Rock of the Westies

Rock of the Westies
Studio album by Elton John
Released	24 October 1975
Studio	Caribou Ranch (Nederland) Trident (London, UK) (mixing)
Genre	Rock [1]
Length	43:39
Label	DJM (UK) MCA (US)
Producer	Gus Dudgeon
Elton John chronology
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975) Rock of the Westies (1975) Here and There (1976)
Singles from Rock of the Westies
"Island Girl" Released: 29 September 1975 "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" / "I Feel Like a Bullet (in the Gun of Robert Ford)" Released: 12 January 1976

Rock of the Westies is the tenth studio album by British musician Elton John. It was released on 24 October 1975, through DJM Records in the UK and MCA Records in the US. Produced by Gus Dudgeon, the record was recorded in the summer of 1975 at Caribou Ranch in Nederland, Colorado and contained a new lineup of the Elton John Band reflecting John's desire for a harder rock sound.

Titled after a pun on the phrase "West of the Rockies", ^[2] Rock of the Westies showcases a much more aggressive, rock-based sound than its predecessors. As opposed to the autobiographical themes of the preceding album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy , Bernie Taupin's lyrics on Westies cover both personal and fictional themes. Guests on the album include funk rock group Labelle and Kiki Dee, both of whom contribute backing vocals.

Released less than five months after Captain Fantastic, Rock of the Westies repeated that album's then-unprecedented feat of entering the US Billboard 200 chart at number one, and was John's final chart-topping studio album in that country. It was also successful in the artist's home territory of the UK, where it reached number 5. The album's lead single, "Island Girl", topped the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top 20 in multiple other territories. However, sales of the album tapered quickly, and both contemporary and retrospective reviews have been mixed, with some reviewers considering the album to be a misstep in the midst of John's "classic period".

Background

In 1975, John released his ninth studio album, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, which was an instant commercial success, becoming the first album in history to debut at the top of the Billboard 200. However, after recording of the album had completed, John chose to dismiss drummer Nigel Olsson and bassist Dee Murray from his band, citing a desire for a change in sound, specifically a more hard rock-influenced direction. Guitarist Davey Johnstone and percussionist Ray Cooper remained from the previous lineup, while in the place of Olsson and Murray, John added drummer Roger Pope and bassist Kenny Passarelli to the lineup. John also added second guitarist Caleb Quaye and synthesizer player James Newton Howard. ^[3] Pope and Quaye had previously played as session musicians on John's early albums, while Passarelli had backed artists such as Joe Walsh and Stephen Stills.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	A− [4]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[5]

Upon release, Rock of the Westies received mixed reviews from critics. In a review for Rolling Stone , Stephen Holden stated the songs "barely accomplish their objective of providing the latest in synthetic boogie", while opining that the new lineup resulted in only "superficial" changes to John's sound. Holden also criticized the lyrics of "Island Girl" as being both sexist and racist, while declaring "Feed Me" to be the album's only set of lyrics to be "more than a glib, slapdash effort." ^[6]

Conversely, Robert Christgau praised the album, finding it to have Taupin's best lyrics, while stating that the arrangements of "Island Girl" and "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" "elaborate the songs' racial ironies" and praising the band's "fiery temper" on "Street Kids" and "Hard Luck Story". ^[4]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, except where noted. "Ann Orson/Carte Blanche" is a pseudonym used by John and Taupin.

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Medley (Yell Help – Wednesday Night – Ugly)"	John Taupin Davey Johnstone	6:15
2.	"Dan Dare (Pilot of the Future)"		3:29
3.	"Island Girl"		3:42
4.	"Grow Some Funk of Your Own"	John Taupin Johnstone	4:47
5.	"I Feel Like a Bullet (in the Gun of Robert Ford)"		5:27

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Street Kids"		6:25
2.	"Hard Luck Story"	Ann Orson/Carte Blanche	5:16
3.	"Feed Me"		4:00
4.	"Billy Bones and the White Bird"		4:25
Total length:			43:39

Bonus tracks (1995 Mercury reissue)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
10.	"Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (featuring Kiki Dee)	Ann Orson/Carte Blanche	4:30
Total length:			49:00

Bonus tracks (1996 Rocket reissue)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
10.	"Planes"		4:31
11.	"Sugar on the Floor"	Kiki Dee	4:31
Total length:			52:41

Personnel

Track numbers refer to CD and digital releases of the album.

