Sleeping with the Past

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Sleeping with the Past
Studio album by Elton John
Released 29 August 1989
Recorded November–December 1988
Puk Studios, Randers, Denmark
Genre Pop, rock
Length 47:55
Label MCA (US/Canada)
Rocket Records
Producer Chris Thomas
Elton John chronology
The Complete Thom Bell Sessions
(1989)		 Sleeping with the Past
(1989)		 To Be Continued
(1990)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 2/5 stars.... [1]
Chicago Tribune 2.5/4 stars...[2]
Los Angeles Times 2.5/5 stars....[3]
Wiki letter w.svg This table needs to be expanded using prose. See the guideline for more information.

Sleeping with the Past is the twenty-second studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released on 29 August 1989. It is his best-selling album in Denmark (where it was recorded for tax purposes) and is dedicated to his longtime writing partner Bernie Taupin. This album featured his first solo number one single, "Sacrifice", in his home country of the United Kingdom, which helped the album also hit number one there. John and Taupin meant for the songs to reflect the style of 1960s R&B icons such as Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, and Sam Cooke, whom they admired. It also became his first platinum album in UK since 1983's Too Low for Zero, and was also certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA. Guy Babylon made his debut on this album and would continue to play keyboards with John for the next 20 years. Fred Mandel left the band shortly after. John went into rehabilitation in 1990.

Contents

[edit] Background

With renewed creativity after 1988's Reg Strikes Back, Elton John and Bernie Taupin sought to create a cohesive album that had maintained a consistent theme. They decided to pay tribute to the R&B sound of the 1960s and 1970s who inspired them as youths. Taupin would listen to 60s soul songs and use those songs from the past to inspire new lyrics for their album. He would then write down which artists or songs influenced him. John would then use Taupin's guide to write a soul song that sometimes ventured away from the original source of inspiration. Many of the songs have a somewhat clear influence while others contain a mixture of various soul influences.

In addition to "Sacrifice" and "Healing Hands", which were singles in both the U.K. and U.S., the songs "Whispers" and "Blue Avenue" were released as singles in parts of Continental Europe. "Whispers" reached #11 in France, whilst "Blue Avenue" managed to reach the Top 75 in the Netherlands.

Like "Reg Strikes Back" the previous year, of note is the lowering of John's vocal register. While he does hit higher, falsetto notes on songs such as "Stone's Throw From Hurtin'" and "Blue Avenue", after this album he would write in keys more suited to his new vocal range, and trips to upper register would become few and far between.

Wynnona Judd recorded a contemporary country music cover version of "Stone's Throw from Hurtin'" which was featured in the 1992 film Leap of Faith starring Steve Martin.

Sinead O'Connor recorded a cover version of "Sacrifice" for the 1991 Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin tribute album.

[edit] Track listing

All songs written by Elton John/Bernie Taupin. (Published By Big Pig Music Ltd.)

[edit] Side one

  1. "Durban Deep" – 5:32
  2. "Healing Hands" – 4:21
  3. "Whispers" – 5:30
  4. "Club at the End of the Street" – 4:49
  5. "Sleeping with the Past" – 4:58

[edit] Side two

  1. "Stones Throw From Hurtin'" – 4:55
  2. "Sacrifice" – 5:09
  3. "I Never Knew Her Name" – 3:32
  4. "Amazes Me" – 4:39
  5. "Blue Avenue" – 4:21

[edit] Bonus tracks (1999 Polygram International reissue)

  1. "Dancing in the End Zone" – 3:55
  2. "Love Is a Cannibal" – 3:55

The version of "Durban Deep" on the 1998 remaster features a different vocal mix and is slightly extended from the original album version (the fade out lasts about 10 seconds longer).

[edit] Reception

Sleeping with the Past received lukewarm reviews when the album was released in 1989. However, long time fans of Elton John loved the album and deem it to be one of his best from the 1980s.

Despite the critical judgment of the album, it became his highest-selling studio album in the UK, being certified 3×Platinum[4] and spawned his first solo # 1 hit in his home country.

