Review (AMG)Although he had made a number of re-recordings of popular songs for a budget record label in the late '60s, Empty Sky was the first true solo album Elton John recorded after leaving Bluesology; it also marked the beginning of his long and fruitful collaboration with lyricist Bernie Taupin. Empty Sky is quite indicative of the post-Sgt. Pepper era. With its ambitious arrangements and lyrics, it's clear that John and Taupin intended the album to be a major statement. Though it shows some signs of John's R&B roots, most of the album alternates between vaguely psychedelic rock and burgeoning pop songcraft, capped off by a bizarre reprise of brief moments of all of the songs on the record. There aren't any forgotten gems on Empty Sky, but it does suggest John's potential.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine| QUOTE (Steve Hoffman) |
| A few of the early MCA Elton's were sourced from the MCA copy tapes, but most came from Digital clones of the DJM digital remasterings. The "Your Songs" compilation I did on Elton came from the existing MCA copy tapes, transferred "flat"...." Try and find the old DJM CD of this album; it's the best there will be. I actually had Kevin Gray unearth a copy for me in England when he went in the late 1980's. Any DJM Elton John CD should be on our wish list. They were the best. |
