Elton John - Too Low For Zero (1983)
Too
Low For Zero è stato il disco che ha rilanciato Elton John,
anche grazie all'intuizione di ritornare ad una formula e a un gruppo
ben consolidato: Bernie Taupin di nuovo paroliere in pianta stabile e
il ritorno in blocco di Murray, Olsson e Johnstone. Prodotto da
Chris Thomas, l'album è stato molto apprezzato dai fans e ci ha
regalato un paio di classici come I'm Still standing e I Guess That's
Why They Call It The Blues
1) Cold
As Christmas (In The Middle Of The Year)
2) I'm
Still Standing
3) Too
Low For Zero
4) Religion
5) I
Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
6) Crystal
7) Kiss
The Bride
8) Whipping
Boy
9) Saint
10) One
More Arrow
classifiche
Stati
Uniti: 25° posto
Inghilterra:
7° posto
Italia:
-- posto
da Stereoplay n°
110 - Agosto 1983
da All Music Guide
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," while knocking songs as
immaculately crafted as "Religion" -- 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. [The 1998 reissue --
which didn't appear in the U.S. until 2001 -- contains one bonus track,
full artwork, extensive liner notes, and remastered sound.]
Stephen
Thomas Erlewine All Music Guide
|
da Rolling Stone del 9 giugno 1983
Elton John and Bernte Taupin have written some great hit singles, but since the early Elton John LP, they have never produced an album of consistently first-rate material. And although Too Low for Zero is a big step up from losers like Blue Moves and A Single Man, it doesn't hang together, either.
The best tracks on the new album demonstrate John and Taupin's canny
ability to synthesize hit pop tunes. The bracing, uptempo kickers "I'm
Still Standing" and "Kiss the Bride" prove that John has faithfully
kept up with hits by the Pointer Sisters; he blends their brisk energy
with Beatles-esque "yeah yeah yeahs" on the former song and with some
sloppy guitar work reminiscent of the Faces on the latter. And
"Crystal" and "Too Low for Zero" are catchy numbers that mix acoustic
instruments with synthesizers or drum machines in a way that recalls
Joe Jackson's recent work.
The rest of the album exposes Bernie Taupin's fondness for building
entire lyrics around such well-worn catch phrases as "time on my hands"
or "heaven can wait." Even worse are the sentimental story songs: "Cold
as Christmas" depicts the unhappy senescence of a retired couple in
Florida (or, in Taupin's words, "a love burned out by silence in a
marriage minus heart"), and "One More Arrow" is an icky recollection of
a dead father who never showed his pain and now rests in "the soft,
brown earth that holds him forever always young." Sorta makes ya wanna
munch budgies with Ozzy Osbourne, know what I mean?
3/5
DON SHEWEY
|
| anno/label |
1983 - ROCKET in UK, GEFFEN
in USA |
| produzione |
Chris
Thomas |
| arrangiamenti orchestrali |
James
Newton Howard |
| studio |
Air Studios, Montserrat;
Sunset Sounds, Hollywood, USA |
| musicisti |
Nigel
Olsson: batteria e cori; Dee Murray: basso e
cori; Davey Johnstone: chitarre e cori; Kiki
Dee: cori; Ray Cooper: percussioni; Skaila Kanga:
arpa; Stevie Wonder: armonica; Elton: piano |
| note |
ritorno alla band originale
e al grande successo di critica e di vendite, buono questa volta Chris
Thomas; forse, con il tempo, ha perso un po' di smalto se paragonato a
The Fox dello stesso periodo e molto sottovalutato, ma è un buon
album. |
|
|
