Elton John (album)

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1970 studio album by Elton John

Elton John

Studio album by

Elton John

Released| 10 April 1970 (1970-4-10)
Recorded| January 1970
Studio| Trident, London
Genre| Soft rock
Length| 39:27
Label|

* Uni
* DJM

Producer| Gus Dudgeon
Elton John chronology
| Empty Sky
(1969)  | Elton John
(1970)  | Tumbleweed Connection
(1970)

|
|

Singles from  Elton John

1. "Border Song"
Released: 20 March 1970[1]
2. "Your Song"
Released: 26 October 1970

Elton John is the second[a] studio album by English singer-songwriter Elton John. It was released on 10 April 1970 through DJM Records. Including John's breakthrough single "Your Song", the album helped establish his career during the rise of the singer-songwriter era of popular music.

In the US, Elton John was certified gold in February 1971 by the RIAA. In the same year, it was nominated for the Grammy Award for Album of the Year at the 13th Annual Grammy Awards. In 2003, the album was ranked number 468 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. On 27 November 2012, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame as an album cited as exhibiting "qualitative or historical significance".[2]

## Production

[edit]

This was the first of a string of John albums produced by Gus Dudgeon. As Dudgeon recalled in a Mix magazine interview, the album was not actually intended to launch John as an artist, but rather as a collection of polished demos for other artists to consider recording his and co-writer Bernie Taupin's songs.[3] Two songs from the album did find their way into the repertoire of other artists in 1970: "Your Song" was recorded by Three Dog Night as an album track on their LP It Ain't Easy, while Aretha Franklin released a cover of "Border Song" as a single that reached number 37 in the US pop charts and number 5 on the R&B chart, later included on her 1972 album Young, Gifted and Black.

The song "No Shoe Strings on Louise" was intended (as homage or parody) to sound like a Rolling Stones song.[4][5]

## Reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [6]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music| [7]

John Mendelsohn in a contemporary (1970) review for Rolling Stone felt that the album was over-produced and over-orchestrated, comparing it unfavourably with the less mannered and orchestrated Empty Sky; though he felt that John had "so immense a talent" that "he'll delight you senseless despite it all".[8] Robert Christgau in his weekly "Consumer Guide" column for The Village Voice also felt the album was overdone ("overweening", "histrionic overload", "semi-classical ponderousness"), but that it had "a surprising complement of memorable tracks", including "Your Song" which, despite its "affected offhandedness", he considered "an instant standard".[9]

## Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin

Side oneNo.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Your Song"| 4:04
2.| "I Need You to Turn To"| 2:32
3.| "Take Me to the Pilot"| 3:46
4.| "No Shoe Strings on Louise"| 3:31
5.| "First Episode at Hienton"| 4:48

Side twoNo.| Title| Length

|
|

6.| "Sixty Years On"| 4:35
7.| "Border Song"| 3:22
8.| "The Greatest Discovery"| 4:12
9.| "The Cage"| 3:28
10.| "The King Must Die"| 5:21
Total length:| 39:27

Bonus tracks (1995 Mercury and 1996 Rocket reissue)No.| Title| Length

|
|

11.| "Bad Side of the Moon"| 3:15
12.| "Grey Seal"| 3:35
13.| "Rock and Roll Madonna"| 4:18
Total length:| 50:35

2008 deluxe edition bonus discNo.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Your Song" (Demo version)| 3:33
2.| "I Need You to Turn To" (Piano demo)| 2:10
3.| "Take Me to the Pilot" (Piano demo)| 2:34
4.| "No Shoe Strings on Louise" (Piano demo)| 3:31
5.| "Sixty Years On" (Piano demo)| 4:20
6.| "The Greatest Discovery" (Piano demo)| 3:56
7.| "The Cage" (Demo version)| 3:20
8.| "The King Must Die" (Piano demo)| 5:22
9.| "Rock and Roll Madonna" (Piano demo)| 3:10
10.| "Thank You Mama" (Piano demo)| 3:19
11.| "All the Way Down to El Paso" (Piano demo)| 2:48
12.| "I'm Going Home" (Piano demo)| 3:03
13.| "Grey Seal" (Piano demo)| 3:18
14.| "Rock and Roll Madonna" (Incomplete band demo)| 2:53
15.| "Bad Side of the Moon"| 3:11
16.| "Grey Seal" (1970 version)| 3:34
17.| "Rock and Roll Madonna"| 4:16
18.| "Border Song" (BBC session)| 3:19
19.| "Your Song" (BBC session)| 3:59
20.| "Take Me to the Pilot" (BBC session)| 3:33
Total length:| 65:49

## B-sides

[edit]

Song  | Format

|

"Bad Side of the Moon" | "Border Song" 7" (US)
"Into the Old Man's Shoes" | "Your Song" 7" (UK)

## Live recordings

[edit]

John performed many of these songs live,[10] and included six of these ten songs on his 1987 album Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

## Personnel

[edit]

Track numbers refer to CD and digital releases of the album.

