| Made in England |  | Artist: Elton John
Label: Polygram Records
Category: Music
List Price: $10.98
Buy New: $1.59
You Save: $9.39 (86%)
New (7) Used (14) from $0.10
Rating:  1 reviews
Sales Rank: 804292
Media: Audio Cassette
Discs: 1
UPC: 731452618542
EAN: 0731452618542
ASIN: B00000ERMH
Release Date: March 21, 1995
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Believe | | • | Made in England | | • | House | | • | Cold | | • | Pain | | • | Belfast | | • | Latitude | | • | Please | | • | Man | | • | Lies | | • | Blessed |
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| Customer Reviews:
I Believe in Elton (Cassette Version) December 7, 2006
Lonnie E. Holder (Columbus, Indiana, United States)
Elton John and Bernie Taupin proved through the 90s that they could create beautiful music. As I look through their portfolio of 90s CDs, each and every album is at least above average. This album contained interesting musical features that are somewhat unique for Elton John. This album was positioned between "The One," which is of similar quality, and "The Big Picture" and "Songs from the West Coast," both of which are better than this album.
I enjoy bombastic music, and the opening track is gloriously so. "Believe" is an excellent love song that shares a peak U.S. chart position with this album, both being lucky number 13. The vocals and the music soar and burst into the air, almost literally. The excellent video that accompanied this song was, in my opinion, the best ever for an Elton John song. This song is the biggest reason to have this CD, though some listeners may find the song too pretentious.
At the end of "Believe" is a nine second transition section that connects "Made in England" with the first song. The second song is another winner on this album, though it only reached #52 on the charts. The music is fast and much lighter than the heavily orchestrated first song. This song is a bit autobiographical and largely humorous as Bernie Taupin's lyrics are a bit self-deprecating while also poking fun at Elton's critics. There is another transition at the end of this song, this time about 30 seconds long.
The third track is poignant and beautiful. "House" speaks of the last refuge we all have, ourselves. Though the lyrics speak of a physical house, they also apply to our minds. The measured pace of the song could be boring, but instead the emphasis on the words and the change in tones keep this song enjoyable and another of the better songs on this CD.
The topic of "Cold" is love from afar, but worse, the person loving from a distance sees how the person he loves is being treated. This loving person is also being threatened if his love leaves. This style of this song contains some similarities to "Believe," and topic fits as well. Elton continues on a roll with four excellent songs in a row.
The next song is a bit creepy, as the title and the topic are "Pain." This fast song bears some similarity to the faster songs on, for example, "Yellow Brick Road," but the subject is strange. There is a reference to 1994 that may be a personal reference that I do not understand. This song is about average for this CD.
After the uncomfortable topic of the previous song "Belfast" is a welcome change of pace. The lyrics of this pretty song are poetic and evocative, and Taupin packs a lot into his inspired lyrics. There are nice musical touches from an accordion, pipes, flute and a violin solo. The quiet music is gorgeous and beautiful and is another of the better songs on this CD. This 6:30 song also has 1:45 introductory and 37 second closing transitions.
A lyrically interesting song is "Latitude." Interesting because latitudes are the imaginary lines that circle the earth at specific distances, and Taupin uses these lines as an allegory for those things that separate people, both physical and metaphysical. The music is slow and measured and reasonably well done. This song is most similar to Elton's "Madman Across the Water" music, and such music is always enjoyable.
The next song is a request for a long term relationship. "Please" is a medium-paced song with reasonably good lyrics. However, this song is lower than average for this CD, though still a good song. It is hard to have every song be excellent. This CD seemed to get a bit bogged down at this point. "Man" has a molasses feel to it and even when the song gets faster it just never takes off. This song is too morose, though the refrains are reasonably well done. I consider this song to be the weakest on this CD. There is a 30 second closing transition at the end of "Man" leading into the next track.
The next track is lyrically interesting, though musically below average for this CD. "Lies" is about what the title speaks, though I am unsure of whether Elton is speaking to his significant other, to Bernie Taupin, to his fans or to someone else. This faster-paced song lacks musical inspiration and sounds too much like filler at this point in the album.
I believe that the final track was written for a godchild, though I was unable to confirm that dedication. "Blessed" is another pretty song that reached #34 on the charts. The beauty of this song is the mellow acoustic parts leading into the strong refrains. While this song is liked by many, overall I think this song is only a bit above average for this CD. It may be that I prefer the sophistication of the better songs on this CD, or it may be a stylistic preference. In any case, many people think this song is one of the best on this CD.
I find the discussions of Elton's musical quality humorous. Elton was rarely ground-breaking, even at the peak of his commercial popularity. Elton has a style that appeals to many people, including me. It may well be that that style is increasingly identified with "adult contemporary," which is becoming synonymous with "old folk's music," but perhaps that is appropriate. Elton was the biggest thing on the radio when I was in high school and we continue to grow old together. There is a certain comfort in knowing that a man who was an excellent musician and song writer for four decades can still churn out new music that reaches the level of excellent. There are not many artists about whom that can be said from any era.
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