LIVE IN AUSTRALIA WITH THE MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Записан 14 декабря 1986 года в  Sydney Entertainment Centre.

Релиз: США – июль 1987, Великобритания – сентябрь 1987

SIXTY YEARS ON

Who'll walk me down to church when I'm sixty years of age

When the ragged dog they gave me has been ten years in the grave

And señorita play guitar, play it just for you

My rosary has broken and my beads have all slipped through

You've hung up your great coat and you've laid down your gun

You know the war you fought in wasn't too much fun

And the future you're giving me holds nothing for a gun

I've no wish to be living sixty years on

Yes I'll sit with you and talk let your eyes relive again

I know my vintage prayers would be very much the same

And Magdelena plays the organ, plays it just for you

Your choral lamp that burns so low when you are passing through

And the future you're giving me holds nothing for a gun

I've no wish to be living sixty years on

Музыка: Элтон Джон

Стихи: Берни Топин

I NEED YOU TO TURN TO

You're not a ship to carry my life

You are nailed to my love in many lonely nights

I've strayed from the cottages and found myself here

For I need your love your love protects my fears

And I wonder sometimes and I know I'm unkind

But I need you to turn to when I act so blind

And I need you to turn to when I lose control

You're my guardian angel who keeps out the cold

Did you paint your smile on, well I said I knew

That my reason for living was for loving you

We're related in feeling but you're high above

You're pure and you're gentle with the grace of a dove

Музыка: Элтон Джон

Стихи: Берни Топин

THE GREATEST DISCOVERY

Peering out of tiny eyes

The grubby hands that gripped the rail

Wiped the window clean of frost

As the morning air laid on the latch

A whistle awakened someone there

Next door to the nursery just down the hall

A strange new sound you never heard before

A strange new sound that makes boys explore

Tread neat so small those little feet

Amid the morning his small heart beats

So much excitement yesterday

That must be rewarded must be displayed

Large hands lift him through the air

Excited eyes contain him there

The eyes of those he loves and knows

But what's this extra bed just here

His puzzled head tipped to one side

Amazement swims in those bright green eyes

Glancing down upon this thing

That make strange sounds, strange sounds that sing

In those silent happy seconds

That surround the sound of this event

A parent smile is made in moments

They have made for you a friend

And all you ever learned from them

Until you grew much older

Did not compare with when they said

This is your brand new brother

This is your brand new brother

This is your brand new brother

Музыка: Элтон Джон

Стихи: Берни Топин

TONIGHT

Tonight
Do we have to fight again
Tonight
I just want to go to sleep
Turn out the light
But you want to carry grudges
Nine times out of ten
I see the storm approaching
Long before the rain starts falling

Tonight
Does it have to be the old thing
Tonight
It's late, too late
To chase the rainbow that you're after
I'd like to find a compromise
And place it in your hands
My eyes are blind, my ears can't hear
And I cannot find the time

Tonight
Just let the curtains close in silence
Tonight
Why not approach with less defiance
The man who'd love to see you smile
Who'd love to see you smile
Tonight

Музыка: Элтон Джон

Стихи: Берни Топин

SORRY SEEMS TO BE THE HARDEST WORD

What have I got to do to make you love me
What have I got to do to make you care
What do I do when lightning strikes me
And I wake to find that you're not there

What do I do to make you want me
What have I got to do to be heard
What do I say when it's all over
And sorry seems to be the hardest word

It's sad, so sad
It's a sad, sad situation
And it's getting more and more absurd
It's sad, so sad
Why can't we talk it over
Oh it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word

What do I do to make you love me
What have I got to do to be heard
What do I do when lightning strikes me
What have I got to do
What have I got to do
When sorry seems to be the hardest word

