Elton John Album Reviews: Made in England (1995)

[@danielhkhk7283]

I especially like his voice on this album. He sounds so young. It is his best album in the nineties and has some beautiful harmonies. My favourite tracks are Latitude, Pain, Please and Believe (reminds me heavily on Believe me now from ELO).

[@eltonmusicfan]

His voice sounds great. Pity about the echo on some of the tracks. Pain and Please are among my favourites. I'm not so much a fan of Believe.

[@colinfarr3523]

The 1st track "Believe" was nominated for the 1996 Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance - Male but lost to "Kiss From A Rose" by Seal. the other losers were "Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?" by Bryan Adams, "You Are Not Alone" by Michael Jackson and "When We Dance" by Sting.

[@eltonmusicfan]

Not a classic year, by the sound of it!

[@elliemenzel7939]

Argh! You're killing me! If "Believe" was the one track you didn't like I could understand that. I don't understand why this is the song he still does after 25 years. But "House"?!?!?!? How can you do that to me? It's not the greatest song, but it's good. I would swap "House" and "Blessed" on your rating system. The former is far superior to the latter. Other standout tracks are "Belfast" and "Cold." I love the piano and guitar outro on "Cold" - I think I loved it so much I might've put it on my fantasy setlist.

[@007koko007]

He still does Believe because it was a hit and it's better than House ;)

[@elliemenzel7939]

@@007koko007 Not even

[@brianlegend6448]

"House" is great I love heavy strings! The singer is looking at old photos in an album- identifying things as he turns the pages so "That is the winter" is like saying "that is the way the house/yard looked during the winters we had.

[@eltonmusicfan]

Fair enough! But what do you like about House? I've just read (since the video) that it might be about drug use. I didn't see that. And I've been humming it ever since the video, so the tune must be catchy.

[@brianlegend6448]

@@eltonmusicfan The melody...the reflections back to childhood home...along the lines of the Bee Gees' "First Of May"

[@dannistewart3775]

I am stunned you gave Believe a 3, I would have thought at least a 6 - a classic Elton song. As for House,I agree it's the weakest but think the score is a touch harsh when considering the other songs you have scored as a 1. For me,the best track is Please - the cover on restoration is brilliant! Overall, for me his best album in the 90s.

[@eltonmusicfan]

Please is a very fine song and I am glad you like it. A touch of The Beatles there? Believe is like an echoey 1980s throwback and its melody and harmony is slow and predictable, only in my view of course. Others are welcome!

[@MJ-qb5ph]

Agree. The ratings are far too harsh. This was a brilliant concept album - almost every song is linked - its genius is its simplicity

[@TheRamblingsofBry]

I really love this album, my favourite track being 'Believe'... certainly worth 6 or 7, in my opinion. A classic album.

[@robdaviesprogm]

I've always felt this was Elton's best '90s album. It took me a very long time to start enjoying The One and The Big Picture on any sort of level, but I took to Made in England right away. Good job on guessing where the vinyl split is! I've never had this one on vinyl, but I love the idea of those dramatic Buckmaster strings coming in on "Belfast", one of my favourite tracks on the album, after dropping the needle on Side 2. I'm surprised you made no mention of the fact that this album was heavily inspired by The Beatles' work (well, more than usual, since every white artist from the post-1960s rock era drew inspiration from The Beatles in one form or another). The fact that several tracks run together, George Martin's arrangement on "Latitude", and the style of some of the lyrics and instrumentation all point to this. They even recorded the album at George Martin's AIR Studios. I get the feeling that you're not fond of orchestral arrangements, at least on rock recordings. Is that an inaccurate statement? It just seems to me that you find orchestral arrangements to be an imposition more often than not, which I find odd, considering how much influence classical music has had on Elton's music throughout his career. Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on that. I feel you slightly missed the mark on the subject of "Blessed". Lines like "you're a child in my head" and "you're still just a dream/Your eyes might be green/Or the bluest that I've ever seen" are clear indicators that this is a child who has not yet been born. This is someone who wants to be a parent, or is an expectant parent, dreaming about what their child might be like. This is one of Bernie's most unique lyrics. I can't think of another song that tackles this subject matter. It's extremely poignant, as you say. "House" is definitely the weakest track on the album, although it does provide a nice bridge between "Made in England" and "Cold". I thought of a bunch of other comments, but I was watching this on my phone over lunch, and I forgot what they were. You probably have enough waffling from me here anyway :) . Keep it up, John! Love these videos!

