CALGARY -- Imagine going back in time and telling Elton John fans of the mid-1970s that the singer one day would become the epitome of restraint and good taste.

Time can do strange things to people.

Watching Elton perform last night before a capacity crowd at the Canadian Airlines Saddledome, it was difficult to believe this conservatively dressed man in a dark-blue two-piece suit is the same fellow who once wore platform shoes that would put The Spice Girls to shame and had more sequins on one of his outfits than Cher has worn in her entire career.

OK, maybe that's going a little overboard, but you get the idea.

One of pop music's most glitzy and campy showmen has turned into a high-class piano man. Without a doubt, last night's one-man show was the work of Sir Elton, not Captain Fantastic.

That said, his show was peppered with -- and frankly highlighted by -- his mostly timeless 1970s hits.

The crowd leapt to its feet when Elton walked on stage, took his introductory bows and sat down to sing the tune that started it all, Your Song.

"My gift is my song and this one's for you," he sang in a voice deepened over time.

That line would sum up the evening. The songs would be his gift.

He promised to play some lesser-known songs and he was true to his word, especially early on, dusting off The Greatest Discovery from his self-titled album and Harmony from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

There was no chance Elton would forget the words of these rarely played numbers: A teleprompter on his piano kept scrolling the lyrics in front of him. Fans at the right vantage point could have sung along, karaoke-style.

After almost every song, Elton would rise for more bows and a sip of soft-drink.

The big hits came in good time. Daniel was well-received, although Elton didn't attempt to hit the song's high notes.

His fingers got a real workout on Honky Cat, with its saloon piano riff. Elton added a coda to the song -- an opportunity for him to engage in some good old American boogie-woogie that excited him so as a child. It was one of the energetic early highlights of the evening.

Synth-strings came out of nowhere and echo was applied to the vocals to give a little celestial majesty to Rocket Man, which he stretched out for no other reason than to sing "pre-flight" repeatedly. It's a great song, but frankly it over-stayed its welcome.

Sacrifice was pretty and poignant; Tiny Dancer graceful and nimble, the closest thing to a perfect Elton song; and Better Off Dead (another excellent track from the Captain Fantastic album) was bold and dramatic, more Beethoven than Chuck Berry.

As fine as this solo performance was, one still wishes he would have spent a little extra money -- we understand he likes that sort of thing -- and brought a band with him.

Many Elton classics were left unplayed, probably because they require the drive of a rock 'n' roll band behind them, and his Philly soul homage, Philadelphia Freedom, seemed awfully anaemic played merely on a piano.

He also saved a bit of money on props.

The stage was incredibly simple. It was essential a small platform about half the width of the Saddledome floor, just big enough to hold a Yamaha electric piano, some lights and monitors.

Still, the fans came to see Elton, and he handed them a treasure-trove of musical gifts. Possibly, for many years to come.

Elton's fans may remember his best songs as the radio hits of their youth.

Chances are, many of them will become the pop standards of tomorrow.