Elton John, The #3 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Seven

 

(Continued from Part Six)

Elton released his Greatest Hits Volume II album in 1977, which has sold over five million copies in the U.S. alone.  He began working with a lyricist other than Taupin for the first time in his career when he teamed with Gary Osborne for the 1978 album A Single Man.

 

The result was one of the worst albums of his career, although it eventually did reach Platinum status.  "Part-Time Love" failed to make the Top 10 in any country in the world.  Guy Burchett was a 17-year-old messenger boy for his company who had died in a motorcycle crash "at virtually the same time I was writing the song", Elton said. Ray Cooper can be heard playing wind chimes and shakers on this track. "Song For Guy" did reach #4 in the U.K. and has stood the test of time.

Elton embarked on a groundbreaking tour of the former Soviet Union and Israel in 1979.  EJ had recorded the album The Complete Thom Bell Sessions in 1977 but it was not released until 1979.  It was a departure for Elton; not only did he not work with Taupin but none of the members of his band played on the album either.  His single "Mama Can't Buy You Love" reached #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #9 overall in the U.S. and sold over one million copies.  John picked up a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male for the song.

 

 

But Victim of Love was the first album to perform poorly since his debut.  EJ returned to relevance on the album 21 at 33, featuring the smash "Little Jeannie", #1 in Canada and on the U.S. AC chart and #3 in Switzerland and #4 in New Zealand. 

"Little Jeannie" became Elton's 20th Gold single and 21 at 33 his 16th Gold album.  His next project, The Fox, was recorded at the same time as its predecessor and represented a regrouping as he and Bernie began to write together again.

  

The Fox is another album that was dismissed in 1980 but time has been good to it.  Part of the problem may have been the choice of singles--"Nobody Wins" and "Chloe" went nowhere when there were songs like this one on the album--"Carla Etude"/"Fanfare".

Chris Thomas, who would go on to produce many more of John's albums in the years to come, came aboard for the first time on The Fox.  

"Breaking Down The Barriers" is strong enough to have been released as a single.

 

John accepted Olsson and Murray back into the fold in 1980 and the band played before 400,000 fans in a free concert in New York City's Central Park.  This is a very personal song for Elton with the lyrics coming from Tom Robinson.  Unlike Taupin, Robinson is gay and wrote words that Elton could relate to.  "Elton's Song" is his most-performed song from the album.  

 

In 1982, Elton released the album Jump Up!.  "Blue Eyes", with a peak of #12 (although it too hit #1 among adults), is one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.

"Blue Eyes" earned a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male.  "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" was Bernie and Elton's tribute to friend John Lennon, who was murdered the year before by a psycho.  Elton was godfather to Lennon's son Sean.

 

John reunited with Taupin full-time for the album Too Low for Zero in 1983, and the results showed.  "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues", with Stevie Wonder on harmonica, was his biggest hit since "Little Jeannie".  It catapulted to #2 on the Adult chart for four weeks and #4 Popular in the U.S. and #5 in the United Kingdom and to date has sold over two million copies.

 

Although the lyrics reflected Bernie Taupin's recovery from a recent divorce, "I'm Still Standing" served as a declaration that Elton had withstood the pressures of stardom while also emerging victorious over his vices of alcohol, drugs and bulimia.  The single topped charts in Canada and Switzerland and reached #2 in Germany, #3 in Australia and #4 in the U.K. and even though it sold over one million singles, Billboard still showed a peak of #12.  It is an easy candidate for The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.

 

"The Retreat" features great lyrics from Taupin and production from Chris Thomas.  David Paich (Hammond organ) and Steve Lukather (guitar) of Toto helped out on this fine song.

 

In 1984, Elton married Renate Blauel, but they divorced three years later.  EJ released the album Breaking Hearts, led by the single "Sad Songs (Say So Much)", a #2 AC and #5 Popular smash in the United States and attained #2 in Germany, #3 in Switzerland, #4 in Australia and Canada and #7 in the U.K.

Sure, he had the great early years and the phenomenal period in the mid-70's, but his longevity is a thing to behold.  Don't miss Part Eight, only on Inside The Rock Era!