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Elton John is celebrating the anniversary of ‘Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy’ with a special 50th anniversary edition of his iconic ninth studio album.Originally released in August 1974, the album is getting a deluxe reissue on October 24th, available in multiple formats including CD and vinyl. This special edition features the 2016 remaster of the original album, previously unreleased session demos, and a live performance recorded in 2005 to celebrate the album’s 30th anniversary.There’s also a 28-page booklet packed with sleeve notes and never-before-seen diary entries from Elton himself, written during the album’s original release year.
In addition to the main anniversary release, there's a separate vinyl album titled Midsummer Music Live At Wembley, 1975, which captures the very first live performance of the Captain Fantastic album. Reflecting on the project, Sir Elton shared, “It was the first album I’d ever made that was autobiographical… The band were at their absolute peak and you can hear it on the record. I think it’s the best thing we ever did.” He praised Bernie Taupin’s lyrics and the creative atmosphere at Caribou Ranch in Colorado, where the album was recorded. Elton also recalled the thrill of seeing the album shoot to number one faster than any of his previous releases, calling it a moment of vindication for everything he and Bernie had worked toward.
Bernie Taupin said the album holds a special place in his heart. “It chronicled a very special time in our lives,” he said, adding that revisiting the music 50 years later reminded him of the deep bond of friendship and creativity they shared. To accompany the announcement, Elton has released a 2005 live performance of the title track from Captain Fantastic, recorded at Madison Square Garden in New York. Check out the cool video on YouTube.
[Source: Premiere]