[@eltonmusicfan]

Thanks for this. I enjoy the orchestral accompaniments, especially on Madman, and the live work Elton has done with orchestral arrangements. I'm not sure the orchestra is used well on some of the tracks here. Belfast seems to work well, but on other tracks, the orchestra is too far back and the whole thing becomes too busy. Thanks for your comments on Blessed - I think I missed that interpretation and it does make sense. A beautiful song whichever way we see it. Some of Bernie's other lyrics here are not his best.

[@stephencorbett2862]

The vinyl version does have a clear sticker title and Elton,s name

[@eltonmusicfan]

You are fortunate to have the vinyl version.

[@michaelkerner3072]

My first Elton John record, Made In England. I can't believe he didn't like this record. It is so overlooked because of The Lion King's success. A great throwback sound to Elton's 70's sound & a serene orchestration overall.

[@chrisbooth3417]

This is my favorite Elton album that was not from his classic period. I love the production, organic but energetic at the same time. I definitely disagree about some of the ratings. Believe is one of my favorite Elton tracks. Latitude to me has a Beatles Norwegian Wood sound to it. Pain is a great rocker that is even better live. I don't think there are any all time classics on this album but as a whole it's one that I can play without skipping songs. Comparing it to the albums before and after it. There is no annoying drum machine like on all the songs on The One. The Big Picture sounds a little too procesed. Although I love tracks from each of them.

[@eltonmusicfan]

Thanks for this. Lots of fans of this album out there. I did mention The Beatles' influence, especially on Please. I will be looking at The One very shortly.

[@chrisbooth3417]

@@eltonmusicfan Looking forward to your review of The One. I loved that album years ago. Lots of great songs but I hate the dated production. I think those songs sound better live.

[@MJ-qb5ph]

Gotta disagree with you seriously here John. With the exception of the title track I personally feel this is an exceptionally mature album. Believe us an outstanding song - the lyrics are an anthem to those of us out there have been to hell and back and are now on a spiritual path - I think you are looking at ‘love’ in a very limited way. Completely disagree with you. I’d give believe 10

[@eltonmusicfan]

Thanks for this. Believe seems to be a big favourite with many fans. It's just not one I warm to, particularly. I'm not sure about 10/10. Would you rate it the same as Your Song??

[@MJ-qb5ph]

@@eltonmusicfan Yes. It is a very strong song about ‘love’ in the broadest sense. I think it’s one of his best songs. All the best from australia

[@onjohns1]

I believe the only version that doesn’t have his name or the album title came in a slipcase that did have those details. But if you have the standard issue, the title and his name are on the cover.

[@eltonmusicfan]

Thanks for this. Yes, I forgot about the slipcase!

[@davidsigler7211]

I gave this a thumbs up but not sure why! Love this album, in my EJ top ten of all time. A true return to form and Penny rescued us from Chris Thomas over production. Buckmasters return alone is worthy enough for me. But always appreciate your reviews!

[@eltonmusicfan]

Thanks. I seem to have annoyed quite a few people here. I'll be making a follow-up along the lines of 'subscribers hit back'.

[@007koko007]

Such a shame that you gave such low ratings to such a brilliant album. It's obviously a hundred times better than 'The Lockdown Session', yet you gave these songs such low ratings for no obvious reason, at least no obvious to me. It's a mature album, it's inspired, it's truly one of his best works since the 70's. My favorite tracks that would certainly get 9 or 10 stars are Believe, Made in England, Cold, Belfast, Latitude and Blessed. Production is great, the orchestral arrangements are sometimes eerie and I love that. I really can't find any song on TLS that can come anywhere near to the perfection of 6 songs I mentioned above. TLS is too aggressive, songs are mostly simplistic and production is even horrific compared to MIE which is way more subtle and it has certain artistic value that TLS doesn't have. I also can't understand comparing it to Leather Jackets, which was a pretty much lame album on many levels.

[@eltonmusicfan]

I knew I'd be in trouble with this review. I prefer Elton's sound in the 2000s onwards. I suspect The One is going to be an uneven review as well. Lots of fans out there of Believe and House but I just don't get it. Latitude could have sat well on Tumbleweed maybe?

[@stephencorbett2862]

Cadillac muscle refers to Elton being inspired growing up by American music,just like "the boy from Tupelo "

[@eltonmusicfan]

Thanks for this. Yes, that makes a lot of sense. Cadillacs also mentioned on Diving Board, on a good song.

[@adamharris7383]

I'll be the one the prove you wrong on the shortest song title front i'm afraid. Pain is beaten to the prize by.... Ego!

[@eltonmusicfan]

Well spotted! Is there no two-letter one?

[@adamharris7383]

@@eltonmusicfan Nothing comes to mind at the moment. But now i think of it "Man" on this album also beats Pain as a short title. The only other 3 letter song i can think of is "Amy" from Honky Château

[@vincentdelvecchio8105]

No p

[@vincentdelvecchio8105]

Lp

[@michaelkerner3072]

love the video Elton John did for Believe. Too bad, the critic never knew it was a similarity in sound to what Elton John & Bernie Taupin made from John Lennon's Imagine.

