Similar to the debut entry in my "Top Shelf? Okay? Or No Thanks?" series in which I sang the praises of The Eagles "I Wish You Peace", here is another gem that I feel goes underrated in the catalogue. You won't find it on any hits collection, yet "All The Nasties" is a track that is top shelf Elton for me. It also is a track, alongside the likes of "Holiday Inn", that highlights why Madman Across The Water is my favorite album by him. Something about this pure piano-driven demo I find even more appealing than the album version. And the choir-like "Oh my Soul" fadeout never fails to give me chills.
The other thing that dawns on me is can you believe there are artists out there who were this gifted that this is "just" one of their demos!
An important song for Elton, since he made the first reference to his sexuality ("If it came to pass that they should ask, what would I tell them?") and nobody caught it. He explains this in his book, and it certainly makes the song more moving.
My lord. Thank you, I hadn’t heard that. The ending sounds like his voice in 1974-5, not Madman era. That guy was a monster back then, wasn’t he?
According to Elton in the book, yes. Bernie wrote the lyrics around Elton's feelings at the time. (Some of the Jewel Box notes are adapted from the book as well)
