Maps of Music

Reg Strikes Back (1988)

Where the lyrics of Reg Strikes Back take you, and where it was really made.

Elton John took more than a year off to recover from throat surgery, and this album was the first studio record he made and released after that operation.

Key places

Recorded in London (1988)

Recording site AIR Studios — Elton John recorded Reg Strikes Back in London after more than a year away to recover from throat surgery. The recording site is listed as AIR Studios, London, and the pin marks the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Reg Strikes Back: 21st studio album by British musician Elton John, released in 1988
• Described as his self-proclaimed comeback album
• Also his own way of fighting back against bad press
• "Reg" in the title refers to his birth name, Reginald Kenneth Dwight

Background

• Last album on which bassist Dee Murray appeared before his death in 1992, singing backing vocals
• Nigel Olsson, longtime drummer of the Elton John Band, sings backing vocals on the album
• Chris Thomas returned as producer
• "Heavy Traffic" was written during the sessions for the previous album Leather Jackets
• First studio album recorded and released after throat surgery the previous year
• Over a year off to recover from surgery, address personal issues, and record the album in London
• New rhythm section added; first show was an AIDS benefit at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles
• US tour began 9 September at Miami Arena and ended 22 October at Madison Square Garden

Recording

• Recorded in London; Bill Price handled recording and mixing
• Mastering by Tim Young at CBS Studios, London
• Pete Townshend plays acoustic guitar on track 1
• Freddie Hubbard plays trumpet and flugelhorn on track 3
• Ray Cooper plays three-set percussion on tracks 6–9

Cover

• Cover features costumes from John's collection, which he decided to put up for auction
• Photography by Gered Mankowitz; art direction by David Costa

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

• Cash Box called "A Word in Spanish" brilliant, praising the ballad's originality
• Cash Box said John and Taupin had not matched that originality since the seventies

Records

• US: certified gold by the RIAA in August 1988
• Billboard 200: number 16 in 1988, John's third 1980s studio album in the US top 20
• Hot 100: "I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That" reached No. 2
• Hot 100: "A Word in Spanish" reached No. 19
• UK singles chart: "I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That" was the only album song to reach the Top 40
• Tokio Hot 100: "A Word in Spanish" ranked 92nd best-performing song of 1988

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The album cover features costumes from John's collection, which he decided to auction off.
• "Heavy Traffic" was written during the sessions for the previous album Leather Jackets.
• On CD reissues, sides one and two were combined as tracks 1–10.
• Dee Murray's final album appearance came before his death in 1992.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Maps of Ages ↗ (mapsofages.com)

Privacy · Contact