Elton John has been performing and writing respectable music since the 1960s, yet far too many casual onlookers view him as the guy who wrote “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” and “that sweet song from ‘Almost Famous.’ ”

Yet Elton John is so much more than the once flamboyant singer with a few good songs that people have come to view him as.

Beginning in 1970 with the sophomore concept album “Tumbleweed Connection,” through 1975, Elton established a frantic pace of releasing two stellar albums a year. His career climaxed in 1975 with the first album to ever enter the Billboard 200 chart at number one. “Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy” was an autobiographical concept album about the careers of Elton John, “Captain Fantastic/The Captain,” and lyricist Bernie Taupin, “The Brown Dirt Cowboy/The Kid,” up to that point.

Thirty-one years later, we have “The Captain and The Kid,” the autobiographical follow-up to the 1975 masterpiece of a similar name. This album reunites John not only with his backing band from the 1970s, but also his classic rock ‘n’ roll sound. “The Captain and The Kid” is an album that takes listeners “back to that place in time when music mattered most.”

Kicking off with “Postcards from Richard Nixon,” one of his best album-openers to date, Elton proves he still has more in him than the lackluster ballads of the ’80s and early ’90s that have come to typecast him. The more rocking “Just like Noah’s Ark” follows, establishing the ballad/rocker mix that continues throughout.

“Wouldn’t Have You Any Other Way,” a close cousin of piano-driven songs such as “Tiny Dancer” and “Candle in the Wind,” proves to be one of the album’s most enjoyable ballads. One of the album’s catchiest numbers, “Tinderbox,” follows with yet another great example of the Captain and the Kid’s current songwriting powers.

“And the House Fell Down” is a New Orleans-style rocker with a “Crocodile Rock” like piano section. “Blues Never Fade Away” and “The Bridge” are equally powerful songs, continuing the story of Elton and Bernie’s struggles over the years.

The album is rounded out with “I Must Have Lost It on the Wind,” and “Old 67,” before ending with the possible highpoint of the album, “The Captain and the Kid.” With lyrics filled with analogies from the 1970s, the closing track proves, once again, Elton can still put together a great album.

The piano is still there, the hooks are better than ever, the great lyrics are back and more importantly than all that, Sir. Elton John finally seems to be writing great music again.

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