Elton John had scored 14BillboardTop 40 singles in the United States before the release of “Someone Saved My Life Tonight”, the only single from his albumCaptain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, in June 1975. Following the ascent of “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” to #4 on the Hot 100, John would subsequently crack the Top 40 with at least 45 other hits (“Hold Me Closer”, his 2022 collaboration with Britney Spears, being the most recent).
The downside of John’s singles success is that his albums, both classics and more recent work (such as this year’s excellent collaboration with Brandi Carlile,Who Believes in Angels?), aren’t always discovered by new fans/rediscovered by older ones. However, as its 50th-anniversary reissue makes abundantly clear,Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboyremains an immensely rewarding album-length journey, whether you’ve listened to it hundreds of times or have never heard it before.
Released in May 1975,Captain Fantasticis a concept that recalls the earliest days of the collaboration and friendship between John and his lyricist, Bernie Taupin. The story is told chronologically in a series of ten songs that are often dark and moody but also offer many moments of beauty and light.
While the concept is solid, like any other record, it needed great songs and playing to back it up, andCaptain Fantasticcontained plenty of both.Bernie Taupin rose to the occasion with the best set of lyrics he’d written. John matched those lyrics to music ranging from country rock (the title track) to a bluesy variation on Philly soul (“Tell Me When the Whistle Blows”). “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” is a long, musically complex ballad, while “(Gotta Get a) Meal Ticket” is probably John’s best hard rock song.
Repeated listening toCaptain Fantasticdrives home the fact that, though Elton’s name was on the cover, this album is very much a full-band effort. Bassist Dee Murray, percussionist Ray Cooper, drummer Nigel Olsson, and guitarist Davey Johnstone, along with John on piano and other keyboards, are collectively a considerable part of the artistic success ofCaptain Fantastic.
Throughout, Taupin’s words and John’s music work beautifully together, culminating in the closing songs, “We All Fall in Love Sometimes” and “Curtains”. The former song is the best song about deep platonic male friendship and discovering one’s own creativity that you will ever hear. The latter brings the tale to a stirring ending, just before Elton John and Bernie Taupin find international success with “Your Song”.
Bonus material adds further context toCaptain Fantastic. The album tracks are followed by the two hit singles that preceded its release: “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and “Philadelphia Freedom”,” along with “One Day at a Time”, the John Lennon-penned B-side of “Lucy”.” The live recording of Lennon and John singing “I Saw Her Standing There” that appeared on the B-side of “Philadelphia Freedom” is not included.
A set of six demos sheds light on the recording process. The most fascinating of these is “Captain Fantastic (Take 2)”, a mostly instrumental run-through of the title track that turns into a jam, featuring some enticing, watery-sounding guitar playing from Johnstone. That may be an odd comparison, but Johnstone’s playing here reminds me of Ferrante and Teicher’s version of theMidnight Cowboy instrumental theme, and I mean that as a highly complimentary comparison.
In addition to the singles and demos, live recordings of five tracks are featured. These date back to 2005, when Elton John was playing most ofCaptain Fantasticat certain shows to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Bolstered by the divinely inspired vocal assistance of the Voice of Atlanta Choir, John and his band present the songs with a love and affection undimmed by three decades.
For many young fans,Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboywas a revelation at the time of its release, and not just for the music. The elaborate packaging featured Hieronymus Bosch-inspired artwork by Alan Aldridge, which you could contemplate as you let the songs unfold on your record player. The LP was accompanied by a poster of the cover, plus a lyric booklet and a scrapbook that told the story through photos, news clippings, diary entries, and even a comic strip.
Captain Fantasticwas a fully immersive experience, and the vinyl reissue lives up to the expectations set by its first edition. While the booklets and poster are not duplicated, a new publication is included, very much in the style of the originals, that offers retrospective insight intoCaptain Fantasticwith essays, memorabilia, artwork, and timelines.
Post-Captain Fantastic, John knew he’d reached a peak that he’d probably not scale again. Despite that, John, the Hit Machine, continued to reliably crank out dozens of catchy hit songs that are well-loved to this day.For those who might only know the hits, though, Elton John, the Album Artist, deserves some serious exploration as well.Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboyis the best place to start.
The very last lyric on the album – “And just like us, you must have had a once upon a time” – ties Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s life story to anyone who may have been listening whenCaptain Fantasticwas released, or anytime afterwards.For those of us who happened to be ten years old in 1975,Captain Fantasticwasn’t one we grew out of; it was a record we grew into. A half-century down the line, this album continues to resonate and still sounds fantastic. It is a beautiful thing to seeCaptain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboyso lovingly celebrated for its 50th anniversary.