Elton John: Reg Strikes Back CD Track Listing

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Elton John Reg Strikes Back (1988)
Originally Released June 20, 1988\nRemastered + Expanded CD Edition Released May 15, 2001\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: As Elton John's first album for MCA Records, Reg Strikes Back received a considerable amount of hype upon its release, but it didn't quite live up to his early-'80s records for Geffen. That's not to say it wasn't enjoyable. Sure, "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters, Pt. 2" is unnecessary and there is some amiable filler scattered throughout the record, but the clenched dance-pop of "I Don't Wanna Go on With You Like That" and the ballad "A Word in Spanish" make for strong singles and help keep the record entertaining. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nEJ back with a vengeance, April 27, 2000\nReviewer: Mike Wiethorn (Sacramento, CA)\nWhen Elton John went in for throat surgery after his "Live In Australia" album, his longtime fans really were left in the dark as to his future in the music business.\nWhile this album really doesn't stand up to his gems of the 70s, most of the songs here really do hit hard.\n\nTake the first release "I Don't Wanna." This song finds Elton in a similar mode to "I'm Still Standing" . . . it's a gut-wrenching, in-your-face runaway train of a song. Elton lets you know that he isn't pulling any punches, both lyrically, and with his wild abandon piano playing.\n\n"A Word in Spanish" is a nifty sounding song that features some great guitar work, and smooth EJ vocals throughout.\n\nThis is not really for the casual Elton listener, but it is essential for the true fan.\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nSpirited attempt, June 17, 2000\nReviewer: Chris Cormier (canada)\nI'd give it 3 1/2 stars really. While there is a bit of filler on this album, and the production is a bit cheezy-synth at times, it also has some of his best material in years. Heavy Traffic has got to be one of his most unique and catchy songs in years, with excellent background vocals from his classic band line-up recapturing some of the old spirit. And they made it a B-side! Goodbye Marlon Brando is a hilarious anti-80s send-up, Mona Lisas Part 2 has an excellent 'chatty' horn section and a catchy groove and melody. The Camera Never Lies and Poor Cow are classic EJ, and interesting synth textures and arrangements on Japanese Hands and When God Created Girls make up for a bit of weak writing. The rest of the album I can do without, but even the filler is above average on this album. After this, he went back to sleep until "made in england"\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nElton's best of the late 80's!, March 3, 2001\nA Kid's Review\nMaybe it's not as good as Elton's major success in the early 70's, but it's still one of my favorite Elton CD. the opening track, Town of Plenty, is my favorite song on the CD and is also one of my favorite Elton songs altogether(along with Bennie and the Jets and I'm Still Standing). Poor Cow is a great song and is also one of my favorites. Also featured on this CD is Mona Lisas and Madhatters (part two). What a great way to bring back memories of such a great song on Honky Cheteau! Most of the songs on this CD are more up-tempo such as I don't want to go on with you like that(a great song too), but there are a few good slow songs, like Since God Invented Girls or A word in Spanish, which is OK, but it's not bad. Really, the only poor song is Japaneese Hands, which is OK, but not good. Goodbye Marlon Brando is a great anti-80's song. Heavy Traffic, a song co-written by guitarist Davey Johnstone is good up-tempo example. It's a fun song such as early 70's songs such as Jamica Jerk-Off from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. And last but definetly not least (they leave that place to Japaneese Hands), The Camera Never Lies, a good late 80's-type song. This is one of my favorite Elton CDs. It is very fun. Don't let Japaneese Hands make you think differently. Cos as I said there are some great songs as Town of Plenty and Poor Cow.\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nThe Great Strikeback, July 18, 2001\nReviewer: Ren (Knoxville, TN United States)\nWell, I was somewhat reluctant to buy this because Elton's 80's career is in not anyway comparable to his 70's career, but this album is REALLY good, and a Hell of a way for Elton John to prove that the surgery has not affected his voice very much, although his inability to hit the high notes is a downside, but he does hit a few on the final track.