'Elton John's Greatest Hits, Volume II (September 13, 1977) Remaster (2009)'!
Released just a few short years after the amazing first volume of 'Greatest Hits', 'Elton John's Greatest Hits, Volume II' tries to cover the gap of great tunes missed-out on the first volume, as well as catch up any non-knowing Elton fans on what the singer had been up to recently. What had Elton been doing? Well, he did a great number one song together with John Lennon then recorded a remake of 'The Beatles' Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds' with the latter on rhythm guitar. To top it off on November 28, 1974, shortly after the release of the first volume, Elton headlined the MSG (Madison Square Garden) and invited John Lennon to perform on stage with him, in what would turn out to be Lennon's final live performances ever! YOU can hear their fantastic duet of 'Whatever Gets You Through The Night' recorded live from that awesome concert on this excellent remaster, as well as another Number 1 duet did with Kiki Dee, 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart'! The first volume certainly skipped over the mighty 'Madman Across The Water' album from 1971, but YOU can hear the songs that influenced a generation of Pop-Rock performers like Jon Bon Jovi on this great 2nd edition - 'Levon' and the now 'Almost Famous' classic, 'Tiny Dancer'! Finally, one other song of great mention has to be Davey Johnstone's mighty guitar solo on the magnificent cover of 'The Who's Pinball Wizard' from the 'Tommy' film from 1976! Pete Townshend didn't solo on the original, so check out those hot licks that Davey fires the frets up with here in this ultimate version! - Rick Wilson, former Rock Radio Journalist with Radio Canale Grandé.
01) The Bitch Is Back (Caribou) 1974 ***** What some people can get away with! lol
02) Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (single) 1974 ***** Nice cover with Lennon on guitar!
03) Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word (Blue Moves) 1976 ***** The song 'Blue' covered!
04) Don't Go Breaking My Heart (single) 1976 ***** Nice duet!
05) Someone Saved My Life Tonight (Captain Fantastic & The Brown-Dirt Cowboy) 1975 ***** I just heard this Today in the new film, 'Hamlet 2'!
06) Philadelphia Freedom (single) 1975 ***** Tribute to Billie Jean King's tennis team!
07) Island Girl (Rock Of The Westies) 1975 ***** Nice number live!
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Grow Some Funk Of Your Own (Rock Of The Westies) 1975 ***** Grow what? lol
09) Levon (Madman Across The Water) 1971 ***** Great lyrics!
10) Pinball Wizard (Tommy: soundtrack) 1976 ***** Excellent 'The Who?' cover!
11) Tiny Dancer (Madman Across The Water) 1971 ***** Do YOU remember 'Almost Famous'?
12) I Feel Like A Bullet (In The Gun Of Robert Ford) (Rock Of The Westies) 1975 **** Nice one!
13) Whatever Gets You Through The Night: live '74 (Here & There - CD) 1976 ***** Outstanding!
14) This Song Has No Title (Goodbye Yellow Brick Road) 1973 ***** No title, but nice, catchy tune!
15) (Gotta Get A) Meal Ticket (Captain Fantastic & The Brown-Dirt Cowboy) 1975 ***** This could have been Alice Cooper!
16) Where's The Shoorah? (Blue Moves) 1976 ***** And, this could have been Michael Jackson!
17) Bite Your Lip (Get Up & Dance!) (Blue Moves) 1976 **** Cool, up-tempo dance number!
