Description
Elton John – Live In Australia With The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra – Double Vinyl Record
Elton John’s Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, released on June 13, 1987, is a stunning live album that captures the legendary performer in one of the most ambitious and emotional moments of his career. Recorded on December 14, 1986, at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, the concert features John performing with the 88-piece Melbourne Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductor James Newton Howard. The album showcases orchestral arrangements of many of Elton’s classic songs, blending his iconic pop sensibilities with the grandeur of symphonic music.
This live recording is notable not only for its sweeping arrangements but also for the personal challenges Elton John faced at the time, including severe vocal issues that would require surgery shortly after the concert. Despite these difficulties, Live in Australia is a powerful and emotionally charged performance that remains a testament to Elton John’s artistry and resilience.
The Live in Australia concert was part of Elton John’s 1986 Tour De Force, a series of shows in which he alternated between solo performances and full orchestral productions. The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra arrangements were created by Paul Buckmaster and James Newton Howard, enhancing the emotional depth of John’s classic hits. The tour also marked a reflective moment in Elton John’s career, as he revisited material from his early albums, particularly focusing on songs from the 1970s.
At the time of the recording, Elton John was dealing with serious vocal strain caused by nodules on his vocal cords, which gave his voice a grittier tone. Just days after the performance, he underwent surgery to remove the nodules, adding a layer of poignancy to the concert.
The album combines Elton John’s timeless songwriting with lush orchestral arrangements, transforming his piano-driven pop and rock songs into grand, cinematic pieces. Themes of love, loss, nostalgia, and introspection resonate throughout the setlist, with the orchestra adding a new dimension of emotional weight and drama to each song.
John’s vocals, strained yet emotive, add an authentic vulnerability to the performance, particularly on ballads like Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me and Candle in the Wind.
Track Highlights
Sixty Years On
Opening with dramatic orchestral flourishes, this haunting ballad from Elton John (1970) sets the tone for the evening, showcasing the power of the orchestra to elevate John’s songwriting.
I Need You to Turn To
A delicate piece featuring harpsichord-like piano and sweeping strings, this track highlights the intimate connection between John’s voice and the orchestra.
The Greatest Discovery
A heartfelt song about the birth of a sibling, the arrangement brings out the tender storytelling in Bernie Taupin’s lyrics.
Tonight
One of the emotional high points of the album, this track from Blue Moves (1976) is a melancholic, orchestral masterpiece that captures themes of longing and heartbreak.
Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
A deeply emotional performance, this ballad is enriched by the orchestra’s lush arrangement, making it one of the standout moments of the concert.
Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me
The orchestra transforms this classic hit into a soaring anthem, with Elton’s raw vocals adding a poignant edge.
Candle in the Wind
The live version of this tribute to Marilyn Monroe is hauntingly beautiful, with the strings adding a new layer of melancholy to the iconic melody.
Burn Down the Mission
This energetic performance from Tumbleweed Connection (1970) showcases John’s piano prowess alongside the orchestra’s dynamic support.
Your Song
A stripped-down yet symphonically enhanced version of Elton’s timeless classic, the performance underscores the emotional core of the song.
Take Me to the Pilot
One of the more upbeat tracks, this song benefits from the orchestra’s robust arrangement, blending energy and sophistication.
Live in Australia was both a commercial and critical success, reaching No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart and earning a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male. Critics praised the ambitious arrangements and the raw, emotive quality of Elton John’s vocals, which reflected both the strain and the passion of the performance.
The album is often seen as a bridge between the earlier and later phases of Elton John’s career. The surgery that followed the concert altered his voice permanently, giving it a deeper and richer tone that would characterize his recordings in the years to come.
The combination of pop and orchestral music on Live in Australia has inspired numerous artists to explore similar projects. The album also reaffirmed Elton John’s ability to innovate and adapt, proving that even well-loved classics could be reimagined in ways that deepen their impact.
Songs like Candle in the Wind and Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me gained renewed emotional resonance in this context, further solidifying their place in Elton John’s legacy. The concert also marked a moment of personal and professional resilience, as Elton overcame significant challenges to deliver a performance of lasting significance.
Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is a remarkable live album that captures Elton John at a critical moment in his career, blending his iconic catalog with sweeping orchestral arrangements. The raw emotion in John’s voice, coupled with the grandeur of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, transforms familiar songs into profound new experiences. For fans of Elton John, this album is a must-listen, offering a unique perspective on his artistry and a testament to his enduring legacy as one of the greatest performers in music history.
Remastered 180 gsm double vinyl in gatefold.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic sealed
Track Listing
Sixty Years On
I Need You To Turn To
Greatest Discovery
Tonight
Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
The King Must Die
Take Me To The Pilot
Tiny Dancer
Have Mercy On The Criminal
Madman Across The Water
Candle In The Wind
Burn Down The Mission
Your Song
Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me
