Maps of Music

21 at 33 (1980)

Where the lyrics of 21 at 33 take you, and where it was really made.

This album was first planned as a double record and then cut to a single, and its lead single reached number three on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Key places

Basic tracks recorded in Nice (1979)

Recording site Super Bear Studios — Most of the basic tracks for the album were recorded at this Nice studio in August 1979. The sessions were troubled by technical problems. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Choir for Dear God (1980)

Recording site Rumbo Recorders — A choir for the track Dear God was recorded at Rumbo Recorders in February 1980. Bruce Johnston and Toni Tennille are among the choir singers. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Overdubs and White Lady White Powder (1980)

Recording site Sunset Sound — Overdubs and the track White Lady White Powder were recorded at this Los Angeles studio in early 1980. Olsson and Murray later provided the rhythm section for that track. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• 21 at 33: fourteenth studio album by British musician Elton John
• Released 23 May 1980 through MCA Records in the US and The Rocket Record Company in other territories
• Co-produced by John and Clive Franks
• Title refers to it being John's 21st album release, made when he was 33
• Bernie Taupin wrote lyrics for three songs, the first album since Blue Moves (1976) with his lyrics
• Contributors include members of Toto and the Eagles
• Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson made their first Elton John album appearance since Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975)

Background

• After Blue Moves (1976), John and Taupin put their partnership on hold
• A Single Man (1978) was John's first collaboration with lyricist Gary Osborne
• Victim of Love (1979) was a move into disco and a flop, stalling at number 35 in the US and number 41 in the UK
• Most of the material was written in August 1979 in Grasse, France, where John invited Taupin and his wife
• Other lyricists on the album included Osborne, Tom Robinson and Judie Tzuke
• The album marked a tentative reunion between John and Taupin

Recording

• Most basic tracks were recorded at Super Bear Studios in Nice in August 1979
• Overdubs and “White Lady White Powder” were recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders in early 1980
• A choir for “Dear God” was recorded at Rumbo Recorders in February 1980
• Technical problems troubled the Nice sessions, including a mixing console that ignited
• The album was considered as a double but reduced to a single

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in Pinner, Middlesex, on 25 March 1947.
• Won a junior scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at age 11.
• Formed the blues band Bluesology in 1962; took the name Elton John in 1967.
• Joined DJM Records as a staff songwriter with lyricist Bernie Taupin in 1968.

Members

• Partnered with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967; Taupin writes lyrics and John composes the music.
• Backing band over the years included Davey Johnstone, Nigel Olsson, Dee Murray and Ray Cooper.

Career

• Debut album Empty Sky (1969); Honky Château (1972) became his first US number-one album.
• Seven consecutive US number-one albums between 1972 and 1975.
• Composed The Lion King and Aida with Tim Rice; won Academy Awards and a Tony Award.
• Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour (2018–2023) was the highest-grossing tour at the time.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Smash Hits (Ian Cranna): gave it 7 out of 10 and called it John’s best since Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
• Record Mirror (Robin Smith): gave four stars out of five and called it a comeback
• Billboard: picked it as a “spotlight” album for the week ending 24 May 1980, calling it his most “significant and pleasing” album since Blue Moves
• Rolling Stone (Ken Tucker): praised the first side and disparaged the second
• Critical reception was moderately positive overall

Reappraisal

• AllMusic (Lindsay Planer): retrospective review found a “scattered nature” and criticized the John–Taupin tracks, while praising the John–Osborne songs and “Sartorial Eloquence”
• Buckley: said the album lacks the thematic unity of the best Elton John albums, but its first half holds some of his strongest material in years

Records

• Billboard Top LPs and Tape chart peak: number 13, his highest placement since Blue Moves
• UK Albums Chart: number 12
• Lead single “Little Jeannie”: number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart
• “Sartorial Eloquence”: number 39 in the US and number 44 in the UK
• RIAA: Gold for US sales over 500,000 copies
• Sixteenth gold record for John, certified 22 September 1980

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The album was first considered as a double, but was reduced to a single after Clive Franks judged there was not enough quality material for a double.
• Material recorded during the 21 at 33 sessions appeared on John’s next album, The Fox (1981).
• At the free Central Park concert on 13 September 1980, John wore a Donald Duck costume for the encore.
• Brenda Lee released a cover of “Take Me Back” in the fall of 1980.
• Mixing console fire during the Nice sessions was recalled by co-producer Clive Franks in David Buckley’s biography.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Maps of Ages ↗ (mapsofages.com)

Privacy · Contact