Track Listing

1. The Bitch Is Back
2. Pinky
3. Grimsby
4. Dixie Lily
5. Solar Prestige A Gammon
6. Your So Static
7. I've Seen The Saucers
8. Stinker
9. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
10. Ticking
11. Pinball Wizard
12. Sick City
13. Cold Highway
14. Step Into Christmas

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8099 in Music
• Released on: 1995-05-10
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .22 pounds
• Running time: 64 minutes

CD Description
To follow up an album that pretty much couldn't be followed--the flashy and brilliant GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD--Elton John hid away in the Caribou Ranch studio outside Denver, Colorado and recorded a certified pop mish-mash. CARIBOU contains bits of arena-rock corn ("Stinker") alongside period-poppieces that could have passed for showtunes ("Dixie Lily"),complete goofs ("Solar Prestige A Gammon") and the usual magical ballads. It's easy to overlook CARIBOU when reviewing John's '70s catalogue, but to do so is to miss a couple of his greatest singles. "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me", which features a chorus of two Beach Boys and Toni Tenille, is agospelly ballad completely worthy of those contributions, and the strutting "The Bitch Is Back" is rock arrogance of the highest order--it became Tina Turner's signature concert opener.
CARIBOU also contains some compelling filler. Among the lesser-known tracks are the lovely ballad "Pinky", which seems to be about some sort of secret liaison, "I've SeenThe Saucers", an odd little number about UFOs that happens to feature one of John's most committed vocal performances, and "Ticking", an epic ballad about a mass-murderer.

Customer Reviews

Criminally underrated
Caribou is simply one of Elton's greatest albums. Like all of his best albums, it has a bulk of fine tracks, one or two classics and a disappointment. In this case, the disappointment is rather aptly named 'Stinker', and the classics are 'Don't let the sun go down on me', 'Ticking' and 'The Bitch is back'. 'Ticking' is his trademark leviathan masterpiece; a seven minute epic, one of Taupin's most melancholy lyrics. It reminds me of a cross between 'The Ballad of Danny Bailey' and 'Funeral for a Friend' on GYBR.
There are several frankly weird tracks, both brilliant and bizarre, such as 'I've seen the Saucers', 'Solar prestige a gammon' (don't ask) and 'You're so Static.' 'Grimsby' is a gem, if only for its blatant misrepresentation of the eponymous midlands town.
It has the unfortunate situation of being immediately after GYBR, which is largely responsible for its bad reputation. However, it deserves reconsideration, for it has aged surprisingly well, and is definately better than Captain Fantastic which is as overrated as this is underrated.
Vintage Elton.

Sublime Elton doing what he does best !
Caribou is a much criticised Elton John L.P. mainly because it came inbetween his two biggest records, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Captain Fantastic. This however gives an unfair reflection of the albums merits. Caribou is an excellent release focusing purely on the balding pub pianist from Pinner and his backing band and containing some great unrecognised Elton tracks. "Pinky" is one of Eltons best album tracks along with the mad "Solar Prestige a Gammon" and "You're so Static" it accumulates a great array of piano based rock and pop. The main track on the album is of course "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me", what can be said for this, possibly Elton's finest hour. The track was lucky to be included as allegedly Elton hated it !!

Lets not hold any punches here! Elton John was quite simply the biggest music act in the world at this moment in time. His albums were selling millions and his concerts were full to bursting point! This album although maybe not his best certainly still provides an great example that R.K.Dwight was on top of the world and quite deservedly so!

Number One on both sides of the atlantic - not for nothing!
From what seemed to have made 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' Elton's Best album to date, 'Caribou' Certainly had what it takes, the album, when released in 1974, was a absolute Monster, selling over one million copies in the UK alone. The tracks are as follows:

The Bitch Is Back - A classic Rocker that could have been by the rolling stones, with a catchy chorus

Track two is called 'Pinky'. A beautiful love track with a clarinet in the background, the song is a winner, but is not very famous.

The follow up is 'Grimsby', an out-of-the-blue rock track about the town in the north of England, with recognisable backing vocals

'Dixie Lily' is a country/rock style track with a banjo played by the legendary Davey Johnstone.

'Solar Prestige A Gammon' is a somewhat Latin-influenced track with lyrics that make absolutely no sense atall, and cannot be translated into proper english

Youre So Static reminds me of 'Midnight Creeper' from the 'Don't Shoot Me' album, it is a track about New York City

I've Seen The Saucers is self explanitory, really.

Stinker is Elton at his Rock 'n' Roll Best, with good guitar riffs and a brass section

The standout track is 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me'. Not my favourite of his songs, but everyone else likes it. Again, it has a brass section.

The Finale of thee original album is an underestimated track tat tells a story. 'Ticking' is the only solo track on the album, and is a seven minute plus track.

The Who's 'Pinball Wizard' is the first of the bonus tracks, which has had bits added on, but is better than the original, any Who fans out there.

Sick City, is a rocker (if somewhat dirty, in my opinion), which was the b side to 'Don't Let The Sun...'.

'Cold Highway' is another rocker, which whas probably so to match the style of it's A side: 'The Bitch Is Back'

Thi closing track is the ever popular 'Step Into Christmas', the rocky phil-spectorish track which makes you feel the snow falling, but you've all probably heard it