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Elton John began inching back into the mainstream with Jump Up, an uneven but strong record highlighted by "Empty Garden." Its success set the stage for Too Low for Zero, a full-fledged reunion with his best collaborator, Bernie Taupin, and his classic touring band. Happily, this is a reunion that works like gangbusters, capturing everybody at a near-peak of their form. That means there aren't just hit singles, but there are album tracks, like the opener, "Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)," that strongly (and favorably) recall Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. John hadn't been this engaging in years, not since Gerald Ford was in office. Why does this work so well? Well, the question isn't just consistency, since records like A Single Man were strong, but it's because each cut here showcases John at a peak. He's rocking with a vengeance on "I'm Still Standing" and "Kiss the Bride," crafting a gorgeous romantic standard with "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" -- songs that anchor this album, giving the hits context. While this may not be as rich as his classic early period, it's a terrific record, an exemplary illustration of what a veteran artist could achieve in the early '80s.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Bill Price, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - CHRIS THOMAS, Producer - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Keyboards, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Cooper, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Skaila Kanga, Harp, AssociatedPerformer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kiki Dee, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1983 Mercury Records Limited
Bill Price, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - CHRIS THOMAS, Producer - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Keyboards, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1983 Mercury Records Limited
Bill Price, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - CHRIS THOMAS, Producer - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Keyboards, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1983 Mercury Records Limited
Bill Price, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - CHRIS THOMAS, Producer - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Keyboards, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1983 Mercury Records Limited
Bill Price, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - CHRIS THOMAS, Producer - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Keyboards, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Stevie Wonder, Harmonica, AssociatedPerformer - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1983 Mercury Records Limited
Bill Price, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - CHRIS THOMAS, Producer - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Keyboards, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1983 Mercury Records Limited
Bill Price, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - CHRIS THOMAS, Producer - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Keyboards, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1983 Mercury Records Limited
Bill Price, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - CHRIS THOMAS, Producer - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Keyboards, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1983 Mercury Records Limited
Bill Price, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - CHRIS THOMAS, Producer - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Keyboards, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1983 Mercury Records Limited
Bill Price, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - CHRIS THOMAS, Producer - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Keyboards, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - James Newton Howard, Conductor, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1983 Mercury Records Limited
Elton John, Composer, Producer, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Ray Cooper, Tambourine, Triangle, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Renwick, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lord Choc Ice, MainArtist - Clive Franks, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Holly, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1983 Mercury Records Limited
Paul Buckmaster, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Elton John, Producer, Keyboards, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ray Cooper, Tambourine, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Renwick, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary Osborne, ComposerLyricist - Clive Franks, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Holly, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1983 Mercury Records Limited
Alvin Tyler, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Producer, Keyboards, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - DAVID PAICH, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - STEVE LUKATHER, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - James Newton Howard, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Reggie McBride, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Clive Franks, Producer
℗ 1982 Mercury Records Limited
Album review
Elton John began inching back into the mainstream with Jump Up, an uneven but strong record highlighted by "Empty Garden." Its success set the stage for Too Low for Zero, a full-fledged reunion with his best collaborator, Bernie Taupin, and his classic touring band. Happily, this is a reunion that works like gangbusters, capturing everybody at a near-peak of their form. That means there aren't just hit singles, but there are album tracks, like the opener, "Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)," that strongly (and favorably) recall Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. John hadn't been this engaging in years, not since Gerald Ford was in office. Why does this work so well? Well, the question isn't just consistency, since records like A Single Man were strong, but it's because each cut here showcases John at a peak. He's rocking with a vengeance on "I'm Still Standing" and "Kiss the Bride," crafting a gorgeous romantic standard with "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" -- songs that anchor this album, giving the hits context. While this may not be as rich as his classic early period, it's a terrific record, an exemplary illustration of what a veteran artist could achieve in the early '80s.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 01:03:22
- Main artists: Elton John
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: EMI
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 1998 Mercury Records Limited ℗ 1998 Mercury Records Limited
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