Skyline pigeon fly back to the ELTON SMLON PAGINA NOW!!! An Empty Sky For an Empty Head Overall Album Score: 7.2 out of 10 Well... here's Elton John at the VERY beginning of his career! Yep! And, he surprises us all because his debut album doesn't suck! Yay! Released in the golden year of 1969 ('twas golden 'cause it was the year of Woodstock and when Sesame Street debuted), Elton John delivers us a ROCK ALBUM. It's basically in the same style that he would deliver his later albums, but this one seems to have a less reliance on the piano, and more of a reliance on baroque music and, sometimes, genuine R&B rock. If you've read the All Music Guide review of this album, you should note that they're COMPLETELY WRONG about it (in my opinion, of course!) ...... in fact, I don't see why this is so much of a lesser album than the more famous Elton John album is! Sure ... it's a bit unfocused ... there are no true "gems" here, as they put it. But this is a fairly strong debut from one of rock's most beloved performers! Elton John fans should not hesitate to get this album. This album was well produced and Elton is in his best form. The main reason this album gets criticized is probably because of its lack of good melodies. Oh well! Though I do wish to contest SOMETHING about the All Music Guide review on it. There are, in fact, gems in here! Nothing quite to the equivalent of "Your Song," certainly, but "Skyline Pigeon" and "Lady What's Tomorrow" are really very beautiful and engaging! Even though some of the other stuff is a little bit boring, I DON'T CARE! Even that opening track "Empty Sky" (which is 8 minutes) gives us a good, early indication of Elton John's captivating qualities. (I mean ... he's the guy that wrote the 10-minute introduction to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, which is a song I consider to be one of the best 10+ minute rock songs of all time!) Okay, given there is some dull songs on here, but consider Empty Sky a very worthy debut from ELTON JOHN. Overall Album Score: 7.2 out of 10 (Wow---- I didn't even give The Beatles this high of a score for their debut album. In Elton John's debut album, he does manage to try our patience a little bit, but he makes up for it with a few captivating numbers. Nice job.) Average Song Score: 7.7 (Not too bad of a song score at all! Perhaps too many of the tracks are boring, but some of the others are captivating. The record company did a commendable job with including some of these very welcome bonus tracks! Yay!) Album Tilt: 7.0 (Apart from a precious few moments, I don't find the album too memorable... so I have to decrease the score in this category. However, when I do listen to the album, which has been surprisingly a number of times, I listen to it the whole way through.) Artist Tilt: 7.0 (A good debut! Bits of this album was misfired, but overall Elton did a fine job introducing himself to his future fans. There are not too many great songs in here, but there are some true keepers. Namely: "Skyline Pigeon.") Track Reviews Empty Sky 11/15 While this is probably the 20th or so time I've listened to this 8-minute track, I'm still not tired of it! I thought it ought to pull some weight with the overall score, and I couldn't very well give it a 10 out of 10 or anything too high because, other than the fact that I can listen to it, the hooks and instrumentation remains unremarkable. So, I decided to multiply the bottom by 1.5 and give it an 11! Yes! I own this site, so I can do stuff like that! It's no "Funeral For a Friend," but it still kicks major bootay, 'cause I rarely run across 8-plus minute tracks that don't piss me off. Val-Hala 8/10 A lovely song, if I do say so myself! It's more slow moving than the previous song and, as a result, it does edge into boringness ... but it's luverly, so... Cheers! This is something good for Baroque-rock fans. Elton plays the harpsichord (?) instead of a regular piano. Western Ford Gateway 8.5/10 Ah! Here is a more regular rock song! It's a little bit --- *yawn* due to its lack of a good melody, but ... all in all ... it's probably one of the more memorable tracks in this album. Hymn 2000 6.5/10 Ooo! This is almost what I'd consider to be a mod song! What's with that cheesy 60's floot? I don't know! It's low-key and