Rock of the Westies

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Rock of the Westies
Rock of the Westies cover
Studio album by Elton John
Released October 1975
Recorded Caribou Ranch, Nederland, CO
Genre Rock
Length 52:49
Label MCA
Producer(s) Gus Dudgeon
Professional reviews
Elton John chronology
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
(1975)		 Rock of the Westies
(1975)		 Here and There
(1976)


Rock of the Westies is the tenth album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1975 (see 1975 in music).

Like Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, Rock of the Westies also debuted on the United States Billboard charts at #1, the only two albums at that time to have done so. It was less successful in the artist's home territory of the United Kingdom, where it only reached #5. Rock of the Westies also contained the U.S. #1 (but only #14 in the UK) single, "Island Girl," which was released prior to the full album coming out. Elton John noted at the time in a radio interview that he had wanted to release "Dan Dare (Pilot of the Future)" as the album's first single instead of "Island Girl," because he thought it had more commercial potential. He was however, overruled, and "Dan Dare" was never released as a single, and "Island Girl" of course became a huge hit.

The make-up of Elton John's band was different on Rock of the Westies, with long-time drummer Nigel Olsson and long-time bass player Dee Murray moving onto different ventures. Accordingly, the sound of John's music was somewhat different on this album, and had a much harder edge to it. This was a disappointment to many long-time Elton John fans, which was evident by the disappointing sales of his next single from Rock of the Westies (the double-sided "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" / "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)"), as well as the disappointing sales of his next effort, the double album Blue Moves.

While the music of Rock of the Westies was not well-regarded during and immediately after the time of its release, it has subsequently been revisited over time by music critics and Elton John fans alike as being a strong effort, and probably his last "great" album during that stage of his career.

Contents

[edit] Track listing

  1. "Medley: Yell Help/Wednesday Night/Ugly" (John/Taupin) – 6:14
  2. "Dan Dare (Pilot of the Future)" (John, Taupin) – 3:29
  3. "Island Girl" (John, Taupin) – 3:42
  4. "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" (John, Davey Johnstone, Taupin) – 4:48
  5. "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)" (John, Taupin) – 5:27
  6. "Street Kids" (John, Taupin) – 6:25
  7. "Hard Luck Story" (John, Taupin) – 5:16
  8. "Feed Me" (John, Taupin) – 4:01
  9. "Billy Bones and the White Bird" (John, Taupin) – 4:25

[edit] Bonus tracks (1996 CD reissue)

  1. "Planes" (John, Taupin) – 4:31
  2. "Sugar on the Floor" (Kiki Dee) – 4:31
  3. "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (with Kiki Dee) - 4:28

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Production

  • Producer: Gus Dudgeon
  • Engineer: Jeff Guercio
  • Liner notes: John Tobler

[edit] Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year Chart Position
1975 Pop Albums 1

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year Single Chart Position
1975 "Island Girl" Pop Singles 1
1976 "Grow Some Funk Of Your Own" Pop Singles 14
1976 "I Feel Like A Bullet (In The Gun Of Robert Ford)" Pop Singles 14
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