Elton John (album)

Elton John
Studio album by Elton John
Released	10 April 1970 (UK) 22 July 1970 (US)
Recorded	January 1970 at Trident Studios, London
Genre	Rock, symphonic rock
Length	39:27 (Original release) 50:51 (1995 reissue) 109:18 (2008 deluxe edition) (Including bonus disc)
Label	DJM (UK/world) Uni (US/Canada)
Producer	Gus Dudgeon
Elton John chronology
Empty Sky (1969) Elton John (1970) Tumbleweed Connection (1970)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Robert Christgau	(B)
Rolling Stone	(not rated)

Elton John is the eponymous second album by English 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 the U.S. it was certified Gold on 2/17/1971 by the R.I.A.A. In the same year, it was nominated for the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. In 2003, the album was ranked number 468 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. This was the first of many Elton John albums to be produced by Gus Dudgeon.

Track listing

All songs by Elton John and Bernie Taupin.

1. "Your Song" – 4:02
2. "I Need You to Turn To" – 2:35
3. "Take Me to the Pilot" – 3:47
4. "No Shoe Strings on Louise" – 3:31
5. "First Episode at Hienton" – 4:48
6. "Sixty Years On" – 4:35
7. "Border Song" – 3:22
8. "The Greatest Discovery" – 4:12
9. "The Cage" – 3:28
10. "The King Must Die" – 5:04

Bonus tracks (1995 Mercury and 1996 Rocket reissue)

1. "Bad Side of the Moon" – 3:15
2. "Grey Seal" [Original version] – 3:35
3. "Rock And Roll Madonna" – 4:17

Bonus tracks (2008 Deluxe Edition)

1. "Your Song" [Piano demo] – 3:35
2. "I Need You to Turn To" [Piano demo] – 2:12
3. "Take Me to the Pilot" [Piano demo] – 2:36
4. "No Shoe Strings on Louise" [Piano demo] – 3:33
5. "Sixty Years On" [Piano demo] – 4:21
6. "The Greatest Discovery" [Piano demo] – 3:58
7. "The Cage" [Piano demo] – 3:21
8. "The King Must Die" [Piano demo] – 5:24
9. "Rock And Roll Madonna" [Piano demo] – 3:11
10. "Thank You Mama" [Piano demo] – 3:20
11. "All the Way Down to El Paso" [Piano demo] – 2:49
12. "I'm Going Home" [Piano demo] – 3:05
13. "Grey Seal" [Piano demo] – 3:19
14. "Rock And Roll Madonna" [Alternate take] – 2:55
15. "Bad Side of the Moon" – 3:13
16. "Grey Seal" [Original Version] – 3:36
17. "Rock And Roll Madonna" – 4:17
18. "Border Song" [BBC session] – 3:21
19. "Your Song" [BBC session] – 4:01
20. "Take Me to the Pilot" [BBC session] – 3:33

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

When MCA Records re-issued this album on cassette tape in the 1980s, "I Need You To Turn To" and "The Cage" were swapped in the album running order.

The original German release from 1970(Hansa #807) opens with the song "Rock and Roll Madonna", and the song "I Need You To Turn To" does not appear on the LP. The rest of the tracks and the running order remain the same as the worldwide release.

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

B-sides

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

Personnel

• Elton John - piano, harpsichord, vocals
• Frank Clark - acoustic bass
• Colin Green - guitar, Spanish guitar
• Roland Harker - guitar
• Clive Hicks - acoustic guitar, rhythm guitar, 12 string guitar
• Alan Parker - rhythm guitar
• Caleb Quaye - guitar
• Les Hurdle - bass
• Dave Richmond - bass
• Alan Weighall - bass
• Brian Dee - organ
• Diana Lewis - Moog synthesizer
• Paul Buckmaster - cello
• Skaila Kanga - harp
• David Katz - violin
• Terry Cox - drums
• Dennis Lopez - percussion
• Barry Morgan - drums
• Tex Navarra - percussion
• Madeline Bell - background vocals
• Tony Burrows - background vocals
• Roger Cook - background vocals
• Lesley Duncan - background vocals
• Kay Garner - background vocals
• Tony Hazzard - background vocals
• Barbara Moore - vocals, choir, chorus

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

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1970	UK album chart	5
1971	US Billboard Pop Albums	4
1971	Canadian RPM 100 Album Chart	4

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1970	Border Song	US Billboard Pop Singles	92
1970	Border Song	Canadian RPM 100 Singles Chart	34
1971	Your Song	UK Singles Chart	7
1971	Your Song	US Billboard Pop Singles	8