Elton John (album)
Encyclopedia
Elton John is the eponymous second album by English singer/songwriter Elton John
, released in 1970. It was his first album, however, released in America, thus commonly assumed by many as his debut, as Empty Sky
would not be released in the U.S. until 1975. It includes his breakthrough hit, "Your Song
", and helped establish his career during what was considered the "singer-songwriter" era of popular music. It was certified Gold on 2/17/1971 by the R.I.A.A. In the same year, it was nominated for the Grammy Award for Album of the Year
.
In 2003, the album was ranked number 468 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
. This was the first of many Elton John albums to be produced by Gus Dudgeon.
and Bernie Taupin
.
On the album released in Portugal, a French horn is used in the introduction to "The Greatest Discovery" instead of a cello as is found on all other versions. An extended version of the introduction to "Sixty Years On" is available on the 1990 box set "To Be Continued
".
When MCA Records re-issued this album on cassette tape in the 1980s, "I Need You To Turn To" and "The Cage" were swapped in the album running order.
The album was remastered as a multichannel Super Audio CD
in 2004.
Singles
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, released in 1970. It was his first album, however, released in America, thus commonly assumed by many as his debut, as Empty Sky
Empty Sky
Empty Sky is the debut album of British singer/songwriter Elton John, released on June 3, 1969. It was finally released in the United States in January 1975, with a different cover photograph, well after John's fame had been established internationally...
would not be released in the U.S. until 1975. It includes his breakthrough hit, "Your Song
Your Song
"Your Song" is a ballad composed and performed by English musician Elton John with lyrics by his long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin. It appeared on John's self-titled second album in 1970....
", and helped establish his career during what was considered the "singer-songwriter" era of popular music. It was certified Gold on 2/17/1971 by the R.I.A.A. In the same year, it was nominated for the Grammy Award for Album of the Year
Grammy Award for Album of the Year
The Grammy Award for Album of the Year is the most prestigious award category at the Grammys. It has been awarded since 1959 and though it was originally presented to the artist alone, the award is now presented to the artist, the producer, the engineer and/or mixer and the mastering engineer...
.
In 2003, the album was ranked number 468 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is the title of a 2003 special issue of American magazine Rolling Stone, and a related book published in 2005.Related news articles:...
. This was the first of many Elton John albums to be produced by Gus Dudgeon.
Track listing
All songs by Elton JohnElton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
and Bernie Taupin
Bernie Taupin
Bernard John "Bernie" Taupin is an English lyricist, poet, and singer, best known for his long-term collaboration with Elton John, writing the lyrics for the majority of the star's songs, making his lyrics some of the best known in pop-rock's history.In 1967, Taupin answered an advertisement in...
.
- "Your SongYour Song"Your Song" is a ballad composed and performed by English musician Elton John with lyrics by his long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin. It appeared on John's self-titled second album in 1970....
" – 4:02 - "I Need You to Turn ToI Need You to Turn ToI Need You to Turn To is a song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It is the second track off his 1970 album, "Elton John".-Musical structure:...
" – 2:35 - "Take Me to the PilotTake Me to the Pilot"Take Me to the Pilot" is a rock song performed by British musician Elton John. The song was written by Bernie Taupin and composed by John for his eponymous second album in 1970....
" – 3:47 - "No Shoe Strings on Louise" – 3:31
- "First Episode at HientonFirst Episode at Hienton"First Episode at Hienton" is a song by Elton John with lyrics written by Bernie Taupin. It is the fifth track off his self-titled album, released in 1970...
" – 4:48 - "Sixty Years OnSixty Years On"Sixty Years On" is a song written and performed by Elton John which first appeared on his eponymous album, Elton John. The lyrics were written by long-time writing partner Bernie Taupin....
" – 4:35 - "Border SongBorder Song"Border Song" is a gospel ballad originally performed by British musician Elton John. Lyrics are credited to Bernie Taupin . The music was composed by John....
" – 3:22 - "The Greatest DiscoveryThe Greatest Discovery"The Greatest Discovery" is a song composed and performed by musician Elton John. As with all songs on Elton John's eponymous second album , the lyrics were written by Bernie Taupin...
