Victim of Love (Elton John album)

1979 studio album by Elton John

Victim of Love

Studio album by

Elton John

Released| October 1979
Recorded| August 1979
Studio|

* Musicland, Munich
* Rusk, Hollywood

Genre| Disco, pop
Length| 35:45
Label| MCA (US)
Rocket (UK)
Producer| Pete Bellotte
Elton John chronology
| The Thom Bell Sessions
(1979)  | Victim of Love
(1979)  | 21 at 33
(1980)

|
|

Singles from  Victim of Love

1. "Victim of Love"
Released: September 1979
2. "Johnny B. Goode"
Released: December 1979

Victim of Love is the thirteenth studio album by English musician Elton John. It is a disco album, released in 1979 shortly after the peak of disco's popularity. It was not critically or commercially well-received, and is John's third lowest charting album to date in the US, after 1986's Leather Jackets and 1985's Ice on Fire.

The title track of the album, however, was moderately successful as a single. It reached No. 31 on the US Billboard Hot 100, No. 38 in Australia and No. 46 in Canada. It also peaked at No. 11 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart.[1] In addition, all the tracks on the album reached No. 55 on the US Billboard Disco Top 100 chart.[2]

Apart from an appearance on the Australian television series Countdown (he was also a comedy regular on the show during the 1980s), John did little marketing for Victim of Love. He did not tour to promote the album.

## Background[edit]

At under 36 minutes, the album is the shortest of Elton John's career, and is atypical of his recording career in several respects. He neither wrote the songs nor played piano or keyboards, only providing the vocals. Elton John admitted in 1998 that he used the album's disco direction as a means of "leaping on a bandwagon".[3] It was his first album without any of his original band members, which would not happen again until his 2010 collaboration with Leon Russell, The Union. As of 2019,[update] it is also one of only two studio albums (along with A Single Man) without contributions from lyricist Bernie Taupin.

"Strangers", the B-side of the single of the album's title track, appeared as a bonus track on the 1998 Mercury reissue of John's previous album, A Single Man, because it was recorded during those sessions.

When the album was released as a CD in the 1980s, the track breaks were incorrect. The first 45 seconds of "Spotlight" was part of the previous track, and similar errors occurred in other tracks. In 2003, the album was reissued in a digitally remastered format, with those problems corrected.

## Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [4]
Christgau's Record Guide| C−[6]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music| [7]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide| [8]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide| [5]

The album was panned by critics. The New York Times noted that "John still has an appealing pop-music baritone, but there's precious little in the way of individuality here."[9] In ranking all of John's studio albums, Matt Springer of Ultimate Classic Rock placed the album at the bottom of the list.[10] The Rolling Stone Album Guide called it the "nadir" of John's recorded output.[5]

Aside from the title track appearing on the deluxe edition of the Diamonds compilation, none of the album’s songs appear on any of John’s numerous greatest hits or career retrospective releases.

## Track listing[edit]

### Side one[edit]

1. "Johnny B. Goode" (Chuck Berry) – 8:06
2. "Warm Love in a Cold World" (Pete Bellotte, Stefan Wisnet, Gunther Moll) – 4:30 (3:22 on older pressings)
3. "Born Bad" (Bellotte, Geoff Bastow) – 5:16 (6:20 on older pressings)

### Side two[edit]

1. "Thunder in the Night" (Bellotte, Michael Hofmann) – 4:40
2. "Spotlight" (Bellotte, Wisnet, Moll) – 4:24
3. "Street Boogie" (Bellotte, Wisnet, Moll) – 3:56
4. "Victim of Love" (Bellotte, Sylvester Levay, Jerry Rix) – 4:52 (5:02 on older pressings)

## Personnel[edit]

* Elton John – lead and backing vocals
* Thor Baldursson – keyboards, arrangements
* Roy Davies – keyboards
* Craig Snyder – lead guitar
* Tim Cansfield – rhythm guitar
* Steve Lukather – guitar solo on "Warm Love in a Cold World" and "Born Bad"
* Marcus Miller – bass guitar
* Keith Forsey – drums
* Paulinho da Costa – percussion
* Lenny Pickett – saxophone on "Johnny B. Goode"
* Michael McDonald – backing vocals on "Victim of Love"
* Patrick Simmons – backing vocals on "Victim of Love"
* Stephanie Spruill – backing vocals
* Julia Tillman Waters – backing vocals
* Maxine Willard Waters – backing vocals

Technical personnel

* Produced by Pete Bellotte
* Engineer and Mixdown – Peter Luedmann
* Assistant Engineers – Hans Menzel and Carolyn Tapp
* Technical Engineer – Roman Olearczuk
* Recorded at Musicland, Munich and Rusk Sound Studios, Hollywood.
* Mastered by Brian Gardner at Allen Zentz Mastering (Hollywood).
* Music Contractor – Trevor Veitch
* Production Coordination – Jerry Simpson
* Project Coordination – Joe Black
* Photography – David P. Bailey
* Design – Jubilee Graphics

## Charts[edit]

Chart (1979)  | Peak
position

|

Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[11] | 20
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[12] | 28
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[13] | 44
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[14] | 18
UK Albums (OCC)[15] | 41
US Billboard 200[16] | 35

## Certifications and sales[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Australia (ARIA)[17] | Gold  | 20,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[18] | Gold  | 50,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## References[edit]

1. ^ RPM Adult Contemporary, December 29, 1979
2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003. Record Research. p. 137.
3. ^ "New Again: Elton John". Interview Magazine. 18 October 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
4. ^ Victim of Love at AllMusic
5. ^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 372–373.
6. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: J". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 27 February 2019 - via robertchristgau.com.
7. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4\. MUZE. p. 638.
8. ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1996. p. 367.
9. ^ Rockwell, John (12 October 1979). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. p. C26.
10. ^ "Elton John Albums Ranked Worst to Best".
11. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
12. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6915a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
13. ^ "Charts.nz – Elton John – Victim of Love". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
14. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Elton John – Victim of Love". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
15. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
16. ^ "Elton John Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
17. ^ "International Dateline - Australia" (PDF). Cash Box. 8 December 1979. p. 37. Retrieved 1 December 2021 - via World Radio History.
18. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Elton John – Victim of Love". Music Canada.

## External links[edit]

* Victim of Love 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
* Rocketman
* The Lion King (2019)

Compilation albums|

* Greatest Hits
* Greatest Hits Volume II
* The Thom Bell Sessions
* Lady Samantha
* Greatest Hits Vol. 3
* The Complete Thom Bell Sessions
* To Be Continued
* The Very Best of Elton John
* Rare Masters
* Greatest Hits 1976–1986
* Chartbusters Go Pop
* Classic Elton John
* Love Songs
* Prologue
* 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"
* The Thom Bell Sessions
* Remixed

Other albums|

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

Video albums|

* The Afternoon Concert
* The Night Time Concert
* 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
* West of the Rockies 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
* Billy Elliot the Musical
* Aida
* Lestat
* The Devil Wears Prada
* Tammy Faye

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: Tantrums & Tiaras
* Elton John: Me, Myself & I
* The Union
* Elton John: The Classic Years
* Rocketman (film)
* Me

* Category

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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