Revamp & Restoration

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Revamp: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin
Revamp - Reimagining the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin.png
Compilation album by
various artists
Released6 April 2018 (2018-04-06)
Label Island
Producer
Singles from Revamp: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin
  1. "Don't Go Breaking My Heart"
    Released: March 15, 2018
Restoration: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin
Restoration - Reimagining the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin.png
Compilation album by
various artists
Released6 April 2018 (2018-04-06)
Label Universal Nashville
Producer
Singles from Restoration: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin
  1. "I Want Love"
    Released: March 15, 2018
  2. "Rocket Man"
    Released: March 23, 2018

Revamp: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin and Restoration: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin are two tribute albums to English musician Elton John and his frequent songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, both released on 6 April 2018. Revamp was described as John's project and features covers of the duo's back catalogue by pop, rock and R&B artists, whereas Restoration was seen as Taupin's project and features covers by country music artists. [2] [3] Revamp was released via Island Records and Restoration by Universal Music Group Nashville. The release of the albums coincided with John's 2018–2023 Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. [4]

Contents

The cover of "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" by Maren Morris which appears on Restoration was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.

Background

On the decision to release two separate albums encompassing different genres, Bernie Taupin told Rolling Stone :

From day one we borrowed from everything that's good about American music – whether it's blues, country, gospel, pop, pure rock – everything got thrown in the mix. It would be tiring if you just got stuck in one niche your entire career, especially when it's one as long as ours. [5]

According to Elton John, "We have two completely different albums; Revamp being the pop one and Restoration being the country one and God we have so many great artists doing our songs, it's quite incredible." [2] Of his Revamp record, John told E! : [2]

It's always a huge compliment when an artist loves your song enough to take the time and effort to rework it. As songwriters, Bernie [Taupin] and myself are thrilled when singers we admire and respect as much as those on Revamp and Restoration choose to add their own unique twist in the process. It means that our music is still relevant and ultimately that our songs continue to reach new audiences. We're humbled and thank them all for their generosity.

He added, "On Revamp, I wrote out a wish list of people that I would love and asked them and to my surprise most of them said yes and we have quite an astonishing eclectic crew." [2]

Of Taupin's Restoration record, John said, "Restoration was Bernie's project and he's a huge country fan. He came up with an astonishing list of country performers both new and legendary". [6]

Cover art

The Revamp album features a pop-art style cover based on the Terry O'Neill photograph of John, recreated in neon. The Restoration artwork was created by Taupin who wanted to emphasise the role that American culture played in his and John's careers, stating: [6]

For me, there's an irony about the American flag. It's been battered and beaten and burned, but it's resilient. It's always come back. I incorporate it with other things, and lately I've done a lot of pieces with deconstructed guitars and other found materials: barbed wire, broken bottles, things that people identify with on an everyday level. If it's on the floor and it works, I'll put it into the artwork. But it all goes hand in hand with my belief in America and my interest, I would say obsession, with Americana."

Reception

Reviews of the two albums generally favoured the country reinterpretations of the John/Taupin catalogue, with significantly greater critical praise going to Taupin's Restoration volume than to John's Revamp. The Metacritic score for Revamp, which averages professional reviews from a wide range of media sources, was 58, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Meanwhile, the site assigned a score of 84 to Restoration, indicating "universal acclaim".

The professional consensus in favour of Restoration centered around what was perceived as this volume embracing both riskier and rootsier arrangements. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic called Revamp "slickly produced" and "dull", though giving praise to tracks cut by Alessia Cara, Miley Cyrus, Q-Tip & Demi Lovato, and Queens of the Stone Age. [7] The same reviewer noted that on Restoration, "the artists take risks, and they -- and the songbook -- come out sounding the better for it." [8]

Chris Willman of Variety, while praising individual tracks by Coldplay and Sam Smith, opined that "the list of predictably commercial names that fills out Revamp sits at the intersection of tasteful and cash-grabby" and that "this feels like an album designed more to move tickets for his farewell tour." Conversely, Willman had little but positive things to say about Restoration, singling out 10 of its tracks for special praise and noting of its country feel, "with Restoration, it’s a treat to get reacquainted with Las Cruces Elton." [9]

Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone gave three stars to Revamp, stating that the "best moments on Revamp, featuring big names from pop, rock and R&B, are those least faithful to the originals." Rosen gave four stars to Restoration, calling it "a revelation". [10]

In a three-star review of Revamp, Michael Hann of The Guardian wrote that "When it's good, Revamp is very good. When it's bad, it's awful." [11]

Revamp

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 58/100 [12]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [13]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [14]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [15]

