ELTON JOHN/CAPTAIN FANTASTIC AND THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY DJLPX 1 (-75) UK

An LP that went directly to #1 on Billboard and stayed on top for seven weeks. It earned gold in US two week before release and sold over a million copies in a couple of days. It's been frequently rewarded and by many considered his absolutely best. I do agree it's a very good album though if spinning him today I prefer his earlier work. This has other advantages. The colorful sleeve and labels, glossy poster and above all the two sixteen page booklets. Musically and lyrically presented as a theme album, handeling Elton John's (Captain Fantastic) and Bernie Taupin's (Brown Dirt Cowboy) early years before breakthrough, and the booklets provide a brilliant back-up to that story. The "Lyrics" one don't only have that but also twentyfive pictures more or less related. "Scraps" has about a zillion pics from their early days, further copies of articles, posters and ads, excerpts from Elton's 1969 diary and a four page cartoon - "The Life & Loves Of Elton John". A cornucopia of goodies and a very generous addition, considering the LP would have been a success with a lot less. So good listening it may be, but primarily eye-candy for me. Premiere UK had label as shown here and matt fold/out cover with two booklets and "tour" poster.