Continuing my look at the albums of 1975…

I did an Elton John deep dive a few years ago after watching the movie Rocketman. I listened to most of his albums but skipped a stretch between 1974 and 1983 that includes his work without lyricist Bernie Taupin and several releases widely considered his worst.

I gave a cursory listen to 1975’s Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy but in retrospect should have given it more time. It is purportedly John’s own favorite of his albums, and having given it a few spins myself now, I’m a fan.

This is a concept album about the early days of John and Taupin (John is Captain Fantastic, while Taupin is the Brown Dirt Cowboy). That subject matter is hard to discern at times, given Taupin’s typical lyrical weirdness, but on some tracks it’s quite apparent.

On the track ‘Bitter Fingers,’ John sings about the duo’s desire to write more challenging music: “Those old die-hards in Denmark Street start laughing at the keyboard player’s hollow haunted eyes / It seems to me a change is really needed / I’m sick of tra-la-las and la-de-das .” ‘Meal Ticket’ is a jealous screed about those who’d already found success.

And ‘Writing’ is a charming look at the “two rooms” songwriting process that made John into one of the most popular musical artists of all time.

The album’s best song, and only single, is ‘Someone Saved My Life Tonight.’ The emotional epic chronicles John’s near-marriage to Linda Woodrow and subsequent suicide attempt. John’s friend, singer Long John Baldry, convinced him to break off the engagement for the sake of his career and personal happiness.

That song reached #4 on the Hot 100, while Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy became the first album to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200. It was the fifth of six consecutive John albums to reach #1 between 1972 and 1975. The sixth was Rock of the Westies, a 1975 release that I won’t get to during this installment of Decades.