Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

Listening to “Rocket Man – Number Ones” was like breathing in a beautiful memory.  As each song began, I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and happily sighed as the music washed over me. As the arrangements drew me in with a smile, the musical journey began – a journey music lover can appreciate. I am not a die-hard Elton John fan by any stretch, but you don’t have to be a fan to see that this compilation is worth owning. Living up to his title, Sir Elton John has topped the charts with enough hit singles to fill this “Number Ones” album, and then some. If you already own all of Elton’s music, you might still want to check out “Rocket Man” since it’s digitally re-mastered. If you’re looking for something more, rev up your rocket and fly out to the nearest record store. There you can grabe a limited edition version that includes a bonus DVD with live performances, music videos, and even some additional, more recent tracks.

 

In celebration of his 60th birthday, Elton John performed at Madison Square Garden in New York on March 25. Not bad for a 60-year-old… two days later this enhanced collection of 12 chart toppers and crowd favorites was released.With 17 songs in all, the 78-minute album includes music spanning twenty-four years, from 1970 to 1994.  Duets with Kiki Dee and George Michael made the cut, though apart from Elton John, the main contributor on “Rocket Man” is clearly Bernie Taupin – the co-writer on 14 of the 17 songs.

 

The album begins slowly, with the haunting lyrics of “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” which flows smoothly into “Bennie & The Jets” and “Daniel.” The tempo picks up a little later with hits including  “Crocodile Rock” and “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.” As I mentioned above, The popular duet with George Michael, “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” also makes its way into the mix, as does “Candle in the Wind,” which came to the forefront of our consciousness when Elton performed it during Princess Diana’s funeral in 1998. If you’re a listener from the latest generation you still might be surprised to find yourself familiar with more than one song on this album. “Tiny Dancer” was re-popularized by the sing-a-long scene in Almost Famous, while “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” was featured prominently in The Lion King. More fun is to be had with hits like “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” and, of course, “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to be a Long, Long Time).” “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting),” the last song on the album, closes out a well-rounded representation of Elton John’s Pop supremacy.

 

As a music legend, most of the details of Elton John’s life and music are already common knowledge. However, new and old fans alike can listen to this album and appreciate anew the impact made by this world-wide music legend.