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The early '80s were not a particularly focused time in Elton John's career. The Fox (1981) is a reflection of the tentative regrouping that began on his previous effort, 21 at 33 (1979). In fact, a third of the material was left over from the same August 1979 sessions. This results in dithering musical styles and ultimately yields an uneven and at times somewhat dated sound. The reunion with Bernie Taupin (lyrics) that commenced on 21 at 33 is once again sparsely tapped. He contributes the tepid "Heels of the Wind" as well as "Just Like Belgium," which foreshadows the pair's future lightweight efforts such as "Nikita." Slightly more promising, however, is the midtempo rocker "Fascist Faces" -- which may well be a nod to David Bowie's infamous "Britain could benefit from a fascist leader" statement. The album's introspective title track instantly recalls the slightly bittersweet "Curtains" coda from Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboys (1975). Gary Osborne and Elton John's collaborations were beginning to yield some impressive results, including "Heart in the Right Place" -- which could easily have been a follow-up to the slinky Caribou (1974) track "Stinker." The tender "Chloe" conclusion to the "Carla/Etude/Fanfare" medley became one of two tracks extracted as singles. The other, "Nobody Wins," sports a Euro-beat flavor and was adapted from a French techno-pop hit by Osborne and Jean-Paul Dreau. According to John, the dark and noir "Elton's Song" remains a favorite, and he very occasionally revives it for live performances. Although The Fox isn't a grand slam, it isn't exactly a bunt either. However, the incremental momentum would continue on the subsequent long-player, Jump Up! (1982), before culminating on his '80s breakthrough, Too Low for Zero (1983).
© Lindsay Planer /TiVo
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CHRIS THOMAS, Producer - Elton John, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Gary Osborne, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2003 Mercury Records Limited
Elton John, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Gary Osborne, ComposerLyricist - Clive Franks, Producer
℗ 2003 Mercury Records Limited
CHRIS THOMAS, Producer - Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, MainArtist
℗ 2003 Mercury Records Limited
Jean Paul Dréau, ComposerLyricist - CHRIS THOMAS, Producer - Elton John, MainArtist - Gary Osborne, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2003 Mercury Records Limited
CHRIS THOMAS, Producer - Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, MainArtist
℗ 2003 Mercury Records Limited
Elton John, Composer, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - James Newton Howard, Composer - Gary Osborne, ComposerLyricist - Clive Franks, Producer
℗ 2003 Mercury Records Limited
CHRIS THOMAS, Producer - Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, MainArtist
℗ 2003 Mercury Records Limited
Elton John, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tom Robinson, ComposerLyricist - Clive Franks, Producer
℗ 2003 Mercury Records Limited
CHRIS THOMAS, Producer - Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, MainArtist
℗ 2003 Mercury Records Limited
Album review
The early '80s were not a particularly focused time in Elton John's career. The Fox (1981) is a reflection of the tentative regrouping that began on his previous effort, 21 at 33 (1979). In fact, a third of the material was left over from the same August 1979 sessions. This results in dithering musical styles and ultimately yields an uneven and at times somewhat dated sound. The reunion with Bernie Taupin (lyrics) that commenced on 21 at 33 is once again sparsely tapped. He contributes the tepid "Heels of the Wind" as well as "Just Like Belgium," which foreshadows the pair's future lightweight efforts such as "Nikita." Slightly more promising, however, is the midtempo rocker "Fascist Faces" -- which may well be a nod to David Bowie's infamous "Britain could benefit from a fascist leader" statement. The album's introspective title track instantly recalls the slightly bittersweet "Curtains" coda from Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboys (1975). Gary Osborne and Elton John's collaborations were beginning to yield some impressive results, including "Heart in the Right Place" -- which could easily have been a follow-up to the slinky Caribou (1974) track "Stinker." The tender "Chloe" conclusion to the "Carla/Etude/Fanfare" medley became one of two tracks extracted as singles. The other, "Nobody Wins," sports a Euro-beat flavor and was adapted from a French techno-pop hit by Osborne and Jean-Paul Dreau. According to John, the dark and noir "Elton's Song" remains a favorite, and he very occasionally revives it for live performances. Although The Fox isn't a grand slam, it isn't exactly a bunt either. However, the incremental momentum would continue on the subsequent long-player, Jump Up! (1982), before culminating on his '80s breakthrough, Too Low for Zero (1983).
© Lindsay Planer /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 9 track(s)
- Total length: 00:45:31
- Main artists: Elton John
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2003 Mercury Records Limited ℗ 2003 Mercury Records Limited
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