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Elton John — First Episode At Hienton
Album: Elton John
Avg rating:
6.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 586









Released: 1970
Length: 4:43
Plays (last 30 days): 0
I was one as you were one
And we were two so much in love forever
I loved the white socks that you wore
But you don't wear white socks no more, now you're a woman
I joked about your turned-up nose
And criticized your school girl clothes
But would I then have paced these roads to love you
For seasons come and seasons go
Bring forth the rain the sun and snow
Make Valerie a woman
And Valerie is lonely

No more to roam on the snow hills of Hienton
Undecided with the guardians of the older generation
A doormat was a sign of welcome
In the winter months to come
And in the summer laughing
Through the castle ruins we'd run

For the quadrangle sang to the sun
And the grace of our feeling
And the candle burned low as we talked of the future
Underneath the ceiling
There were tears in the sky
And the clouds in your eyes were just cover
For your thighs were the cushions
Of my love and yours for each other
The songs still are sung
It was fun to be young
But please don't be sad where 'ere you are

I am who I am
You are who you are
Now Valerie's a woman
Now Valerie's a woman
Now Valerie's a woman
Comments (94)add comment
 pigglywiggly wrote:
Skeletor wrote: Second. His first was Empty Sky, with one of my favorite gems Skyline Pigeon.
I first heard Skyline Pigeon in the closing credits of "The Favourite (2018)" with Olivia Colman.  Quickly became one of my favorites of his older material.  He has performed it live at other concerts since then, but not on the Farewell Tour this past year.

Love this album since it launched & remember the wonder it created in me about this amazing new artist. 
Easy 8. Lots of stuff on this disc was overlooked.
c.
 bindi wrote:
Ah, the good old days. . . .Any opinions on the exact moment EJ jumped the shark?  ________________

I was a huge fan, so it took me a couple bad songs before I realized I had to move on, but I remember well the song that did it for me. 
 

Captain Fantastic
 mamerjamer wrote:
Another classic Elton John song that I would love to hear on RP is "I need you to turn to". A friend of mine who was an excellent pianist used to play that song solo in our garage band. Great song that does not see enough airtime.
 
Hear! Hear!
There is some newer Elton John stuff that is worth while.  I think the album the 'One'  is very good. Check out the song 'The one'.  The rest of the album is pretty good too I think.
 colt4x5 wrote:

aw, c'mon, give ol' reg a 7 ...
 

....oh all Dwight! 7 it is
Ah, the good old days. . . .Any opinions on the exact moment EJ jumped the shark?  ________________

I was a huge fan, so it took me a couple bad songs before I realized I had to move on, but I remember well the song that did it for me. 
 cutterjudd wrote:
Thankyou Wild Bill for exposing Elton John to us when he was good (IMHO). 
 
I agree. This is beautiful {#Cry}
 cutterjudd wrote:
Thankyou Wild Bill for exposing Elton John to us when he was good (IMHO). 
 

From here to YBR, he ruled. Particularly Tumbleweed Connection.
 jamesat43 wrote:

EXACTLY the two songs that ended it for me.  Both are on my NEVER EVER WANT TO HEAR AGAIN song list.  The song at the top of that list is Styx's Tom Sawyer.  How long is your NEVER list RP faithful?
 
 
Yikes!  I did say Styx...that should be Rush.  Thanks, RP folks for not biting on the unintentional troll.

jt
 
I always feel rather sad when I hear his earlier works.  How the mighty have fallen - into the hell of supermarket music!
 nate917 wrote:

Candle in the Wind was from the Yellow Brick Road album.  The song between Yellow Brick Road and Candle in the Wind on that album was Bennie and the Jets, but I don't think that's what you meant.  IMHO, the only unlistenable Elton John was around 76-77, when he gave us Philadelphia Freedom and Don't Go Breaking My Heart.
 
EXACTLY the two songs that ended it for me.  Both are on my NEVER EVER WANT TO HEAR AGAIN song list.  The song at the top of that list is Styx's Tom Sawyer.  How long is your NEVER list RP faithful?
 
{#Yawn}  just

                    not

                                 keeping                

                                                        me 

                                                                       awake

                                                                                        this           

                                                                                                       morning
 spacemoose wrote:

I like yellow brick road.  He became unlistenable to me later in his career.  Somewhere between yellow brick road and Candle in the Wind.

 
Candle in the Wind was from the Yellow Brick Road album.  The only thing "between Yellow Brick Road and Candle in the Wind" on that album was Bennie and the Jets, but I don't think that's what you meant.  IMHO, the only unlistenable Elton John was around 76-77, when he gave us Philadelphia Freedom and Don't Go Breaking My Heart.

Thankyou Wild Bill for exposing Elton John to us when he was good (IMHO). 
 colt4x5 wrote:

aw, c'mon, give ol' reg a 7 ...
  Yeah, ok, wtf - 7 it is :). He's always worth an extra point to Watford FC fans anyway...


 palad1 wrote:
led zep / thirteen sense / erik satie / elton john.

combo break !

