Elton John - Victim Of Love (1979) Album Score: 3

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I've been aware that Elton John released an abysmally bad disco album, but I didn't believe it until I heard it. What makes this album especially curious is John had nothing to do with the songwriting. Apart from a cover of "Johnny B. Goode," all the songs were written by the album producer Pete Bellotte. I'm not aware of his previous works, if he had any, but he's no better a songwriter than ... any random person.

He's apparently pretty good at production, though, because all of these songs sound smooth and polished. That said, the instrumentation is about as derivitive as it gets. Every single song has a dancey disco beat ... there's not even any ballads!!! This is an album of monumentally lazy proportions! Even moreso than a Madonna album, this is like a piece of poop with a coat of finish on it. Fans that might at least be hoping for some of his piano playing will be sorely disappointed also. He doesn't do anything besides sing. This is nothing more than kareoke.

Fortunately, even Elton John fans had good enough sense to not buy this album. If anything, this album betrayed his longtime devotees and they just quit paying attention to him during his subsequent releases. (After all, he's fishing for a new type of commercial success ... but I guess making sharp career changes is only suited for the likes of David Bowie.) I'm not enough of an Elton John fan to actually get depressed over this album, but I do feel disheartened that this is from the same guy who made Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy.

Anyway, this album sure is obscure. Tha'ts quite justified. There's no reason to go 'round looking for it.

TRACKS

Johnny B. Goode 8/10

Chuck Berry fans are obviously going to be ticked off right from that opening sequence! Why the heck is it being played so dang slow? ........... And then their goats will be gotten after this disco beat and corny instrumentation pipes up. Elton John sings like he doesn't really care. But speaking as someone who doesn't care that much that John just defacated on Berry's legacy, I can find this bouncy retreat enjoyable in the cheapest way possible. Most people would assume be caught dead dancing to this, but ........... well, it's kind of fun anyway. I don't even mind that it's eight minutes long.

Warm Love in a Cold World 4/10

Oh ... hmmmmhghhghhhhhh ... This is a straight disco tune, but have you ever heard a chorus this barren? The instrumentation all seems to be in the right place if you like derivitive disco stuff. This sort of song really depends on the melody. The sad thing is I'm really trying to like this song. It has a beat you can dance to, but that's where the appeal ends. ............................................. Elton John sucks.

Born Bad 3/10

...A six minute disco tune without a "tune" .................................................................... It was bad enough listening to this album all those times to prepare for this review, but actually trying to pay close attention to this is torture. It's lame disco ... Yeah, the instrumentation is fine if completely by the book, but there isn't a melody to save it. That electric guitar solo is proof how lame this song is.

Thunder in the Night 7/10

I almost think I hear hooks in the chorus, but that could be my ears playing tricks on me again! At the same time, this song is enjoyable in a sense. It's still something John should be ashamed of, but it has a certain undeniable energy.

Spotlight 2/10

Alright, we're back to the undeniably bad nonsense! Toneless disco with a good beat but no reason to dance to it. Maybe he's making a statement on the era!!!!!!!! (It's always good to think positively, right?)

Street Boogie 3/10

These songs don't seem to mean anything to me anymore. In the back of my mind, I thought this was the same song as "Spotlight."

Victim of Love 6/10

A little better this time, although ... it's still pretty bad. Elton tries to give a "sexy" vocal performance, but it's no better than a slightly above average kareoke singer. This is another hunk of polished nonsense.