VOL. XV, NO. 6
JANUARY 18, 1974
Record Review
By JEFF SCHWARZ
GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD - This album by Elton John is, in short, Elton's greatest achievement. The two-record set shows the tremendous keyboard ability of Elton, the unsung talent of lead guitarist Davey Johnstone, the consistently good bass guitar of Dee Murray, and drummer Nigel Olsson's super ability, which ranks him with the best.
Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin reach all the bases as they cover various topics. For one example, in "All the Young Girls Love Alice," the duo talks about homosexuals; and then they pay a tribute to Marilyn Monroe in song.
Elton and company set almost any stage or mood. The song, "Funeral for a Friend," makes the listener feel like he is at a wake. "Jamaica Jerk‑off" has the sound of the islands in it; and the title song, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," says there is more in life than material things.
CHICAGO VI - The latest in the list of Chicago albums, this album is not as brassy as the other Chicago recordings. Instead more guitar and percussion pieces are featured. Even the harmonica is used to perfection in "In Terms of Two." The soft and easy guitar is brought out in "Rediscovery" and "Something in This City Changes People" as well as in "Jenny." This does not mean that the usual trumpet sound of Chicago is not evident. The two smash singles on the record, "Feeling Stronger Every Day" and "Just You'N'Me," are excellent songs with trumpeter Lee Loughnane's talent being exhibited.
GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD - This album by Elton John is, in short, Elton's greatest achievement. The two-record set shows the tremendous keyboard ability of Elton, the unsung talent of lead guitarist Davey Johnstone, the consistently good bass guitar of Dee Murray, and drummer Nigel Olsson's super ability, which ranks him with the best.
Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin reach all the bases as they cover various topics. For one example, in "All the Young Girls Love Alice," the duo talks about homosexuals; and then they pay a tribute to Marilyn Monroe in song.
Elton and company set almost any stage or mood. The song, "Funeral for a Friend," makes the listener feel like he is at a wake. "Jamaica Jerk‑off" has the sound of the islands in it; and the title song, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," says there is more in life than material things.
CHICAGO VI - The latest in the list of Chicago albums, this album is not as brassy as the other Chicago recordings. Instead more guitar and percussion pieces are featured. Even the harmonica is used to perfection in "In Terms of Two." The soft and easy guitar is brought out in "Rediscovery" and "Something in This City Changes People" as well as in "Jenny." This does not mean that the usual trumpet sound of Chicago is not evident. The two smash singles on the record, "Feeling Stronger Every Day" and "Just You'N'Me," are excellent songs with trumpeter Lee Loughnane's talent being exhibited.
FOREIGNER - This is a typical Cat Stevens recording, featuring the piano and guitar. Cat's brilliant single release, "The Hurt," shows his extraordinary use of the organ. The entire first side is composed of "The Foreigner Suite," which shows the variation in his skill. The song is a big part instrumental, part lyrical work, in which Cat changes speeds, the idea of the song, and pleases the listener in one long great song.
TIME FADES AWAY – Neil Young tries again to make it big by himself but falls far short. In this album that's recorded live, (maybe they should have recorded this in a studio where they could have touched it up), Young shows off his flat voice for the world to hear. All songs except for the title song, "Time Fades Away," are dull and monotonous; and it's a sorry excuse for piano playing. After listening to the album for a half hour, I lost my appetite. If you are a Neil Young fan, buy this; but he should have stayed with Crosby, Stills, and Nash.
PASSION PLAY - The latest of Jethro Tull's albums is really a senseless play. After opening the album, the buyer gets an actual playbill from the Linwell Theatre, wherever that is. The passion play is interrupted by "The Hare That Lost His Spectacles," another mini-play that makes no sense at all.
TIME FADES AWAY – Neil Young tries again to make it big by himself but falls far short. In this album that's recorded live, (maybe they should have recorded this in a studio where they could have touched it up), Young shows off his flat voice for the world to hear. All songs except for the title song, "Time Fades Away," are dull and monotonous; and it's a sorry excuse for piano playing. After listening to the album for a half hour, I lost my appetite. If you are a Neil Young fan, buy this; but he should have stayed with Crosby, Stills, and Nash.
PASSION PLAY - The latest of Jethro Tull's albums is really a senseless play. After opening the album, the buyer gets an actual playbill from the Linwell Theatre, wherever that is. The passion play is interrupted by "The Hare That Lost His Spectacles," another mini-play that makes no sense at all.