pleasant, but almost entirely boring and unremarkable (with precious few interesting hooks). It's a little bit boring and misfired, but really quite agreeable. The lyrics are, to no surprise, Biblical. Lady What's Tomorrow 8.5/10 Say what you want about it, but you can't deny that this song has the some of the most interesting hooks of the entire album. The song starts out to be surprisingly similar to "Your Song." It's pleasant, peaceful, a teeny bit boring ... but then the chorus starts up. And the hooks in it are great! This song is very captivating and ultimately one of the best tracks of the album. Sails 8/10 Sailllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllls. I'm saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaailing A-Waaaaaaaaaaaaaay! Heheheheeeeeeee! Fark! That Styx song is so STUPID, isn't it! Fortunately, this Elton John song has NOTHING to do with it. Instead, this is a groovin' rock song with a very good, possibly not original, electric piano intro. Unfortunately, the rest of the song doesn't quite measure up in its remarkableness. It's sort of a mock rock jam, but the players aren't always that good. (Elton doing guitar based rock jams? Wha???) The Scaffold 6/10 Mmmm... Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn! Sorry. The score might be a little bit harsh, but I did in fact let out a huge yawn in the middle of this thing. Still, a 6 ain't that bad of a rating. Skyline Pigeon 9.5/10 Oh yeah! Best track of the album! It's really a pleasant, well-sung, and rather dynamic baroque-pop. Early Elton at his best, even though it's baroque-pop! This song most definitely has the most well-developed and memorable melody. So... fly awaaaaaaaaay. I did actually include this on my 60's mix tape (like you care about that)! Gulliver/It's Hay Chewed/Reprise 5.5/10 Brahhhahhhbubububbubububububububububuuuububububububububbub! You know ... I usually don't skip this track, but it is kinda sub-par. The "Gulliver" part is actually kinda good with dynamicness to make up for its lack of good hooks. The "It's Hay Chewed" part is a misplaced jazz jam. Blah! We don't want jazz! If I wanted jazz, I would freaking listen to Louis Armstrong! Surprisingly, Elton is competent in this area, but, it's misfired. However, the absolutely horrendous part of this song is that it is topped off with reprises of songs from the album, supposedly as a 'pleasant reminder.' Well! Do I sense an aura of Mr. Pretentiousness? Oh yeah! I don't think Elton ran out of good ideas to close the album with ... rather he thought people might like to be reminded of these songs like they were from Abbey Road or something. Oh well. This album wasn't so great. Maybe next time, Elton. Bonus tracks!: Oooo! They were generous with the bonus tracks. Surprisingly. Lady Samantha 9.5/10 Hmmmm! This is a good pop-rock song! I, for one, am very glad this track was included here instead of making us purchase it on a separate album. This is Elton John in the form that you and me probably remember him for. Good song! This one might even be better than "Skyline Pigeon." It's close. Across the Havens 9/10 Hey! Isn't it weird that these two bonus tracks essentially match everything that was on the regular album? Shouldn't such shenanigans be illegal? Nahhh! Among all other bonus tracks, these are indeed "bonus." While the song isn't too terribly interesting, the melody is quite good and it is nice-n-dynamic! Go Elton! Go Elton! Go Elton! It's Me That You Need 7.5/10 A live song of a song that Elton John apparently never actually recorded a studio copy of. There's a lot of feeling in Elton's vocal performance ... but I wouldn't have screamed murder if they hadn't included it. The song is muy, muy cheesy. (Like... more cheesy than most of the stuff I hear from him.) Just Like Strange Rain 6.5/10 Not too bad. It's another Elton John song. This one ain't piano-pop, so it might have been originally conceived during this time period or perhaps even for this album! It's a little too blah for me, though. Do you think I'm right? Or, am I just an ignoramus who drinks Diet Coke and watches Geriatric Springer? Leave your comments here.

All reviews are copyrighted by the author. He is Elton John's semi-official sidekick whenever we both happen to be in Connecticut.