Latest news with #LiveFromtheRainbowTheatre
San Francisco Chronicle
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Music Review: Elton John's 'Live From the Rainbow Theatre With Ray Cooper' spotlights a rich catalog
On Elton John's new concert album, the songs steal the show. Deep cuts from John's rich catalog are given the spotlight on 'Live From the Rainbow Theatre With Ray Cooper.' The 13-song set was culled from a six-show residency in London in May 1977, with John at the piano and his longtime percussionist, Cooper, joining him for the second half of the show. The album initially received a limited release on vinyl for Record Store Day and will be available digitally and on CD for the first time beginning Friday. While John, of course, performed his biggest hits during the residency, the album wisely focuses on often overlooked material, pointing to the astounding quantity of quality songs John produced early in his career. That includes 'Cage the Songbird," a lilting tribute to Édith Piaf from the underrated 1976 LP 'Blue Moves.' Another highlight from that album is the cabaret jazz ballad 'Idol,' which shows John could have thrived in a lounge had the rock star thing not worked out. The piano man's playing here is closer to Liberace than Little Richard, because ballads predominate, and Cooper's role is tastefully restrained. Even when the tempo gets brisk on 'Better Off Dead,' the song is delightfully hammy operetta rather than rock 'n' roll. From start to finish, John sings with relish: He knows how good these songs are. 'Where To Now St. Peter?' features an especially vigorous vocal, including full-throated falsetto. 'Live From the Rainbow Theatre' underscores John's lyricist Bernie Taupin's vital role in their songwriting partnership. The album opens with 'The Greatest Discovery,' a pairing of sweet sentiment and a charming melody, while 'Ticking' is a gripping tale set in Queens that anticipated America's epidemic of gun violence. John introduces 'Ticking' and two other songs by noting he doesn't perform them often, or often enough. Banter elsewhere is mostly brief and stiff, but his droll wit does surface in one exchange with a spectator. 'How are you tonight? Nice handkerchief,' John says, before telling the rest of the audience, 'He hasn't washed that in three years.' The 1977 performances took place as punk and disco were knocking John off his pop pedestal and ending his years-long reign as a consistent hitmaker. 'Live From the Rainbow Theatre' offers a reminder that not all of his superb songs were singles.
Hamilton Spectator
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Music Review: Elton John's ‘Live From the Rainbow Theatre With Ray Cooper' spotlights a rich catalog
On Elton John's new concert album, the songs steal the show. Deep cuts from John's rich catalog are given the spotlight on 'Live From the Rainbow Theatre With Ray Cooper.' The 13-song set was culled from a six-show residency in London in May 1977, with John at the piano and his longtime percussionist, Cooper, joining him for the second half of the show. The album initially received a limited release on vinyl for Record Store Day and will be available digitally and on CD for the first time beginning Friday. While John, of course, performed his biggest hits during the residency, the album wisely focuses on often overlooked material, pointing to the astounding quantity of quality songs John produced early in his career. That includes 'Cage the Songbird,' a lilting tribute to Édith Piaf from the underrated 1976 LP 'Blue Moves.' Another highlight from that album is the cabaret jazz ballad 'Idol,' which shows John could have thrived in a lounge had the rock star thing not worked out. The piano man's playing here is closer to Liberace than Little Richard, because ballads predominate, and Cooper's role is tastefully restrained. Even when the tempo gets brisk on 'Better Off Dead,' the song is delightfully hammy operetta rather than rock 'n' roll. From start to finish, John sings with relish: He knows how good these songs are. 'Where To Now St. Peter?' features an especially vigorous vocal, including full-throated falsetto. 'Live From the Rainbow Theatre' underscores John's lyricist Bernie Taupin's vital role in their songwriting partnership. The album opens with 'The Greatest Discovery,' a pairing of sweet sentiment and a charming melody, while 'Ticking' is a gripping tale set in Queens that anticipated America's epidemic of gun violence. John introduces 'Ticking' and two other songs by noting he doesn't perform them often, or often enough. Banter elsewhere is mostly brief and stiff, but his droll wit does surface in one exchange with a spectator. 'How are you tonight? Nice handkerchief,' John says, before telling the rest of the audience, 'He hasn't washed that in three years.' The 1977 performances took place as punk and disco were knocking John off his pop pedestal and ending his years-long reign as a consistent hitmaker. 'Live From the Rainbow Theatre' offers a reminder that not all of his superb songs were singles. ___ More AP reviews:
Winnipeg Free Press
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Music Review: Elton John's ‘Live From the Rainbow Theatre With Ray Cooper' spotlights a rich catalog
On Elton John's new concert album, the songs steal the show. Deep cuts from John's rich catalog are given the spotlight on 'Live From the Rainbow Theatre With Ray Cooper.' The 13-song set was culled from a six-show residency in London in May 1977, with John at the piano and his longtime percussionist, Cooper, joining him for the second half of the show. The album initially received a limited release on vinyl for Record Store Day and will be available digitally and on CD for the first time beginning Friday. While John, of course, performed his biggest hits during the residency, the album wisely focuses on often overlooked material, pointing to the astounding quantity of quality songs John produced early in his career. That includes 'Cage the Songbird,' a lilting tribute to Édith Piaf from the underrated 1976 LP 'Blue Moves.' Another highlight from that album is the cabaret jazz ballad 'Idol,' which shows John could have thrived in a lounge had the rock star thing not worked out. The piano man's playing here is closer to Liberace than Little Richard, because ballads predominate, and Cooper's role is tastefully restrained. Even when the tempo gets brisk on 'Better Off Dead,' the song is delightfully hammy operetta rather than rock 'n' roll. From start to finish, John sings with relish: He knows how good these songs are. 'Where To Now St. Peter?' features an especially vigorous vocal, including full-throated falsetto. 'Live From the Rainbow Theatre' underscores John's lyricist Bernie Taupin's vital role in their songwriting partnership. The album opens with 'The Greatest Discovery,' a pairing of sweet sentiment and a charming melody, while 'Ticking' is a gripping tale set in Queens that anticipated America's epidemic of gun violence. John introduces 'Ticking' and two other songs by noting he doesn't perform them often, or often enough. Banter elsewhere is mostly brief and stiff, but his droll wit does surface in one exchange with a spectator. 'How are you tonight? Nice handkerchief,' John says, before telling the rest of the audience, 'He hasn't washed that in three years.' The 1977 performances took place as punk and disco were knocking John off his pop pedestal and ending his years-long reign as a consistent hitmaker. 'Live From the Rainbow Theatre' offers a reminder that not all of his superb songs were singles. ___ More AP reviews:
