Disappointing Elton John CDs?

They sound muddy/muffled but with occasional strident highs, how can that happen?

This is pure speculation on my part and I have not heard these CD's, but what they are saying is that a common practice of late is to compress the hell out of a production, in the name of 'louder is better'. Makes the recording sound like a broadband noise generator not even slightly resembling music. These so-called recording engineers don't know their craft whatsoever anymore.

"Makes the recording sound like a broadband noise generator not even slightly resembling music.'

It would surprise me if this were the case with the EJ CDs. Remasters are most likely louder overall but are in general not distorted unless recorded that way intentionally, ie distortion applied to electric guitars or synthesizer for ezample.

I also have the MFSL gold CD of "Tumbleweed Connection" and it
sounds very good, if a little dark. But, what a great album. He was such a talent in the 70's but started churning out albums with one good song and the rest a bunch of filler in the 80's. You won't go wrong with any version of Captain
Fantastic, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Tumbleweed Connection or
Rock of the Westies.

Tonykay