Elderberry Wine - Elton John (Don't Shoot Me 3 of 10)

[Msdistarr]

@TROWERFAN64 The music of his early years were amazing. I know I will get "nasty grams" for this, but I think he took a musical detour. His early stuff was brilliant. He lost me around "Rock Of The Westies". I mean, what happened between his song "Where to now St.Peter", which is incredible, to "Island Girl". A bit of jump, in my opinion. There are 1 or 2 songs that I like on later albums but it's as though they were made by an entirely different person. I miss the early EJ.

[1973Veteran]

@Msdistarr I totally agree with you. Although I felt he changed after he did the "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" album.

[Msdistarr]

@1973Veteran You know, you are right. I had forgotten all about "Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboys". Yellow Brick Road had a few songs that still refelected the old Elton John, but I think your right. This is about the time he came to that fork in the road and chose a different path. No disrespect to the man, but I would love to have seen what could have been, had his music continued down that original path. But he has quite the following to this day. Just a different one.

[swvilcko]

@Msdistarr I'm in total agreement Msdistarr. His early stuff is brilliant.

[TheRorybreaker]

This was when I drinking Annie Greensprings wine, don't know if they even make that shit anymore, but when your 17 it's the nectar of the Gods

[Msdistarr]

@TheRorybreaker My choice of nectar back then was either Boones Farm Strawberry Hill or MD 2020 (Mogan David 2020). I don't know if they sell it any more. Hell, they are probably giving it away for free, just to get rid of it. When you were a young teenager, anything would taste good. Oh, those were the days!

[swvilcko]

@Msdistarr Then there was Old English 800. But lets don't go there.

[dropion]

wow..what are remebers...

[groofoot]

Not long ago I realized that you can dance to this song.

[whoboy62]

Loved this album Used to listen to it for hours (although I did that with all of Elton's albums from the 70's back when I had hours to just listen to music.

[janewin1961]

still the coolest dude around!!!

[NewShimmer]

Elton has always been a great live performer, but this is one of those songs where the performance and arrangement on the original record actually captures more energy than the live version(s).

[Msdistarr]

The horns in this song sound amazing. The arrangement is perfect.

[1jackiea]

elton at his best ,what a great song,brings back good memories in my teenage life.

[animascat]

don't shoot me is amazing

[Msdistarr]

I'm a 1960's baby and was so very lucky to have experienced the music of the 70's. I'm not saying the music of that era was better than today's but these bands were the pioneers and it was musically a special time. There was just such a "Variety". It was all rock and roll but there was such a "Unique Quality" as that era allowed so much more freedom and creativity to the artists. Music was created for music's sake. It wasn't based entirely on the almighty dollar and profit margin (yet).

[michaelp3138]

@Msdistarr well if ur not saying the music of that era was better than today's, then i will...the music from the '70s was way better - criminally better - than today's!!!

[Msdistarr]

@michaelp3138 You know, I do agree with you. I just don't like to say that the music of my era was better than anyone elses, even though I believe it is. I would rather say I'm lucky and grateful to have experienced the music of that period of time. I think it truly depends on when/what you grew up listening to, because that's all you really know at that moment in time and that's the music your memories are tied to. That's a huge thing. I Hope that makes sense.

[michaelp3138]

@Msdistarr well said - i agree wholeheartedly with everything you say and it makes perfect sense to me!

[CRAZYEYEVAN]

Those were the days

We'd lay in the haze

Forget depressive times

Thank God for Elton and Bernie !

[mariofarecraft2]

"There's a fly in the window, a dog in the yard, and a year since I saw you" - great lyric. All out great song, too.

[alwaysej]

My fave all time Elton song!!!

[LBjim]

The Cosmic Cowboy days!!

[keith5638]

Best album of all time..............brilliant!!!

[buddhabder]

In the UK this was the B-side of Crocodile Rock. What a fantastic piece of vinyl!

[ruthiesky]

Well, here it is, New Year's Day 2011, and I am sitting here in fifteen below zero wind chill Montana. I am warm inside, thank God. I felt like listening to some Elton John, just goin' thru the videos here and lo and behold, I read all of these comments that were posted in the past week!! Elton John RULES!! And I love this song! Thank you for posting it here.

[illusiondoptik]

1973 was an incredible year for Elton! At all points of view! A voice, energy, songs sublime! I want a live concert of his 73 'such as "Sundown Theater" or another good quality that made the tour 73'. Find her, it would be bliss!

[naderchaser]

I wanna go too!! I was a freshman in a small college in a tiny Nebraska town. It was a wicked winter in 1973. Deep snow. Colder than hell. Wind blowing hard. I was still a virgin (I'm a guy)...the last of all my buddies to be so. It weighed so heavily on my mind..but I was shy. Gorgeous Sue F. invited me to her dorm room late..one thing led to another, and finally....oh dear God finally..my burden was lifted. This song played, at that very moment. And 38 yrs. later, I still haven't forgotten!

[SaturnTrack]

One of Elton's best.

[KnoxBlondie]

FABULOUS SONG!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mgarguemare]

OMG, I still have this vinyl.....fantastic album!!!

[RebelFounderOdogoo]

I love this song. It always leaves me in such a good mood.

