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One strange residual of the “American Idol” phenomenon is the rebirth of music from bygone eras, in particular the 1970s, when the music of timeless artists like Elton John was launched into our lives. John is simply one of the greatest songwriters of all time, and while he continues to write and perform, there are one-offs like the new Elton John Remixed to remind us how amazing his songs really are.
This EP starts out with two versions of “Are You Ready for Love.” First is the 1979 radio version, a soft rock piece with the swirling guitars and funky bass lines associated with the era of disco, all with John’s trademark melodies and arrangements. Then there is the 2003 dance remix of the original 1977 Thom Bell-produced version, which was a huge hit in clubs recently. There’s an acoustic guitar version of “Candle in the Wind,” a nice diversion from the piano rendition that was hugely popular. “Rocket Man ‘03” takes the original vocal track from the 1972 Top-10 hit and adds modern production, but really this song is timeless no matter what you do to it. The final track is a remix of “Song for Guy,” originally released in 1978 and later as a limited edition bonus track in 1993.
There’s not much you can say about Elton John’s music that hasn’t been said before. Whether you release original recordings, remix them, or have anyone else record them from scratch, his music is embedded into our culture about as deeply as anything the Beatles ever did.
Remixed is something fans of Elton John’s music will just have to have. For the rest of you, it may just serve as a reminder of the magnitude of his legendary talent.
~Mike Farley
mfarley@bullz-eye.com
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