Rock Of The Westies - ELTON JOHN***

Yell Help-Wednesday Night-Ugly (Medley)/Dan Dare (Pilot Of The Future)/Island Girl/Grow Some Funk Of Your Own/I Feel Like A Bullet/Street Kids/Hard Luck Story/Feed Me/Billy Bones & The White Bird

Rock Of The Westies was a quick follow up release from Elton John and it showed. It was his first album of original material that was below par, saved only by the excellent US No. 1 hit Island Girl. (US:1 UK:5)

“Plenty of energy in the performances and the band are once again very good. The songs mostly don't pass muster although Island Girl is a nice slice of reggae pop.”

“This album certainly is a disappointment with too many filler songs. There are however two perfect tracks, Island Girl and my favourite Hard Luck Story. But overall, I would say this is the weakest album of the classic years era.”

“This album is where Elton start losing the touch and begin making poor albums pretty much until 1983's Too Low for Zero. But that is entirely forgivable considering the quality albums of original material from 1970-1975.”

“This is where the law of diminishing returns begins to set in for the songwriting duo; hardly surprising when you consider the number of albums crammed into six years. The better stuff is as good as ever, but there is a surprising number of clunkers, and the second side in particular is hard going.”

“Most of Elton John's albums to this point in his career followed pretty much the same formula: little or no filler, a core of average to very good songs, and at least one or two truly transcendent songs. With Rock Of The Westies, there is some filler, and some average to good songs. But absent for the first time are memorable, transcendent songs.”

“This album is the weakest Elton album so far and gives the impression that he really doesn't care here. The only catchy melody is Island Girl, while the rest sound like ugly improvisations. Still, the songs aren't a disaster, but this album is only for die hard fans.”

“Elton John's career took a downward turn here following the break-up of his best band. A new band was assembled for this album but was less suited for Elton. This rocks harder than his other albums but the songwriting seems as if it was rushed.”