21 at 33 is the fourteenth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released on 13 May 1980. It was recorded at Super Bear Studios, Nice, France, in August 1979, and Rumbo Recorders and Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, California between January to March 1980.
Two of John’s “classic” bandmates, drummer Nigel Olsson and bass player Dee Murray, reunited with him for one song. His backup keyboardist James Newton-Howard returned and performed on almost every track as was the case on Rock of the Westies and Blue Moves. Other musicians included members of The Eagles and Toto as well as Peter Noone from Herman’s Hermits.
The title comes from the fact that this was John’s 21st album in total at the age of 33. According to the liner notes in the remastered edition of the album, the count includes all standard albums, two “Greatest Hits” compilations, two live albums, as well as the Friends soundtrack, the three-song, 12-inch EP The Thom Bell Sessions and the UK-only “rarities” collection Lady Samantha. The album sold over 900,000 copies in the United States, narrowly missing a Platinum certication.
John has not played any of the material in concert since touring in 1980, with the exception of “Little Jeannie”, “White Lady White Powder” and “Sartorial Eloquence”. Even “Little Jeannie”, which was a huge North American hit (#3 Pop and #1 Adult Contemporary in the United States, and #1 in Canada) is rarely performed, although it was included in the two One Night Only concerts in 2000.
Tracks
1 Chasing The Crown (Elton John, Bernie Taupin) 5:38
2 Little Jeannie (Elton John, Gary Osborne) 5:17
3 Sartorial Eloquence (Elton John, Tom Robinson) 4:42
4 Two Rooms At The End Of The World (Elton John, Bernie Taupin) 5:38
5 White Lady White Powder (Elton John, Bernie Taupin) 4:35
6 Dear God (Elton John, Gary Osborne) 3:46
7 Never Gonna Fall In Love Again (Elton John, Tom Robinson) 4:07
8 Take me Back (Elton John, Gary Osborne) 3:51
9 Give me the Love (Elton John, Judie Tzuke) 5:23
Musicians
1 Chasing The Crown
Bass |
Reginald McBride |
Drums |
Alvin Taylor |
Guitar |
Steve Lukather |
Keyboards |
James Newton-Howard |
Percussion |
Victor Feldman |
Background Vocals |
Carmen Twillie |
Background Vocals |
Stephanie Spruill |
Background Vocals |
Netty Gloud |
Vocals |
Elton John |
2 Little Jeannie
Bass |
Reginald McBride |
Drums |
Nigel Olsson |
Guitar |
Richie Zito |
Keyboards |
James Newton-Howard |
Trumpet |
Jerry Hey |
Horn |
Jim Horn |
Trumpet |
Chuck Findley |
Background Vocals |
Bill Champlin |
Background Vocals |
Dee Murray |
Vocals |
Elton John |
3 Sartorial Eloquence
Bass |
Reginald McBride |
Drums |
Alvin Taylor |
Guitar |
Steve Lukather |
Keyboards |
James Newton-Howard |
Percussion |
Victor Feldman |
Background Vocals |
Carmen Twillie |
Background Vocals |
Stephanie Spruill |
Background Vocals |
Netty Gloud |
Vocals |
Elton John |
4 Two Rooms At The End Of The World
Bass |
Reginald McBride |
Drums |
Alvin Taylor |
Guitar |
Steve Lukather |
Keyboards |
James Newton-Howard |
Sax |
Jim Horn |
Trumpet |
Jerry Hey |
Trumpet |
Chuck Findley |
Vocals |
Elton John |
5 White Lady White Powder
Bass |
Dee Murray |
Drums |
Nigel Olsson |
Guitar |
Richie Zito |
Keyboards |
James Newton-Howard |
Percussion |
Lenny Castro |
Background Vocals |
Don Henley |
Background Vocals |
Glen Frey |
Background Vocals |
Timothy B Schmit |
Vocals |
Elton John |
6 Dear God
Bass |
Reginald McBride |
Drums |
Alvin Taylor |
Guitar |
Steve Lukather |
Keyboards |
James Newton-Howard |
Organ |
David Paich |
Background Vocals |
Bruce Johnston |
Background Vocals |
Curt Becher |
Background Vocals |
Joe Chemay |
Background Vocals |
Jon Joyce |
Background Vocals |
Peter Noone |
Background Vocals |
Toni Tennille |
Background Vocals |
Carmen Twillie |
Background Vocals |
Stephanie Spruill |
Background Vocals |
Netty Gloud |
Vocals |
Elton John |
7 Never Gonna Fall In Love Again
Bass |
Reginald McBride |
Drums |
Alvin Taylor |
Guitar |
Steve Lukather |
Keyboards |
James Newton-Howard |
Sax |
Richie Cannata |
Percussion |
Victor Feldman |
Vocals |
Elton John |
8 Take me Back
Bass |
Reginald McBride |
Drums |
Alvin Taylor |
Guitar |
Richie Zito |
Keyboards |
James Newton-Howard |
Fiddle |
Byron Berline |
Percussion |
Victor Feldman |
Vocals |
Elton John |
9 Give me the Love
Bass |
Reginald McBride |
Drums |
Alvin Taylor |
Guitar |
Steve Lukather |
Sax |
Larry Williams |
Trombone |
Bill Reichenbach |
Trumpet |
Jerry Hey |
Trumpet |
Larry Hall |
Percussion |
Lenny Castro |
Background Vocals |
Carmen Twillie |
Background Vocals |
Netty Gloud |
Background Vocals |
Bill Champlin |
Vocals |
Elton John |
Liner Notes
Producer – Clive Franks, Elton John
Arranged By (Brass) – Jerry Hey (Tracks 4, 9)
Arranged By (Choir) – Bruce Johnston (Track 6)
Coordinator – Adrian Collee
Engineer – Clive Franks
Engineer – Patrick Jauneaud (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Engineer – Steve Desper (Track 6)
Engineer (Second) – David Leonard, Peggy McCreary, Stephen McManus
Engineer (Second) – David Burgess (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Art Direction – George Osaki, Norman Moore
Cover, Design – Norman Moore
Photography – Jim Shea
Mastered At A&M Studios
Mixed At Sunset Sound
Recorded At Super Bear Studios
Recorded At Rumbo Recorders
Recorded At Sunset Sound
Phonographic Copyright Sackville Productions Ltd
Copyright Sackville Productions Ltd
1979 Elton John - Hey Papa Legba - Sessiondays
April 14, 2016 @ 20:19
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