" – 4:12 - "The CageThe Cage (Elton John song)"The Cage" is a song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It is the ninth track of his self-titled second album and is, by the exception of "Take Me to the Pilot", the only 'rocker' on the album.-Lyrical meaning:...
" – 3:28 - "The King Must DieThe King Must Die (song)"The King Must Die" is a song by Elton John with lyrics written by Bernie Taupin. It is the closing track of his 1970 self-titled album. As with the rest of the album, the backing was assembled by session musicians.-Lyrical meaning:...
" – 5:04
Bonus tracks (1995 Mercury and 1996 Rocket reissue)
- "Bad Side of the MoonBad Side of the Moon"Bad Side of the Moon" is a song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It is the B-side of his single "Border Song", and was originally released in 1970. It was included on the reissue of his self-titled album in 1995 and on his live album, 17-11-70...
" – 3:15 - "Grey Seal" [Original version] – 3:35
- "Rock And Roll MadonnaRock n' Roll Madonna"Rock and Roll Madonna" is a song by Elton John with lyrics written by Bernie Taupin. The song was released as a single in Britain in 1970, where it never charted. It appeared on several bootlegs and rarities compilations before it appeared on the 1995 remaster of his self-titled album. The song...
" – 4:17
Bonus tracks (2008 Deluxe Edition)
- "Your SongYour Song"Your Song" is a ballad composed and performed by English musician Elton John with lyrics by his long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin. It appeared on John's self-titled second album in 1970....
" [Piano demo] – 3:35 - "I Need You to Turn ToI Need You to Turn ToI Need You to Turn To is a song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It is the second track off his 1970 album, "Elton John".-Musical structure:...
" [Piano demo] – 2:12 - "Take Me to the PilotTake Me to the Pilot"Take Me to the Pilot" is a rock song performed by British musician Elton John. The song was written by Bernie Taupin and composed by John for his eponymous second album in 1970....
" [Piano demo] – 2:36 - "No Shoe Strings on Louise" [Piano demo] – 3:33
- "Sixty Years OnSixty Years On"Sixty Years On" is a song written and performed by Elton John which first appeared on his eponymous album, Elton John. The lyrics were written by long-time writing partner Bernie Taupin....
" [Piano demo] – 4:21 - "The Greatest DiscoveryThe Greatest Discovery"The Greatest Discovery" is a song composed and performed by musician Elton John. As with all songs on Elton John's eponymous second album , the lyrics were written by Bernie Taupin...
" [Piano demo] – 3:58 - "The CageThe Cage (Elton John song)"The Cage" is a song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It is the ninth track of his self-titled second album and is, by the exception of "Take Me to the Pilot", the only 'rocker' on the album.-Lyrical meaning:...
" [Piano demo] – 3:21 - "The King Must DieThe King Must Die (song)"The King Must Die" is a song by Elton John with lyrics written by Bernie Taupin. It is the closing track of his 1970 self-titled album. As with the rest of the album, the backing was assembled by session musicians.-Lyrical meaning:...
" [Piano demo] – 5:24 - "Rock And Roll MadonnaRock n' Roll Madonna"Rock and Roll Madonna" is a song by Elton John with lyrics written by Bernie Taupin. The song was released as a single in Britain in 1970, where it never charted. It appeared on several bootlegs and rarities compilations before it appeared on the 1995 remaster of his self-titled album. The song...
" [Piano demo] – 3:11 - "Thank You Mama" [Piano demo] – 3:20
- "All the Way Down to El Paso" [Piano demo] – 2:49
- "I'm Going Home" [Piano demo] – 3:05
- "Grey Seal" [Piano demo] – 3:19
- "Rock And Roll MadonnaRock n' Roll Madonna"Rock and Roll Madonna" is a song by Elton John with lyrics written by Bernie Taupin. The song was released as a single in Britain in 1970, where it never charted. It appeared on several bootlegs and rarities compilations before it appeared on the 1995 remaster of his self-titled album. The song...
