21 at 33

21 at 33
Studio album by Elton John
Publication (s)	May 13, 1980
Label (s)	MCA (US / Canada) Rocket (UK)
Format (s)	LP, cassette, CD
Genre (s)	Soft rock , post disco
Title (number)	9
running time	42:51
production	Clive Franks, Elton John
Studio (s)	Super Bear Studios, Berre-les-Alpes , France Rumbo Recorders and Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, USA
chronology Lady Samantha (1980) 21 at 33 The Fox (1981)
Single releases May 1, 1980 Little Jeannie 5th August 1980 Sartorial eloquence November 14, 1980 Dear God

21 at 33 (Eng. "21 with 33") is the 14th studio album by the British singer and composer Elton John .

At the age of 33, John added up his previous music albums: 13 LPs recorded in the studio, 2 live recordings, 3 compilation albums, 1 film music and 1 extended-play release, a total of 20 pieces. When the recordings went on sale from August 1979 to March 1980, it was - apart from his singles - his 21st record.

background

In the summer of 1979, John began recording his new album at Super Bear Studios in Berre-les-Alpes near Nice. For the time in the studio he rented a house near Grasse and invited Bernie Taupin and his newly married wife Toni Russo. The artistic separation of John and Taupin thus ended just as wordlessly as it had begun years before. Taupin wrote three lyrics for the new album including his memory of his exile in Acapulco Two Rooms at the End of the World .

Since A Single Man, John has collaborated with Gary Osborne . Osborn also contributed three lyrics. Among these was the later hit Little Jeannie . However, John also wanted to use input from a new generation of copywriters. He had just signed artist Judie Tzuke to his record label The Rocket Record Company . He also worked with Tom Robinson , who two years earlier had a surprise success with the single 2-4-6-8 Motorway in England. Robinson was known for his clear lyrics and as a composer for his powerful rock. In addition to Taupin, John also brought members of the original Elton John band and hired Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson as musicians.

After the little-noticed releases of The Thom Bell Sessions and Victim of Love, John continued his successful period in the mid-1970s with this album. He also went on tour again after a long break. 400,000 people attended a free concert in Central Park in New York on September 13, 1980. From 21 at 33 John presented three songs. He announced the cover version of John Lennon's Imagine with the words 'This one's by a friend of mine' with a view of the dark domes of the Dakota Building . Apart from that, his occasional appearance in a Donald Duck costume attracted special attention.

reception

Rolling Stone magazine spoke of the fifth year in John's crisis in 1980. His releases since Rock of the Westies , dubbed his finest album, had been confused, bitter, and exhausted, and it would have taken him a few years to clear his head. It was thought promising that he went on tour again, came to terms with Taupin and worked with new copywriters like Robinson. Nevertheless, it was irritating that the second side of the long-playing record began thematically with cocaine, immediately followed by a song about God. Even if it was a good new start, there was still a long way to go to old Elton John.

Track list

LP

page 1

1. Chasing the Crown (John, Bernie Taupin ) - 5:38
2. Little Jeannie (John, Gary Osborne) - 5:21
3. Sartorial Eloquence (John, Tom Robinson ) - 4:42
4. Two Rooms at the End of the World (John, Taupin) - 5:39

Page 2

5. White Lady White Powder (John, Taupin) - 4:35
6. Dear God (John, Osborne) - 3:45
7. Never Gonna Fall in Love Again (John, Robinson) - 4:07
8. Take Me Back (John, Osborne) - 3:52
9. Give Me the Love (John, Judie Tzuke ) - 3:52

Apart from the B-sides of the single releases, another five tracks were recorded during the recording for this album: Heart in the Right Place, Carla / Etude, Fanfare, Chloe and Elton's Song. They were only released on John's next album The Fox .

B sides

title	A side
Conquer the Sun	Little Jeannie 7 "(US / UK)
Cartier	Sartorial Eloquence 7 "(US / UK)
White Man Danger	Sartorial Eloquence 7 "(US / UK)
Tactics	Dear God 7 "(France)
Steal Away Child	Dear God 7 "(France)
Love so cold	Dear God 7 "(France)

occupation

The numbers at the end of each line refer to the respective song

• Curt Becher - choir part (6)
• Byron Berline - violin (8)
• Richie Cannata - Alto Saxophone (7)
• Lenny Castro - Congas (5, 9)
• Bill Champlin - backing vocals (2, 9)
• Joe Chemay - choir part (6)
• Victor Feldman - tambourine (1, 3, 5, 9)
• Chuck Findley - Trumpet (2, 4), Trombone (2, 4)
• David Foster - violin arrangement (9)
• Clive Franks - trombone (4, 6), cowbell (4)
• Glenn Frey - backing vocals (5)
• Venette Gloud - backing vocals (1, 3, 6, 9)
• Max Gronenthal - backing vocals (2)
• Larry Hall - trumpet (9), flugelhorn (9)
• Don Henley - backing vocals (5)
• Jerry Hey - flugelhorn (2, 9), trumpet (4, 9), wind arrangement (9)
• Jim Horn - wind arrangement (2, 4), piccolo (2), alto saxophone (2), tenor saxophone (4)
• James Newton Howard - Fender Rhodes (2, 6, 7), Yamaha CS-80 (2), keyboards (3, 7), piano (9)
• Elton John - vocals and backing vocals, overdubbing piano, piano (1, 3, 5, 6, 8), Yamaha E-Piano (4), Wurlitzer Electric Piano (8)
• Bruce Johnston - choir arrangement (6), choir part (6)
• Jon Joyce - choir part (6)
• Steve Lukather - electric guitar (1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9)
• Reggie McBride - bass guitar (1–4, 6–9)
• Dee Murray - backing vocals (2), bass guitar (5)
• Peter Noone - choir part (6)
• Nigel Olsson - drums (2, 5)
• David Paich - Organ (6)
• Bill Reichenbach Jr. - trombone (9)
• Timothy B. Schmit - backing vocals (5)
• Stephanie Spruill - backing vocals (1, 3, 6, 9)
• Alvin Taylor - drums (1, 3, 4, 6-9)
• Toni Tennille - choir part (6)
• Carmen Twillie - backing vocals (1, 3, 6, 9)
• Larry Williams - tenor saxophone (9)
• Steve Wrather - Electric Guitar (7)
• Richie Zito - acoustic guitar (2, 7), electric guitar (5, 8)

production

• Production: Clive Franks and Elton John
• Sound engineer: Clive Franks, Steve Desper (song 6), Patrick Jaunead (songs 1–4, 6–9).
• Second engineer: David Burgess (songs 1–4, 6–9), David Leonard, Peggy McCreary and Stephen McManus.
• Recorded at Super Bear Studios ( Berre-les-Alpes , France), Rumbo Recorders and Sunset Sound Recorders (Los Angeles, California, United States).
• Mixed at Sunset Sound Recorders
• Mastering by Bernie Grundman at A&M Mastering Studio (Los Angeles).
• Studio coordination: Adrian Collee
• Art Direction: George Osaki
• Design and concept: Norman Moore
• Photographs: Jim Shea
• Management: John Reid

Individual evidence

1. ^ Philip Norman: Elton John. Harmony Books, New York 1992, ISBN 0-517-58762-9 , p. 385.
2. ↑ ultimateclassicrock.com
3. ^ Rollingstone.com