* Elton John – piano, vocals (all tracks), harpsichord (2)
* Diana Lewis – Moog synthesizer (5, 9)
* Brian Dee – organ (6, 7)
* Frank Clark – acoustic guitar (1), double bass (10)
* Colin Green – additional guitar (1, 7), Spanish guitar (6)
* Clive Hicks – twelve-string guitar (1), rhythm guitar (4), guitar (7, 8, 10), acoustic guitar (9)
* Roland Harker – guitar (2)
* Alan Parker – rhythm guitar (3)
* Caleb Quaye – lead guitar (3, 4, 5), additional guitar (9)
* Dave Richmond – bass guitar, double bass (1, 7, 8)
* Alan Weighall – bass guitar (3, 4, 9)
* Les Hurdle – bass guitar (10)
* Barry Morgan – drums (1, 3, 4, 7, 9)
* Terry Cox – drums (8, 10)
* Dennis Lopez – percussion (3, 4)
* Tex Navarra – percussion (9)
* Skaila Kanga – harp (2, 8)
* Paul Buckmaster – cello solo (8), orchestral arrangements and conductor
* David Katz – orchestra contractor
* Madeline Bell – backing vocals (3, 4, 7, 9)
* Tony Burrows – backing vocals (3, 4, 7, 9)
* Roger Cook – backing vocals (3, 4, 7, 9)
* Lesley Duncan – backing vocals (3, 4, 7, 9)
* Kay Garner – backing vocals (3, 4, 7, 9)
* Tony Hazzard – backing vocals (3, 4, 7, 9)
* Barbara Moore – backing vocals, choir leader (7)

Technical

* Gus Dudgeon – producer, liner notes
* Robin Geoffrey Cable – engineer
* Gus Skinas – editing
* Alan Harris – original mastering
* Tony Cousins – remastering
* Ricky Graham – digital transfers
* Greg Penny – surround sound
* Steve Brown – production coordinator
* David Larkham – art direction
* Stowell Stanford – photography
* Jim Goff – artwork
* John Tobler – liner notes

## Accolades

[edit]

Grammy Awards

Year  | Nominee / work  | Award  | Result

|
|
|

1971 | Elton John | Album of the Year[11] | Nominated
Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male[12] | Nominated

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

| Chart (1970–1972)  | Peak
position

|

Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[13] | 2
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[14] | 4
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[15] | 2
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[16] | 40
UK Albums (OCC)[17] | 5
US Billboard 200[18] | 4

### Year-end charts

[edit]

| Chart (1971)  | Position

|

Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[19] | 24
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[20] | 17
US Billboard 200 | 30

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Australia (ARIA)[21] | Gold  | 20,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[22] | Platinum  | 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[23] | Gold  | 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[25] | Platinum  | 1,000,000[24]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Elton John was John's first album to be released in the United States, as his debut album Empty Sky (1969) would not be released there until 1975.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Elton John - Border Song". hitparade.ch.
2. ^ "Grammy Hall of Fame Award Archived 19 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Grammy.org. Retrieved 21 December 2012
3. ^ Clark, Rick (October 2002). "Gus Dudgeon, 1942–2002". Mixonline.
4. ^ J (18 April 2015). "Won't you please excuse my frankness but it's not my cup of tea: Elton John – Elton John (1970)". www.resurrectionsongs.com. Archived from the original on 3 October 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016. "The side is rounded off with the 'Rolling Stones country' tinged 'No Shoe Strings on Louise' (even Elton's phrasing is similar to Jagger's at times – "All those city women want to make us poor men and this land's got the worse for the worrying")..."
5. ^ Bernardin, Claude (1995). Rocket Man: Elton John From A – Z. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood/Praeger. p. 186. ISBN 0-275-95698-9. "He tried to impersonate Mick Jagger. The song is about loose women."
6. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine "Elton John". Allmusic.
7. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). "John, Elton". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). London: Omnibus Press. p. 2,003. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
8. ^ John Mendelsohn (12 November 1970). "Album Reviews Elton John". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2 October 2007.
9. ^ Robert Christgau (November 1970). "Consumer Guide Album Elton John: Elton John". robertchristgau.com.
10. ^ "Elton John Albums Statistics". setlist.fm.
11. ^ "GRAMMYs' Best Albums 1970–1979". grammy.org. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
12. ^ "Grammy Awards: Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male". rockonthenet.com. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
13. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
14. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 3762". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
15. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Elton John – Elton John" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
16. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
17. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
18. ^ "Elton John Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
19. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
20. ^ "Dutch charts jaaroverzichten 1971" (in Dutch). Archived from the original (ASP) on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
21. ^ "Elton John Self Titled LP. Australian Gold Disc Award". 20 February 2023.
22. ^ "Elton John: Self-Titled "Platinum" Record Award". 27 February 2023.
23. ^ "great britain's million sellers, 1972-73" (PDF). Cash Box. 6 July 1974. p. 8, Part II. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
24. ^ "IT'S PLATINUM" (PDF).
25. ^ "American album certifications – Elton John – Elton John". Recording Industry Association of America.

