Elton John (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Elton John
Type = Album
Artist = Elton John


Released = April 10, 1970 (UK)
July 22, 1970 (USA)
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
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:iif3zfoheh5k link]
*Robert Christgau (B) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=elton+john link]
*"Rolling Stone" (not rated) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/eltonjohn/albums/album/121562/review/5942220/elton_john link]
Last album = "Empty Sky"
(1969)
This album = "Elton John"
(1970)
Next album = "Tumbleweed Connection"
(1970)

"Elton John" is the eponymous second album by British 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 1971 the album was nominated to the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

Track listing

All songs by Elton John and Bernie Taupin.

ide one

# "Your Song" – 4:02
# "I Need You to Turn To" – 2:35
# "Take Me to the Pilot" – 3:48
# "No Shoe Strings on Louise" – 3:31
# "First Episode at Hienton" – 4:48

ide two

# "Sixty Years On" – 4:35
# "Border Song" – 3:22
# "The Greatest Discovery" – 4:12
# "The Cage" – 3:28
# "The King Must Die" – 5:04

Bonus tracks (1995 CD reissue)

# "Bad Side of the Moon" – 3:15
# "Grey Seal" [Original version] – 3:35
# "Rock n' Roll Madonna" – 4:17

Bonus tracks (2008 Deluxe Edition)

# "Your Song" [Piano demo] – 3:35
# "I Need You to Turn To" [Piano demo] – 2:12
# "Take Me to the Pilot" [Piano demo] – 2:36
# "No Shoe Strings on Louise" [Piano demo] – 3:33
# "Sixty Years On" [Piano demo] – 4:21
# "The Greatest Discovery" [Piano demo] – 3:58
# "The Cage" [Piano demo] – 3:21
# "The King Must Die" [Piano demo] – 5:24
# "Rock n' Roll Madonna" [Piano demo] – 3:11
# "Thank You Mama" – 3:20
# "All the Way Down to El Paso" – 2:49
# "I'm Going Home" – 3:05
# "Grey Seal" [Piano demo] – 3:19
# "Rock n' Roll Madonna" [Alternate take] – 2:55
# "Bad Side of the Moon" – 3:13
# "Grey Seal" [Original Version] – 3:36
# "Rock n' Roll Madonna" – 4:17
# "Border Song" [BBC session] – 3:21
# "Your Song" [BBC session] – 4:01
# "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 violin as is found on all other versions. An extended version of the introduction to "Sixty Years On" is available on 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 album was remastered as a multichannel Super Audio CD in 2004.

B-sides