Elton John - Too Low For Zero (Lp) (1983) - €10,00

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Too Low for Zero (stylised as 2 ▼ 4 0) is the seventeenth studio album by English musician Elton John, released in 1983. 

The album marked a comeback for John, whose previous four albums had failed to yield many enduring international hit singles, and had disappointing sales compared to his string of hit records released during the first half of the 1970s.

For the first time since Blue Moves in 1976, all lyrics were written by Bernie Taupin. 

John also reunited with the core of his backing band of the early 1970s: Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson and Davey Johnstone as well as Ray Cooper, Kiki Dee and Skaila Kanga (who played harp on John’s self-titled album and Tumbleweed Connection).

John played synthesizers on the album in addition to piano (his first since A Single Man), as James Newton Howard left the band. John felt that synths allowed him to write better fast rock songs, having not been entirely happy with such compositions performed on piano.

He’s rocking with a vengeance on “I’m Still Standing” and “Kiss the Bride,” crafting a gorgeous romantic standard with “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” — songs that anchor this album, giving the hits context. 

While this may not be as rich as his classic early period, it’s a terrific record, an exemplary illustration of what a veteran artist could achieve in the early ’80s.

The album was written and recorded in approximately two weeks, with overdubs completed in a week. It was produced by Chris Thomas and recorded at AIR Studios in Montserrat (the same studio for Jump Up!) and Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood.

Side A

A1.  Cold As Christmas (In The Middle Of The Year) - 4:20  

A2.  I’m Still Standing - 3:03  

A3.  Too Low For Zero - 5:45  

A4.  Religion - 4:06  

A5.  I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues - 4:43  

Side B

B1.  Crystal - 5:04  

B2.  Kiss The Bride - 4:19  

B3.  Whipping Boy - 3:44  

B4.  Saint - 5:19  

B5.  One More Arrow - 3:34 

Personnel

• Elton John – lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, clavinet
• Davey Johnstone – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, backing vocals
• Dee Murray – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Nigel Olsson – drums, tambourine on “Whipping Boy”, backing vocals
• Ray Cooper – percussion on “Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)”
• Skaila Kanga – harp on “Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)”
• Kiki Dee – backing vocals on “Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)”
• Stevie Wonder – harmonica on “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues”
• James Newton Howard – string arrangements on “One More Arrow”

Production

• Produced by Chris Thomas
• Recorded and Mixed by Bill Price
• Mixed at AIR Studios London
• Mastered by Chris Thomas (UK) and Greg Fulginiti (US).
• Management – John Reid
• Art Direction – Rod Dyer
• Design – Clive Piercy

Notes

Release: 1983

Format:  LP, Vinyl

Genre:  Pop

Label:  The Rocket Record Company

Catalog#  8110521

Vinyl:  Goed (VG+)

Cover:  Goed (VG+)

Prijs: €10,00