Музыка: Элтон Джон

Стихи: Берни Топин

THE KING MUST DIE

No man's a jester playing Shakespeare

Round your throne room floor

While the juggler's act is danced upon

The crown that you once wore

And sooner or later

Everybody's kingdom must end

And I'm so afraid your courtiers

Cannot be called best friends

Caesar's had your troubles

Widows had to cry

While mercenaries in cloisters sing

And the king must die

Some men are better staying sailors

Take my word and go

But tell the ostler that his name was

The very first they chose

And if my hands are stained forever

And the altar should refuse me

Would you let me in, would you let me in, would you let me in

Should I cry sanctuary

No man's a jester playing Shakespeare

Round your throne room floor

While the juggler's act is danced upon

The crown that you once wore

The king is dead, the king is dead

The king is dead, the king is dead

Long live the king

Музыка: Элтон Джон

Стихи: Берни Топин

TAKE ME TO THE PILOT

If you feel that it's real I'm on trial

And I'm here in your prison

Like a coin in your mint

I am dented and I'm spent with high treason

Through a glass eye your throne

Is the one danger zone

Take me to the pilot for control

Take me to the pilot of your soul

Take me to the pilot

Lead me through the chamber

Take me to the pilot

I am but a stranger

Take me to the pilot

Lead me through the chamber

Take me to the pilot

I am but a stranger

Well I know he's not old

And I'm told he's a virgin

For he may be she

But what I'm told is never for certain

Музыка: Элтон Джон

Стихи: Берни Топин

TINY DANCER

Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band

Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music man

Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand

And now she's in mine, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand

Jesus freaks out in the street

Handing tickets out for God

Turning back she just laughs

The boulevard is not that bad

Piano man he makes his stand

In the auditorium

Looking on she sings the songs

The words she knows the tune she hums

But oh how it feels so real

Lying here with no one near

Only you and you can hear me

When I say softly slowly

Hold me closer tiny dancer

Count the headlights on the highway

Lay me down in sheets of linen

you had a busy day today

Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band

Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music man

Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand

And now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand

Музыка: Элтон Джон

Стихи: Берни Топин

HAVE MERCY ON THE CRIMINAL

Have you heard the dogs at night
Somewhere on the hill
Chasing some poor criminal
And I guess they're out to kill
Oh there must be shackles on his feet
And mother in his eyes
Stumbling through the devil-dark
With the hound pack in full cry

Have mercy on the criminal
Who is running from the law
Are you blind to the winds of change
Don't you hear him any more

Praying Lord you got to help me
I am never gonna sin again
Just take these chains from around my legs
Sweet Jesus I'll be your friend

Now have you ever seen the white teeth gleam
While you lie on a cold damp ground
You're taking in the face of a rifle butt
While the wardens hold you down

And you've never seen a friend in years
Oh it turns your heart to stone
You jump the walls and the dogs run free
And the grave's gonna be your home

Музыка: Элтон Джон

Стихи: Берни Топин

MADMAN ACROSS THE WATER

I can see very well

There's a boat on the reef with a broken back

And I can see it very well

There's a joke and I know it very well

It's one of those that I told you long ago

Take my word I'm a madman don't you know

Once a fool had a good part in the play

If it's so would I still be here today

It's quite peculiar in a funny sort of way

They think it's very funny everything I say

Get a load of him, he's so insane

You better get your coat dear

It looks like rain

We'll come again next Thursday afternoon

The Inlaws hope they'll see you very soon

But is it in your conscience that you're after

Another glimpse of the madman across the water

I can see very well

There's a boat on the reef with a broken back

And I can see it very well

There's a joke and I know it very well

It's one of those that I told you long ago

Take my word I'm a madman don't you know

The ground's a long way down but I need more

Is the nightmare black

or are the windows painted

Will they come again next week

Can my mind really take it

Музыка: Элтон Джон

Стихи: Берни Топин

CANDLE IN THE WIND

Goodbye Norma Jean
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
They crawled out of the woodwork
And they whispered into your brain
They set you on the treadmill
And they made you change your name

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did

Loneliness was tough
The toughest role you ever played
Hollywood created a superstar
And pain was the price you paid
Even when you died
Oh the press still hounded you
All the papers had to say
Was that Marilyn was found in the nude

Goodbye Norma Jean
From the young man in the 22nd row
Who sees you as something as more than sexual
More than just our Marilyn Monroe

Музыка: Элтон Джон

Стихи: Берни Топин

BURN DOWN THE MISSION

You tell me there's an angel in your tree

Did he say he'd come to call on me

For things are getting desperate in our home

Living in the parish of the restless folks I know

Everybody now bring your family down to the riverside

Look to the east to see where the fat stock hide

Behind four walls of stone the rich man sleeps

It's time we put the flame torch to their keep

Burn down the mission

If we're gonna stay alive

Watch the black smoke fly to heaven

See the red flame light the sky

Burn down the mission

Burn it down to stay alive

It's our only chance of living

Take all you need to live inside

Deep in the woods the squirrels are out today

My wife cried when they came to take me away

But what more could I do just to keep her warm

Than burn burn burn burn down the mission walls

Музыка: Элтон Джон

Стихи: Берни Топин

YOUR SONG

It's a little bit funny this feeling inside

I'm not one of those who can easily hide

I don't have much money but boy if I did

I'd buy a big house where we both could live

If I was a sculptor, but then again, no

Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show

I know it's not much but it's the best I can do

My gift is my song and this one's for you

And you can tell everybody this is your song

It may be quite simple but now that it's done

I hope you don't mind

I hope you don't mind that I put down in words

How wonderful life is while you're in the world

I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss

Well a few of the verses well they've got me quite cross

But the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song

It's for people like you that keep it turned on

So excuse me forgetting but these things I do

You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue

Anyway the thing is what I really mean

Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen

Музыка: Элтон Джон

Стихи: Берни Топин

DON'T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME

I can't light no more of your darkness
All my pictures seem to fade to black and white
I'm growing tired and time stands still before me
Frozen here on the ladder of my life