:(
 
Thought the same thing. Way to follow up perfection with barf.

*Edit... Ok so this is the one Elton John song that isn't sooo bad. ;)


 fredriley wrote:
A nice obscure gem from the early career of Reg Dwight of Pinner. Nicely picked out, RP. It reminds us that Reg could do lyrical, thougtful stuff. 6 from the Nottingham jury.
 
aw, c'mon, give ol' reg a 7 ...
led zep / thirteen sense / erik satie / elton john.

combo break !

:(
A nice obscure gem from the early career of Reg Dwight of Pinner. Nicely picked out, RP. It reminds us that Reg could do lyrical, thougtful stuff. 6 from the Nottingham jury.
 bindi wrote:
It is amazing how much EJ used to not suck! He was my absolute favorite - until Yellow Brick Road.
 
I like yellow brick road.  He became unlistenable to me later in his career.  Somewhere between yellow brick road and Candle in the Wind.

biologenius wrote:
HAHAHA brilliant comment. I love RP for bringing up obscure songs of super stars..
It is amazing how much EJ used to not suck! He was my absolute favorite - until Yellow Brick Road.
Superb segue there Bill; Satie to EJ's own beautiful take...very moving back to back.
I was a 13 year old nervous about my first year in Junior High and my impending puberty when I bought this album. What a beautiful way to remind me of a great time in my life. What an incredible talent he was.
Glad he clarified because in Russian, Valerij ("Valerie") is a man's name.
Imkirok wrote:
Nice use of the Theremin in the middle. (At least it sounds like it.) Beautiful, haunting affect.
As I was reading your comment and wondering what the heck a Theremin is, the song came to that part...wow, a Radio Paradise discovery/coincidence of a scary-cool kind. Thanks for pointing it out, and thanks to RP for yet another fine moment
phorp wrote:
I just don't understand the vitriol that presents itself in some folks postings... I hear many things I don't immediately warm to on RP. I still listen, and become accepting to some things... and not to others. But, nothing lasts so long that its painful or angering... This song is beautiful, from before Elton's commercialization. If you want to find some great music, explore his releases before Yellow Brick Road. Most everything he has done is good but the gems lay below the surface. Enjoy...
Pyro wrote:
You are SO RIGHT re RP and Elton.
I agree completely with both Pyro and phorp. Early Elton John music is wonderful, beautiful often haunting. RP does an absolutely amazing job of exposing us all to music we might not ever hear otherwise--most of it is fantastic, some not so. But it often requires openness and patience to sort the two. Meanwhile, as Rodney King says, "Why can't we just all get along?"
Egrey wrote:
He wrote some gems as a young man and then. . . Lion King.
HAHAHA brilliant comment. I love RP for bringing up obscure songs of super stars..
He wrote some gems as a young man and then. . . Lion King.
Imkirok wrote:
Nice use of the Theremin in the middle. (At least it sounds like it.) Beautiful, haunting affect.
Either a theremin or a saw. I cut my finger to the bone on a bandsaw in woodshop in high school, as the doc sewed me up and I told the nurse what I did she said "I didn't know the high school band played saws!" Old Doc Woods nearly slipped a stitch laughing at her. Never heard this one by Elton, ever. Maybe all these indie bands with theremins heard it long before I did.
Interesting! The ratings on this song are all over the scale. For myself, I never considered E. John to be a serious musician, but I think that this is a lovely track.
What a seque from Erik Satie!!! Ear candy.
SomeOldGuy wrote:
This would be far more entertaining if it was sung by Elmer Fudd...
TWUE... VEWY TWUE
Another classic Elton John song that I would love to hear on RP is \"I need you to turn to\". A friend of mine who was an excellent pianist used to play that song solo in our garage band. Great song that does not see enough airtime.
Nice use of the Theremin in the middle. (At least it sounds like it.) Beautiful, haunting affect.
this pretty much defines corny schmaltz
Wow! Deep Elton cut. I applaud Bill for digging this up, but it\'s only a 5 in my book. Play more tracks off Mad Man and Tumbleweed.
This would be far more entertaining if it was sung by Elmer Fudd...
I have to say this is terrible, droaning, and so sleepy I am surprised he didn\'t fall asleep at the piano.
This song brings back memories of a lost love back as a college sophomore.
Spliff wrote:
My sister is a big Elton fan and she went to Vegas to see his new show last weekend. She said it was very disappointing. Also said that the videos playing in the background were very disturbing. I am not surprised.
What videos were playing?
blllllllllllllllllah.
Skeletor wrote:
Wow, this is from what? His first album?
Second. His first was Empty Sky, with one of my favorite gems Skyline Pigeon.
grim
:meditate.gif:
My sister is a big Elton fan and she went to Vegas to see his new show last weekend. She said it was very disappointing. Also said that the videos playing in the background were very disturbing. I am not surprised.
This song is on his Live from Australia album, isn't it? I really loved that album, because it showcased some of his earlier stuff and was played with a full orchestra. It really turned back the clock, back before Elton John was a parody of himself. I could listen to this all day.....
physicsgenius wrote:
