"Westies" was released a mere month after it's predecessor "Captain Fantastic" and unfortunately it shows in the rather rushed tone of the album. Major changes were in the works for Elton's band as both Dee Muray and Nigel Olsen departed prior to the recording of this one. For me this is where Elton's creative slide began. It is not a bad album and there are some great songs on it, but overall it does not stand up to the material he had released the previous 5 years. The album is probably one of Elton's hardest rocking discs with a heavy dose of funk also in the mix. Unfortunately the material here does not stack up against earlier works. The two singles "Island Girl" and "Grow Some Funk Of Your Own" have never been favorites of mine, and much of the rest of the album, although not terrible, just seems rather pedestrian and average for Elton. My favorite song on the album is the ballad "I Feel Like A Bullet", which is a great Elton / Bernie composition. Relations between the duo were becoming strained by the time of "Westies" and they would only do one more album together before a lengthy sabbatical from each other. In the end this album is worth owning, but there are lots of other ones that I would recommend ahead of it.

This was a real disappointment but it did turn up a few gems. "Billy Bones and the White Bird" was a great rocker with thundering drums, a must-have for any Elton John fan. "Island Girl" was a textbook Elton John single for that era, and "I Feel Like A Bullet In The Gun Of Robert Ford" was a first class Elton John ballad; don't settle for second-rate live versions of the song. Of the remaining six songs only "Feed Me" would be worth downloading.

Imagine the shock of hearing an album open with not one but two awful songs before rolling into the single. This had been unheard of for an Elton John album up to that point. "Grow Some Funk Of Your Own" was a grade Z single at the time and in retrospect is better left forgotten.

The few memorable songs make this the last hurrah of Elton's seventies classics. Had the man died in a plane wreck shortly after this album's release his legacy would be on a par with that of Patsy Cline or Buddy Holly. One can't hold his subsequent recording history against him too much though given the string of great music he gave us in the early to mid-seventies.

1975 is alive and well, everytime you put this album, or CD on! I was ten years old when it came out, and if I'm not mistaken it was the first album ever to ship platinum! Incredible to think, that this is the same Elton John of duets with George Michael and tributes to princesses!
In the mid 90's, I owned a recording studio, and anytime I mentioned to a new young band that Elton John was without a doubt one of my favorite artist, they would just laugh... and laugh pretty hard! Then I would take out good ol' ROCK OF THE WESTIES for a spin, and in an instant their mouths would be shut! I literally had more than a couple of clients heading out to the nearest record store to get it!
It is different than his other albums in subtle but important ways, and it is the hardest rocking Elton John album you will ever hear. I've turned more people on to Elton John with 'Street Kids' than with any other song. Some say it lacks consistency, or that it has weak tracks. I disagree, because as a whole, it makes sense. And it is as a whole that people back in the good old days used to listen to albums. ( It could be argued for that matter that CAPTAIN FANTASTIC has inconsistencies, and weak tracks also, but taken as a whole, it's a masterpiece!). I think that preference between these two is a matter of taste.
Throw into the "WESTIES" mix, Bernie Taupin's least obtuse lyrics, the very underrated contribution of the rhythm section, Pasarelli/Pope/Cooper, incredible backgound vocals (courtesy of Patti LaBelle), excellent keyboard "sound design" by keybordist/arranger/composer and future film scorer, ('The Dark Knight' ), James Newton-Howard, and well... you get the picture!
If anyone is into very cool arrangements, genius pop/rock composition, intricate dueling guitars and some of the best rock 'n' roll piano you've heard, plus a genius at the the peak of his powers singing his heart out on his last great HURRAH!, than this is for you!

Rock of the Westies is the definition of an underappreciated gem. For some reason, "Island Girl" seems to be the obvious high point of the album for most people, and while I love the song (especially the chorus) there's a LOT more on here to fall in love with. I think people just want the hits and that's why they say "Island Girl" is the best song.

"Billy Bones and the White Bird" is such a catchy little pop song. It should have been the biggest hit of Elton's career. It's THAT good. "Hard Luck Story" has a funky vibe that I strongly admire. "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)" is a very good song in terms of vocal melody and atmosphere. Elton John sure knows how to write memorable songs, and this album is probably the most underrated, and most consistently enjoyable of his career. At least, it's a classic album in every area.

Oh yeah, can't forget about the "Yell Help" section of track one either. I love it!

Following their classic Captain Fantastic album, Elton and Taupin return here with a completely different type of album. Rock of The Westies featured a harder edge sound thanks in part to a new line-up for the band. Out were drummer Nigel Olsson and bassist Dee Murray and in were a new breed of musicians who gave Elton a leaner edge. And Rock of The Westies went on to debut at #1, Elton's second feat in a row. This was quite an accomplishment back in '75 and probably owed more to Elton's popularity at the time as well. He was on a roll and this album kept things moving along well.

For starters, the album opens up with a three part Medley of songs strung together which is quite a change from his past history of album openers. A unique rave up with many parts lets the listener know that things have changed. The funky groove, the backing vocals of Labelle and gritty delivery make it a unique song, one of which has never been repeated on any subsequent album. Dan Dare, an ode to a comic book hero mainly known in Britain, moves things along and is very catchy. Island Girl, the big hit from the album, remains a guilty pleasure after all these year. You just can't resist it's chorus! Grow Some Funk Of Your Own tries hard to be Saturday Night Alright For Fighting part 2, but doesn't quite get there. Still, though, a fun romp with a fantastic piano finish.

Elsewhere, you'll find a stunning ballad in I Feel Like A Bullet, a bluesy soul number with Feed Me and an all out rock rave up in Street Kids. That leaves Hard Luck Story and the album's closer, Billy Bones as the only two that seem to miss the mark. Both go on and on for far to long and at best, seem like filler. The added edition of Planes, an outtake, is nice and should have been included. It's a light country/rock ballad that flows nicely.

But this album is more about the rock in the title instead of the California country/rock sound. Lyrically, sure, it's one of Taupins simpler efforts, but the point here seems to keep everything lose and just have some fun. The new band, the new sound, even the new look of Elton the cover should let everyone know that it was a new day. And certainly inspired as well.

Rock of The Westies may have long been forgotten now, as Elton rarely talks about it much. But for the time, it was a hit and rightly so.

Best Tracks: Island Girl, I Feel Like A Bullet, Street Kids.