Has Elton John recorded another song that rocks harder than "The Bitch Is Back"?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Elmo, Jan 14, 2020.

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  1. SirMarc

    SirMarc Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cranford, NJ
    Just checked on Qobuz, it's on the Redbook and hi res Tumbleweed Connection
     
  2. Rose River Bear

    Rose River Bear Senior Member

    He tried to rock as hard as the Stones with BIB the Stones knockoff. He did not quite get there. Has anyone tried a Stones knockoff and rocked as hard? Probably not. Maybe Paul Westerberg.
    However...…...I agree that it is one of his hardest rocking songs. :D
     
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  3. OberonOz

    OberonOz Senior Member

    Elton made Pinball Wizard his own and I'd argue that he made Lucy In The Sky his own too.
    As for the OP, Id give the edge to Saturday Nights Alright For Fighting as EJ's hardest rocking song. In the 80s Id say it would be Im Still Standing. Lots of great suggestions in this thread, but SNAFF and BIB are pretty hard to beat!
     
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  4. idleracer

    idleracer Forum Resident

    Location:
    California
    :kilroy: "Rocks Harder" is a vague term. Some people might interpret it to mean "Rocks Faster" while others might think it means "Rocks With The Distortion Unit Cranked Up More." In other words: Which rocks harder, "I'm Down" or "Helter Skelter"?
     
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  5. Price.pittsburgh

    Price.pittsburgh Forum Resident

    Location:
    Florida
    I wouldn't buy your argument with his Lucy cover. The difference is that with The Who's Pinball Wizard it's lacking in emotion when compared to EJ's which is strange since Daltrey is one of the great emotional rock singers. But the Beatles Lucy is a masterpiece. It's an experience. I mean if you mean EJ made it his own as in he didnt better it he just does a very unique version, I agree. I doubt it's the hit it was though had he not been the biggest pop star in the world at the time.
     
  6. quicksrt

    quicksrt Senior Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    The riff is rocking hard, the drums swing swiftly, sound is incredible. Not lightweight imo.
     
  7. darkmage

    darkmage Through Doors of Moonlight

    Location:
    Madison, Wisconsin
    Thanks for posting! I have never seen this clip, or this version of his band in 1976. They definitely rock! Still led by Davey Johnstone on guitar but missing Nigel Olsson and Dee Murray. The only time I saw EJ was in 1982 and both had returned by then.
     
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  8. KankRat

    KankRat Forum Resident

    Location:
    USA
    The Dream Theater cover of Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding got me back into EJ's early stuff. For DT to cover it, it's pretty rockin'.
     
  9. daleyguy

    daleyguy Forum Resident

    Location:
    Alberta, Canada
    I think Dear John is a good rocker.

     
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  10. OberonOz

    OberonOz Senior Member

    You got it. I didn't mean that it was better than the Beatles original, but that Elton made it his own and his version could stand toe-to-toe with the Beatles version. Of course, it didn't hurt having Dr Winston O'Boogie singing and playing on it too. I believe he was quoted as saying he liked it better than the Beatles original, but what would he know? hehe
     
  11. DLD

    DLD Senior Member

    Location:
    Dallas, Tx
    Crocodile Rock ain't exactly an arena ballad. He plaayed it when I saw him winter of 1972. It hadn't been released yet, totally unknown to the audience, and it rocked balls.
     
  12. Price.pittsburgh

    Price.pittsburgh Forum Resident

    Location:
    Florida
    My issue with Elton's version is it sounds like he's singing a love song about Lucy which conflicts with the imagery of the lyrics.
     
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  13. joepepitone

    joepepitone Forum Resident

    Location:
    USA
    This thread has me thinking about throwing out my entire collection of music.
     
  14. debased

    debased Senior Member

    Location:
    Roanoke, Virginia
    A few years ago I went back and bought a bunch of his albums from the 70's. I liked "Crocodile Rock" as a kid but grew tired of it. It was only after hearing the previous albums before Don't Shoot Me that I realized what a statement it actually was. Definitely a precursor to some of the songs that got recorded for Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
     
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  15. Wildest cat from montana

    Wildest cat from montana Humble Reader

    Location:
    ontario canada
    I'm down with ' I'm Down '....
     
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  16. uffeolby

    uffeolby Senior Member

    Location:
    Västerås, Sweden
    ???
     
  17. Colinjpush

    Colinjpush Master of Rhythm and Pacing

    Location:
    Erie PA
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  18. DLD

    DLD Senior Member

    Location:
    Dallas, Tx
    I've definitely tired of Croc Rock as well but, back then, at that moment, after hearing mostly ballad after beautiful ballad, it was magic
     
  19. Moshe

    Moshe "Silent in four languages."

    Location:
    U.S.
    TBIB doesn't really feel like a "rocking" type song for me.
    Saturday Night and Pinball Wizard do.
    TBIB reminds me of Snookeroo by Ringo Start which Elton also wrote and played piano on.
    Theyre just uptempo pop songs.
    A lot of these are.
     
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  20. supermd

    supermd Senior Member

    Location:
    San Jose, CA
    Maybe my favorite one-two punch on this forum. :biglaugh:
     
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  21. Christian Hill

    Christian Hill It's all in the mind

    Location:
    Boston
    Candle in the wind?


    ;)
     
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  22. bryduck

    bryduck Forum Resident

    Location:
    Glendale, CA US
    That's the one that gets my vote . . .
     
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  23. Rick Robson

    Rick Robson

    Location:
    ️️
    Someone saved my life tonight!

    ;)


    P.S.: BY FAR my favourite drum lines on an Elton's song!
     
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