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Amazon.co.uk Review
Elton John, well known at this stage in his career for his flamboyance, has taken a back to basics approach on his 44th album The Captain and the Kid. With his long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin, Elton has re-approached his classic 1975 album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (the first album ever to debut at Number 1 on the Billboard chart). That album was an autobiographical document of two starving artists getting started in the music business, and their ambitions for the future. More than 30 years later, The Captain and the Kid tells a very different story, but it's no less personal or ambitious. Think of it as a sequel: where Captain Fantastic... was full of youthful optimism and big dreams, The Captain and the Kid catches up with those two characters to find that their dreams have come true in a big way, and the route that was taken to get there. It's therefore a more mature album, but not a more modern-sounding one, something that's very much to its credit. John and Taupin are a masterful songwriting duo, and they rely on the basics that brought them continued success: Elton's piano and voice at centre stage, delivering Taupin's lyrics (in fact, on "Blues Never Fade Away" and the heartfelt "The Bridge", it's nearly two minutes before any other instruments are heard). The Captain and the Kid is a rare and remarkable feat for a musician; it showcases Elton John at the height of his fame, not attempting to recapture his youth, but reexamining his career. It's an intelligent and thoughtful album, and Elton John's finest in many years. --Ted Kord
Review
In 1975, Elton Hercules John, riding high on a string of hit albums and singles, released his crowning glory: Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy. This song cycle told the tale of young Reg Dwight and Bernie Taupin's struggles with the seedier side of the music industry in the sixties before the rocket man and his lyricist became rock royalty. It entered the US chart at #1 and has long remained a favourite amongst fans. The Captain And The Kid, Elton's 44th album release - also following a recent critical renaissance -attempts to bring the story up to date.
Comparisons being invariably odious, it's fruitless here to expect Elton to totally match his former glories, but that's not to say that The Captain...is without any charms. With that in mind, it was probably a mistake for the title track to reference the theme of the previous album's. Yet, while the voice may seem, at times, to have descended into the realms of self-parody, Taupin's lyrics cleverly balance self-reference and metaphor to paint an admirably honest picture of the dubious rewards of fame. And the piano player also didn't forget to pack some equally memorable tunes.
"Postcards From Richard Nixon" starts the ball rolling by setting the socio-political scene as the duo arrived in the States on the verge of world domination. Along the way we get glimpses of the tensions thrown up by the relationship between tunesmith and lyricist ("Tinderbox"), the hell of writer's block and more stories of the vacuous, self-congratulatory world of show business (the woefully Elton-by-numbers "Just Like Noah's Ark"); finally arriving at a mellow scene of warm reminiscences ("Old 67"). Overall it seems that the pair are really coming to terms with the highs and lows of such a lengthy career.
Problems arise when it becomes clear that, unfortunately, stories of misery, struggle and heartache in the face of adversity are undeniably more entertaining than those of misery in the face of shed-loads of cash and drugs. "And The House Fell Down" paints a brutal picture of drug dependency, but it's hard to make it a sympathetic story when you know that the tale is told by a man for whom life's been very good indeed. Once you lose the common touch it seems, you lose it forever.
But John's fans won't be disappointed in The Captain... For a man whose life is now so public as to be virtually indistinguishable from that of our royal family this album remains as heartfelt as we could possibly hope. It's the sound of the Captain and the Kid, stepping in the ring again... --Chris Jones
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Have to agree with the previous reviews.
I'm not much of a fan of Elton's recent work, and much prefer his 70s highlights i.e. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Captain Fantastic.
But the 1st listen of this album was a total surprise. I've played it a lot since release and it gets better and better on each listen.
This album fits snuggly with the best work of his career and is quite brilliant.
I'm not much of a fan of Elton's recent work, and much prefer his 70s highlights i.e. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Captain Fantastic.
But the 1st listen of this album was a total surprise. I've played it a lot since release and it gets better and better on each listen.
This album fits snuggly with the best work of his career and is quite brilliant.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I can't believe no-one has put fingers to keyboard yet for this amazing album.The Deluxe edition of this album comes with a bonus DVD doco and a weblink on the cd to download exclusive tracks online that are not on the album but one of which appears in the lyric book.I highly recommend the Deluxe edition to the standard edition for those two reasons.One of the download tracks "Across The River Thames" is awesome,and part of the Captain and the Kid Story(post note:Unfortunately the download link is no longer active).
Elton toured Australia in late 2006 on the back of this album and had a good deal to say about it getting no airplay or promotion.Indeed he performed a block of the album's songs(5 or 6 of them if my memory serves me),right in the middle of the show preceded by "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" from the original Captain Fantastic.He spoke of the fondness he and Bernie share for that album(as do a lot of his fans)and the reasons for doing a follow up to that autobiographical masterpiece.If you buy this edition of the album,it's all explained on the bonus DVD interview.
After the show I could hear a number of disgruntled patrons complaining about too much new music and the volume of all things(and I thought I was getting old!).But as Elton said in his monologue before the "Captain and the Kid" block of songs,and I quote,"If we don't play them,how else are you gonna hear them."So he must have known there would be a few out there who only want to hear Candle..,Your Song and Crocodile Rock etc.Indeed!
But,I digress,just to point out that I think this album really did slip under the radar.It was released in Australia with no fuss whereas we got a tour edition of albums prior to this one.It is probably the best thing he's done for quite some time.It leaves Peach-tree Road and Songs From The West Coast for dead.
I dare anyone to listen to some of these tracks("The Bridge,"Blues Never Fade Away") and once you know the story behind the song,be genuinely moved!The lines in "Blues..." that refer to Gianni Versace had me in tears!And the obvious reference in "The Bridge" to the demons in all our lives is some of the best words Taupin has EVER written!
