This greatest hits package was recently recorded live at Madison Square Garden in October, 2000. It was also recorded over a two night period thus creating a title ambiguity. I was present at one of the shows & must say that Phil Ramone did an outstanding job producing the sound quality to CD. Though some of Sir Elton's better numbers, like "Funeral For a Friend," "Someone Saved My Life Tonight," and the seldom heard & appreciated "Little Jeannie" were performed in the show they are omitted from the disc. This might have been better served as a double CD to include the entire performance because Elton was at his best. There still are quite a few classic EJ gems included. Elton's energy is very evident on "Crocodile Rock" while his vocal performance on "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me" shines. There are many guest appearances including a stellar duet on "Sad Songs" with Bryan Adams. Additionally, Mary Blige's vocals on "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" is magnificent. There's also a blast from the past as Elton & Kiki Dee reunite for a vibrant "Don't Go Breaking My Heart." Elton's piano playing talents are emphasized on "Bennie and the Jets" and "I'm Still Standing." While there are very poignant moments with Elton dusting off "Daniel" and "Sacrifice." But Elton's greatest talent has always been the powerful ballad which certainly is present with full band versions of "Candle In the Wind," and the tingling "Your Song." Bernie Taupin's lyrics still hit home with warmth and ingenuity. It was also refreshing to witness the return of Nigel Olsson on drums with Davey Johnstone on guitars from the classic EJ years to comprise a very solid band. "One Night Only" is Elton John's fourth official live in- concert album and would be an excellent addition to anyone who appreciates the enormously talented Captain Fantastic.

Riding on the popularly titled "One Night Only" bandwagon, Elton John surpasses his predecessors. With two previous live albums and countless 'live' songs smattered over the years, why this one? To be honest, it contains a nearly seamless performance with a nine person band. Only a few audience transitional applauses seem awkwardly mixed. The items that truly stand out are the number of 'guest' artists Elton has allowed 'on board'. Starting out with, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" seems an odd choice, but you must realize that this album has been culled from "two" Madison Square Garden performances. The Stats: Kiki Dee joins Elton on "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" with a good but weathered vocal. Next comes "Your Song" with Ronan Keating literally taking over the song with his post lyric gasps. Following on his heals is Bryan Adams doing a duet of "Sad Songs (Say So Much)"; a nice but unremarkable duet. Hold on! Anastacia joins Elton on "Saturday Nights Alright (For Fighting) and does a bang-up job worthy of the entire album! Finishing with "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues", Mary J. Blige steals the show, making this a fine number to close with. What a voice!

There is an ironic moment on this album, as Elton sings "Candle In The Wind", a previously released "live" song single that did terribly poorly until it was redone for Princess Diana, making it the biggest selling single of all time.

Give yourself a treat. Elton has it waiting for you.

Although this isn't Sir Elton John's best concert album (The definitive one remains his "Here and There" from his golden days in the 1970's), this still does a great job capturing his fine performances with his current band. I'm glad Nigel Olsson is back; some of his excellent percussion playing can be heard on "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting". Although Elton's singing has lost some of its range, he is still in fine form for most of the album, most notably with "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "Candle in the Wind", "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" (duet with Bryan Adams), and especially, "I Guess Why They Call it the Blues" (duet with Mary J. Blige). I saw the television special which aired in the United States on CBS-TV in November, 2000; it had a very memorable duet of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" with Billy Joel that should have been included. Yet fellow Elton John fans won't be disappointed with the latest release from the "Rocket Man".

This new live CD is explosive. Elton John has never sounded more soulful and energetic with his new renditions of the old classics. A number of special guests help him out, including Mary J. Blige and Bryan Adams. Though I would have preferred to hear Elton sing solo, the performances are still very rich and powerful. With this CD, Elton John has proved to me that he is one of the best live entertainers around today. Just listen to him thrash those keys, and you'll know what I mean.

In the mid 70s, Elton released the live set "Here & There," proving that he and his band sounded great on stage as well as the studio. That album, now remastered, expanded and still available on compact disc, includes nine of the seventeen tracks found on this latest release. That earlier live album is the one to get if you are a big Elton fan.

His second live album was recorded in the mid 80s (in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony) and had some terrific moments, but pailed in comparison to "Here & There." Even though this set yielded the first version of "Candle in the Wind" to hit the top ten on the American charts, Elton needed and finally had throat surgery after this performance. Still, Elton rose to the occasion with some inspired piano playing, and who can forget his wigs and outfits that night. The song selection was not bad either (including "Tiny Dancer"), yet that earlier set was better.

Now we get these brand new recordings, which include the first live version of "Philadelphia Freedom" plus the terrific duet with Kiki Dee. Bryan Adams and Elton pair up well on "Sad Songs" and the live version of "Sacrifice" is also one of the few highlights. What would have made this album a keeper is if Elton gave us a new souvenir we would want to add to our collections (for example: the slowed down version of "Crocodile Rock" he was playing back in the early 90s when he was touring with no band at all, just percussionist Ray Cooper). Let's face it, Sir Elton peaked years ago. If you pass on this one you will not be missing much.