Musicians

• Elton John – lead vocals, acoustic piano (all except 8), backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9; as Ann Orson)
• James Newton Howard – harpsichord (1), Elka Rhapsody string synthesizer (1), ARP synthesizer (1, 3), Hohner clavinet (1, 2), mellotron (3), electric piano (4, 5, 7, 8, 9), synthesizers (4, 5, 9)
• Davey Johnstone – electric guitar (1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9), backing vocals (2, 3, 4, 6, 8), rhythm guitar (2, 6), voice bag (2), Ovation guitar (3), banjo (3), slide guitar (3, 6), acoustic guitar (4, 5), guitar solo (5)
• Caleb Quaye – electric guitar (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9), backing vocals (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8), acoustic guitar (3, 4, 5), rhythm guitar (6), lead guitar solo (6)
• Kenny Passarelli – bass guitar, backing vocals (2, 3, 4, 6, 7)
• Roger Pope – drums (1–5, 7–9)
• Ray Cooper – tambourine (1, 3, 5, 6, 9), cowbell (1, 9), congas (1, 3, 6, 7, 8), jawbone (1), marimba (3), castanets (4), bell tree (4), vibraphone (4, 5, 8), shaker (8), wind chimes (8), maracas (9), kettle drums (9)
• Labelle – backing vocals (1)
• Kiki Dee – backing vocals (2, 3, 4, 6–9)
• Clive Franks – backing vocals (8)

Production

• Gus Dudgeon – producer
• Jeff Guercio – engineer
• Mark Guercio – assistant engineer
• Gus Dudgeon, Phil Dunne, Nick Bradford - mixing
• Arun Chakraverty – mastering
• John Tobler – liner notes
• Terry O'Neill – album cover photograph
• David Larkham – art direction and design

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1975–1976) Peak position Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [7] 4 Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [8] 1 Danish Albums (Hitlisten) [9] 3 Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts) [10] 25 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [11] 33 Italian Albums ( Musica e Dischi ) [12] 16 Japanese Albums (Oricon) [13] 47 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [14] 4 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [15] 6 Spanish Albums (AFYVE) [16] 8 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [17] 6 UK Albums (OCC) [18] 5 US Billboard 200 [19] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1975) Position Australian Albums (Kent Music Report [7] 37 Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [20] 11 Chart (1976) Position Australian Albums (Kent Music Report [7] 52 Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [21] 31 US Billboard Year-End [22] 37

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [23]	Platinum	50,000^
Canada (Music Canada) [24]	Platinum	100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [25]	Gold	7,500‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [26]	Gold	100,000^
United States (RIAA) [27]	Platinum	1,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

Sources

• Buckley, David (2013). Elton: The Biography. Chicago Review Press. ISBN   978-1-780-12074-4.
• Parkinson, Judy (2003). Elton: Made in England. Michael O'Mara Books Limited. ISBN   1-85479-314-4.
• Rosenthal, Elizabeth (2001). His Song: The Musical Journey of Elton John. Billboard Books. ISBN   0-8230-8893-6.

Citations

1. "Rock of the Westies – Elton John | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
2. "10 Fun Facts About 'Rock of the Westies' and 'The Big Picture'". Elton John.
3. Parkinson 2003, p. 87
4. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: J". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved 27 February 2019– via robertchristgau.com.
5. Larkin, Colin (2011). "John, Elton". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). London: Omnibus Press. p. 2,003. ISBN   978-0-85712-595-8.
6. Holden, Stephen (18 December 1975). "Rock of the Westies". Rolling Stone .
7. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
8. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4050a". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
9. "danskehitlister.dk". Archived from the original on 8 April 2016.
10. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN   978-951-1-21053-5.
11. "Offiziellecharts.de – Elton John – Rock of the Westies" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
12. "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 25 March 2024. Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Elton John".
13. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN   4-87131-077-9.
14. "Charts.nz – Elton John – Rock of the Westies". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
15. "Norwegiancharts.com – Elton John – Rock of the Westies". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
16. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
17. "Swedishcharts.com – Elton John – Rock of the Westies". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
18. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
19. "Elton John Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
20. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6489a". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
21. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 5175". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
22. "Top Pop Albums of 1976". Billboard. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
23. "Elton John Australian Award". 20 February 2023.
24. "Canadian album certifications – Elton John – Rock of the Westies". Music Canada.
25. "New Zealand album certifications – Elton John – Rock of the Westies". Radioscope. Retrieved 12 January 2025.Type Rock of the Westies in the "Search:" field.
26. "British album certifications – Elton John – Rock of the Westies". British Phonographic Industry.
27. "American album certifications – Elton John – Rock of the Westies". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links

• Rock of the Westies at Discogs (list of releases)