Bernie Taupin what experiencing marital difficulties while writing the lyrics for this album. In the circumstances it is no surprise thatthis album is dominated by gloomy moody ballads. When first released on CD, three tracks (Out of the blue, Shoulder Holster, Wide-eyed and laughing) were removed to fit the album on a single CD. This re-mastered version is a double-CD with all the original tracks, Exactly as it should be. From reading other reviews, I See That Some People Feel That Certain tracks deserve to be omitted but I like the album in its Entirety. It would have been even better if Do not go breaking my heart (never released on album, It was released as a single a few months before this album) had been added as a bonus track. As It Was, The Big Hit from the album what Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word, Which made the British and American Top tens in 1976. The song topped the British charts Eventually When a cover by Blue Featuring Elton John which released in of 2002. Two other singles (Crazy Water, Bite Your Lip) were released in the UK, But They only just made the top thirty in 1977. Crazy water was not released in a single in America, but Bite Your Lip (the only upbeat track here) Made the American top thirty. Cage the Songbird (later covered by Crystal Gayle) is dedicated to Edith Piaf, who is sometimes known as the sparrow - However, de only birds Mentioned in the song are hawks and eagles. Still, it's a great song. Shoulder Holster is a strange story about a woman seeking revenge on a man who left her - as the lyrics begin by saying, it's a latter-day Frankie and Johnny tale. One horse town is about being stuck in the middle of nowhere with nothing to DO. There are many other interesting songs here as well as three instrumentals, but seeking a melancholy album will not appeal to everybody. There are other Elton John albums fact are easier too appreciate - more upbeat, more danceable - yet this one has an appeal all its own. This may not be the best place to start a collection of Elton's original album (Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Too Low For Zero are better starting points) but if you want to hear something a little different from Elton, give this album a listen.