Shlocky in the extreme. I was startled but not surprised to see it's Elton. Good piano player, terrible songwriter.
I think Bernie Taupin might have written this, but I am not sure. I think Elton was at his best when he collaborated with Taupin.
Shlocky in the extreme. I was startled but not surprised to see it's Elton. Good piano player, terrible songwriter.
Wow, this is from what? His first album?
phorp wrote:
This song is beautiful, from before Elton's commercialization. If you want to find some great music, explore his releases before Yellow Brick Road. Most everything he has done is good but the gems lay below the surface. Enjoy...
:nodhead:
kerr wrote:
what's he doing here?
Check out his early albums and you might have a clue. Then again, we may be asking alot here...
crimmeny. will someone please make this stop?
masterhead wrote:
Ok....I was curious to hear who was playing this commercial crap...hummm..ET interesting
Commercial crap?? I've been listening to the radio for 35 years and have never heard this song. Just because some of Elton's other songs got overplayed doesn't mean his other stuff can't be brilliant.
phorp wrote:
I just don't understand the vitriol that presents itself in some folks postings... I hear many things I don't immediately warm to on RP. I still listen, and become accepting to some things... and not to others. But, nothing lasts so long that its painful or angering... This song is beautiful, from before Elton's commercialization. If you want to find some great music, explore his releases before Yellow Brick Road. Most everything he has done is good but the gems lay below the surface. Enjoy...
You are SO RIGHT re RP and Elton.
kerr wrote:
really?
I think so. It's heavy stuff, but it is moving.
steeler wrote:
Creating beautiful music.
really?
Allyson wrote:
I'm with you - I'm afraid EJ just doesn't fit in Radio Paradise for me!
NONSENSE, for anyone who has any familiarity with EJs early 70s LPs with Bernie Taupin, full of good tunes that never get commercial airplay. This song, though not among my faves, shows just how much of a debt Tori A, Vienna T, and plenty of other artists owe to sir E.
kerr wrote:
what's he doing here?
Creating beautiful music.
what's he doing here?
I like a lot of EJ songs, this just isn't one of them.......
tovarisch wrote:
I gave this on a 4 ...... I had it as a 3 but then he got bonus points for using the word "quadrangle"
C'mon --- that's gotta be worth 2 points!
Ok....I was curious to hear who was playing this commercial crap...hummm..ET interesting
I gave this on a 4 ...... I had it as a 3 but then he got bonus points for using the word "quadrangle"
mig7 wrote:
This song is like walking in on someone naked in the dressing room...Not sure, but I think it's real personal....
Agreed that it is personal, although I now am having trouble disassociating it from your example!
This song is like walking in on someone naked in the dressing room...Not sure, but I think it's real personal....
rascal420 wrote:
Don't know what this song's all about. Never gonna be a pop-hit machine if you keep this up. You'll never amount to anything.
Yeah, right--It's all over for Sir Elton John..Pity this song ruined him....
Don't know what this song's all about. Never gonna be a pop-hit machine if you keep this up. You'll never amount to anything.
noladq wrote:
Nice music to slit your wrists to.
Outstanding thought....
mread wrote:
Awesome album; less than awesome song.
I disagree... there is something so simple and straightfoward about this tune that I have always found haunting. I find myself turning the speaks up for this tune every time.
Awesome album; less than awesome song.
I just don\'t understand the vitriol that presents itself in some folks postings... I hear many things I don\'t immediately warm to on RP. I still listen, and become accepting to some things... and not to others. But, nothing lasts so long that its painful or angering... This song is beautiful, from before Elton\'s commercialization. If you want to find some great music, explore his releases before Yellow Brick Road. Most everything he has done is good but the gems lay below the surface. Enjoy...
Behold Elton before his poppy, flashy and overmarketed days (and back when he had hair).
Nice music to slit your wrists to.
Originally Posted by Allyson: I'm with you - I'm afraid EJ just doesn't fit in Radio Paradise for me!
This is just suicide inducing. Actually had to turn RP off for a little while. ugh.
Originally Posted by thirstler1: jesus this as awful.
I'm with you - I'm afraid EJ just doesn't fit in Radio Paradise for me!
Quite possibly the worst song ever played on RP. Or any other radio station, for that matter. As my good friend Leonard Pynth Garnell would say: \"Outstandingly bad, Mr. Dwight. Exquisitely, outstandingly bad.\"
Nice to hear older EJ, but this one was \"unknown\" for a reason.
Still my favorite Elton John Album and one of my favorite cuts.
Thank you for playing Elton John! This is so incredibly nice.....
I really like this forgotten piece, almost Cohenesque in poignant opening impact.
I can\'t believe that I have never heard this song before. Very, very nice.
well, this sucks.
Still my favorite Elton John Album...
It\'s hard to believe this song is over 30 years old. It has aged very nicely -- as most EJ songs of that era have.
Originally Posted by lily33: hmm. never heard this before. nice love song.
Couldn't agree more! Quite strange but I did not recognize his voice till I checked out the playlist :(
nice.