Album Info
Artist: | Elton John |
Album: | Blue Moves |
Gatefold: | Yes |
Released: | UK & Europe, 22 Sept 2017 |
Tracklist:
A1 | Your Starter For... | 1:25 |
Acoustic Guitar - Caleb | ||
Bass - Kenny | ||
Drums - Roger | ||
Glockenspiel, Marimba - Ray | ||
Mandolin [Mandolins] - Davey | ||
Music By - Caleb Quaye | ||
Piano - Elton | ||
Synthesizer - James | ||
A2 | Tonight | 8:02 |
Orchestra - London Symphony Orchestra | ||
Piano, Vocals - Elton | ||
Words By, Music By - Elton John And Bernie Taupin | ||
A3 | One Horse Town | 5:47 |
Bass - Kenny | ||
Cello, Soloist - Michael Hurwitz | ||
Drums - Roger | ||
Electric Guitar - Davey | ||
Electric Guitar, Soloist - Caleb | ||
Electric Piano, Synthesizer - James | ||
Gong, Tambourine, Vibraphone [Vibes], Tubular Bells - Ray | ||
Leader [Strings] - Richard Studt | ||
Piano, Vocals - Elton | ||
Strings - The Martyn Ford Orchestra | ||
Words By, Music By - Bernie Taupin, Elton John, James Newton-Howard | ||
A4 | Chameleon | 5:27 |
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Caleb | ||
Backing Vocals - Bruce Johnston, Cindy Bullens, Curt Becher, Gene Morford, Jon Joyce, Ron Hicklin, Toni Tennille | ||
Bass - Kenny | ||
Drums - Roger | ||
Piano, Vocals - Elton | ||
Vibraphone [Vibes], Shaker - Ray | ||
Words By, Music By - Elton John And Bernie Taupin | ||
B1 | Boogie Pilgrim | 6:03 |
Backing Vocals - The Cornerstone Institutional Baptist And Southern California Choir | ||
Bass - Kenny | ||
Directed By [Backing Vocals] - Rev. James Cleveland | ||
Drums - Roger | ||
Horns [Horn Section] - The Brecker Brothers | ||
Organ - James | ||
Piano, Vocals - Elton | ||
Slide Guitar - Davey | ||
Tambourine - Ray | ||
Words By, Music By - Bernie Taupin, Caleb Quaye, Davey Johnstone, Elton John | ||
B2 | Cage The Songbird | 3:28 |
Acoustic Guitar - Caleb, Davey | ||
Backing Vocals - David Crosby, Graham Nash | ||
Dulcimer - Davey | ||
Synthesizer, Mellotron - James | ||
Triangle, Finger Cymbals, Bell Tree, Shaker - Ray | ||
Vocals - Elton | ||
Words By, Music By - Bernie Taupin, Davey Johnstone, Elton John | ||
B3 | Crazy Water | 5:42 |
Backing Vocals - Bruce Johnston, Cindy Bullens, Gene Morford, Jon Joyce, Ron Hicklin, Toni Tennille | ||
Bass - Kenny | ||
Brass, Strings - The Martyn Ford Orchestra | ||
Clavinet - James | ||
Congas, Tambourine - Ray | ||
Drums - Roger | ||
Electric Guitar - Caleb, Davey | ||
Leader [Brass & Strings] - Richard Studt | ||
Piano, Vocals - Elton | ||
Words By, Music By - Elton John And Bernie Taupin | ||
B4 | Shoulder Holster | 4:20 |
Bass - Kenny | ||
Drums - Roger | ||
Horns [Horn Section] - The Brecker Brothers | ||
Piano, Vocals - Elton | ||
Tambourine - Ray | ||
Words By, Music By - Elton John And Bernie Taupin | ||
C1 | Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word | 3:43 |
Accordion - Carl Fortina | ||
Bass - Kenny | ||
Electric Piano - James | ||
Piano, Vocals - Elton | ||
Vibraphone [Vibes] - Ray | ||
Words By, Music By - Elton John And Bernie Taupin | ||
C2 | Out Of The Blue | 6:10 |
Bass - Kenny | ||
Drums - Roger | ||
Electric Guitar - Davey | ||
Electric Guitar, Soloist - Caleb | ||
Piano - Elton | ||
Synthesizer - James | ||
Vibraphone [Vibes], Congas - Ray | ||
Words By, Music By - Elton John And Bernie Taupin | ||
C3 | Between Seventeen And Twenty | 5:10 |
Backing Vocals - Bruce Johnston, Cindy Bullens, Curt Becher, Joe Chemay, Jon Joyce | ||
Bass - Kenny | ||
Congas, Tambourine, Shaker - Ray | ||
Drums - Roger | ||
Electric Guitar - Caleb | ||
Mandolin - Davey | ||
Organ - James | ||
Vocalese - Elton | ||
Words By, Music By - Bernie Taupin, Caleb Quaye, Davey Johnstone, Elton John | ||
C4 | The Wide-eyed And Laughing | 3:20 |
Acoustic Guitar [6 String], 12-String Acoustic Guitar - Caleb | ||
Backing Vocals - David Crosby, Graham Nash | ||
Rototoms - Ray | ||
Sitar - Davey | ||
Synthesizer - James | ||
Vocals - Elton | ||
Words By, Music By - Bernie Taupin, Caleb Quaye, Davey Johnstone, Elton John, James Newton-Howard | ||
C5 | Someone's Final Song | 4:00 |
Backing Vocals - Bruce Johnston, Clark Burroughs, Curt Becher, Joe Chemay, Toni Tennille | ||
Electric Piano, Synthesizer - James | ||
Piano, Vocals - Elton | ||
Words By, Music By - Elton John And Bernie Taupin | ||
D1 | Where's The Shoorah? | 4:30 |
Backing Vocals - The Cornerstone Institutional Baptist And Southern California Choir | ||
Bass - Kenny | ||
Directed By [Backing Vocals] - Rev. James Cleveland | ||
Piano, Harmonium, Vocals - Elton | ||
Words By, Music By - Elton John And Bernie Taupin | ||
D2 | If There's A God In Heaven (What's He Waiting For?) | 4:20 |
Bass - Kenny | ||
Congas, Tambourine - Ray | ||
Drums - Roger | ||
Electric Guitar - Davey | ||
Electric Guitar, Soloist - Caleb | ||
Leader [Strings] - Richard Studt | ||
Organ - James | ||