Track listing

Japanese edition bonus tracks
No.TitleArtist(s)Length
14."I'm Still Standing"Takuya Ōhashi (Sukima Switch)2:11

Charts

Chart (2018)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [16] 5
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [17] 17
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [17] 38
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [17] 98
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts) [17] 101
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [18] 31
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [19] 7
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [20] 28
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [17] 17
US Billboard 200 [21] 13

Restoration

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 84/100 [22]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [23]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [15]

Track listing

Charts

Chart (2018)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [24] 57
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [25] 181
New Zealand Heatseeker Albums (RMNZ) [26] 9
Swiss Albums (Swiss Hitparade) [25] 59
US Billboard 200 [21] 36
US Billboard Country Albums 4

Grammy salute

On 10 April 2018, CBS aired I'm Still Standing: A Grammy Salute to Sir Elton John which featured artists performing songs from the John/Taupin songbook, including many of the artists who recorded songs for Revamp and Restoration. At the end of the broadcast, John and Taupin were given a special Grammy Award: the President's Award. [27] [28]

Performers

House band

Christopher Jackson, Gayle King and Neil Patrick Harris provided recitations of Taupin's lyrics accompanied by Valerie Simpson and Jon Batiste. Additionally, Harris, Anna Kendrick, Lucy Liu, and Hailee Steinfeld served as hosts introducing some of the performances. Neil Portnow presented John and Taupin with their awards on behalf of the Recording Academy.

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Elton John</i> (album) 1970 studio album by Elton John

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.

<i>Tumbleweed Connection</i> 1970 studio album by Elton John

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.

<i>Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy</i> 1975 studio album by Elton John

Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy is the ninth studio album by English musician Elton John, released on 23 May 1975 by DJM Records in the UK and MCA Records in the US. The album is an autobiographical account of the early musical careers of Elton John and his long-term lyricist Bernie Taupin. 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.

Tiny Dancer 1972 single by Elton John

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel (Elton John song)</span> 1973 single by Elton John

"Daniel" is a song written by English musician Elton John and his long-time songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was first released on John's 1973 album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player. The original single release was also notable for a re-recorded version of 'Skyline Pigeon" on its B-side, which went on to be a popular track in its own right.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Your Song</span> 1970 single by Elton John

"Your Song" is a song written by musician Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was John's first international Top 10 chart single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elton John</span> British musician (born 1947)

Sir Elton Hercules John is a British singer, songwriter and pianist. Acclaimed by critics and musicians, particularly for his work during the 1970s, his music and showmanship have had a significant, lasting impact on the music industry. His songwriting partnership with lyricist Bernie Taupin is one of the most successful in history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take Me to the Pilot</span> 1970 single by Elton John

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Border Song</span> 1970 single by Elton John

"Border Song" is a song by Elton John with music by John and lyrics by Bernie Taupin. The song initially appeared on the 1970 album Elton John, and was released in the spring of 1970 as the LP's first single. After failing to chart in the UK, it was released in North America a few months later. It met with more success there, especially in Canada, where it peaked at No. 34. The appearance of "Border Song" on the Canadian charts was John's first chart appearance in any country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bennie and the Jets</span> 1974 single by Elton John

"Bennie and the Jets" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. The song first appeared on the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album in 1973. "Bennie and the Jets" has been one of John's most popular songs and was performed during his appearance at Live Aid.

<i>Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin</i> 1991 compilation album by various artists

Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin is a 1991 tribute album consisting of interpretations of sixteen songs written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The title refers to a song on John's album 21 at 33, "Two Rooms at the End of the World", and to the duo's unusual collaborative style; it is also the title of a 1991 film documenting their collaboration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues</span> 1983 song by Elton John

"I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" is a song by English musician Elton John, with music by John and Davey Johnstone and lyrics by Bernie Taupin, released as the first single from John's 17th studio album Too Low for Zero. It was the first single since 1975's "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" to feature the classic lineup of the Elton John Band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Bitch Is Back</span> 1974 single by Elton John

"The Bitch Is Back" is a rock song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was the second single released from John's 1974 album Caribou, and reached number 1 in Canada, number 4 in the United States and number 15 in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">This Train Don't Stop There Anymore</span> 2001 single by Elton John

"This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" is the final track on Elton John's 2001 album Songs from the West Coast. Written by John and Bernie Taupin, the song's lyrics detail John's fame being over and his coming to terms with getting older but still keep touring and giving great performances around the world. It was released as the second single from the album and reached No. 24 in the UK Singles chart and was a Top 10 Adult Contemporary chart hit in the US. The song was less successful in the Netherlands, reaching No. 83.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Want Love</span> 2001 single by Elton John

