Victim Of Love (1979)
Elton decides to get serious about disco on Victim of Love. Are the reviews online a bit too harsh on Elton? Maybe a little bit. He was still reeling from his split with Bernie Taupin during a time period when popular music was enduring a big change. Can we blame him for rolling with the times? No, not at all. Did he execute this pivot as well as he could have? No ... not at all. Although I cannot say this record is without energy and some of the flair that Elton has become so synonymous with over the years.
The album opens with a cover of Johnny B. Goode, and I find it to be the most tolerable track on Victim of Love. It has fun energy and it doesn’t do the original any disservice. Does it run a little longer than it should? Maybe, but that was the style of the time! At the release of the record, it would’ve been weird if there weren’t extended dance breaks in it. And they rock. The piano breaks and the bass guitar breaks are pretty good. But the next track is where the rest of the record falls …
Warm Love In a Cold World is practically unlistenable to me. It is so wimpy. It is awkward at the chorus where it needs to be catchy. One of my lowest-rated songs on Warewolf Reviews. But does Elton pick it up a little with Born Bad? Eh … Just a little. It is definitely listenable, but it feels very generic and overly simplistic, even for this style of music. The verses have some really pleasing chord progressions, but outside of that, the song doesn’t offer too much else.
Thunder In the Night seems like it could be epic at the beginning. It has this dark, nighttime in New York vibe to it, but gets really wimpy at the chorus. It had some potential and then it had more disappointment than anything. Elton's vocals are strong with the range and energy he brings on the track, though. You could get away with sneaking Born Bad onto a disco playlist scratch-free, but I don’t think you can with this one.
Spotlight kicks off with a driving drumbeat and some interesting piano playing. Then ... the hand claps ... *sigh* it gets wimpy. But like REALLY wimpy. Disco doesn’t have to be wimpy. Elton isn’t a wimpy artist. But there is just some Disney-like, childish wimpy-ness to this track. Not one I care to revisit. Also I am very self aware of my overuse of “wimpy” in this review, it is truly one of the only right words to describe the majority of Victim of Love’s content.
Street Boogie on the other hand is not at all as offensive. What it is, though, is forgettable. I have listened to this album so many times and I still can’t ever remember how this one goes. Is it listenable? Yes. Is it replayable? You would never know because you’ll never remember it.
The album closes with Victim of Love, which I find to be one of two songs worth saving from the record. It holds my interest long enough to not skip it. It has got very solid disco drumbeats carrying the track and fun synth accents. Are they a bit contrived? Maybe, but what disco isn’t a little anyways? It is catchy, dark and the obvious best way to close the album. This by no means is the worst album ever, but it does make a strong case for being Elton’s worst. It doesn’t have a lot of tracks and its diversity is very limited. It doesn’t have to be innovative as it is strictly a disco record, but at least he tried to put some Elton flair into it.
Occasionally, there is some commendable musicianship that is very Elton, but there is in no way enough to get you to revisit most of the songs. Could you skip the entire album? Many would not hesitate to say yes, but I do believe there are just a few sprinklings of interest shaken over certain parts of the record. Having said that, it completely may be worth listening just for the context and knowledge of what this record is and why so many people have certain opinions about it.
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Highlight Songs:
Johnny B. Goode
Victim of Love
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Own It, Stream it, Forget about it
Stream it. If you’re a completist like I am, then own it just for the collection, but just stream it. I won’t go as far as saying skip it, because you’ll be a more well versed person having heard this record. That being said, boogie at your own risk.
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Overall Rating:
2 Stars
