This is Elton John at his happiest. You can almost hear the grin stretched ear to ear in many of the songs. He (and by extension his co-writing partner, Bernie Taupin) is rejuvenated! Musically that could have to do with the fact that he is back with his band (drummer – Nigel Olsson, lead guitar – Davey Johnstone, percussion – John Mahon, percussion – Ray Cooper). He and they have a type of chemistry that you don’t often find from a solo artist and the musicians they work with. They have been working together since the early seventies so this is long-term chemistry. It even at times sounds like that great stuff he produced at the beginning of his long and storied career. The title song “Wonderful Crazy Night” is a great example of this. It might be his best song since the late eighties. It is that good. The uptempo-ness continues almost throughout and I give plenty of credit for that to his great co-producer T Bone Burnett. Plus it was a great choice to record it “live” in studio. It captures the great musicianship of his band and is proof of the fact that Elton John can still play rock piano with the best of them. A strong addition to his already large and impressive catalogue. Magical melodies and oftentimes insightful and gorgeous lyrics.