ELTON JOHN'S SOLO ALBUM 'THE DIVING BOARD'
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THE GLORIOUS CORNER
By: G.H. Harding
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Elton John
ELTON’S DIVING BOARD --- We just received the latest CD from Elton John, The Diving Board, and love it. It’s his first solo album in six years and first recording since EJ’s stirring collaboration with Leon Russell and T. Bone Burnett (The Union) in 2006; T. Bone arguably the producer of the moment, along with England’s Paul Epworth.
The first single “Home Again” immediately won me over with its stark lyrics and mood of reflection and renewal. The video, if you've not seen it, is just dazzling. It certainly harks back, as does the whole album to his early Tumbleweed Connection days. It immediately ranks with John and Bernie Taupin’s best works.
We also instantly loved “Oscar Wild Gets Out” with its whimsical and dynamic piano work. People may forget, but EJ is a first-class musician, and two instrumentals here (including the stellar “Quicksand”), more than prove that. “Can't Stay Alone Tonight” is perhaps the album’s hidden gem. Gorgeous, perfect; it’s more than a reminder of the great songs the John/Taupin cannon has produced, with the lyrics spot on perfect: “You're the last chance on the highway/I'm that open stretch of road/You're the diner in my rear-view/A cup of coffee getting cold." We also loved “Mexican Vacation.”
Said John to the NY Times, “These are serious songs for adults, not radio-ready pop hits.”
“We are not having to write to cater to a certain trend,” Taupin said. “We're past that.” It’s a telling quote as this album, more than anything, presents John … as John. He sounds more stable, more relaxed than ever before; something I first began to notice on The Union.
It’s funny, I just heard some new Paul McCartney music on Q/104.3 here … but, I have yet to hear any of John’s new work there. It’s a funny dynamic; labels rarely want legacy artists to record any new material; for fear it won't get played. Classic rock radio usually plays only the classics hits … over and over. Sad, but true.
This is a stunning, revelatory album from John. Certainly one of his best ever!
FLASH HARRY --- While we're talking classic rock (something we love to do) we'd be remiss in not mentioning we had the honor of listening to the last album ever from Harry Nilsson, Flash Harry (his 16th solo album); finally released on Varese Sarabande Records. I always loved Harry; be it his classic recording of “Without You” (that Badfinger’s Pete Ham and Tom Evans wrote) or his terrific Son of Schmilson album, with the likes of George Harrison and Ringo Starr playing along. The track “You’re Breaking My Heart So F_ck You” becoming an instant classic.
One classic-Harry story is that when he was about to re-negotiate his contract with RCA, he took along none-other than John Lennon (who he became fast-friends with, as well as recording the classic Nilsson/Pussycats album). RCA stunned that Lennon was in their company (and, maybe even hoping Lennon would sign with them) literally gave Harry (and, John) whatever he wanted. An even better story is that when Harry wrote a big song for The Monkees (“Cuddly Toy”), his music publisher told him he could quite his bank job!
When Flash Harry was originally slated for release Harry was in the midst of a crisis of confidence. His voice had been damaged and his was being besieged by an accountant who had made off with much of his fortune. RCA has finally let him go and he was about to embark on a new recording career with a new label. It never came out and only ramped up his troubles.
Listening to it now, produced by Steve Cropper, of all people, it’s not bad at all and actually quite splendid. Starting off with “Harry” sung by Eric Idle (Monty Python) it more than sets the mood for the tone of the album.The album features Nilsson's own recording of "Old Dirt Road", co-written and performed with Lennon on Lennon's album Walls and Bridges (1974); Lennon's last album of original songs before his six-year hiatus.
We also really loved “It So Easy,” which Harry wrote with Paul Stallworth, who would later go onto success with a group recording for Harrison’s Dark Horse Records, called Attitudes. FYI: Attitudes featured a keyboard-wizard/writer named David Foster.
Shortly after the release of this album, Nilsson retired from recording. Though he would subsequently reverse his decision and record various songs for film soundtracks in the 1980's and 1990's, he never issued another full album. (Literally hours before his 1994 death, Nilsson finished recording the final vocal tracks for a planned 'comeback' album, but it has yet to be released.)
Nilsson is certainly an acquired taste. Haphazard, whimsical, downright maddening … if you liked him … you really liked him! Amazing highs and terrific lows. His first big hit was with the song “Everybody’s Talkin”” written by Fred Neil, from the film 1969 Midnight Cowboy. We love this album … we miss you Harry!
STUDIO DREAMS --- Producers Joel Diamond and Rudy Perez recently completed sessions for the just-released single “Dreams Come True,” by Rebecca Holden and Abraham McDonald. They shoot the video 14 days from today in Nashville. A full album will be released in December.
CLOSING NOTES --- Elton John plays NYC's Madison Square Garden in December. We can't wait ... To say rock-group Boston takes their time recording their albums is an understatement. Since their debut in 1976, they have only released five studio albums with a sixth on the horizon. According to MusicTap.net, their sixth album, Life, Love and Hope, will be released by Frontiers Records on December 3, eleven years after their last, Corporate America and six years after the suicide of lead singer Brad Delp. Little more is known about the upcoming release. At one point, Tom Scholz had said that the group had been working on new material and some had been recorded before Delp's death. It is possible that some of that material may make it on the album. More likely is that there will be music with new lead singer Tommy DeCarlo who joined the band in 2008 ... More Micky: Micky Dolenz will host the industry’s 2013 Parnelli Awards in Las Vegas on November 23, executive producer Terry Lowe announced. “We are thrilled to have this consummate entertainer hosting our 13th annual award show,” said Lowe, publisher of FRONT of HOUSE and PLSN magazines. “His long career as a top performer and his great sense of humor will make for a memorable night. We’re going to have a lot of fun.”
“Ever since I was a child actor, I was usually more interested in what was going on backstage than onstage,” Dolenz said. “That interest still exists to this day, and I am forever grateful to the men and women who contribute so much to a live performance but, often, do not receive the props that they are due.”
This year, the live event industry’s highest honors will take place at the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Nov. 23. All other awards are yet to be determined, and the nominations period ends Friday, Sept. 27. Go HERE.
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