Regimental Sgt. Zippo | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 12 June 2021 | |||
Recorded | November 1967 – May 1968 | |||
Studio | Dick James Music (London) | |||
Length | 38:53 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | Caleb Quaye | |||
Elton John chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
The Daily Telegraph | [2] |
The Guardian | [3] |
Regimental Sgt. Zippo is the thirty-first studio album by English musician Elton John. Recorded during late 1967 and early 1968, it was originally intended to be John's debut album, but his publisher Dick James did not approve of the record's musical style, and the album was scrapped. John then recorded and released Empty Sky (1969) as his debut album instead. Regimental Sgt. Zippo remained unreleased until Record Store Day of June 2021, when it was issued in mono on vinyl. It was followed by a wider release of the album in July 2022 in stereo vinyl and stereo/mono CD.
Regimental Sgt. Zippo was recorded between November 1967 and May 1968. [4] For the sessions, John worked with musicians who were either his or his manager Steve Brown's associates, including guitarist Caleb Quaye and drummer Roger Pope (both members of the band Hookfoot at the time), and bassist Tony Murray (from the Troggs). [5] The songs were recorded in a four-track studio at the offices of Dick James Music.
The project was eventually shelved in favour of what became John's debut album, Empty Sky (1969). [3] Bernie Taupin later confirmed his and Elton John's love of The Beatles and Moody Blues, [6] [7] however, Dick James whose company published John and Taupin's songs didn't believe that this was the right artistic direction for them. [8]
According to John's collaborator Bernie Taupin, the album's trippy sound was "a tip of the hat to Sgt. Pepper . It certainly proved that we were hanging on the coattails of things that were currently popular – things like 'A Whiter Shade of Pale' were in vogue at that particular point in time. I think, in a way, I was literally trying to be part of a gang." [9]
Plastic Penny, which featured drummer Nigel Olsson, who played on Empty Sky, and by 1970 was a member of John's band, covered "Turn to Me" in 1969. [10]
Regimental Sgt. Zippo was eventually released, 53 years after its recording, on 12 June 2021 for Record Store Day, as a mono vinyl-only release [3] limited to 7,000 copies. [11] [12] It was released on compact disc on 8 July 2022, featuring both mono and stereo mixes of the complete album, along with a stereo vinyl version. [13]
All tracks are written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, except where noted.
Side one
Side two
Credits adapted from Elton John's website [10] and album liner notes. [14]
Musicians
Technical
Chart (2021–2022) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [15] | 191 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [16] | 96 |
US Billboard 200 [17] | 197 |
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [18] | 42 |
Bernard John Taupin is an English-American lyricist and visual artist. He is most well known for his songwriting partnership with Elton John, recognised as one of the most successful partnerships of its kind in history. Taupin is behind the majority of John's songs, dating back to the 1960s.
Empty Sky is the debut studio album by British singer-songwriter Elton John, released on 6 June 1969. It was not issued in the United States until January 1975, with different cover art, well after John's fame had been established internationally.
Elton John is the second studio album by English singer-songwriter Elton John. It was released on 10 April 1970 through DJM Records. Including John's breakthrough single "Your Song", the album helped establish his career during the rise of the singer-songwriter era of popular music.
Tumbleweed Connection is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Elton John. It was recorded at Trident Studios, London, in March 1970, and released in October 1970 in the UK and January 1971 in the US. It is a concept album based on country and western and Americana themes. All songs are written by John and Bernie Taupin, with the exception of "Love Song" by Lesley Duncan.
Madman Across the Water is the fourth studio album by English musician Elton John, released in 1971 through DJM and Uni Records. The album was his third album to be released in 1971, at which point John had been rising to prominence as a popular music artist. John's first progressive rock album, Madman Across the Water contains nine tracks, each composed and performed by John and with lyrics written by songwriting partner Bernie Taupin. Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman plays Hammond organ on two songs.
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy is the ninth studio album by English musician Elton John. The album is an autobiographical account of the early musical careers of Elton John and his long-term lyricist Bernie Taupin. It was released in May 1975 by MCA Records in America and DJM in the UK and was an instant commercial success. The album was certified gold before its release, and reached No. 1 in its first week of release on the US Billboard 200, the first album to achieve both honours. It sold 1.4 million copies within four days of release, and stayed in the top position in the chart for seven weeks.
Rock of the Westies is the tenth studio album by English musician Elton John, released on 24 October 1975. The title is a spoonerism on the phrase "West of the Rockies", the album having been recorded at Caribou Ranch in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
"Tiny Dancer" is a song written by English musician and composer Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was originally released on John's 1971 album Madman Across the Water, and was later produced and released as a single in 1972.
It Ain't Easy is a 1971 album by Long John Baldry. It marked his return to the edgier blues sound that he performed in the mid-60s. It was Baldry's fifth solo album.
Nigel Olsson is an English rock drummer best known for his long-time affiliation with Elton John. A dynamic drummer and backing vocalist, Olsson helped establish the Elton John sound as a member of the Elton John Band alongside bassist Dee Murray.
Friends, released in 1971, is the fourth official album release by Elton John. It was a project John and Bernie Taupin took on before their breakout success in the US, and served as the soundtrack album for the Friends film released in the same year. It was certified Gold in April 1971 by the RIAA. It became John's third gold record in as many months in that market. The title track was a minor hit in the US despite the film's mediocre performance. The album also received a 1972 Grammy nomination for Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture.
Taupin is the debut studio album by longtime Elton John lyricist Bernie Taupin.. It is a spoken word album of his poetry with music that revolves around the theme. The album was produced by Gus Dudgeon and coordinated by Steve Brown.
"Levon" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was recorded on 27 February 1971, and was released on John's 1971 album, Madman Across the Water. Backing vocals are provided by Tony Burrows. Paul Buckmaster wrote the orchestral arrangements and directed the orchestra.
"Take Me to the Pilot" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was originally released on John's eponymous second album in 1970.
"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. It was originally recorded by John for his eighth studio album, Caribou (1974), and was released as a single that peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Lady Samantha" is a song by English musician Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It was released on 17 January 1969 as his second single, six months before his first album, Empty Sky, came out. It appeared on its 1995 reissue as a bonus track.
Caleb Quaye is an English rock guitarist and studio musician best known for his work in the 1960s and 1970s with Elton John, Mick Jagger, Pete Townshend, Paul McCartney, Hall & Oates and Ralph McTell, and also toured with Shawn Phillips in the 1970s. He is the son of singer/pianist Cab Kaye, younger brother of musician Terri Quaye, and elder half-brother of singer Finley Quaye.
Bluesology was a 1960s British blues group, best remembered as being the first professional band of Elton John.
"Crazy Water" is a song by English musician Elton John with lyrics written by Bernie Taupin. It is the seventh track on his 1976 album, Blue Moves. It was released as a single in the UK in February 1977. The single reached No. 27 in the UK singles charts.
"I've Been Loving You" is the 1968 debut single by English musician Elton John with lyrics credited to Bernie Taupin. The B-side is "Here's to the Next Time", an Elton John composition. "I've Been Loving You" was not originally included on any album and the single was withdrawn shortly after its release. Neither side appeared on any official album release until the 1992 Rare Masters box set.