12/07/2019 ELTON JOHN – ‘I’ve Been Loving You’ (1968) – delubravestra

ELTON JOHN – ‘I’ve Been Loving You’ (1968)

15 de Ebrel de 2019 — Ober un evezhiadenn

Young hiring gun Elton John tried his chance at King Crimson and Gentle Giant.

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12/07/2019 ELTON JOHN – ‘I’ve Been Loving You’ (1968) – delubravestra

What would be of him at the hands of ever-volatile perfectionist Robert Fripp?

Probably he would last a single recording – like Gordon Haskell.

In the case of Gentle Giant, I prefer to avoid this happenstance.

Far from Progressive Rock, John favored Baroque Pop for his solo debut. Ironically, this sonority
trailed Genesis’ debut ‘The Silent Sun (h ps://delubravestra.wordpress.com/2019/01/30/genesis-
the-silent-sun-1968/)’ by a few weeks. One is not guilty, in case of confusing this recording with ‘I’ve
Been Loving You’.

From careful piano (but not that careful, as it would be in Cambridge), Elton projects a passable
impression of another John, eager for a solo career. A very optimistic Lennon would have done in a
vague a empt to surpass McCartney at his own turf. Tag a Barry Manilow chorus and, voilá! Bernie
Taupin rears its songwriting credits for the first time – even though, in the best Fab Four tradition, he
was nowhere to be found (generic lyrics courtesy of Elton).

That is could be a nearly decent Beatles B-Side is no proof of originality. Apart from Peter Gabriel,
the Bee Gees were making inroads with just the same
(h ps://delubravestra.wordpress.com/2019/01/28/bee-gees-new-york-mining-disaster-1941/) – and
arguably, with be er singers (and less pianos).

The single flopped. It was only released again in Portugal as part of a 4-song EP.

B-Side ‘Here’s to the Next Time’ unveils a brass section with enough Summer of Love reminiscences
but goes straight (though in moderate pace) to cabaret. It could have been a huge single for mid-1980s
Elton (after ‘I Think That’s Why They Call it The Blues’). Second surprise is the chorus, merging

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12/07/2019 ELTON JOHN – ‘I’ve Been Loving You’ (1968) – delubravestra

convincing pathos, his prototypical vocals (unshackled from Liverpool), some ‘Penny Lane’
impersonations and cryptic song name. Definitely, the best Elton John single you never listened to. It
was a glimpse of the future.

Poor A-Side choice prevented Elton from raising his tally.

Thanks Crimson King! Thanks Gentle Giant…

Tracklist:

‘I’ve Been Loving You’ 8.0

‘Here’s to the Next Time’ 9.0

Check out Elton John’s forgo en debut here:

‘I’ve Been Loving You (h ps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcIWpFjLqi8)‘ / ‘Here’s to the Next

Time (h ps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgsOsPLUzDI)‘

Carlos Frederico Pereira da Silva Gama

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12/07/2019 ELTON JOHN – ‘I’ve Been Loving You’ (1968) – delubravestra

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