" [Alternate take] – 2:55 - "Bad Side of the MoonBad Side of the Moon"Bad Side of the Moon" is a song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It is the B-side of his single "Border Song", and was originally released in 1970. It was included on the reissue of his self-titled album in 1995 and on his live album, 17-11-70...
" – 3:13 - "Grey Seal" [Original Version] – 3:36
- "Rock And Roll MadonnaRock n' Roll Madonna"Rock and Roll Madonna" is a song by Elton John with lyrics written by Bernie Taupin. The song was released as a single in Britain in 1970, where it never charted. It appeared on several bootlegs and rarities compilations before it appeared on the 1995 remaster of his self-titled album. The song...
" – 4:17 - "Border SongBorder Song"Border Song" is a gospel ballad originally performed by British musician Elton John. Lyrics are credited to Bernie Taupin . The music was composed by John....
" [BBC session] – 3:21 - "Your SongYour Song"Your Song" is a ballad composed and performed by English musician Elton John with lyrics by his long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin. It appeared on John's self-titled second album in 1970....
" [BBC session] – 4:01 - "Take Me to the PilotTake Me to the Pilot"Take Me to the Pilot" is a rock song performed by British musician Elton John. The song was written by Bernie Taupin and composed by John for his eponymous second album in 1970....
" [BBC session] – 3:33
On the album released in Portugal, a French horn is used in the introduction to "The Greatest Discovery" instead of a cello as is found on all other versions. An extended version of the introduction to "Sixty Years On" is available on the 1990 box set "To Be Continued
To Be Continued
To Be Continued... is a 4 CD/4 cassette box set detailing Elton John's music from his days with Bluesology to the then-present day. Four new songs were recorded for the box set...
".
When MCA Records re-issued this album on cassette tape in the 1980s, "I Need You To Turn To" and "The Cage" were swapped in the album running order.
The album was remastered as a multichannel Super Audio CD
Super Audio CD
Super Audio CD is a high-resolution, read-only optical disc for audio storage. Sony and Philips Electronics jointly developed the technology, and publicized it in 1999. It is designated as the Scarlet Book standard. Sony and Philips previously collaborated to define the Compact Disc standard...
in 2004.
B-sides
| Song | Format |
|---|---|
| "Bad Side of the Moon Bad Side of the Moon "Bad Side of the Moon" is a song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It is the B-side of his single "Border Song", and was originally released in 1970. It was included on the reissue of his self-titled album in 1995 and on his live album, 17-11-70... " |
Border Song 7" (US) |
| "Into the Old Man's Shoes" | Your Song 7" (UK) |
Personnel
- Elton JohnElton JohnSir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
- piano, harpsichordHarpsichordA harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
, vocals - Frank Clark - acoustic bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Colin Green - guitar, Spanish guitar
- Roland Harker - guitar
- Clive Hicks - acoustic guitar, rhythm guitar, 12 string guitar
- Alan ParkerAlan Parker (musician)Alan Parker is a British guitarist and composer. Parker was trained by Julian Bream at London’s Royal Academy of Music....
- rhythm guitar - Caleb QuayeCaleb QuayeCaleb Quaye , is an English Afro-European rock guitarist and studio musician best known for his work in the 1960s and 1970s with Elton John, Mick Jagger, Pete Townshend, Paul McCartney and Hall & Oates...
- guitar - Les Hurdle - bass
- Dave Richmond - bass
- Alan Weighall - bass
- Brian DeeBrian DeeBrian Dee is a UK-based jazz pianist.Since leading his own trio featuring Allan Ganley and Lennie Bush in 1957, appearing at the opening of Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in 1959, and co-leading The Jazz Five with saxophonists Vic Ash and Harry Klein, Dee has led his own trios and quartets, often backing...
- organHammond organThe Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard... - Diana Lewis - Moog synthesizerMoog synthesizerMoog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...
- Paul BuckmasterPaul BuckmasterPaul John Buckmaster is a Grammy Award-winning English artist, arranger and composer.He began learning the cello at the age of 4 and graduated from the Royal College of Music at age 16....
