Sir Elton Hercules John, to give him his full, now legally enshrined name and royally bestowed title, is one of those artists who, on the surface at least, doesn’t fit easily into the Classic Rock remit. But for those of us whose memories are now longer than our hair, Elton John is nevertheless one of the most important and, in his 70s heyday, astonishingly prolific singer-songwriters Britain has ever produced. In conjunction with his long-time lyricist and best friend Bernie Taupin, he produced at least half a dozen of the most important albums of that over-indulgent decade.
Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in 1947, he was the victim of poor eyesight, prematurely thinning hair and a portly countenance. The fact that it has so clearly been his music and nothing else that propelled him to stardom says a lot about the sheer depth and sparkling originality of that music. Not that you would necessarily know that if you weren’t fortunate enough to have been around in the 1970s when he was releasing some of the best-loved and biggest-selling albums on the planet.
Indeed, for most listeners under the age of 50, the name Elton John is likely to conjure up all sorts of images, few of which will have anything to do with being a master at making music.
Beginning with the on-off-on-again saga of his hair, Elton John has become largely a figure of fun for people unfamiliar with his great early works. The drag-loving gay man who, back in the 80s, married recording engineer Renate Blauel amid the glare of worldwide publicity, only to divorce just as hastily. The former drug addict whose hedonistic lifestyle left him owning several mansions and a football club, and admitting to a flowers-giving habit that cost several hundred thousand pounds a year.
Close personal friend to the Beckhams and Sharon Osbourne. Sworn enemy of Madonna, who he – shock, horror! – accused of miming during her ‘live’ concerts. But for those of us who know his music, none of the above matters a jot.
Why? Because we will always remember the time when he was, quite simply, one of the most talented stars of his, and our, generation. A fact that even the man himself seems to have woken up to in recent times, recording albums that have made determined, mostly successful attempts to get back to where he was as an artist when he originally changed his name from Reg to Elton.
...and one to avoid
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