[pmoyer50]

Back then I didn't drink but Elderberry Wine would have been great in a water pipe. Those were special days. Undoubtedly one of his best albums. Whoever posted these songs thank you. Elton delivered with his tunes and Bernie with complex lyrics. Parsing lyrical content or the need for it is a rare thing these days indeed.

[franki8230]

this is just memory flash back ....enjoy :-)

[bapakeith]

CerisePsyche - always here with you

[mactheartofwarfare]

The Greatest Melody Writer Ever In Popular Music

[lanebyrd0033]

CerisePsyche..Im tryin to live'em  ...lets go!

[FTiger111]

I still have this album,goodbye yellowbrick road was another good 1

[JFinSD2]

This was the very first album I ever bought. 1973 if I remember right.

[tsardooka]

it was the first album I ever stole, befor the internet, along with paul mccartney and wings. I got away with it and turned me into a song writer. Iluv elton's music

[CerisePsyche]

Come on -- who is heading back to these great days with me !!!!!!

[salchez68]

@CerisePsyche i will Ceri!

[gwangi09]

@CerisePsyche hell yes, me too!

[CerisePsyche]

@gwangi09 Wouldn't it be great. We could have so much fun. This is a fantastic song and I was gorgeous, I bet you were fantastic then. Yes, good times and good memories. Just makes you happy to hear Elton in his prime. There was no one like him. Every song brought out different emotions.

[naderchaser]

@CerisePsyche I'll bet you're just a gorgeous now...a bit of age has made beautiful and sexy character lines in your face. You've already proven you're beautiful inside...just by what you wrote here. Obviously a cool spirit. Joel in Tucson

[CerisePsyche]

@naderchaser Hi Joe, What a beautiful and touching comment you just wrote. Yes we are all kindred spirits aren't we. Everyone here on this thread will be dancing to Elderberry Wine, there is no doubt in my mind and we were and are all gorgeous weren't we? Best Wishes for a wonderful 2011. Thanks again for the comments they really touched my heart. Yep, still cool after all these years (is that a song title?)

[KnoxBlondie]

@CerisePsyche I'm in!!! The good ole days without a doubt!

[CerisePsyche]

@KnoxBlondie I have received so many responses, I wish we could hop in a bus and head back to those days.

Hopefully, if there is an afterlife we will all be dancing to Elderberry Wine and of course having a glass or two : )

[KnoxBlondie]

@CerisePsyche I'll meet you there with wings, a bottle of elderberry, and wine glasses in hand! LOL! How I miss those days. Take care!

[TerriP1957]

@CerisePsyche I AM!!! LET'S GO!

[SuperFeralcat]

Damn...I was a teenager, but such good times. The 70's was when we were truly happy!! I would so love to go back!!

[dennismp]

How can I ever get it together, without a wife in line? To pick the crop and get me hot, on Elderberry wine...

This is Elton's second-best album, right behind Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

[wjp255]

Awesome!! Thanks!!

[VenomousVengeance]

seriously awesome song... simply fucking awesome!

[fullosht]

crisp guitar & piano

[sreisverodoeht11]

this is so cool! tune man!

[LoveJoyHouse]

yes!! i remember this song!! One of the BEST!!! I'm totally dancing in my chair.

[sparkkunicorn]

omg thank you Im 31.. I love this song no one else has it.. thanks a ton! thank you thank you! lol made elderberry wine!

[butcher777]

My gosh....oh my gosh...I can break off the knob on my radio for this song...best song on this album by a long-shot...lyrics...melody...­horns...piano...elton is in rare form here...trust me...and i have all of his albums so i know what the hell i am talking about.

[timmynord]

Discovered Elton at age 12 in 73. Corocodile Rock totally back to the 50's era style sorta.

The band was the tightest ever on this album.

[AndyVe61]

Hello, I remember I was also 12 the 1st time I heard EJ in Venezuela and it was with Rocket Man... ever since that day until today Sep 25 09 I'm still listening his songs without EVER getting tired of listening his songs; even have a doble CD called Rare Masters Soooo Goooooood!!! God Bless EJ

[mutchkatsonga]

"...You aimed to please me, cook black eyed peas me" SOUNDS LIKE "....cook black-APPEASE me."

Mr Taupin you clever wordsmith!

[ricogarion]

Listening to Elton and his band here they were so solid and indeed very successful,love this rocker.

[uclrichard]

this album is good - but it is very different from the early stuff - it is very upbeat, very new york city confidence...very chunky basslines and overproduced vocal cadences...still good. (personally i prefer the previous three, downbeat albums...)

[TinyDancer500]

This and "Madman ..." were the two I first heard as a young pup, so I got the best of both worlds. Personally, I adore "Skyline Pigeon" and "Sixty Years On" from his earlier albums, but also dig the harder sound of this one ("Have Mercy On The Criminal" especially). All part of Elton's charm for me, that he can never be pigeonholed, as much as critics have tried to over the years. He's SO much more "The Lion King", so the more oldie EJ on here for the kids to hear, the better!

[crossvilleboy]

Elton's music was part of our good ol' High School Days. Especially the Summers. Thank you for posting.

[IloveAlexisBledel689]

Elton is the best! I love his early albums so much!

[19195658]

Elton's best album in my opinion.

[17865329]

In mine too.