## External links

[edit]

* Elton John at Discogs (list of releases)

* v
* t
* e

Elton John

* Songs
* Albums
* Singles
* Concerts
* Videos
* Awards

Studio albums|

* Empty Sky
* Elton John
* Tumbleweed Connection
* Madman Across the Water
* Honky Château
* Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player
* Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
* Caribou
* Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
* Rock of the Westies
* Blue Moves
* A Single Man
* Victim of Love
* 21 at 33
* The Fox
* Jump Up!
* Too Low for Zero
* Breaking Hearts
* Ice on Fire
* Leather Jackets
* Reg Strikes Back
* Sleeping with the Past
* The One
* Duets
* Made in England
* The Big Picture
* Songs from the West Coast
* Peachtree Road
* The Captain & the Kid
* The Diving Board
* Wonderful Crazy Night
* Regimental Sgt. Zippo
* The Lockdown Sessions

Live albums|

* 17-11-70
* Here and There
* Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
* Elton John One Night Only – The Greatest Hits
* Elton 60 – Live at Madison Square Garden
* Live from Moscow 1979

Soundtrack albums|

* Friends
* The Lion King (1994)
* Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida
* The Muse
* The Road to El Dorado
* Gnomeo & Juliet (soundtrack)
* Rocketman
* The Lion King (2019)

Compilation albums|

* Greatest Hits
* Greatest Hits Volume II
* The Thom Bell Sessions
* Lady Samantha
* Greatest Hits Vol. 3
* To Be Continued
* The Very Best of Elton John
* Rare Masters
* Greatest Hits 1976–1986
* Chartbusters Go Pop
* Classic Elton John
* Love Songs
* Greatest Hits 1970–2002
* Elton John's Christmas Party
* Rocket Man: The Definitive Hits
* Diamonds
* Elton: Jewel Box

Extended plays|

* "I've Been Loving You"
* Remixed

Other albums|

* Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin
* The Union
* Good Morning to the Night
* Revamp & Restoration
* Who Believes in Angels?

Video albums|

* Night and Day Concert
* Live in Australia
* The Very Best of Elton John
* Live in Barcelona
* Love Songs
* Elton John One Night Only – The Greatest Hits
* Dream Ticket
* Elton 60 – Live at Madison Square Garden
* The Red Piano

Concert tours|

* 1970 World Tour
* Rock of the Westies Tour
* Louder Than Concorde Tour
* 1979 tour of the Soviet Union
* 1980 World Tour
* Jump Up Tour
* Too Low for Zero Tour
* European Express Tour
* Breaking Hearts Tour
* Ice on Fire Tour
* Tour De Force
* Sleeping with the Past Tour
* The One Tour
* Face to Face 1994
* Face to Face 1995
* Made in England Tour
* Face to Face 1998
* An Evening with Elton John
* Medusa Tour
* Stately Home Tour
* Face to Face 2001
* Songs from the West Coast Tour
* Face to Face 2002
* A Journey Through Time
* 2003 Tour
* Face to Face 2003
* 2004 Tour
* Peachtree Road Tour
* 2006 European Tour
* The Captain and the Kid Tour
* Rocket Man: Greatest Hits Live
* Face to Face 2009
* Face to Face 2010
* 2010 European Tour
* Greatest Hits Tour
* 40th Anniversary of the Rocket Man
* The Diving Board Tour
* Follow the Yellow Brick Road Tour
* All the Hits Tour
* The Final Curtain Tour
* Wonderful Crazy Night Tour
* Farewell Yellow Brick Road

Concert residencies|

* The Red Piano
* The Million Dollar Piano

Miscellaneous
performances|

* List of Elton John and Ray Cooper concert tours
* The Union Tour

Musicals|

* The Lion King
* 1994 film
* 2019 film
* 1997 musical
* The Road to El Dorado
* Aida
* Billy Elliot the Musical
* Lestat
* The Devil Wears Prada
* Tammy Faye

Documentaries|

* Elton John: Tantrums & Tiaras
* Elton John: Me, Myself & I
* The Union
* Elton John: Never Too Late

Related articles|

* Bernie Taupin
* Elton John Band
* Gus Dudgeon
* Paul Buckmaster
* John Reid
* Ray Williams
* Dick James
* DJM Records
* David Furnish
* Kiki Dee
* Elton John AIDS Foundation
* Watford F.C.
* Bluesology
* Hookfoot
* Woodside, Old Windsor
* Rocket Pictures
* Elton John: The Classic Years
* Rocketman (film)
* Me

* Category

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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