A well-considered insight into the cultural impact of Elton John and his musical contemporaries. I greatly enjoyed the exploration of John's music in relation to the point in his career, what was going on in the world and the impact it made in the music industry among other things. Restall pulls quotes from John and Taupin's autobiographies as well as other sources but they read as a useful accompaniment alongside the author's findings.

It was certainly an easy listen. The audio narration was excellent, appropriately lively and allowed me to digest the information perfectly even on double speed.

I would recommend to Elton John fans (of course) and anyone interested in where music meets society.

**Listened to the audio book**

As a huge Elton John, I was excited to listen to another book about the great Rocketman! I was also intrigued that it this book was coming from a unique perspective, something new.
However I found this book to be so dull!! I was bored from the off. I was also quite confused as to what this book was meant to be. It went off on lots of different tangents, some that felt pretty far removed from Elton John himself...
What was the purpose of the book? What was I supposed get from it? I'm still not sure... therefore I cannot recommend this book at all... to anyone...

Thank you to HighBridge | HighBridge Audio, the author and NetGalley for a LRC in return for an honest review

In 2021, Elton John became the only act in the Official UK Charts to have Top 10 singles in the 1970s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s. No mean feat by anyone's standards. He also holds another record - The Official Charts Company still lists 'Something About the Way You Look Tonight / Candle in the Wind 1997' as the UK’s best-selling single of all time (in terms of physical sales + downloads). The only artist to have come close to challenging this record is Ed Sheeran, with Perfect and Shape of You. In January of 2024 John also gained entry into the elite EGOT club - he is one of only 19 artists who have received an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award.

As Elton John approaches 80 and his sixth decade in the music industry, Matthew Restall looks back on his career. This is not a straightforward biography, instead Restall takes 10 of Elton John's songs (I’m Still Standing, Someone Saved My Life Tonight, Rocket Man, Philadelphia Freedom, Electricity, Border Song, Bennie and the Jets, Candle in the Wind, Cold Heart and This Train Don’t Stop There Anymore) and builds a wider narrative around them. They aren’t necessarily Elton’s 'best' tracks, but they serve as entry points into wider discussions about his artistry, persona and cultural legacy.

I appreciated the originality of this approach and I also found Richard Trinder’s narration compelling – his delivery struck just the right balance of authority and enthusiasm. My own experience was enhanced by listening to each track before I began the corresponding chapter, which made the book feel almost like an immersive guided listening session.

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