Seymour Kushner and Captain Fantastic

By this point it should be clear that rock and roll aficionado and long-time listener Seymour Kushner got to see some of his true musical idols in action when he saw the post-9/11 Concert for NYC. We have already talked about some of the truly iconic musical figures he saw at the show—folks like the fabled Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, and the iconic Beatle and renowned solo artist Paul McCartney. And the list of names doesn’t stop there. Seymour Kushner had the pleasure of seeing several other vital musicians, including some who are still making essential and moving records even today.

Toward the top of the list would have to be Sir Elton John; you don’t need a music fan like Seymour Kushner to tell you that this guy is one of the biggest pop stars of all time, and, if you follow his career much at all, you probably know that he is still making creatively vital albums to this day. John was present at the Concert for New York where he performed such hits as “I Want Love” and “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters,” followed by a duet with Billy Joel on John’s classic “Your Song.”

But if that’s all you know of Elton John, Seymour Kushner would surely point out that the man’s recorded legacy runs far deeper. Here is just a brief sampling of some of the very best albums Elton John ever made:

• Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. This terrifically theatrical, grandiose pop album tells, with all the appropriate pomp, the story of the rise of John and his songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin. The album includes the hit ballad “Someone Saved My Life Tonight.”
• Tumbleweed Connection. This is a country-flavored rock album, considered by many fans to be one of John’s best works.
• Madman Across the Water. Another classic from the same era, this one featuring the hit “Tiny Dancer.”
• The Union. Released in 2010, this latter-day masterstroke united John with his singing and piano-playing idol, Leon Russell.

Seymour Kushner and his fellow classic rock fans will surely attest that any and all of these records are great places to start for anyone interested in witnessing the full range of John’s gifts!