[@dame_ys]

Hi John! I've been waiting for this review for so long, to be honest. This album is Elton's revival. I think it started with Sleeping With The Past and continued with The One and Made In England. MIE is the symbol of mature and classy sound. I think Belfast illustrates that fact perfectly. Especially the orchestral arrangements. I can't imagine the 90's without this album. It shows all music trends mixed with Elton's individuality. This is what separates him from the others - he looks at the trends and at the same time he never stops looking for his melody. Well, Victim of Love could be out of this list (1979 LP was a huge mistake). My personal favourites are Belfast, Cold, Blessed and Made In England. I liked how you quoted the lyrics about homophobia. Made In England could be a perfect unofficial hymn of LGBT community though :)

[@eltonmusicfan]

Thanks for this. Elton is in confident mood here and I'm glad you enjoyed the album. He wrote some strong songs in the 1990s but I think the 2000s were even better.

[@007koko007]

I agree. Sleeping With the Past was the beginning of new era, musically much stronger era than what Elton was releasing in 80's.

[@mahanaghaei1]

The line "lie, lie, lie, on a street car named desire" refers to the actual plot of the movie where the main character started lying about her past and current life to her sister and her husband when she decided to stay at their place for a while, she is pretty much lying the whole time up until the end of the plot when she starts losing her mind and keeps lying to herself, not willing to accept her fate.

[@eltonmusicfan]

Thanks for this. I must brush up my Tennessee Williams!

[@markharris1125]

I’m rewriting this one a little because I think I was a little unkind to it on my first go. I didn’t much care for this when it first came out - I didn’t like some of the earlier songs and while the later ones were better, I thought it was a bit mechanical. But I listened to the album the other day for the first time in years and actually, it was much better than I remembered. My initial review read like it was me way back when. I’m going to change the tone if I can. Written before seeing your review. 1 Believe. One of those stately songs but one with very dramatic instrumentation. I wouldn’t mind hearing a different version of this without all the crashing percussion and wild orchestration. It’s not bad, actually. I believe I’ll give it a 6. 2 Made In England. I always liked this one, a great rock song with some important lyrics. I don’t quite know why the album didn’t start with this one but then I’m always trying to reorder the tracks on albums. A sweet Georgia peach of a 8. 3 House. This is quite nice but I wonder if it means less than it pretends to mean. It’s hypnotic though, and I think this will pop up in my head now and then, now I’ve heard it for the first time in years. A two-up, two-down 6. 4 Cold. So far this is fulfilling my memories, pleasant enough, fairly slow-moving songs making their way down a canal, leaving only small ripples in their wake. Made In England was a noisy speedboat disturbing the serenity. All sounds lovely, well played and well sung, missing something. I like the warbling ‘cold’ towards the end. A cool 6. 5 Pain. Okay, another speedboat. But it’s also another Bernie song about religion and it leaves me a bit, er, cold. Nice chorus on ‘From the beginning in a world without end’. Not a pain but a 6 nonetheless. 6 Belfast. I rather wished we’d stayed with that lovely orchestral opening, as I find this very clichéd, an English writer (presumably from America) trying to be nice about Belfast. All the pipes going, of course. Then a knees-up at the pub to end with. While googling this song I came across a really interesting Guardian article from 2003: www.theguardian.com/culture/2003/jan/24/artsfeatures.vanmorrison I rather agree with it. An Emerald Isle skipper, 3. 7 Latitude. Oh, I remember this one, a nice, bright, folky type of song that’s reminiscent of something else I can’t quite place. Lovely instrumental arrangement. Short and not too long-itude. (Ouch.) Between me and you, a 7. Just looked at Wikipedia, and the instrumental part was written by George Martin. I was going to say it sounded a bit Beatle-ish, didn’t want to be horribly wrong. 8 Please. Another really nice one, very clever lyrics. “Stood dazed in the doorway, the king and queen of clowns.” Oh please, of course it’s a 7. 9 Man. I don’t know what to make of this one, I spent the whole time trying to remember what song it sounds almost exactly the same as. Gospelly, organy, doesn’t really grab me. A masculine 6. Will return when I remember! 10 Lies. Nice twirling intro and great piano throughout.. Bernie’s been to a Tennessee Williams play! Good song with a good message and some great lyrics, excellent chorus. I’ve lied for a stolen moment, I’d lie to get to heaven, but I ain’t lying when I say, this song deserves a 7. 11 Blessed. It’s very pretty but I remember thinking that this was very syrupy. Listening for the first time in years, and reading the lyrics, I wasn’t wrong. I know, I have a cold cold heart. Still, that distorted ‘promise you that, promise you that’ is just brilliant. Gorgeously sung and produced, so I have to award an exalted 6. [Note after watching: I think the child is not born yet: Your eyes might be green / Or the bluest that I've ever seen'. Possibly it's just dreaming about having a child.] So this was better than I remember - the ‘second side’ is definitely better than the first. I could cheerfully lose House, Cold, Pain, Man and Belfast, none of them do anything for me. My scores are more about the production and singing - this album is excellent in that respect. Really liked the title track, Latitude, Please and Lies. Wikipedia: "There are many outtakes from Made in England. These songs include "Building a Bird", "Leaves", "Hell", "Skin", "Tick-Tock", "Undone", "Red", "Live Like Horses", an alternate version of "Belfast", and an alternate version of "Believe". "Red" was later released on the French compilation Sol En Si, and a version of "Live Like Horses" was later released on The Big Picture. "Building a Bird" was recorded by Nigel Olsson for his 2001 Move the Universe CD, released only in Japan. The remaining outtakes have yet to circulate." Well, I just listened to Red on KZbin and you have to wonder what was going on in their minds to leave this one off, what a good song. It even has a one-word title, come on! It has a crimson 8, maybe a 9. An instant classic. On the playlist! I also listened to Building A Bird by Nigel Olsson. This is also a really nice song and you can tell it comes originally from this writing/recording session. I would put it above any of the ones ‘I could cheerfully lose’. 6 from Nigel, might have been a 7 with Elton. And Live Like Horses is of course a great song, yet to come in my reviews.

