...Introduction... Songs from the west coast is the twenty seventh studio album from Elton John. It was released in 2001 and was seen as a return to form by many critics and fans alike. I features twelve tracks and features collaborations with Rufus Wainright singing backing vocals on the song American Triangle. ...Songs from the west coast... 1.) The Emperor's New Clothes" - 4:28 This is a fantastic track to open the album, I'm sure you are all aware of the story of the emperors new clothes. This is a nice start to the album and has nice piano as you would expect and some backing drums and vocals that add a nice touch ...  Read the complete review

I must admit to not being familiar with much of Elton John's material, even to this date. I only really knew Candle In The Wind and Your Song, before I heard the first two singles from this album. The second single, This Train Don't Stop There Anymore, was such a brilliant track that after repeated listens from TV performances, this album shot up to the top of my list of 'CDs-to-buy', and since its purchase, it has shot up to the top end of my favourite albums. So without any of the quotes such as "His best album in years" and "Return to classic Elton", as appeared in so many reviews for this album, here is my review - of a CD which I .  Read the complete review

For Elton John, this album is a return to the “Glory Days”, although for fans like me the glory days never ended. But in truth,”Songs From The West Coast”is Elton at his most sublime, the Elton of days gone by, the Elton of such masterpieces as “Sacrifice”,” “Nikita”,”Song For Guy” and “Philadelphia Freedom.” In short, Elt’s new album is a future Classic. The album opens with the track “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” Slightly tongue-in-cheek, if you recall the fairy story, the Emperor’s new suit of clothes was, in fact, a trick played by the unscrupulous ...  Read the complete review

Songs from the West Coast was released in 2001 and was Elton John's first studio album since The Big Picture in 1997. Was it worth the wait? Not really. The CD case features a picture of Elton lounging on a red leather bench in an American style diner with a police car outside the window. I'm not sure of the relevance of this but I do know it's a pretty dull picture and in some ways sort of sums up the essence of the album in that way! The CD contains twelve songs, which are: 1. The Emperor's New Clothes 2. Dark Diamond 3. Look Ma, No Hands 4. American Triangle 5. Original Sin 6. Birds 7. I Want Love ...  Read the complete review

As a child I can remember listening to two artists. One was Rod Stewart and the second was Elton John. I have not inherited my parent's love of Rod Stewart, but Elton John is a different matter. As I grew up, and entered adolescence, he was one of the singers I liked, but would never admit it to my friends for fear of being ridculed. He was a portly middle aged balding man, who wore glasses which made Dennis Taylor's look small. As I matured into the allegedly responsible adult that I am, my interest in the music of Elton John was renewed, and I cannot even remember what the trigger was. It was probably a television interview or something similar as I have always  Read the complete review