"I Want Love" is a 2001 song by English musician Elton John, co-written with Bernie Taupin, released as the first single from his Songs from the West Coast album. The song reached the top ten in Canada and the United Kingdom. In the US, "I Want Love" reached No. 10 on the Billboard "Bubbling Under" chart and number six on the Adult Contemporary chart. The song also featured in an advert for Royal Mail, in which John starred. It was nominated for a Grammy award in 2002 for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elton John albums discography</span>

The albums discography of British singer, songwriter and pianist Elton John consists of 32 studio albums, 5 live albums, 10 soundtrack albums, 16 compilation albums, 4 extended plays, 3 tribute albums, 4 collaboration albums, and 2 holiday albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocket Man (song)</span> 1972 single by Elton John

"Rocket Man" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin and performed by John. It was originally released on 17 April 1972 in the US, as the lead single to John's album Honky Château. The song first charted in the UK on 22 April, rising to No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 6 in the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming a major hit single for John.

"We All Fall in Love Sometimes" is the ninth track on Elton John's album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, written by John (music) and Bernie Taupin (lyrics), and released in 1975.

References

  1. ↑ Leight, Elias (6 April 2018). "Producer Frank Liddell Explains How Bernie Taupin Tested Him for the Elton John Country Tribute Album". Billboard. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Johnson, Zach (15 March 2018). "Elton John Announces Two Cover Albums Featuring Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga and Ed Sheeran". E! Online .
  3. ↑ Snapes, Laura (15 March 2018). "Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, Lady Gaga to feature on Elton John covers albums". The Guardian .
  4. ↑ "Elton John Announces Retirement From Touring". Rolling Stone . 24 January 2018.
  5. ↑ "Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, Ed Sheeran Set for Two Elton John Tribute Albums". Rolling Stone. 15 March 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Restoration: Reimagining The Songs Of Elton John And Bernie Taupin To Be Released April 6". Universal Music Group Nashville .
  7. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. 2018. "Revamp." AllMusic .
  8. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. 2018. "Restoration." AllMusic .
  9. ↑ Willman, Chris. 2018. "Review: Country Elton John Tribute Album Bests Its Pop Counterpart." Variety.
  10. ↑ Rosen, Jody. 6 April 2018. "Review: Megastars Turn Out for Splashy Elton John Tributes ‘Revamp’ and ‘Restoration’." Rolling Stone .
  11. ↑ Hann, Michael. 2018. "Revamp: Reimagining Elton John review – Sheeran and Gaga join middling covers rehash." The Guardian .
  12. ↑ "Reviews for REVAMP: REIMAGINING THE SONGS OF ELTON JOHN AND BERNIE TAUPIN by Various Artists". Metacritic . Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  13. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "REVAMP: REIMAGINING THE SONGS OF ELTON JOHN AND BERNIE TAUPIN - Various Artists". AllMusic . Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  14. ↑ Hann, Michael (1 August 2019). "Revamp: Reimagining Elton John review – Sheeran and Gaga join middling covers rehash". The Guardian . Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  15. 1 2 Rosen, Jody (6 April 2018). "Review: Megastars Turn Out for Splashy Elton John Tributes 'Revamp' and 'Restoration'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  16. ↑ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 "ultratop.be – Revamp – Reimagining The Songs Of Elton John & Bernie Taupin". Ultratop . Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  18. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Various Artists – Revamp - Reimaging the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  19. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  20. ↑ "VG-lista – Topp 40 Album uke 15, 2018". VG-lista . Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  21. 1 2 "Billboard 200: April 17, 2018". Billboard . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  22. ↑ "Reviews for RESTORATION: REIMAGINING THE SONGS OF ELTON JOHN AND BERNIE TAUPIN by Various Artists". Metacritic . Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  23. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "RESTORATION: REIMAGINING THE SONGS OF ELTON JOHN AND BERNIE TAUPIN - Various Artists". AllMusic . Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  24. ↑ "ARIA Chart Watch #468". auspOp. 14 April 2018. Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  25. 1 2 "ultratop.be – Restoration – Reimagining The Songs Of Elton John And Bernie Taupin". Ultratop . Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  26. ↑ "NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  27. ↑ Lynch, Joe (9 April 2018). "'Elton John: I'm Still Standing – A Grammy Salute': 10 Knockout Moments From Ed Sheeran, Kesha, Sam Smith & More". Billboard . Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  28. ↑ Rice, Lynette (10 April 2018). "Elton John: I'm Still Standing: What you will and won't see on tonight's special". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved 16 September 2018.
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