Don't Discard Me

A fantastic album that you probably already know. But, did you know that this is the album with the first perfect Elton song? Or, and I bet you’d never guess this, the ballads are excellent? The first Elton John album to feature a full orchestra, this is a lush and melodramatic listen. Ups, downs, remorse and regret are bookended by lovestruck declarations and raucous gospel. The vibes are up on this one, folks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit differentnames.substack.com

In this podcast, I’ll listen to every song on every studio Elton John album. If you’re into discographies, artist evolutions, or just Elton, this is for you!I’ll be covering the albums released between 1969 - 2016. Some caveats:* No soundtracks (sorry, can’t be bothered)* No musicals (that means Lion King)I’ll make some exceptions, but I’m mostly interested in the albums where Elton is the main performer and songwriter. So, for example: I’ll be covering his 1979 album “Victim of Love,” which is mostly covers, but not the 1993 “Duets” album. Elton is the primary performer on “Victim,” but not on “Duets.” This is clearly a well thought-out concept that I will not stray from even once.For the first episode, let’s start at the beginning: 1969’s “Empty Sky.” It’s a fantastic listen, especially if you like the Rolling Stones, Leonard Cohen, or (and you’ll have to listen to the episode for this) an acclaimed 90s Britpop artist that recently announced a reunion tour… This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit differentnames.substack.com