Elton John (1974) Pinky - LOST70sGEMS

Elton John's Caribou album is one of his forgotten works form his 70s run, looking past the giant hits of the Bitch is Back and Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me, we have an album of diverse material ranging from heavy guitars, acoustic textures, odd synth parts and more of Elton's melodic countrified vocals.

 Pinky is one of his most understated ballad with it's sunny flamenco flavour, gospel harmonies and surging analog synthesizer, all dancing to his effortless pop rock grooves and high tenor melodies flowing with a country rock exuberance. Its almost a shame it's followed up by Grimsby, a
heavy ode to the fishing port of Grimsby with the oddest sounding mix of twin guitars playing overdriven parts and reverse echoed hi-hats and crashing cacophonous power chords; but once again the vocal melody is king and the slow parts where the guitars are really strangled for maximum vibrato and Elton's voice takes on an extra earthy sheen is still memorable. Dixie Lilly is another superb fusion of Elton's natural country rock vocal and honky tonk style with more 70s touches throughout proving he was the decade's definitive artist in his combo of sentimental balladry, strutting rhythms, country vocals and yacht rock arrangement. Even the flamenco come honky tonk number Solar Prestige a Gammon with it's cheerful Nillsson melody and European languages and fine acoustic work is an example of his playful if overindulgent self though the track with it's dancehall beat and louche delivery never feels in danger of being too cringecamp and the accordion sound is approximated by use of multi-tracked Moog lines is creative.

 I've Seen the Saucers is a brilliant song with tablas and piano chords ringing out to a tender Elton vocal, while Stinker is anything but with the incredible tension created by a sturdy drum beat before a zapping guitar lasers away into a big traditional rhythm and blues song full of horn players screeching in ways you've never heard a overdriven rock solo.