THIS ONE just ALWAYS ‘KNOCKS ME OUT!’ Even though I was never a real CIVIL WAR BUFF, much less a ‘RE-ENACTOR’, as some of my FRIENDS are, I’ve always APPRECIATED the SERIOUSNESS, the SUFFERING, and the PAIN associated with that AWFUL time in our history, and also the SIMMERING, BITTER HATRED that was engendered by that CONFLICT, and that still exists today in many areas of the UNITED STATES, though mostly in the SOUTH. I’ve lived in several states where they still call it the ‘WAR OF NORTHERN AGGRESSION’, and it isn’t uncommon to see a REBEL FLAG displayed next to the STARS AND STRIPES, hanging from the FRONT PORCH, and a BUMPER STICKER on the FORD PICKUP that says, ‘THE SOUTH WILL RISE AGAIN!’. Still, neither BERNIE TAUPIN nor ELTON JOHN are Americans, and to be able to evoke the type of PATHOS they do in this GREAT CLASSIC, shows INCREDIBLE SENSITIVITY and BOUNDLESS IMAGINATION. And if you LISTEN, especially toward the END, you’ll hear some INCREDIBLE BASS PARTS, being played (probably) by TUBAS, BARITONES, and possibly SOUSAPHONES (TROMBONES, TOO?) as well. It’s great to hear the LOW BRASS in HARMONY, and GUS DUDGEON, who produced this album, also hired PAUL BUCKMASTER as ARRANGER on this record. PAUL did quite a lot of good stuff back then, and I’m THRILLED that he took the time to do THIS ONE! CALEB QUAYE did the REALLY TASTEFUL GUITAR PARTS on THIS ONE, TOO! Yeah, I LOVE THIS SONG!
Posted on: Sun, 23 Nov 2014 08:32:33 +0000
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