\n"Town of Plenty" is a great way to kick it off. Upbeat, and Pete Townshend plays acoustic on it. Very good. Then "A Word in Spanish", not bad, good guitar and singing on it. "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters Part 2" is my favorite song on this album, Elton John doing the funky urban beat on Taupin's more optimistic view of New York City ("Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" on "Honky Chateau" is beautiful, but bitter towards New York City). The biggest hit on the album is "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That".. .actually, that's probably his biggest hit in the US during the 80's, peaking at number 2. It's got a good beat and the melody never changes. "Japanese Hands" is a nice romantic song, probably the best romantic song on the album. "Goodbye Marlon Brando" is also a favorite of mine on the album where Elton John waves goodbye to 80's culture in power rock format. It's a funny song, actually. "The Camera Never Lies" is an okay song, the lyrics are better than the song, actually. "Heavy Traffic" is catchy with good soloing by Elton John. "Poor Cow" is rather peculiar and dark, but good nonetheless, and it's wrapped up by "Since God Invented Girls", which is nice enough, but not the best to close it off. The bonus tracks are not really much to look at, though "Rope Around a Fool" is a good song, actually, but the remixes aren't really worth anything. \n\nThis is where Elton John goes to a more keyboard/pop oriented sound; his voice didn't seem to change much from this point. Not as good as "Too Low", but worth the money I paid. Buy it, people\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nLackluster!, June 11, 2003\nReviewer: Michael Kerner "Michael Kerner" (Brooklyn, New York U.S.A.)\nWhen Elton John went back to MCA records in the mid 1980's, he was really on the right way back onto his career. Unfortunately, many people viewed him under a similar scandal that Whitney Houston had undergone a couple of years ago. Still, Elton John revised his way back on top, but his records really could've used a health plan at that time. Sure they're were some bright spots, but not all of them were good.\nReg Strikes Back was Elton John's first studio album since Leather Jackets in 1986. It was also after his dynamic Live In Austraila record that really took Elton John's music to a whole another level. Still, Reg Strikes Back did reflect on some of Elton's biggest prolems, including a unfortunate divorce from a dissapointing marriage, and the negative press Elton John recieved in Britain upon stories that were made up to make money off him. Although the record does have a couple of bright songs like I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That, and A Word In Spanish, most of it really didn't pick up inside a new audience for Elton. \n\nUnfortunately, I only suggest you really get this if you're a definitve Elton John fan, but if I was in that case, I'd only exchange this record, and get it used. I suggest you get the follow-up to Reg Strikes Back, Sleeping With The Past. It is a much better record to enjoy.\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nThe real "strike back" was a few years off, but it's a start, July 12, 2004 \nReviewer: Eric N Andrews "Music reviewer" (West Lafayette, IN)\nThe 1980s are not known for being a stellar decade in Elton John's career. He was deep into substance abuse, and even while he was working with his top-notch lyricist Bernie Taupin, Bernie's own personal problems wreaked their own havoc on Elton's output, culminating in 1986's LEATHER JACKETS, widely acknowledged as Elton's absolute worst album. Apparently, the acclaimed LIVE IN AUSTRALIA album & tour awoke Elton to the gems of his earlier days, and that along with surgery done to remove throat sores was to help make 1988's REG STRIKES BACK his big splash back into the spotlight. However, these were just baby steps compared to the all-out triumphant return of 1992's THE ONE, Elton's first clean & sober album in ages. But he had to start somewhere, so this might as well be it.\n\nWhile I had long heard that REG STRIKES BACK was near the bottom of Elton's best, I was encouraged to buy it for "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That", which I consider to be one of his best works even from a fallow period in his career. Sure enough, Elton sounds vocally invigorated on this song, growing into the deeper-textured voice that either came as a result of the surgery or just the passing years. Also, while Elton may have been playing more keyboards than actual piano by this time, this song is enough to make one admit that the man could still play! The public seemed to agree for "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That" peaked at an impressive #2, becoming his highest-charting hit in over a decade.\n\nCommercially, that was perhaps the extent of REG STRIKES BACK's success, although one more single did manage to chart somewhat high. "A Word In Spanish" is another song that Elton's fans don't quite rank high on their lists, and granted, it's not that stellar. But for a love song at a time when Elton & Bernie were starting to see that these guaranteed them hits more than the rockers of yore, "A Word In Spanish" still retains the intelligence of their older romantic songs. The airy exoticism of "Japanese Hands" & lush Beach Boys tribute of "Since God Invented Girls" do a much better job in the ballad department.\n\nAll in all, REG STRIKES BACK is more scattered in terms of good, presentable songs, with the prevailing atmosphere one of jubilant celebration having come back from the brink (though Elton had just begun), explaining the emphasis on rhythm. "Mona Lisas & Mad Hatters [Part Two]" is a much more syncopated number than its prequel of 15 years before, but lyrically, it's a fine way of updating the tune from a man who had indeed grown a lot in the years since. \n\n"Goodbye Marlon Brando" (an all-too-apropos title recently) is a frenzied, funny way of bidding farewell to the excessive 1980s, which Elton is maybe the first to admit at being an active participant in (just look at the album cover). Although I'm not sure you could count off all the defining characteristics of the decade in just 3 1/2 minutes.