On May 19, 1975, “DJM” label released “Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy”, the ninth Elton John studio album. It was recorded June–July 1974, at “Caribou Ranch” in Nederland, Colorado, and was produced by Gus Dudgeon. In 1993, the album was certified 3 x Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy” at number 158 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

• Elton John– vocals, acoustic and electric pianos, clavinet, mellotron, ARP String Ensemble synthesizer, harpsichord
• Davey Johnstone– acoustic, electric and Leslie guitars, mandolin, piano , backing vocals
• Dee Murray– bass, backing vocals
• Nigel Olsson– drums, backing vocals
• Ray Cooper– shaker, congas, gong, jawbone, tambourine, bells, bell  tree, cymbals, triangle, bongos
• David Hentschel– ARP synthesizer
• Gene Page– orchestral arrangements
• Jeff Guercio – engineer
• Mark Guercio – engineer assistant
• Gus Dudgeon, Phil Dunne – remix
• David Larkham – art direction, graphic concept
• Bernie Taupin – art direction, graphic concept
• Alan Aldridge – cover design
• David Larkham – package design
• Alan Aldridge – illustration

Track listing:

All tracks by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, except where noted.

1. Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
2. Tower of Babel
3. Bitter Fingers
4. Tell Me When the Whistle Blows
5. Someone Saved My Life Tonight
6. (Gotta Get a) Meal Ticket
7. Better Off Dead
8. Writing
9. We All Fall in Love Sometimes
10. Curtains