Track Listing

1. Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy
2. Tower Of Babel
3. Bitter Fingers
4. Tell Me When The Whistle Blows
5. Someone Saved My Life Tonight
6. (Gotta Get A) Meal Ticket
7. Better Off Dead
8. Writing
9. We All Fall In Love Sometimes
10. Curtains
11. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
12. One Day At A Time
13. Philadelphia Freedom

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3658 in Music
• Released on: 1995-07-31
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .22 pounds
• Running time: 62 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
With titles like "(Gotta Get A) Meal Ticket", "Writing" and "Bitter Fingers" ("Oh, could you knock a line or two together for a friend? /Sentimental, tear-inducing, with a happy end"), this was originally intended as a kind of concept album, loosely retracing the early careers and rise to fame of John and lyricist Bernie Taupin. Instead, it emerges as a clash between its singer's private and public faces, between the songwriter and the showman. "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" (allegedly about a failed suicide bid) ranks with John's most tender confessionals and Taupin's best lyrics; while "We All Fall In Love Sometimes" is a wry and compassionate admission of unrequited romantic longing. But then, there's a superfluous reworking of "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" (intended, it seemed, simply to commemorate the singer's newfound friendship with John Lennon) and the defiantly-upbeat "Philadelphia Freedom." So which was the real Elton? Tragedienne, or pop tart? Decades later, the answer is still far from clear. --Andrew McGuire

CD Description
One of Elton John's many 1970s pop gems, CAPTAIN FANTASTIC & THE DIRT BROWN COWBOY is a classic album filled with well-written, catchy tunes. The most famous song from this recordis the radio hit, "Someone Saved My Life Tonight". A bittertune about a badly entangled relationship, John's lyric rejoices in an 11th-hour triumph of freedom.
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC also features John's well-known version of the Lennon/McCartney favourite "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds". John maintains the eccentric sonic elements of this tune, but makes itmore dramatic and operatic, particularly as the song's refrain loops on and on towards the ending. "Writing" is anotherhighlight on this disc; Latin-influenced, upbeat, and bubbly, this number contains some quirky bongo playing and a light, care-free lyric centred on the actual process of composing songs. Without a doubt, John and partner Bernie Taupin were one of the best songwriting duos in rock history, and manyof their finer collaborations are captured on this 1975 release.

Customer Reviews

Elton's Best Album
To me this is Elton's best album. It represents everything good in Elton John music: chock full of memorable lyrics and tunes you find yourself singing long after they're done.

You get some of Elton's greatest hits ("Someone Saved My Life Tonight," "Philadelpia Freedom," and his cover of "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds") along with lesser known masterpieces ("Curtains," "Tower of Babel," and "We All Fall in Love Sometimes"). All in all, the album as a whole is nothing short of fantastic. I'm able to put it on and listen to it straight through without having to hit the advance button.

"Curtains" is probably my favorite song on the album: "I used to know this old scarecrow, he was my song, my joy and sorrow..." You also get the added bonus of three singles that weren't on the original album: "Philadelphia Freedom," "One Day at a Time," and "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds."
I was digging through my old albums and found I had the original album. The detailed artwork is amazing. There also was a lyric booklet as well as a Captain Fantasic poster. While I like CD's, you tend to miss out on this sort of stuff due to size constraints. It's really pretty cool.

If I were to limit myself to only one Elton John album that I felt was representative of his career, this is the album I'd get.

An Absolute Masterpiece
Having been a big Elton fan for as long as I can remember ( I grew up listening to Elton courtsey of my oldest brother who bought each album as it came out ), this is by far my favourite from an exceptional catalogue. I was 10 when this came out, but was instantly smitten from the first time I heard this.
Every song on this album is an absolute gem from the opening guitar riff of the title track right through to the repeated vocals of Curtains. Thirty years later, still, whenever I put the CD on I just HAVE to listen to the whole thing - the remarkable tunes and lyrics just make you want to shut everything else out and listen - and not stop listening until it's finished!
Both Elton and Bernie Taupin were at the height or their powers on this album - Elton's ability to match the music to the lyrics was never better showcased than here. Maybe it's because they were both writing about their path to fame and glory. Whatever, never has a record been so personal, yet so accessible to the wider audience.
In my opinion, they never bettered this album.They have come very close several times ( most noticably on "2 low 4 Zero" , " The One" and "Songs From The West Coast" ), but they have yet to conquer these dizzying heights again.

Fatastic Indeed!!!
I am only 14 years old and I am not embarassed to say that elton john is without doubt my favourite artist of all time. Captain Fantastic and The Brown Dirt Cowboy epitomises the career of man who in my eyes is a not only a national treasure but a god of pop/rock. The album chronicles the relationship and early work of John/Taupin partnership a partnership that has spanned more decades than Lennon/McCartney and one whom pop music should be glad it can call its own. Elton said of Captain Fantastic, 'It is one of the best' and I beg to differ, sorry Elton it is the best. The classic piano-rock ballad that is 'Someone saved My life to Night',the moody, 'When the Whistle Blows' and the echanting subtly and maturity of both verse and harmony portrayed in 'Tower of Babel' (My favourite track on the album and possibly of them all) gives a reality of felling to the album. It is in no way contrived despite being recorded in chronological order in a studio and it's pure instintive heart-warming lyrics and classic catchy tunes make this Captain Fantastic masterpiece fantastic indeed!!