Elton John (album)

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Elton John
Elton John cover
Studio album by Elton John
Released April 10, 1970 (UK)
July 22, 1970 (USA)
Recorded January 1970
Genre Pop
Length 39:59
Label DJM (UK/world)
Uni (US/Canada)
Producer Gus Dudgeon
Professional reviews
Elton John chronology
Empty Sky
(1969)
Elton John
(1970)
Tumbleweed Connection
(1970)

Elton John is the eponymous second album by British 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. In 2003, the album was ranked number 468 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Contents

[edit] Track listing

All songs by John/Taupin.

[edit] Side one

  1. "Your Song" – 4:02
  2. "I Need You to Turn To" – 2:35
  3. "Take Me to the Pilot" – 3:48
  4. "No Shoestrings on Louise" – 3:31
  5. "First Episode at Hienton" – 4:48

[edit] Side two

  1. "Sixty Years On" – 4:35
  2. "Border Song" – 3:22
  3. "The Greatest Discovery" – 4:12
  4. "The Cage" – 3:28
  5. "The King Must Die" – 5:04

[edit] Bonus tracks (1995 CD reissue)

  1. "Bad Side of the Moon" – 3:15
  2. "Grey Seal" (Original version) – 3:35
  3. "Rock n' Roll Madonna" – 4:17

On the album released in Portugal, a French horn is used in the introduction to "The Greatest Discovery" instead of a violin as is found on all other versions. An extended version of the introduction to "Sixty Years On" is available on 1990 box set "To Be Continued".

The album was remastered as a multichannel Super Audio CD in 2004.

[edit] B-sides

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

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Production

  • Producer: Gus Dudgeon
  • Engineer: Robin Geoffrey Cable
  • Editing: Gus Skinas
  • Remastering: Tony Cousins
  • Digital transfers: Ricky Graham
  • Surround sound: Greg Penny
  • Lyricist: Bernie Taupin
  • Arranger: Paul Buckmaster
  • Orchestra contractor: David Katz
  • Art direction: David Larkham
  • Liner notes: Gus Dudgeon, John Tobler

[edit] Charts

Album

Year Chart Position
1970 UK album chart 5
1971 US Billboard Pop Albums 4

Singles

Year Single Chart Position
1970 Border Song US Billboard Pop Singles 92
1971 Your Song UK Singles Chart 7
1971 Your Song US Billboard Pop Singles 8