TOP 100 SONGS BY ELTON JOHN. This post: #70-61. Next instalment: tomorrow.

Caffé Latte` celebrates Elton John’s 70th birthday on March 25 and a half century of songwriting with Bernie Taupin with a retrospective highlighting: THE 100 GREATEST SONGS OF ELTON JOHN

70 CURTAINS Year: 1975 Album: Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy The closing track on the 'Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy' album was penned by Elton with his regular lyricist Bernie Taupin. Gus Dudgeon produced the LP.

69 FRIENDS NEVER SAY GOODBYE Year: 2000 Album: The Road To El Dorado The DreamWorks animated film 'The Road To El Dorado' soundtrack album featured guest appearances from Eagles members Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmit as well as The Backstreet Boys. The latter contribute harmony vocals on "Friends Never Say Goodbye". Elton composed the film's music and Tim Rice wrote the lyrics.

68 ELDERBERRY WINE Year: 1972 Album: Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player "Elderberry Wine" received radio airplay in its own right as an album track as well as serving as the B-side on the single "Crocodile Rock". Both sides were created by Taupin and Elton.

67 EGO Year: 1978 Album: - "Ego" was issued in between the albums 'Blue Moves' and 'A Single Man'. Later re-releases of the latter LP included the song as a bonus track. "Ego", written by Elton and Taupin, only dented the lower rungs of the UK Top 40.

66 JUST LIKE BELGIUM Year: 1981 Album: The Fox "Just Like Belgium" was 1 of the 4 tracks credited to Elton and Taupin on 'The Fox'. The French vocals are performed by Colette Bertrand.

65 SWEET PAINTED LADY Year: 1973 Album: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Taupin's lyrics deal with sex workers. Elton composed the music for one of the abundant highlights on the double album 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road".

64 MONA LISAS AND MADHATTERS Year: 1972 Album: Honky Chateau Elton and Taupin were riding a wave of prolific writing in 1972 when 'Honky Chateau' was unleashed. In America, the LP reached #1, the first of his 7 consecutive albums to do so.

63 PINBALL WIZARD Year: 1975 Album: Tommy (film soundtrack) Elton John starred in the film adaptation of The Who's rock opera 'Tommy'. His role as the Pinball Wizard saw him record the song of the same name with his regular band members. The single went Top 10 in Britain.

62 THIS TRAIN DON'T STOP  THERE ANYMORE Year: 2001 Album: Songs Of The West Coast Justin Timberlake portrayed a younger Elton in the music video for "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore". The track, penned by the pianist and Taupin, was lifted off 'Songs From The West Coast'.

61 THE LAST SONG Year: 1992 Album: The One 'The One' features the moving track "The Last Song". The John / Taupin composition deals with a dying son's relationship with his father. In the powerful lyrics, the parent comes to terms with his son's homosexuality and is there for him as he succumbs to an A.I.D.S. related illness.

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