- cello - Skaila Kanga - harpHarpThe harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
- David Katz - violin
- Terry CoxTerry CoxTerence William Harvey 'Terry' Cox played drums in the British folk rock bands The Pentangle, Duffy's Nucleus and Humblebums....
- drums - Dennis Lopez - percussion
- Barry Morgan - drums
- Tex Navarra - percussion
- Madeline BellMadeline BellMadeline Bell is an American soul singer, who became famous as a performer in the United Kingdom during the 1960s, having arrived from the US in the gospel show Black Nativity in 1962, with vocal group The Bradford Singers.-Career:She worked as a session singer, most notably backing for Dusty...
- background vocals - Tony BurrowsTony BurrowsAnthony "Tony" Burrows is a British session singer. He has been credited with singing lead on hit singles for more groups than any other recording artist, both on the UK Singles Chart and the U.S...
- background vocals - Roger CookRoger Cook (songwriter)Roger Cook is an English songwriter who has written many hits for other recording artists. He has also had a successful recording career in his own right.-Early life:Cook was born in Fishponds, Bristol, England...
- background vocals - Lesley DuncanLesley DuncanLesley Duncan was an English singer-songwriter, best known for her work during the 1970s. She received a lot of airplay on British radio stations such as BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2, but never achieved great commercial success.Duncan was born in Stockton-on-Tees...
- background vocals - Kay Garner - background vocals
- Tony HazzardTony HazzardTony Hazzard is an English singer and songwriter. He has written songs for The Hollies , Manfred Mann , "Me, The Peaceful Heart" for Lulu, The Yardbirds , Herman's Hermits , Peter Noone Tony Hazzard (born Anthony Hazzard, 31 October 1943, Liverpool) is an English singer and songwriter. He has...
- background vocals - Barbara Moore - vocals, choir, chorus
Production
- Producer: Gus DudgeonGus DudgeonAngus Boyd Dudgeon , most commonly known as Gus Dudgeon was an English record producer, most notable for production of many of Elton John's recordings.-Early career:...
- Engineer: Robin Geoffrey Cable
- Editing: Gus Skinas
- Remastering: Tony Cousins
- Digital transfers: Ricky Graham
- Surround sound: Greg Penny
- Lyricist: Bernie TaupinBernie TaupinBernard John "Bernie" Taupin is an English lyricist, poet, and singer, best known for his long-term collaboration with Elton John, writing the lyrics for the majority of the star's songs, making his lyrics some of the best known in pop-rock's history.In 1967, Taupin answered an advertisement in...
- Arranger: Paul BuckmasterPaul BuckmasterPaul John Buckmaster is a Grammy Award-winning English artist, arranger and composer.He began learning the cello at the age of 4 and graduated from the Royal College of Music at age 16....
- Orchestra contractor: David Katz
- Art direction: David Larkham
- Liner notes: Gus DudgeonGus DudgeonAngus Boyd Dudgeon , most commonly known as Gus Dudgeon was an English record producer, most notable for production of many of Elton John's recordings.-Early career:...
, John ToblerJohn ToblerJohn Hugen Tobler is a British rock music journalist, writer, occasional broadcaster, and record company executive.With Pete Frame, he was one of the founders of ZigZag magazine in April 1969...
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | UK album chart | 5 |
| 1971 | US Billboard Pop Albums | 4 |
| 1971 | Canadian RPM 100 Album Chart | 4 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Border Song | US Billboard Pop Singles | 92 |
| 1970 | Border Song | Canadian RPM 100 Singles Chart | 34 |
| 1971 | Your Song Your Song "Your Song" is a ballad composed and performed by English musician Elton John with lyrics by his long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin. It appeared on John's self-titled second album in 1970.... |
UK Singles Chart | 7 |
| 1971 | Your Song Your Song "Your Song" is a ballad composed and performed by English musician Elton John with lyrics by his long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin. It appeared on John's self-titled second album in 1970.... |
US Billboard Pop Singles | 8 |