[edit] B-sides

Song Format
"Sad Songs (Say So Much)" (Live) "Healing Hands" CD (UK)
"Dancing in the End Zone" "Healing Hands" 12"/CD (UK), 7" (US/UK)
"Love Is a Cannibal" "Sacrifice" 12"/CD (UK), 7" (US/UK)
"Give Peace a Chance" "Club at the End of the Street" 7"/12"/CD (UK)
"I Don't Wanna Go on with You Like That" (Live) "Club at the End of the Street" 12"/CD (UK)
"Healing Hands" (Eltone Mix) "Healing Hands" 12" (UK)
"Healing Hands" (Shep Pettibone Remix aka The Healing Hands Mix) "Healing Hands" 12" (UK)

[edit] Personnel

  • Elton John: piano, keyboards, vocals, backing vocals
  • Guy Babylon: keyboards
  • Davey Johnstone: guitar, backing vocals
  • Fred Mandel: guitar, keyboards, organ
  • Romeo Williams: bass
  • Jonathan Moffett: drums
  • Vince Denham: saxophone
  • Marlena Jeter: backing vocals
  • Natalie Jackson: backing vocals
  • Mortonette Jenkins: backing vocals
  • Peter Iversen: Fairlight & Audiofile programming

[edit] Credits

[edit] Charts

[edit] Chart positions

Chart (1989/90) Position
Australian ARIA Albums Chart[5] 2
Austrian Albums Chart[6] 5
Dutch Mega Albums Chart[7] 5
French SNEP Albums Chart [8] 2
German Media Control Albums Chart [9] 9
Italian Albums Chart[10] 6
New Zealand Albums Chart [11] 1
Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart[12] 7
Swedish Albums Chart[13] 23
Swiss Albums Chart[14] 1
UK Albums Chart [15] 1
United States Billboard 200[16] 23

[edit] Year-end charts

Chart (1989) Position
Canadian Albums Chart[17] 63
French Albums Chart[18] 7
Italian Albums Chart[10] 11
Swiss Albums Chart[19] 23
Chart (1990) Position
Australian Albums Chart[20] 8
UK Albums Chart[21] 9

[edit] Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Canada (Music Canada)[22] 2× Platinum 200,000^
France (SNEP)[23] Platinum 387,100[24]
Germany (BVMI)[25] Gold 250,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[26] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[27] 2× Platinum 100,000x
United Kingdom (BPI)[28] 3× Platinum 900,000^
United States (RIAA)[29] Platinum 1,000,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