\n\n"The Camera Never Lies" is another uptempo "anti-love" song like "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That", but with a more unsettling subtext, one hinting at voyeurism with the whole camera motif. On the other hand, "Town Of Plenty", "Heavy Traffic" & "Poor Cow" sound like they're coming from the still substance-addled minds of Elton & Bernie, maybe showing their insistence on words that simply sound good together rather than mean something.\n\nThe bonus tracks are rather nil on the reissue of REG STRIKES BACK, favoring alternate mixes than lost tracks. "Rope Around A Fool" is the real find with its bluesy atmosphere, and what sounds like a rare time in this period that Elton forsook his keyboards for a good old Steinway. On the other hand, the "piano-only" (but of the remix) version of "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That" is another indication that no matter what kind of keyboard he plays, Elton is a wizard. Some people have claimed that the remix of "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That" is an improvement over the original, which I think is a stretch. Rather, it's equally good & comparable, Shep Pettibone giving it a distinctly 1980s-kitsch flavor as a knowing wink to the anything-goes mood of the era. The same goes for the recasting of "Mona Lisas & Mad Hatters [Part Two]".\n\nMaybe the 1980s was not the best time to be an Elton John fan for while commercially, he was still moving full speed ahead, creatively, it seemed that train had left the station once Bernie Taupin departed for the first time. Nevertheless, it was admirable that Elton & Bernie realized it was time to get back to business & win back their old fans with the "renewal" of REG STRIKES BACK. Looking back, it was not the ultimate "strike back" that was expected, but it still had enough reminders of the old genius days to give fans hope that a full-scale return was in the works. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nStriking back one note at a time..., July 4, 2004 \nReviewer: David Sigler (Baltimore, Maryland)\nWith 1988's Reg Strikes Back, Elton John returned to making a serious effort to abandon his excesses of the past few years that plagued his recordings since 1984's Breaking Hearts. There aren't a lot of gimmicks here - just straight forward rock and roll. Sure, it has some of the technology trappings of the late 80s, but this time, they don't over power the songs.\n\nAt the height of personal problems, Elton, once again, has risen to the occassion. If he had continued to put out poor product like 1985's Ice on Fire and it's follow-up, Leather Jackets, it could have been dooms day for the English piano player. Instead, what he delivers here isn't necessarily his best album, but certainly a turn in the right direction.\n\nThe album cover explains it all: in the midst of the crazy and tackiest 70s and 80s stage costumes, stand little Elton, or in this case Reg, his real name. It seems as if an awakening of sorts had dawned on him - get rid of the excess baggage and get down to business and make a fun rock album. And that's what he and lyricist Bernie Taupin do. So, does the music live up to all of the expectations?\n\nStarting with Town of Plenty, Elton sings with utmost conviction on a song about the media and the constant struggle fame brings. The music is pretty shallow however and ultimately goes no where. Plus, Taupin's lyric is very difficult to sing along with. But the band and particularly the backing vocals, try hard to make you enjoy it. The next song, A Word In Spanish, is a beautiful ballad that has a terrific guitar solo by Davey Johnstone. This was the second single from the release and though it peaked in the Top 20, it deserved a place in the Top 10. Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part II) resembles nothing close to its 1972 companion, but how could Elton try to mirror the original melody without ripping it off? The music here is jubliant, upbeat and fun. This second look at New York City is more celebratory instead of downbeat. Whether or not it should have been associated with the former version is up for someone else to decide. Standing firmly on its own, Part II is a welcome addition to this album. The big hit, I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That follows and is everything an Elton single should be: catchy, fun and memorable.\n\nThe rest of the release follows pretty much the same formula. Goodbye Marlon Brando is one of Elton's best rockers, Heavy Traffic laments the drug war albeit with a very progressive melody line, and Since God Invented Girls is a homage to the Beach Boys and is a pleasant enough ballad. Some of the misses on this album include: Japanese Hands, which isn't over done but is just way too long; Poow Cow, a very obnoxious song that should have been left for a b-side somewhere with its tale of a poor girl who gets abused by her husband; and lastly, The Camera Never Lies, seems to be filling in space.