Maps of Music

Too Low for Zero (1983)

Where the lyrics of Too Low for Zero take you, and where it was really made.

Written and recorded in about two weeks, this comeback album's cover hides four die-cut shapes that let the inner sleeve's ink show through.

Key places

Recorded at AIR Studios Montserrat (1983)

Recording site AIR Studios Montserrat — The album was recorded at AIR Studios in Montserrat, the same studio used for Jump Up!, and the album was written and recorded in about two weeks. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood (1983)

Recording site Sunset Sound — Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood is the second recording studio named for the album, along with AIR Studios in Montserrat. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Too Low for Zero (stylised as 2 ▼ 4 0): 17th studio album by Elton John
• Released 1983
• Marked a comeback after five previous albums with few enduring international hit singles and weaker sales
• Second-best-selling album of the 1980s, after Sleeping with the Past
• Platinum certification from both the RIAA and the BPI
• Several hit singles, each with a successful MTV music video
• Spent over a year on the Billboard album chart

Background

• All lyrics written by Bernie Taupin, the first time since Blue Moves in 1976
• Reunited with the core of his early-1970s backing band: Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson and Davey Johnstone
• Also worked with Ray Cooper, Kiki Dee and Skaila Kanga
• John played synthesizers as well as piano after James Newton Howard left the band
• John felt synths let him write better fast rock songs than piano had

Recording

• Written and recorded in about two weeks, with overdubs completed in one week
• Produced by Chris Thomas
• Recorded at AIR Studios in Montserrat (the same studio used for Jump Up!) and Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood
• Mixing location listed as AIR Studios in London

Cover

• The original LP issue had a die-cut cover with a special inner sleeve
• Four shapes on the cover were cut out, and the colours shown as ink smears on the inner sleeve showed through the holes
• The 2010 Japanese SHM CD is the only CD version to replicate the original die-cut packaging

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

• Rolling Stone: Don Shewey wrote that John and Bernie Taupin had produced great hit singles but had not made an consistently first-rate album since the early Elton John LP
• Rolling Stone: Shewey called the album a big step up from Blue Moves and A Single Man, but said it does not hang together
• Rolling Stone: Shewey praised the catchy energy of "I'm Still Standing", "Kiss the Bride", "Crystal" and "Too Low for Zero"
• Rolling Stone: Shewey said those four songs blended styles of The Pointer Sisters and Joe Jackson
• Rolling Stone: Shewey found the rest weakened by poor lyrics, especially the morbidity of "Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)" and "One More Arrow"

Records

• Second-best-selling album of the 1980s, after Sleeping with the Past
• Platinum certification from the RIAA and the BPI
• Over a year on the Billboard album chart
• In the US, certified gold by the RIAA in January 1984
• In the US, certified platinum by the RIAA in October 1995

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Stevie Wonder played harmonica on "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues"
• James Newton Howard arranged the strings on "One More Arrow"
• The B-sides of the US singles came from the 1978 album A Single Man and the 21 at 33 sessions of 1980
• The 1998 reissue was remastered at Abbey Road Studios, with Gus Dudgeon handling remastering
• The Dolby Atmos Mix release was mixed by Felix Penny and Greg Penny

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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