Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Encyclopedia
Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is a live album
by Elton John
and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
recorded at the Sydney Entertainment Centre
on 14 December 1986. The concert was the last of a series of concerts done throughout the last two months of 1986. The concerts consisted of two sets: the first was limited to Elton and his 14-piece band, including backing vocalists and the Onward International horn section, and Elton's flamboyant stage dress, featuring Mohawk and Tina Turner
wigs and some outlandish eye wear; the second featured Elton, the band and the 88-piece Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, with John dressed more classically in a powdered wig and late 18th century/mid-19th century style formal wear. The album features most of the songs recorded in the second half of the show, excluding "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
", "Carla/Etude", "Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)" and "Slow Rivers." This was the last album to feature Elton's old vocal register (or at least what was left of it at the time) prior to his throat surgery which occurred on January 5, 1987.
Elton's band was essentially the lineup used on "Leather Jackets," which he was touring behind at the time, including Jody Linscott and special guest Ray Cooper, both of whom played percussion.
James Newton-Howard, who was at the time an up-and-coming film composer in Hollywood, joined Elton to conduct and write larger, augmented charts of not only his own previous work on "Tonight," but also Paul Buckmaster's original arrangements, since the music was to be played by 88 musicians, instead of the smaller studio orchestra for which the compositions were originally designed. He also wrote brand new full orchestra parts for songs such as "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," which previously only had horn arrangements.
Elton's live sound engineer, Clive Franks, handled the recording of the band (assisted by Keith Walker and Dennis Fox), while album producer Gus Dudgeon supervised recording of the orchestra by Leon Minervini and Nic Jeremy. Dudgeon took the tapes back to Wisseloord Studios in the Netherlands for mixing with engineer Graham Dickson, who had also worked on "Leather Jackets." In
the U.S. it was certified Gold on 1/5/1988 and Platinum on 10/13/1995 by the R.I.A.A.
A home video release commemorated the concert and was originally released on both laserdisc
and VHS. The Laserdisc edition included much of the "Elton & His Band" portion of the show (except "Heartache All Over The World"), and reinserted "Saturday Night's Alright ..." at the end of the symphony orchestra portion. A version of the Laserdisc program has surfaced on DVD. Of the "Elton & His Band" portion, "Daniel" and "Medley: Song For You, Blue Eyes, I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" were issued in 1988 as bonus tracks on the Rocket Maxi-Single for "A Word in Spanish" (UK/Europe only) as EJSCD 18, 872 299-2. The audio from "Carla/Etude" from the concert appeared on the "To Be Continued ..." boxed set.
The original 1987 US CD release on MCA Records (MCAD-8022) is longer by ten seconds, clocking in at 73.58.
The 1998 re-mastered CD edition on Mercury/Island Records (314 558 477-2) runs only 73.48.
The missing time is due to the removal of several seconds of applause following the song “Tonight.”
The track-list for both editions is the same. However, the running time of most of the re-mastered tracks vary from the original release due to a different placement of the track marks between songs. In many cases, the track mark changes move a song’s spoken introduction from the beginning of the track to the end of the preceding track.
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
by Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Melbourne, Australia. It has 100 permanent musicians. Melbourne has the longest continuous history of orchestral music of any Australian city and the MSO is the oldest professional orchestra in Australia...
recorded at the Sydney Entertainment Centre
Sydney Entertainment Centre
The Sydney Entertainment Centre is a multi-purpose venue, located in Haymarket, Sydney, Australia. It opened in May 1983, to replace Sydney Stadium, which had been demolished to make way for a new railway. The centre is currently owned by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, which administers...
on 14 December 1986. The concert was the last of a series of concerts done throughout the last two months of 1986. The concerts consisted of two sets: the first was limited to Elton and his 14-piece band, including backing vocalists and the Onward International horn section, and Elton's flamboyant stage dress, featuring Mohawk and Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
wigs and some outlandish eye wear; the second featured Elton, the band and the 88-piece Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, with John dressed more classically in a powdered wig and late 18th century/mid-19th century style formal wear. The album features most of the songs recorded in the second half of the show, excluding "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting
"Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" is a rock song performed by musician Elton John and covered by W.A.S.P., Flotsam and Jetsam, Nickelback , Queen and The Who...
", "Carla/Etude", "Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)" and "Slow Rivers." This was the last album to feature Elton's old vocal register (or at least what was left of it at the time) prior to his throat surgery which occurred on January 5, 1987.
Elton's band was essentially the lineup used on "Leather Jackets," which he was touring behind at the time, including Jody Linscott and special guest Ray Cooper, both of whom played percussion.
James Newton-Howard, who was at the time an up-and-coming film composer in Hollywood, joined Elton to conduct and write larger, augmented charts of not only his own previous work on "Tonight," but also Paul Buckmaster's original arrangements, since the music was to be played by 88 musicians, instead of the smaller studio orchestra for which the compositions were originally designed. He also wrote brand new full orchestra parts for songs such as "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," which previously only had horn arrangements.
Elton's live sound engineer, Clive Franks, handled the recording of the band (assisted by Keith Walker and Dennis Fox), while album producer Gus Dudgeon supervised recording of the orchestra by Leon Minervini and Nic Jeremy. Dudgeon took the tapes back to Wisseloord Studios in the Netherlands for mixing with engineer Graham Dickson, who had also worked on "Leather Jackets." In
the U.S. it was certified Gold on 1/5/1988 and Platinum on 10/13/1995 by the R.I.A.A.
