Elton John – Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy

A couple I once knew introduced me to the album in the early ‘90’s. As a teenager in the eighties, I thought Elton was the devil (sorry Elton) as I hated his records from the ‘80’s. My friends insisted that I listen - I was blown away, I couldn’t believe how good this album is.
I started looking for it and found it almost immediately in a record shop in Belfast called Hector’s House (now long gone). I picked up a mint first edition (with the dark red vinyl) with all the inserts for 5 English pounds. I could hardly believe my luck.
The album is one of my all time favorites - and I’m a Velvet Underground/Captain Beefheart fanatic! I love everything about the album. The album is so good. Other people who have written reviews have done far better than I ever could, but what I will say is that Elton’s voice/singing on the album is astounding. He’s singing round this era (and his voice in general) is very underrated. The guy can sing like an angel.
If you have heard the greatest hits albums and want somewhere to start in Elton’s huge catalog, then start here. This is Elton’s greatest album, and Bernie’s lyrics are a huge part of the album’s success.
Highly recommended.

My favourite Elton album. The sound quality of the A1/B1 is spectacular. Very open and airy.

You have to be careful with this one. Later post-1975 issues are also identified as 'DJLPX' with higher A/B numbers on the deadwax, but the record is black, not translucent red, and it doesn't sound as good as the A1/B1.

Phenomenal mixing on this record. And to pair with the good mixing, we have a wide open soundstage. There are quite a few instruments playing at any given moment, so the soundstage is a bit jam packed. Robust midrange, though mostly bass shy. Possible that there was some roll off on the bass during the tapes' EQ process. This pressing isn't completely silent and has some stubborn pops and cracks during the quiet parts on the beginning of some new tracks. It does need a little juice in the volume department, but shines pretty brilliantly thereafter.

This is Elton's favourite and he says finest work. I bought it day of release and I am still listening to it. The packaging especially the booklets are extremely good and compliment the concept album - the music and vocals are the best and timeless

my version: run out DJLPX-1A-1 ARUN, DJLPX-1-B ARUN, dark red translucent

Hi - should the Red Translucent vinyl version be separately listed? (As first listing is mix of black and red for sale?)

I have a U.S. MCA-2142.
MCA-734 W28-II-I P.RC.
MCA-735 W30-II-II P.R.C.
Can anyone tell me more about this pressing?

Excluding any limited editions:
original UK release is of the (translucent) red, with the poster having thee horizontal folds
giving it nine s. This folds down to the approximate size of the two inserts.

2nd edition red with the common six s poster (ie, two horizontal folds)

3rd edition black vinyl /standard inserts = this was post 1976 when other
Elton John LPs were being repressed with yellow text labels, but obviously
as this had it's own custom label, stayed as is..

4th edition black, non- g/f sleeve (no barcode), now with a credits Inner Sleeve, and the poster.