Track-by-Track: From Please to Nonetheless

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NotInvisible
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Re: Track-by-Track: From Please to Nonetheless

#2536 Post by NotInvisible »

davidctecno wrote: Thu 17 Sep 2026, 8:16 pm Track 173 : In private (featuring Elton John) CD2 :14
Easily one of the worst things they've ever done, which is interesting because Dusty's original is one of the best.

NOBODY75
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Re: Track-by-Track: From Please to Nonetheless

#2537 Post by NOBODY75 »

NotInvisible wrote: Fri 18 Sep 2026, 12:39 am
davidctecno wrote: Thu 17 Sep 2026, 8:16 pm Track 173 : In private (featuring Elton John) CD2 :14
Easily one of the worst things they've ever done, which is interesting because Dusty's original is one of the best.
It would be quicker to just write that I more or less agree.

Capsigrany
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Re: Track-by-Track: From Please to Nonetheless

#2538 Post by Capsigrany »

I don’t know why they don’t realise that Neil’s voice doesn’t fit in with Elton’s.
Agree, one of their worst things ever. Lesson 1 on how to ruin a very good song.

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Re: Track-by-Track: From Please to Nonetheless

#2539 Post by leesmapman »

Unnecessary. That's how I feel about it

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Re: Track-by-Track: From Please to Nonetheless

#2540 Post by Morrie »

I'll state upfront an utterly conscious bias against Elton John. His curse is clear on this track. 24-carat gold to scrap metal in four minutes.

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Re: Track-by-Track: From Please to Nonetheless

#2541 Post by rathound »

I was interested to see what others opinions on this were, and glad to see they are similar to my own. It's utterly dreadful. Agree in terms of recordings this is the worst thing they've released. Also completely pointless. Destroying a great original song. A great run of tracks on the FL disk comes to a shuddering halt

Elton and PSB just doesn't work. I can't stand anything they've collaborated on

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Birthday Boy
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Re: Track-by-Track: From Please to Nonetheless

#2542 Post by Birthday Boy »

Well, I'm going to say it now: I quite like this version of In private, and I never really understood the hate for it.

Of course, Elton John's voice sounds terrible (which is also true for the other two collaborations; maybe this is mean but it does not sound like he can sing based on these three recordings). But at the same time, this makes me appreciate the bits that Neil sings even more, I just love the way his voive sounds on this.

Musically, I also quite like this version. Yes, the backing track sounds a bit cheap, but I really do like this electronic style (there are some other b-sides and demos from this period that sound similar, which I also love). The song itself is of course awesome, and I do like that it becomes quite gay when men sing these lines.

If all of this makes it a guilty pleasure, then so be it, but Elton can't deter me from really liking this version. I do prefer Dusty's version obviously, but it's closer than you would think...

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Kompakt&Bijou
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Re: Track-by-Track: From Please to Nonetheless

#2543 Post by Kompakt&Bijou »

I really like the Stuart Crichton remix on Fundamentalism. It was one of my favourites for a while. Like Birthday Boy I don't understand the hate for this song, but it would be boring if we all agreed on everything, so I don't mind.
I think having two men sing it brings a new meaning to the song, especially the line about going home to their husband.
... my dear Mostyn :eh:

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Re: Track-by-Track: From Please to Nonetheless

#2544 Post by kingdom »

Unchecked on my iTunes so that I never have to hear this. Like nails on a chalkboard lol
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Re: Track-by-Track: From Please to Nonetheless

#2545 Post by sterlinglush »

Birthday Boy wrote: Fri 18 Sep 2026, 9:27 am Well, I'm going to say it now: I quite like this version of In private, and I never really understood the hate for it.

Of course, Elton John's voice sounds terrible (which is also true for the other two collaborations; maybe this is mean but it does not sound like he can sing based on these three recordings). But at the same time, this makes me appreciate the bits that Neil sings even more, I just love the way his voive sounds on this.

Musically, I also quite like this version. Yes, the backing track sounds a bit cheap, but I really do like this electronic style (there are some other b-sides and demos from this period that sound similar, which I also love). The song itself is of course awesome, and I do like that it becomes quite gay when men sing these lines.

If all of this makes it a guilty pleasure, then so be it, but Elton can't deter me from really liking this version. I do prefer Dusty's version obviously, but it's closer than you would think...
Thank you. I'm also a little puzzled by the opprobrium. It's not my favorite song of theirs, and I'll admit I don't think their voices mesh well, but it's a fun bop -- not nails on a blackboard like some I could name.
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NOBODY75
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Re: Track-by-Track: From Please to Nonetheless

#2546 Post by NOBODY75 »

It’s not that I hate it. I think the main issue here is that Dusty’s version exists—and we know it—and it’s absolutely brilliant. Then we come across this version and it’s like... damn, what a disaster... and to top it all off, good old Elton’s vocals make it even worse, if that’s even possible.

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Re: Track-by-Track: From Please to Nonetheless

#2547 Post by NotInvisible »

NOBODY75 wrote: Fri 18 Sep 2026, 3:44 pm It’s not that I hate it. I think the main issue here is that Dusty’s version exists—and we know it—and it’s absolutely brilliant. Then we come across this version and it’s like... damn, what a disaster... and to top it all off, good old Elton’s vocals make it even worse, if that’s even possible.
Isn't the story that they bashed out all three while drinking in the studio? You can tell.

le petit corbusier
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Re: Track-by-Track: From Please to Nonetheless

#2548 Post by le petit corbusier »

:lol:
Morrie wrote: Fri 18 Sep 2026, 6:38 am I'll state upfront an utterly conscious bias against Elton John. His curse is clear on this track. 24-carat gold to scrap metal in four minutes.
Look left, then right
And run for your life

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Re: Track-by-Track: From Please to Nonetheless

#2549 Post by davidctecno »

Track 175 : Alone again, naturally (featuring Elton John) CD2 :15

Another collaboration with Elton, covering Gilbert O'Sullivan. Perhaps the "best" one between PSB and Elton.

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Lleonard Pler
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Re: Track-by-Track: From Please to Nonetheless

#2550 Post by Lleonard Pler »

It's alright I suppose. I never cared to listen to it before. Given their previous collabs with Elton John destroying what are two very good songs, I didn't have any interest in whatever else they had to offer together. It's weird they insisted on collaborating given the result. Don't they have ears? Or mercy?

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