Forbes
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Elton John Has Charted A New Album Every Week For Almost A Month
Elton John's One Night Only - The Greatest Hits debuts on the U.K.'s Official Album Downloads chart, ... More earning the star his third new album in as many weeks. LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 23: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Elton John performs during the first UK stop on his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" Tour at M&S Bank Arena on March 23, 2023 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by) Even after more than half a century in the spotlight, Elton John continues to rack up new wins on charts all around the world. The piano player and singer isn't just sticking around — he's actively debuting projects in lofty positions in many markets, which is an impressive feat for any veteran artist. This week, he adds another title to his growing 2025 streak, as a beloved live recording finds its way onto one tally in the United Kingdom. John's One Night Only - The Greatest Hits arrives on the Official Album Downloads chart this week. The live set, which highlights some of his best-loved songs, opens at No. 62. That means the project was one of the most downloaded titles in the U.K. this frame – and for the first time! The new arrival extends a remarkable run for John on the U.K. charts. This marks the third consecutive week in which the superstar has landed at least one new entry on an album tally in the country. Three frames ago, he and Brandi Carlile shared Who Believes In Angels?, a joint effort that immediately stormed to No. 1 on every roster it appeared on — and it's still performing exceptionally well. Last week, John joined forces with Ry Cooder for Live From the Rainbow Theatre, a special release shared for Record Store Day. While that project has already fallen off the rankings — a typical outcome for Record Store Day exclusives — after just a few days of selling very well. Unlike Who Believes In Angels? and Live From the Rainbow Theatre, One Night Only isn't a new offering. The live album originally dropped in 2000 and is now nearing its twenty-fifth anniversary, which it will reach in a few months. When it was first released, the collection became another sizable success for John in the country. It peaked at No. 7 on the Official Albums chart, and it's already been certified platinum in John's home nation. John's chart success at the moment in the U.K. isn't limited to just One Night Only. Two additional collections from the legend continue to sell and stream as well. Who Believes In Angels? remains inside the top 10 on five different rosters, and it even manages to sit at No. 2 on several of them, barely missing out on yet another frame at No. 1. Meanwhile, Diamonds, John's perennial greatest hits package, enjoys a big rebound on the Official Albums chart. The set jumps from No. 16 to No. 9, claiming another turn inside the top 10. Diamonds is also still present on two other lists, and it even manages to reenter the downloads-only tally, where John now fills three spaces.
Forbes
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Elton John Scores One Bestselling New Album Right After Another
Elton John is having quite a year, and his recent activity on the charts underscores that statement. The musical legend, who returned earlier in 2025 with his brand new collaborative album Who Believes in Angels? alongside Brandi Carlile, is enjoying quite the renaissance on the Billboard rankings in America. As fans rush to consume everything he's releasing, John scores yet another bestselling project, doubling up on one important roster with back-to-back hits. John is back on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart with yet another impressive effort. His latest offering, Live From the Rainbow Theatre, debuts at No. 35, giving the EGOT winner his second collaborative debut in just as many weeks. The set, created alongside legendary musician Ry Cooder, managed to sell 4,600 copies in the U.S. alone (according to Luminate). Live From the Rainbow Theatre was not a normal release. Instead, it arrived as part of Record Store Day, the annual music industry event that encourages top-tier artists to issue exclusive editions of new, live, or archival sets – typically available only on physical formats – through independent record stores. The goal is to entice music lovers to return to brick-and-mortar locations, giving them a much-needed sales boost. Only 5,000 vinyl copies of John's live album were produced. The set captures a slice of history, as it was recorded back in 1977 during a six-show residency at London's Rainbow Theatre that John and Cooder shared. Nearly all of the available LPs were snapped up within just a few days. Thanks to Live From the Rainbow Theatre, John has now collected 30 wins on the Top Album Sales chart throughout his remarkable career. That number also includes his most recent full-length, Who Believes in Angels?, which debuted on the list just last frame. This week, Who Believes in Angels? with Carlile dips from the runner-up spot to No. 10, but even with that fall, it still manages to outpace John's newer live offering by quite a sizable margin. While Who Believes in Angels? continues to impress on the Top Album Sales chart, its fortunes across other Billboard lists have shifted dramatically — though not necessarily through any fault of its own. On the Top Rock & Alternative Albums tally, the set falls from No. 1 to No. 33, a steep decline that might have been softened if that roster wasn't flooded with special Record Store Day releases. The project also tumbles down the Billboard 200, plummeting from No. 9 to No. 140. Somewhat surprisingly, it slips behind Diamonds, John's greatest hits collection, which remains inside the top quarter of that all-encompassing consumption ranking.
