Funeral For a Friend / Loves Lies Bleeding - Elton John

[surfered]

From the album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road released in 1973. The two songs were not written as one piece. The first was created by John pondering what kind of music he would like for his funeral. The lyrics of the second by Bernie Taupin using death symbolism as a take on a break up. Since the first ends in the key of A and the second opens in A, it was decided the two to be played as one elongated piece.

[MichMan]

1. Great, great songs

Was my favorite song for many years when I was younger

[ProfessorGAC]

2. I Like Those

Wasn't a big fan of EJ in that period.
But, these 2 songs are great.
Funeral... used an ARP 2500 modular synthesizer. There weren't a lit of them because they were EXPENSIVE! They were over 7,000 for one keyboard and two modules. But 1980, the full boat (2 manuals, 4 modules) were nearly 20 grand!
But, you could dial up/patch in virtually any sound one could imagine, and some that one probably couldn't even imagine.
David Hentschel played on this song. Sid a wonderful job.
I love Love Lies Bleedung because it's so driven by the guitar which wasn't the usual deal for EJ. Nice change of pace.

[surfered]

3. My mother went to college on a piano scholarship

She looked at my hands and said my fingers were too short to play. But didn’t Elton John have short, stubby fingers?

[ProfessorGAC]

4. I'm Probably Not The Right Person To Ask

I do think he had short fingers, yes. But, I never thought much of EJ's piano playing.
It's pedestrian; having little contrary motion in the bass & a lack of adventure in his cording.
So, he's not a good example of a short fingered pianist for me.
Michel Petrucciani, on the other hand...
He's a very small guy with short hands, but he's awesome.

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[The Madcap]

5. Side story

I got this album for Christmas in 1976. Opened it up excitedly only to find two copies of disc 2 in the packaging. Had to return it for a refund.

It took me another three months to find another copy. Worth the wait, as disc one is a true classic.