[edit] References

  1. ^ Ruhlmann, William. Sleeping with the Past at Allmusic
  2. ^ Caro, Mark (1989-11-30). "Elton John Sleeping with the Past (MCA)". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1989-11-30/features/8903140172_1_elton-john-star-healing-hands. Retrieved 2011-10-20. 
  3. ^ Boehm, Mike (1989-08-27). "ELTON JOHN "Sleeping With the Past." MCA". articles.latimes.com. Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/1989-08-27/entertainment/ca-1594_1_john-blue-day. Retrieved 2011-09-18. 
  4. ^ "British album certifications – Elton John – Sleeping with the Past". British Phonographic Industry. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx.  Enter Sleeping with the Past in the field Search. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Click Go
  5. ^ "australian-charts.com Elton John - Sleeping With The Past". Australian Recording Industry Association. http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Elton+John&titel=Sleeping+With+The+Past&cat=a. Retrieved 2011-09-18. 
  6. ^ "Elton John - Sleeping With The Past – austriancharts.at" (in German). http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Elton+John&titel=Sleeping+With+The+Past&cat=a. Retrieved 2011-09-18. 
  7. ^ "dutchcharts.nl Elton John - Sleeping With The Past" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. MegaCharts. http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Elton+John&titel=Sleeping+With+The+Past&cat=a. Retrieved 2011-09-18. 
  8. ^ "InfoDisc : Tous les Albums classés par Artiste > Choisir Un Artiste Dans la Liste" (in French). infodisc.fr. http://infodisc.fr/Album_J.php. Retrieved 2011-09-18. 
  9. ^ "Album Search: Elton John" (in German). Media Control. http://www.charts.de/search.asp?search=Elton+John&x=0&y=0&cat=a&country=de. Retrieved 2011-09-18. 
  10. ^ a b "Hit Parade Italia - Gli album più venduti del 1989" (in Italian). hitparadeitalia.it. http://www.hitparadeitalia.it/hp_yenda/lpe1989.htm. Retrieved 2011-10-03. 
  11. ^ "charts.org.nz - Elton John - Sleeping With The Past". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. http://charts.org.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Elton+John&titel=Sleeping+With+The+Past&cat=a. Retrieved 2011-09-18. 
  12. ^ "norwegiancharts.com Elton John - Sleeping With The Past". http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Elton+John&titel=Sleeping+With+The+Past&cat=a. Retrieved 2011-09-18. 
  13. ^ "swedishcharts.com Elton John - Sleeping With The Past" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Elton+John&titel=Sleeping+With+The+Past&cat=a. Retrieved 2011-09-18. 
  14. ^ "Elton John - Sleeping With The Past - hitparade.ch" (in German). http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Elton+John&titel=Sleeping+With+The+Past&cat=a. Retrieved 2011-09-18. 
  15. ^ "Chart Stats - Elton John - Sleeping With The Past". UK Albums Chart. http://www.chartstats.com/release.php?release=42973. Retrieved 2011-09-18. 
  16. ^ Allmusic - Sleeping with the Past > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums
  17. ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1989". RPM. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6625&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5. Retrieved 2011-10-03. 
  18. ^ "Les Albums (CD) de 1989 par InfoDisc" (in French). infodisc.fr. http://www.infodisc.fr/B-CD_1989.php. Retrieved 2012-01-29. 
  19. ^ "Hitparade.ch - Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1989". Swiss Music Charts. Hung Medien. http://hitparade.ch/year.asp?key=1989. Retrieved 2011-09-13. 
  20. ^ "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 50 Albums 1990". aria.com.au. Australian Recording Industry Association. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-50albums-1990.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-13. 
  21. ^ "Complete UK Year-End Album Charts". http://chartheaven.9.forumer.com/a/complete-uk-yearend-album-charts_post21.html. Retrieved 2011-09-13. 
  22. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Elton John – Sleeping with the Past". Music Canada. http://www.musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=Sleeping+with+the+Past&sa=Elton+John&smt=0. 
  23. ^ "French album certifications – Elton John – Sleeping with the Past" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/pag-259165-CERTIFICATIONS.html?year=1989&type=12. 
  24. ^ "Les Albums Platine" (in French). infodisc.fr. SNEP. http://www.infodisc.fr/CDCertif_P.php?debut=450. Retrieved 2011-09-18. 
  25. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Elton John; 'Sleeping with the Past')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/?action=suche&strTitel=Sleeping+with+the+Past&strInterpret=Elton+John&strTtArt=alben&strAwards=checked. 
  26. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Elton John – Sleeping with the Past" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. http://www.ifpi.nl/nvpi/pagina.asp?pagkey=60463. 
  27. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Elton John; 'Sleeping with the Past')". Hung Medien. http://www.swisscharts.com/search_certifications.asp?search=Elton+John+Sleeping+with+the+Past. 
  28. ^ "British album certifications – Elton John – Sleeping with the Past". British Phonographic Industry. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx.  Enter Sleeping with the Past in the field Search. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Click Go
  29. ^ "American album certifications – Elton John – Sleeping with the Past". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Sleeping+with+the+Past%22.  If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
Preceded by
Oro incenso e birra by Zucchero		 Swiss Music Chart number-one album
24 September 1989		 Succeeded by
Foreign Affair by Tina Turner
Preceded by
All or Nothing: Remix by Milli Vanilli		 New Zealand Chart number-one album
11 March – 18 March 1990		 Succeeded by
Blue Sky Mining by Midnight Oil
Preceded by
The Essential Pavarotti by Luciano Pavarotti		 UK number one album
28 July 1990 – 31 July 1990		 Succeeded by
Graffiti Bridge by Prince
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