Piano, Vocals - Elton | ||
Strings - The Martyn Ford Orchestra | ||
Words By, Music By - Bernie Taupin, Davey Johnstone, Elton John | ||
D3 | Idol | 4:10 |
Bass - Kenny | ||
Drums - Roger | ||
Horns [Horn Section] - The Brecker Brothers | ||
Piano, Vocals - Elton | ||
Words By, Music By - Elton John And Bernie Taupin | ||
D4 | Theme From A Non-existent TV Series | 1:20 |
Acoustic Guitar - Caleb | ||
Bass - Kenny | ||
Drums - Roger | ||
Electric Harpsichord - Elton | ||
Electric Piano, Synthesizer - James | ||
Glockenspiel, Marimba - Ray | ||
Mandolin - Davey | ||
Music By - Elton John And Bernie Taupin | ||
D5 | Bite Your Lip (Get Up And Dance!) | 6:37 |
Backing Vocals - The Cornerstone Institutional Baptist And Southern California Choir | ||
Bass - Kenny | ||
Congas - Ray | ||
Directed By [Backing Vocals] - Rev. James Cleveland | ||
Drums - Roger | ||
Electric Guitar - Caleb | ||
Leader [Strings] - Harry Bluestone | ||
Piano, Vocals - Elton | ||
Slide Guitar, Soloist - Davey | ||
Strings - The Gene Page Strings | ||
Synthesizer - James | ||
Words By, Music By - Elton John And Bernie Taupin |
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Description
Elton John's 1976 double album Blue Moves stands as one of the most ambitious and introspective works in his extensive discography. Released during a period of immense creative output, the album showcases a more reflective and experimental side of Elton, diverging from the pop-centric hits that had defined much of his earlier career. Collaborating once again with lyricist Bernie Taupin, Blue Moves delves into themes of melancholy, introspection, and personal struggle, all while maintaining the musical craftsmanship that Elton is celebrated for.
The album opens with the instrumental "Your Starter For...", a jazzy and upbeat piece that sets the stage for the eclectic mix of styles to come. This is immediately followed by "Tonight", a sweeping ballad that highlights Elton's ability to convey deep emotion through both his piano playing and vocal delivery. The orchestral arrangement, composed by James Newton Howard, adds a layer of grandeur to the track, making it one of the standout moments on the album.
One of the most notable songs on Blue Moves is "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word." This poignant ballad, with its haunting melody and heartfelt lyrics, became one of Elton's most enduring hits. Its simplicity and emotional depth resonate deeply, and it remains a staple in his live performances to this day. Another highlight is "Someone's Final Song", a beautifully melancholic piece that showcases the synergy between Elton's music and Taupin's evocative lyrics.
The album also ventures into more experimental territory with tracks like "Out of the Blue", an instrumental that blends rock and jazz influences, and "Cage the Songbird", a delicate and poetic song that features backing vocals from David Crosby and Graham Nash. These moments of experimentation demonstrate Elton's willingness to push the boundaries of his sound, even at the height of his commercial success.
Blue Moves is a lengthy album, spanning 18 tracks and over 80 minutes of music. While this allows for a diverse range of styles and moods, it also means that the album can feel uneven at times. Some tracks, such as "Boogie Pilgrim" and "Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)", lean more towards filler, though they still showcase Elton's knack for crafting infectious melodies.
Critically, Blue Moves received mixed reviews upon its release. Some praised its ambition and emotional depth, while others found it overly indulgent. Commercially, the album marked a turning point in Elton's career, as it was his last studio album to achieve platinum status in the United States until the release of Too Low for Zero in 1983. Despite this, Blue Moves has gained a more appreciative audience over the years, with many fans and critics recognising it as a bold and deeply personal work.
In retrospect, Blue Moves can be seen as a reflection of Elton's state of mind during a turbulent period in his life. The mid-1970s were marked by both professional triumphs and personal challenges for the artist, and this duality is evident throughout the album. Its introspective nature and willingness to explore darker themes set it apart from the more upbeat and radio-friendly albums that preceded it.
Overall, Blue Moves is a fascinating and multifaceted album that rewards repeated listens. While it may not have the immediate appeal of some of Elton's earlier works, its depth and emotional resonance make it a standout in his catalogue. For fans of Elton John and those interested in exploring the more complex and introspective side of his music, Blue Moves is well worth revisiting.