200 MOST RECOMMENDED ALBUMS: #20. Continues later this week.

THE CAFFE` LATTE`

200

MOST RECOMMENDED ALBUMS

Some are the best selling, while others may be obscure, but the albums listed here are all worthy of a listen. No compilation/ best of sets. Only exceptional live albums included. This is a personal listing of the albums I enjoy the most to this day.

#20

DON'T SHOOT ME 

I'M ONLY THE PIANO PLAYER:

 ELTON JOHN 

 [1973] 

'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' attracted most of the attention in the 1970s, overshadowing the underrated previous release 'Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player'. Here, Elton John delivered an album that comes closest to perfection. Bernie Taupin's lyrics are at their creative peak and span a vast range of themes. John's music astutely matches his collaborator's masterful wordplay. The album contains some of the enduring staples of the piano player's concerts. There's the tender "Daniel", the retro fun of "Crocodile Rock" and the majestic "Have Mercy On The Criminal". The album contains other treasures that, due to John's extensive canon, have been forgotten or overlooked. These include the tracks "Teacher I Need You", "Elderberry Wine", "Midnight Creeper" and "High Flying Bird". One criminally neglected inclusion is the brilliant "Blues For My Baby And Me". The ballad sounds deceptively simple, but this beautiful song is actually grander. It builds from a sweet and basic intro with John in fine voice as gradually more instruments fill the track. Strings sweep us towards the chorus. The inclusion of a sitar gives the song added flavour. Of all of John's studio efforts, this album has best withstood the passing of time.

Highlight tracks:

* Daniel

* Blues For My Baby And Me

* Crocodile Rock

* High Flying Bird

* Teacher I Need You