If you are an Elton fan and have not bought this album(shame on you,add it to your cart this instant)you won't be disappointed.
Breathtakingly Beautiful!
Elton toured Australia in late 2006 on the back of this album and had a good deal to say about it getting no airplay or promotion.Indeed he performed a block of the album's songs(5 or 6 of them if my memory serves me),right in the middle of the show preceded by "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" from the original Captain Fantastic.He spoke of the fondness he and Bernie share for that album(as do a lot of his fans)and the reasons for doing a follow up to that autobiographical masterpiece.If you buy this edition of the album,it's all explained on the bonus DVD interview.
After the show I could hear a number of disgruntled patrons complaining about too much new music and the volume of all things(and I thought I was getting old!).But as Elton said in his monologue before the "Captain and the Kid" block of songs,and I quote,"If we don't play them,how else are you gonna hear them."So he must have known there would be a few out there who only want to hear Candle..,Your Song and Crocodile Rock etc.Indeed!
But,I digress,just to point out that I think this album really did slip under the radar.It was released in Australia with no fuss whereas we got a tour edition of albums prior to this one.It is probably the best thing he's done for quite some time.It leaves Peach-tree Road and Songs From The West Coast for dead.
I dare anyone to listen to some of these tracks("The Bridge,"Blues Never Fade Away") and once you know the story behind the song,be genuinely moved!The lines in "Blues..." that refer to Gianni Versace had me in tears!And the obvious reference in "The Bridge" to the demons in all our lives is some of the best words Taupin has EVER written!
If you are an Elton fan and have not bought this album(shame on you,add it to your cart this instant)you won't be disappointed.
Breathtakingly Beautiful!
34 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This new album from Elton John is receiving excellent reviews. Billboard, Q and Mojo have all rated it highly, and Q have rightly stated that the album is Elton's best in 30 years.
'The Captain and The Kid' is the sequel to 1975's 'Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy', which has long been recognised as one of Elton's finest moments. That album told the story of Elton and his songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin, from their first meeting in 1967 until their arrival in the US in 1970. It was the first album ever to enter the Billboard Chart at Number One, and saw Elton reaching the absolute peak of his popularity, especially in the US.
This album picks up where the first left off, from their arrival in the US, and in only ten tracks brings us up to date with the amazing careers that they both have enjoyed. The lyrics on this album are among the most captivating and inspiring of Taupin's career, and they have certainly inspired Elton to compose some beautiful melodies. Elton's fans are raving about the album, and among the favourite tracks are "Tinderbox", "Blues Never Fade Away", "The Captain and the Kid" and "I Must Have Lost It On The Wind".
Witness and participate in the continuing resurgence in artistic excellence which Elton is enjoying. This album is a treat, and a must have.
'The Captain and The Kid' is the sequel to 1975's 'Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy', which has long been recognised as one of Elton's finest moments. That album told the story of Elton and his songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin, from their first meeting in 1967 until their arrival in the US in 1970. It was the first album ever to enter the Billboard Chart at Number One, and saw Elton reaching the absolute peak of his popularity, especially in the US.
This album picks up where the first left off, from their arrival in the US, and in only ten tracks brings us up to date with the amazing careers that they both have enjoyed. The lyrics on this album are among the most captivating and inspiring of Taupin's career, and they have certainly inspired Elton to compose some beautiful melodies. Elton's fans are raving about the album, and among the favourite tracks are "Tinderbox", "Blues Never Fade Away", "The Captain and the Kid" and "I Must Have Lost It On The Wind".
Witness and participate in the continuing resurgence in artistic excellence which Elton is enjoying. This album is a treat, and a must have.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not like in the 1970'es
I was totally disappointed when I heard this album. Fortunately I never bought this, but heard it from the library. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Peter Thomsen
A lovely album
Musically this CD sometimes takes you back to the era it suggests and is simply fabulous, lyrically it is probably perfect and emotionally it is a joy. Read more
Published on 20 Mar 2010 by Rap Howard
Elton looks back... for the better.
I have only just got this CD. For some reason it didn't seem to create much of a stir when it came out. Read more
Published on 28 Jun 2009 by GramP
Simply the best
I've followed, but not bought, all EJ's albums over the years from my purchase of Honky Chateau when I was 13 over 35 years ago. Read more
Published on 1 Mar 2009 by J. Ross
the captain and the kid
Elton John and Bernie Taupin have surpassed all expectations with this CD a follow up of Captain Fantastic, they have gone back to there earlier roots and its refreshing to hear... Read more
Published on 1 Feb 2009 by Mr. Mk Vincent
This really is his best since Yellow brick road
I can't believe this album didn't sell too well. It is, put simply, fantastic. A lot has been said about Elton being famous for being famous, but this shows and reminds us as to... Read more
Published on 2 Nov 2008 by James Phillips
We heard Richard Nixon say, I gotta go, but you can stay
It's absolutely the best recent Elton studio album. All tracks are great to listening to. And on July 8, 2008, the man himself gave me his autograph on my Special Edition-Captain &... Read more
Published on 12 July 2008 by Marcel Zuercher
Cracking album
I've had this album since it came out two years ago and have just started playing it again. These are very strong songs, that hold up to comparison with the classic 70's albums and... Read more
Published on 12 Jun 2008 by S J Buck
Yet another great album from Elton in what is proving to be his second...
Billed as a sequel to 1975's 'Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy', I viewed this album with slight trepidation because of some (whilst generally favourable) mixed reviews... Read more
Published on 20 May 2008 by A. Sweeney
Elton tries to do it again
In all honesty it must be said that this is an excellent album. If a new artist would have come up with this album it would be the sensation of the year. Read more
Published on 10 April 2008 by Koen Lesage
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