"All That I'm Allowed (I'm Thankful)" is an uplifting ballad with strong vocals and tasteful musical backing. After all the success and excesses of the past few decades, Elton is rightfully thankful to still be alive and making music.

The non-album track "Keep It A Mystery" is a power ballad that boasts strong vocals, solid piano playing, and a tuneful instrumental break that features interplay between an acoustic and electric guitar. The lyrics celebrate the mysterious nature of love.

"'Cause I want to see that mystery in me.

And I want to sleep with the secrets that you keep.

I want to wake with the magic that you make,

Running up and down my spine like when a fault line shakes.

Keep it a mystery, a mystery for me.

Keep it a mystery, a mystery for me."

The real mystery is why this superb song was left off the "Peachtree Road" album.

With a completely sharp, gorgeous set of lyrics from Taupin and a rapturous, heart tugging melody from Sir Elton, "All That I'm Allowed" is a completely underrated composition that has only been treated as an of-its-time album track, already dropped from concert setlists now that Elton has moved on to another album. However, its pointedly autobiographical lyrics and message of profound gratitude makes it not only a sharp listen on CD but the ideal song to be heard live.

"And I've got all that I'm allowed/It'll do for me, I'm thankful now/The walls get higher every day/The barriers get in the way/But I see hope in every cloud/And I'm thankful, so thankful/I'm thankful, I've got all that I'm allowed/I've always tried to make things clear/Then I watched as progress stalled/I only hope I'm standing here/When heaven finally comes to call."

Leftover tracks that miss inclusion on Elton's LPs are usually excluded not because of quality but because of non-adherence to theme or variation in musical style. As such, "Keep It a Mystery" certainly adds clout to this single.

Taupin's lyrics are dark, detailed and completely inspired, and Elton extracts all the emotion out of them to craft another engrossing melody. The mix of his piano and electric guitars creates an atypical blend here, especially when an upbeat harmonica buoys the melody. Fittingly, he sings, "It's strangely compelling, and I can't resist."

"I want to hide, I want to watch/I want to draw back the blinds and be caught/I want to hang on every word/I want to know that my breathing was heard/'Cause I want to see that mystery in me/And I want to sleep with the secrets that you keep/I want to wake with the magic you make/Running up and down my spine like when a fault line shakes."

Indeed, this single provides yet another enhancement to the awesome "Peachtree Road" album. Major fans will be glad to have this in their collection.

I really have enjoyed Elton John's great songs for quite a long time. Nevertheless, there is always one track that falls just under the middle of the road in his longtime career. His track, All That I'm Allowed, the second single from his 2004 record Peachtree Road, is a very soulful song that really sings out very well for awhile. Afterwards, it just loses its luster. The song is alright for those who enjoy Elton's adult contemporary side, but others might just want to consider ignoring this track and go with other Elton John greats. Some may feel that it is in that direction, but others might go the opposite way. Listen to the track in whole from Peachtree Road, and decide for all that you want allowed.

Song: C 1/2+