"Blue Moves" by Elton John

In the space of three years, between 1973 and 1975, Elton John released five career-defining albums. He and lyricist Bernie Taupin were at the height of their powers, creating the double album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" featuring the iconic "Candle In The Wind" and "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting," the album "Caribou" with the unforgettable "The B*itch Is Back" and the epic, tragic "Ticking," the autobiographical album "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy," and finally "Rock of the Westies" which felt a little like a continuation of "Captain Fantastic." They were all stellar albums full of great songs and #1 hits. I was a kid then, and a huge Elton John fan... each of those albums was bought for me for Christmas or my birthday (thanks mom and dad!). But the album immediately following, 1976's "Blue Moves" was in a way, a sort of crown on the previous run of albums. It is moody, dense, and a culmination of the songwriting that came before it. It remains an underrated album (with its cover by British artist Patrick Proctor, previously here) but I think one of his best. Like the cover, the entire album is an intriguing, layered oil painting. Here are some marvelously crafted and orchestrated tracks that stand out for me.

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