Rocket Man: Elton John From A-Z Subsequent Edition
Author(s): Claude Bernardin (Author), Tom Stanton (Author)
Publisher: Praeger
Publication Date: August 30, 1996
Edition: Subsequent
Language: English
Print length: 280 pages
ISBN-10: 0275956989
ISBN-13: 9780275956981
Book Description
Grammy winner for Can You Feel the Love Tonight from Disney’s 1994 blockbuster movie ^The Lion King, Elton John is a musician who has transcended generations. Since his U.S. debut 26 years ago, E.J. has had a top-40 hit every year. This first reference dedicated to the legendary singer/songwriter, who has been enchanting fans for nearly three decades, contains hundreds of anecdotes on people, places, and things related to his career. It includes a behind-the-scenes look at every album, a comprehensive list of all songs written or recorded (dozens never released), and the most extensive look ever at E.J.’s pre-career life. Well researched, the volume’s rich detail offers a gold mine of Elton John trivia gathered by one of the artist’s premier historians and the editor of the international Elton John fan magazine East End Lights. Fans and popular music buffs will enjoy the comprehensive treatment more than a quarter century since Elton John’s U.S. debut.
There are four sections to this encyclopedia: Elton A-Z, featuring explanations, details, and anecdotes related to aspects of his career and life, with entries on celebrity friends, important places, and a wide variety of other topics; Albums, giving a chrononlogical, behind-the-scenes look at his more than 35 albums up to and including 1995’s Made in England; Performances, listing his concert tours year by year, highlighting major performances such as John Lennon’s final stage appearance in a 1974 show, a 1979 concert in Russia, and a little-publicized 1992 tribute; and Songs, listing alphabetically more than 500 songs recorded or written by Elton John.
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
Elton John reached superstar status in the mid-1970s but then suffered a dry spell in the 1980s, owing chiefly to drug and alcohol problems. After kicking his habits in the early 1990s, he has experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years and captured a GrammyR and an OscarR for The Lion King’s “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.” His fans will welcome this slim volume as a definitive fact-finding tool. Want to know about those funky frames that Elton wears on stage? The entry under “Glasses” gives the entire history. Can’t remember which album “Philadelphia Freedom” was on? Every song that Elton has recorded and information about it is included in the song section. A well-known authority on the singer and an editor of an Elton fan magazine, respectively, Bernardin and Stanton wrote Rocket Man: The Encyclopedia of Elton John (Greenwood, 1995), of which this is a revised, more trade-oriented edition. The current version is highly recommended for public libraries that already have some basic material on Elton John as the book is difficult to follow without some elementary knowledge of the singer. Libraries with the previous edition can skip this one.?Regina L. Beach, Mississippi State Univ. Lib. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
?[Elton John’s] fans will welcome this slim volume as a definitive fact finding tool. Want to know about those funky frames the Elton wears on stage? The entry under ‘Glasses’ gives the entire history. Can’t remember which album ‘Philadephia Freedom’ was on? Every song that Elton has recorded and information about it is included in the song section…highly recommended for public libraries…?-Library Journal
?Rocket Man is a much needed addition to the study of this popular artist….filled with fascinating facts and trivia…belongs in major public libraries and those academic libraries with large popular culture and music collections. Anyone interested in the career of this enduring popular artist would also find it a welcome addition to a personal library.?-H-Net Reviews
“ÝElton John’s¨ fans will welcome this slim volume as a definitive fact finding tool. Want to know about those funky frames the Elton wears on stage? The entry under ‘Glasses’ gives the entire history. Can’t remember which album ‘Philadephia Freedom’ was on? Every song that Elton has recorded and information about it is included in the song section…highly recommended for public libraries…”-Library Journal
“Rocket Man is a much needed addition to the study of this popular artist….filled with fascinating facts and trivia…belongs in major public libraries and those academic libraries with large popular culture and music collections. Anyone interested in the career of this enduring popular artist would also find it a welcome addition to a personal library.”-H-Net Reviews
“[Elton John’s] fans will welcome this slim volume as a definitive fact finding tool. Want to know about those funky frames the Elton wears on stage? The entry under ‘Glasses’ gives the entire history. Can’t remember which album ‘Philadephia Freedom’ was on? Every song that Elton has recorded and information about it is included in the song section…highly recommended for public libraries…”-Library Journal
From the Publisher
[Elton John’s] fans will welcome this slim volume as a definitive fact finding tool. Want to know about those funky frames the Elton wears on stage? The entry under ‘Glasses’ gives the entire history. Can’t remember which album ‘Philadephia Freedom’ was on? Every song that Elton has recorded and information about it is included in the song section…highly recommended for public libraries…
About the Author
Tom Stanton is the author of four books, including the memoir The Final Season, winner of the Casey Award. A former Knight-Wallace Fellow, he published weekly newspapers and taught journalism at the University of Detroit Mercy before becoming an author. His stories have appeared in numerous publications, including The New York Times. He and his wife live in New Baltimore, Michigan, and have three sons.