\n\nProducer Chris Thomas give a fresh polish to these songs and for once, doesn't bury the album in wall of sound foolishness. Also, the backing vocals by the original band give this album a very reminiscent feel even though except for Davey, they don't play on the release. My only quibble would be that Elton's piano is made part of the mix, not the sole focal point. Vocally, Elton sounds charged up and determined win us over. \n\nLyrically, the album is all over the place but Taupin still delivers his well branded style of pop lyrics. They may not be as moving or introspective as previous efforts but at least he keeps it interested in his own way. \n\nReg Strikes Back was a new beginning (how many times has he renewed himself musically?) for Elton John. His best album? No. But it showed the pop world that he still had plenty of life in him. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nElton gets Consistent, August 26, 2001\nReviewer: A music fan\nEvery song on this album is terrific. I seem to recall that critics at the time hailed this album as Elton's return to form after his uneven early and mid 80's and late 70's work. And truly it was. Although the earlier "Too Low For Zero" is a superior album, "Reg Strikes Back" was the true beginning of his renaissance: every album starting with "Reg" has been a standout (excluding "Duets": the exception that proves the rule). One of things that seems to make this album such a success is that Elton went upbeat. Only "A Word In Spanish," "Japanese Hands," and the supberb Brian Wilson homage "Since God Invented Girls" are ballads. The rest rock (or at least pop) nicely along. And all of it is consistent--no duds, no failed experiments: just solid John/Taupin compositions and crisp Chris Thomas production. But I can still only give it four stars. The reason is that for all its consistency, "Reg" lacks a classic song to put it over the top. If we look at other of Elton's albums from the 80's and 90's, we'll find true classics. On "Sleeping with the Past" there's "Sacrifice." On "Too Low for Zero" there's two classics: "I'm Still Standing" and "I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues." On "Made in England" there's "Blessed." But no true Elton John classic on "Reg." The singles "I Don't Want to Go on With You Like That" (killer keyboard work by Reg on this one) and "A Word in Spanish" come close, but still miss the mark. Nonetheless, this is a great album, and it's as upbeat as anything ever recorded by Elton. The bonus tracks are all worth repeated listens. Highly recommended.\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nReg is back with a vengeance, July 10, 2001\nReviewer: "wicked_dreams" (Fleurimont, Quebec Canada) \nThe definition of pure brilliant pop song crafstmanship. From the opening track with it's soulful backup singers & onward to the beautiful Word in Spanish which makes nikita sound like a pathetic folk song. Mona lisa's & mad hatters part two is the perfect sequel (a cynical view of today's world which is a far cry from the social times of it's predecessor on "Honky Chateau". Perhaps the major flaw of this album (although there are few) is the album's major selling point "I don't wanna go on with you like that", despite it's awesome piano playing the melody & the lyrics are rather lame. Goodbye Marlon Brando shows the rocker at his nastiest & best with honorable mention to "poor cow" all in all this album is most enjoyable & is a definite must for any Elton fan.\n\nHalf.com Album Credits\nBruce Johnston, Contributing Artist\nCarl Wilson, Contributing Artist\nFreddie Hubbard, Contributing Artist\nPete Townshend, Contributing Artist\nBill Price, Engineer\nChris Thomas, Producer\n\nAlbum Notes\nPersonnel: Elton John (vocals, keyboards); Pete Townshend, Davey Johnstone (guitar); Freddie Hubbard (trumpet, flugelhorn); Fred Mandel (synthesizer); David Paton (bass); Charlie Morgan (drums); Ray Cooper (percussion); Adrian Baker, Bruce Johnston, Carl Wilson (background vocals).\n\nRecorded at Air Studios, London, England.\nDigitally remastered by Gus Dudgeon.\n\nShortly after his 41st birthday, Elton John (a.k.a. Reg Dwight), released REG STRIKES BACK. At this particular juncture in life, the decision was made to auction off all costumes and props collected and worn at shows over the years. Using the layout of these items as an album cover, the contents within proved to be EJ's most successful album of the late '80s. Driven by the elegantly wrought "A Word In Spanish" and the pounding piano of "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That," REG found Elton John sounding no worse for wear, surrounded by an assortment of guests.Along with old stalwarts Davey Johnstone, Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson, guests included Pete Townshend on "Town Of Plenty," jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard on "Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters (Part Two)" and Beach Boys Bruce Johnston and Carl Wilson, providing harmonies for "Since God Invented Girls." After a brief health scare resulting in surgery to remove nodules from his vocal chords, REG STRIKES BACK marked Elton John's robust return to good health and great music-making.
This rock cd contains 10 tracks and runs 42min 2sec.
Freedb: 4a09d80a
Buy: from Amazon.com

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