Too late to save myself from falling
I took a chance and changed your way of life
But you misread my meaning when I met you
Closed the door and left me blinded by the light

Don't let the sun go down on me
Although I search myself, it's always someone else I see
I'd just allow a fragment of your life to wander free
But losing everything is like the sun going down on me

I can't find, oh the right romantic line
But see me once and see the way I feel
Don't discard me just because you think I mean you harm
But these cuts I have they need love to help them heal

Музыка: Элтон Джон

Стихи: Берни Топин

Переиздан на CD в 1998 году без бонус-треков

Гастрольное турне с оркестром было важной вехой в жизни всех его участников, а также эмоциональным переломным моментом для Элтона. Увековечение его для публики стало по сути своей катарсисом. В альбом вошли четырнадцать из восемнадцати песен, исполненных совместно с оркестром; отсутствовали лишь три композиции из эпохи Джеффена, "Cold as Christmas", "Carla/Etude" и "Slow Rivers", а также песня "Saturday's Night Alright", которая имела большой успех, но не соответствовала концепции альбома.

В Австралии, где в памяти благодарных слушателей еще были свежи воспоминания о грандиозных гастролях, альбом уже через неделю занял первую строчку хит-парада. В Соеди­ненных Штатах "Live in Australia" вошел в чарт 25 июля и под­нялся до 24-го места. В январе 1988 года он получил золотой сертификат. Однако американский успех альбома не повто­рился на родине певца, где тревожную коммерческую тенден­цию удалось переломить лишь через три года. Сокращенный вариант альбома в сентябре смог добраться лишь до 70-го места в чарте. После выпуска двойного альбома в начале 1988 года он достиг невпечатляющей 43-й позиции.

Причиной того, что американские любители музыки при­няли альбом — а британские должны были принять, — стал сингл "Candle in the Wind", который попал в лучшую десятку в обеих странах. В Британии была совершена ошибка, когда фирма "Phonogram" сначала выпустила сингл "Your Song". Это было чудесное исполнение, но знакомая мелодия слиш­ком часто звучала в эфире и уже набила оскомину. Сингл не имел успеха. Ситуация с "Саndlе in the Wind" была совсем другой, даже несмотря на то что студийная запись в 1974 году едва не попала в "Тор 10". 16 января 1988 года концертный ва­риант "Candle" дебютировал в британском чарте, добравшись в конечном итоге до 5-го места. Возможно, этому помог ви­деоклип. Элтон уплатил двадцать тысяч долларов за старую пленку с Мэрилин Монро, которую он соединил с записью своего концерта в Сиднее.

То, что альбом пользовался большим успехом в Соеди­ненных Штатах, сделало победу "Candle" еще приятнее. Аме­риканский сингл начинал раскручиваться медленно — как и сам альбом. Выпущенный в августе в канун двадцать пятой годовщины со дня смерти Монро, он поначалу звучал только в эфире радиостанций для взрослых. В конце концов 7 нояб­ря сингл вошел в "Hot 100" журнала "Billboard" под номером 68. "Мы всегда знали, что он найдет хороший прием у слуша­телей старшего возраста, — говорил вице-президент МСА по маркетингу и рекламе Ричард Палмезе, — однако исследова­ния показали, что запись пользуется успехом и у подрост­ков, — вот почему песня в конце концов переместилась с ра­диостанций для взрослых на радиостанции "Тор 40". Сингл не только перешел в другую категорию. 23 января 1988 года после двенадцатинедельного пребывания в чарте он поднялся до 6-го места.

Второй американский сингл из альбома "Live in Australia", "Таке Me to the Pilot", провалился. К этому времени пришло время выпустить премьерный сингл из первого альбома Элто­на, сделанного с МСА после "21 at 33" 1980 года.

Элизабет Розенталь. Rocket Man. Английский оригинал - His Songs

Элтон Джон - фортепиано, вокал

Дэйви Джонстон - гитары

Дэвид Патон - бас-гитара

Чарли Морган - барабаны

Фред Мандел - клавишные, синтезатор

Рэй Купер и Джоди Линскотт  - перкуссия

Алан Карвелл, Гордон Невилл, Ширли Льюис - бэк-вокал

Джеймс Ньютон Ховард - симфоническая аранжировка, дирижер

Лейблы: Rocket (UK), MCA (US/Canada), Festival/ABC/Warner Bros.(Australasia/Pacific)

Продюсер: Гас Даджен