A home video release commemorated the concert and was originally released on both laserdisc
Laserdisc
LaserDisc was a home video format and the first commercial optical disc storage medium. Initially licensed, sold, and marketed as MCA DiscoVision in North America in 1978, the technology was previously referred to interally as Optical Videodisc System, Reflective Optical Videodisc, Laser Optical...
and VHS. The Laserdisc edition included much of the "Elton & His Band" portion of the show (except "Heartache All Over The World"), and reinserted "Saturday Night's Alright ..." at the end of the symphony orchestra portion. A version of the Laserdisc program has surfaced on DVD. Of the "Elton & His Band" portion, "Daniel" and "Medley: Song For You, Blue Eyes, I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" were issued in 1988 as bonus tracks on the Rocket Maxi-Single for "A Word in Spanish" (UK/Europe only) as EJSCD 18, 872 299-2. The audio from "Carla/Etude" from the concert appeared on the "To Be Continued ..." boxed set.
Track listing
- "Sixty Years OnSixty Years On"Sixty Years On" is a song written and performed by Elton John which first appeared on his eponymous album, Elton John. The lyrics were written by long-time writing partner Bernie Taupin....
" – 5:41 - "I Need You to Turn ToI Need You to Turn ToI Need You to Turn To is a song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It is the second track off his 1970 album, "Elton John".-Musical structure:...
" – 3:14 - "The Greatest DiscoveryThe Greatest Discovery"The Greatest Discovery" is a song composed and performed by musician Elton John. As with all songs on Elton John's eponymous second album , the lyrics were written by Bernie Taupin...
" – 4:09 - "Tonight"– 5:58
- "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest WordSorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" is a song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. It was recorded by Elton John and released in 1976, both as a single and as part of the Blue Moves album. It was his second single on Rocket Records. The song is a mournful ballad about a romantic relationship...
" – 3:58 - "The King Must DieThe King Must Die (song)"The King Must Die" is a song by Elton John with lyrics written by Bernie Taupin. It is the closing track of his 1970 self-titled album. As with the rest of the album, the backing was assembled by session musicians.-Lyrical meaning:...
" – 5:21 - "Take Me to the PilotTake Me to the Pilot"Take Me to the Pilot" is a rock song performed by British musician Elton John. The song was written by Bernie Taupin and composed by John for his eponymous second album in 1970....
" – 4:22 - "Tiny DancerTiny Dancer"Tiny Dancer" is a 1971 song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It appears on John's fourth album, Madman Across the Water, and was released as a single in 1972...
" – 7:46 - "Have Mercy on the Criminal" – 5:50
- "Madman Across the Water" – 6:38
- "Candle in the WindCandle in the Wind"Candle in the Wind" is a song with music by Elton John and lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It was originally written in 1973, in honour of Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier....
" – 4:10 - "Burn Down the MissionBurn Down the Mission"Burn Down the Mission" is the tenth and final song on Elton John's album Tumbleweed Connection, released in 1970.-Song information:"Burn Down the Mission" is musically driven by the story told by Bernie Taupin's lyrics, as is common in John/Taupin collaborations.The lyrics themselves, while...
" – 5:49 - "Your SongYour Song"Your Song" is a ballad composed and performed by English musician Elton John with lyrics by his long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin. It appeared on John's self-titled second album in 1970....
" – 4:04 - "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on MeDon't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" is the first single from British musician Elton John's 1974 album Caribou; it was released that year during the latter half of May in the United Kingdom, and on 10 June in the United States.-Lyrics and music:...
" – 8:46
The original 1987 US CD release on MCA Records (MCAD-8022) is longer by ten seconds, clocking in at 73.58.
The 1998 re-mastered CD edition on Mercury/Island Records (314 558 477-2) runs only 73.48.
The missing time is due to the removal of several seconds of applause following the song “Tonight.”
The track-list for both editions is the same. However, the running time of most of the re-mastered tracks vary from the original release due to a different placement of the track marks between songs. In many cases, the track mark changes move a song’s spoken introduction from the beginning of the track to the end of the preceding track.
Personnel
- Produced by Gus DudgeonGus DudgeonAngus Boyd Dudgeon , most commonly known as Gus Dudgeon was an English record producer, most notable for production of many of Elton John's recordings.-Early career:...
- Mastered by Greg FulginitiGreg FulginitiGregory Fulginiti is an American recording and mastering engineer.In a career spanning three decades, Fulginiti was nominated for the TEC Awards by Mix magazine 6 times, earned 175 Gold and Platinum Awards, 25 Multi-Platinum Awards, 100 Number One recordings, 135 Grammy nominees, including the...
US
- Elton John: Piano, Vocals
- Davey JohnstoneDavey JohnstoneDavey Johnstone , is a Scottish rock guitarist and vocalist, best known for his work with Elton John.-Career:...
: Guitars - David Paton: Bass Guitar
- Charlie MorganCharlie MorganCharlie Morgan is an English drummer and percussionist.In 1985 his drumming work with Nik Kershaw attracted the attention of Elton John, who booked him to play on his Ice on Fire album. Later that year John invited him to play with his band at Live Aid...
: Drums - Fred MandelFred MandelFred Mandel is a keyboard player and guitarist.Mandel became involved in music from an early age. He started playing the piano and age 4 and picked up the guitar aged 8...
: Keyboards, Synthesizers - Ray CooperRay CooperRay Cooper is an English musician. He is a session and road-tour percussionist, and occasional actor, who has worked with several musically diverse bands and artists including George Harrison, Billy Joel, Eric Clapton, and Elton John. Cooper is commonly regarded by music fans, critics and fellow...
: Percussion - Jody LinscottJody LinscottJody Linscott is an American session musician and percussionist who resides in England and maintains an extended discography. She has two daughters and has written two children's books which were published by Doubleday, both edited by Jackie Onassis...
: Percussion - Alan Carvell: Backing Vocals
- Gordon Neville: Backing Vocals
- Shirley Lewis: Backing Vocals
- James Newton-Howard: Orchestra Arrangements, Conductor