin and Beatles producer George Martin in a tribute to Elton’s close friend Princess Diana of Wales. Elton’s magic touch didn’t fail him – the updated “Candle in the Wind” became the second biggest selling single worldwide in 1997. Two later day singles, the so-light-its insignificant “Sacrifice” and “Can You Feel The Love Tonight?” a love song for feline characters in “The Lion King,” pop up to dilute the credibility of “Number Ones.” Inexplicably, Elton’s namby pamby performance in “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” and Tim Rice’s flea-bitten lyrics not only earned an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, it landed Sir Elton a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance. Must have been a slow year. The irreverent “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” a duet with “Where is she now?” partner Kiki Dee, was meant to be a tribute to singing Motown couples such as Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Recorded during the sessions for “Blue Moves,” Elton thought so little of this slight ditty he didn’t include it on the album. If you can wade through more than one sugary verse you’ll understand why. The inevitable inclusion of “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” may inspire the Tin Man to come after Elton with his axe, and I sure wish “Daniel” would get to where ever the hell he’s going on that train and leave us alone. On the other hand, “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Gonna Be A Long, Long Time)” Elton’s answer to David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” is one of his most covered songs and still packs a sentimental wallop with its lofty chorus: “And I think it's gonna be a long long time, till touch down brings me round again to find, I'm not the man they think I am at home, oh no no no I'm a rocket man. Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone.”

“Yellow Brick Road” and “Daniel” may be necessary tired evils, but the addition of “Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds” and “Island Girl” could get the knighted Sir Elton exiled. His version of “Lucy” sucks the majestic production elements out of the Beatles’ original, turning a shiny gem into a lifeless, counterfeit lump of coal. And the syrupy “Island Girl” has about as much to do with Caribbean rhythm as Bob Marley did with the “Just Say No To Drugs” campaign.

By itself, the CD is nothing special. Having heard “Tinderbox” – one of Elton’s best songs in many, many years – I’d recommend springing for the CD/DVD combo – before they disappear like a candle in the wind.

Posted April 10, 2007 Permalink