Elton John
At Live in Madison Square Garden
New York City, New York, USA
October 3rd, 1989
Audience Recording
Sound Quality: B+
Attendance: 13,069
Thumbnail and Description inspired on @ryannewton1202, credits to him
Photo cortesy of @EltonStuff, credits to him
On October 3, 1989, Elton John returned to the stage at Madison Square Garden in New York for the first of five highly anticipated shows. After his two-night stint in Philadelphia, Elton John delivered a vocally impressive and energetic performance, accompanied by an equally enthusiastic band. Despite minor cuts due to a tape flip, the concert recording captures the complete show.
The concert kicked off with an electrifying rendition of "Bennie and the Jets," where Elton's attempts at falsetto added a touch of flair. Classics like "Island Girl," "Harmony," and "Tiny Dancer" maintained their signature sound, without any excessive vocal acrobatics. "Sleeping With the Past" showcased a well-balanced delivery, although Elton occasionally stumbled over the lyrics. The drumming during "The Bitch Is Back" stood out as one of the highlights of the tour, with Elton and the band delivering an exceptional performance. Elton's vocal prowess shone through on tracks like "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" and the two-part "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters." The band's rendition of "Love Lies Bleeding" was, as always, excellent, with Elton hitting the high note in the final chorus using his chest voice. While "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" saw him struggle with the falsetto and the ending, his performances of "Daniel" and "Candle in the Wind" were more polished.
"Sacrifice" and "Your Song" featured decent vocal performances, with Elton relying on his chest voice and encountering minor struggles towards the end. "Philadelphia Freedom," "Burn Down the Mission," and "Healing Hands" maintained the consistent quality of the tour's concerts, although Elton occasionally stumbled over the lyrics in the latter two. "Levon" followed a similar pattern, while "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" stood out with a shortened but exceptional performance, including a remarkable piano intro. Elton's delivery of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" was more than satisfactory, but he struggled with the lyrics in "I Don't Wanna Go on With You Like That," a recurring challenge throughout the tour. The high-energy "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)" showcased Elton's vocal stamina, and the show concluded with a decent rendition of "Rocket Man," akin to his other performances during this tour.
1. Bennie And The Jets - 0:00
2. Island Girl - 6:19
3. Harmony - 10:15
4. Tiny Dancer - 12:51
5. Sleeping With The Past - 19:51
6. The Bitch Is Back / Brown Sugar - 24:40
7. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues - 29:45
8. Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters - 34:24
9. Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters (Part 2 ) - 35:54
10. Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding - 43:58
11. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word - 54:06
12. Daniel - 57:44
13. Candle In The Wind - 1:01:35
14. Sacrifice - 1:06:00
15. Your Song - 1:10:24
16. Philadelphia Freedom - 1:14:52
17. Burn Down The Mission - 1:20:00
18. Healing Hands - 1:28:00
19. Levon - 1:32:01
20. Sad Songs (Say So Much) - 1:36:56
21. Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me - 1:45:02
22. I Don’t Wanna Go On With You Like That - 1:50:27
23. Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting) - 1:55:30
24. Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time) - 2:02:08