Only saw this video a year late... but I grew up a huuuuuuge Elton John fan when I was in grade school and middle school in Los Angeles. I had the full page ad that ran in the Calendar section of the Los Angeles Times for his Dodger Stadium shows... I had his TIME magazine cover ("Captain Fantastic") hung up in my room, along with a poster of Elton as the Pinball Wizard. His 70's output was among the best series of music ever recorded. My list is fairly close, but I had to put "CAPTAIN FANTASTIC AND THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY" album as his best. The packaging alone was mind-blowing. I remember going to my local record store (Aaron's Too in the valley) when this album came out and buying it. I was absolutely blown away by the package: TWO BOOKLETS (Scrap Book and Lyrics Book,), poster, and fan club flyer. Then the actual music... My god. The title track has EVERYTHING I want in an Elton / Bernie song... wonderful lyrics combing through a delicate song that explodes to life. The drums might be the best recorded drums in rock history (w/ XTC's Black Sea album). "Better Off Dead," "Bitter Fingers," "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" and maybe the best closer ever: "Curtains" with it's chiming, elongated closeout to this masterpiece.

Tumbleweed Connection. To this day still my favorite Elton John album. A great run of albums as you said. Rivals Stevie Wonders 70s output. (IMO)

I was incredibly lucky to see Elton with Dee, Nigel and Caleb at a run down club in the Uk just as he was breaking in America. A battered old white piano and a tiny, sweaty, overcrowded club. He was absolutely brilliant.

Another reactor here on KZfaq is a musician in his own right and had Nigel and Dee play on a song that this guy wrote. He learned from Nigel that when Nigel was being recorded for all of these Elton John albums, there were 16 microphones placed strategically to get that full, rich drum sound that we have come to love from Nigel!.

To me all the great artists and their work was completed in the first half of the 1970's.

Amoreena, Come Down in Time, Where to now St. Peter are 3 of the best songs in history by any artist or songwriter. Lyrics, music, arrangement, mood, delivery...stellar.

Elton’s best period for sure. Great video choice-so much better than a complete discography! Captain Fantastic for me. It just works as a whole faultless from beginning to end, and so intimate! Mazzy nails it with his comment about the drums.

I was obsessed as a child with Elton John in the 70s.

These albums are all special, and personal as well. #10 is a top three for me. "Don't Shoot Me..." often gets overlooked, and at the time "Crocodile Rock" was just a side closer. The tracks I love are "Blues For Baby And Me," "Have Mercy On The Criminal," and perhaps my favorite "High Flying Bird." These are top Elton/Bernie songs in my mind, and the whole album has a unique feel. Still, to each his own - and thanks for the inspired video.

Love Elton John

Exactly- Capt. Fantastic is perfect . I used to bumb my mom"s ear plug with a transistor radio at night . They played the hell out of "Someone saved my......"

Saved my paper delivery money for a month to buy Goodbye YBR in 1973 .

I’m not Elton John’s big fan and I never was. However, the song I’ve Seen That Movie Too from the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album is in my opinion a masterpiece. It’s hard for me to clearly explain why, but I guess because it’s so convincing in terms of personal emotions it conveys. And the whole album is outstanding indeed.

Brown Dirt Cowboy, Rock of the Westies and Blue Moves......essentially the same backing band. They kicked ass and that's my top three.

I won a pair of tickets to see Elton. I love Elton. You have expanded my love of Elton. When I love that concert I'll be thanking you for the understanding of Elton you gave me.

Wow, what a thoughtful, touching, moving tribute to one of the best musical artists of my lifetime. No wonder I love your videos, this makes me wanna pull and play Elton’s entire 70’s catalog. What a wonderful video, Mazzy, thanks for this. 👍❤️

Great job Mazzy; Elton definitely ruled the 70’s. You gotta give credit that all these Albums were different than each other not repeating the same thing over & over. They all had their own vibe & style. Loved the lyrics booklets & photos that were always included not many artists did that. As you said Producer Gus Dungeon was a major part of the E.J. sound & Elton always acknowledges that Thumbs Up.

Thanks for this. It brought me back to a fun time of my life. Saw him once at the Fillmore East opened for Leon Russell. One of the best concerts I ever saw. Elton was a huge part of my hippie days.

Thank you Mazzy - we love you too. Great video! EJ + BT certainly blew our minds for so many friggin' years. Don't forget to listen to their 2006 collaboration "The Captain & The Kid"...

Love that psychedelic background on the monitor!