[@davywavy2141]

Thanks John. Firstly, as a non- muscian could you explain the difference between a major and minor chord please?. Now with regard to the album, I find it enjoyable but feel that often the instruments are drowning out Eltons voice. Also, I wasn't keen on some of the orchestral arrangements, overdone I feel. (sorry Paul!). I would have increased the scores you gave by at least 1 or 2 marks for each track.

[@eltonmusicfan]

Thanks for this. A major chord is happy - a minor chord sounds sad. The difference is the middle note which is flattened for the minor chord. If you look at I'm Still Standing, the verse is in a major key, the chorus in a minor key (which makes it an unusual song). Hope this helps!

[@davywavy2141]

@@eltonmusicfan Thank you John, yes it does.

[@gonzalocurbelo1975]

Belive, Belfast, Latitude and Blessed are the haih point of this record.

[@howieroarke]

Pain, Man, Lies and MIE (can't stand the lyric) are the weakest for me hands down. House a 1, or you joking? As you may have guessed from the moniker I am an architect, don't know if that has anything to do with it. I certainly don't hear anything in the lyric that would suggest reflections on a childhood home. There is a youtube video that interprets the song in the light of homelessness, which I find to be original and interesting. A little hard to go out and enjoy the rain when you can't follow up with a warm shower and a change into dry clothes. Believe for me is his best video ever, with many shots that could stand alone as framed stills. Just in the way we taste with our eyes, it may be the reason I don't hear the faults you cite. Signature work of Paul Buckmaster. You don't even need to read the album credits for that one.

[@cootmaster]

idk why but after the one, the music kinda just went down hill 97 01 05 on on just not as good as 80s

[@dirksdiamonds]

Sorry but - WTF? (Believe). Made in England - Meh! would score it lower. I do however agree with your opinion on House! 4 letter titles - Amy is the only one I can think of that's shorter, off the top of my head! Surprised by your Belfast views. I love latitude - among my faves, 6/8 time, I dunno, never ever thought "country" - feels much more like UK or Irish folk to me, the sort of thing I'd play and sing with my Ukulele (only cause I can't play guitar). Reconsider that, with that in mind - it's not Country, most definately not! Please I agree with, oh no I don't, would give that Pains points, and Pain a few points less. I used to love Man, when younger, but went right off it! I'm expecting The One to get a roasting, much like you gave Believe, the whole album though, for it's production - I hate the over use of a rather horrible 80's snare drum on that one, as if played in a giant tunnel, throughout the album! Anyway for me Believe 8, MIE 4, House 1/2 (lets go with 1), Cold 7 (but yeah a bit long), Pain 4, Belfast 8, Latitude 9, Please 8, Man 3, Lies 5, Blessed 8. This craps all over Leather Jackets, in my opinion at least. Anyway, I always quite enjoy your little run downs!

[@eltonmusicfan]

We're not a million miles apart on the ratings. I thought Pain much stronger than your rating. I don't see anything special in Latitude. I will look at The One soon. I like quite a few of the songs but you're dead right about the horrid drumming.