Elton John Single Man CD

The aptly titled A SINGLE MAN finds Elton John working without legendary partner Bernie Taupin, his usual lyricist, during a much-needed break from each other, following their turbulent, albeit wildly successful mid '70s collaborations. Joining forces instead with Gary Osborne, Elton takes the opportunity to present an album of pure craft--with its scaled down production, A SINGLE MAN is an almost live-sounding album, one of his most straightforward. This approach places in even greater relief John's gift for combining widely varying musical atmosphere with beautiful melodies and honest emotional performance.

If A SINGLE MAN didn't produce any legendary hits for Elton John, it provided a welcome chance for him to cool off and just write songs. As is his wont, John takes on a wide variety of styles: the Spanish-sounding melancholia of "Return To Paradise" moves handily into the upbeat strut of "I Don't Care" in a stylistic segue which few could pull off. The swaggering honky-tonk of "Big Dipper" finds itself juxtaposed with the soft rock of "It Ain't Gonna Be Easy." Stripped down though it may be, the album isn't without its epic--in this case it's the heavily orchestrated, under-sung "Song For Guy."

It's not that Elton John was in need of a comeback in 1978, when he released A Single Man, because he was still one of pop's biggest stars. But he certainly had hit a creative drought with 1976's Blue Moves, a turgid double album that found Elton and his partner Bernie Taupin barely able to write a side's worth of memorable material. John took a couple of years off and reemerged with a new lyricist, name of Gary Osbourne, who was certainly more straightforward than Taupin, but not as inspired. Even if he lacked Bernie's endearing incomprehensibility, Osbourne kick-started John creatively, spurring him to write his strongest collection of songs since Captain Fantastic. Also, John left behind Gus Dudgeon, the other partner of his classic period, choosing to collaborate with Clive Franks. Now, this didn't result in a blockbuster of an album; even if it was a hit in both the U.K. and U.S., none of the songs, even hits like "Part-Time Love," are considered part of his basic canon, but this is easily one of his

Digitally remastered by Gus Dudgeon (Abbey Road Studios).

Additional Tracks

Recorded at the Mill At Cookham, Berks, England between January & September 1978. Originally released on MCA (3065). Includes liner notes by Chris White.

Personnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, harmonium, Clavinet, organ, Mellotron, keyboards, string synthesizer, background vocals); Davey Johnstone (vocals, guitar, synthesizer, background vocals); Clive Franks (vocals, percussion); Chris Thompson, Stevie Lange, Joanne Stone (vocals, background vocals); Vicki Brown, Gary Osborne (vocals); Tim Renwick (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin); B.J. Cole (guitar, steel guitar); Paul Buckmaster (cello); John Crocker (clarinet, tenor saxophone, electric piano, Fender Rhodes piano, wind); Patrick Halcox, Henry Lowther (trumpet); Jim Shepherd (trombone); Steve Holly (horns, drums); Ray Cooper (vibraphone, congas, shaker, tambourine, timpani, percussion, wind chime); Herbie Flowers (acoustic bass).

Audio Mixers: Clive Franks; Phil Dunne; Stuart Epps.

Liner Note Author: Chris White.

Recording information: England.

Arranger: Joanne Stone.

Personnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, harmonium, Clavinet, church organ, keyboards); Davey Johnstone (guitar, synthesizer, background vocals); Tim Renwick (guitar); B.J. Cole (steel guitar); Paul Buckmaster (cello); John Crocker (winds); Patrick Halcox, Henry Lowther (trumpet); Jim Shepherd (trombone); Herbie Flowers (bass); Steve Holly (drums); Ray Cooper (marimba, congas, tympani, tambourine, percussion); Clive Franks (percussion, background vocals); Vicki Brown, Stevie Lang, Joanne Stone, Watford Football Team, South Audley Street Girl's Choir, Gary Osborne (background vocals).

Engineers: Phil Dunne, Stuart