Too Low for Zero
Too Low for Zero is the seventeenth studio album by English singer-songwriter Elton John. Released in 1983, the album marked a comeback for John, whose previous four albums had failed to yield many enduring international hit singles, and had disappointing sales compared to his string of hit records released during the first half of the 1970s. It is his best selling album of the 1980s, earning Platinum certification by both the RIAA and the British Phonographic Industry. It produced several hit songs, each accompanied by successful MTV music videos, and it spent over a year on the Billboard album chart.
Background
For the first time since Blue Moves in 1976, all lyrics were written by Bernie Taupin. At the insistence of Taupin, John decided to go back to basics and returned to working with Taupin full-time. John also reunited with the core of his backing band of the early '70s: Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson and Davey Johnstone as well as Ray Cooper, Kiki Dee and Skaila Kanga.Production
The album was produced by Chris Thomas and recorded at AIR Studios in Montserrat and Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood.For the first time since A Single Man, John played synthesizers in addition to piano, since James Newton Howard left the band. John felt that synths allowed him to write better fast rock songs, having not been entirely happy with such compositions performed on piano.
The album was written and recorded in approximately two weeks, with overdubs completed in a week.
Releases
The original LP issue of the album featured a die-cut cover with a special inner sleeve. The four shapes shown on the cover were cut out, with the colours showing through the holes. No CD release has duplicated these die-cuts.All B-sides released on US singles from this time originate from his 1978 album A Single Man and the 21 at 33 sessions from 1980. They were also previously released on European singles. In the US, Too Low for Zero was certified gold in January 1984 and platinum in October 1995 by the RIAA.
Reception
Reviewing the album in Rolling Stone, Don Shewey commented, "Elton John and Bernie 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." He praised the catchy energy of "I'm Still Standing", "Kiss the Bride", "Crystal", and "Too Low for Zero", and approved of the way those four songs synthesized the styles of popular artists such as The Pointer Sisters and Joe Jackson. However, he felt the rest of the album suffered from poor lyrics, finding the morbidity of "Cold as Christmas" and "One More Arrow" to be especially distasteful.Track listing
All music composed by Elton John, except where noted; all lyrics written by Bernie Taupin.Side one
- "Cold as Christmas " – 4:19
- "I'm Still Standing" – 3:02
- "Too Low for Zero" – 5:46
- "Religion" – 4:05
- "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" – 4:41
Side two
- "Crystal" – 5:05
- "Kiss the Bride" – 4:22
- "Whipping Boy" – 3:43
- "Saint" – 5:17
- "One More Arrow" – 3:34
- Sides one and two were combined as tracks 1–10 on CD releases.
Bonus tracks (1998 Mercury reissue)
- "Earn While You Learn" – 6:46
- *B-side of "I'm Still Standing" recorded in 1978 and withdrawn as a 12" picture disc-single.
- "Dreamboat" – 7:34
- *B-side also recorded in 1978. Music by Elton John and Tim Renwick. Lyrics by Gary Osborne though not credited.
- "The Retreat" – 4:46
- *UK B-side from 1982 "Princess". Recorded in 1979 August during the sessions for 21 at 33.
| Song | Format |
| "Choc Ice Goes Mental" | "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" 7" /"Kiss the Bride" 7" |
| "The Retreat" | "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" 7" |
| "Love So Cold" | "I'm Still Standing" 7" |
| "Earn While You Learn" | "I'm Still Standing" 7"/12" |
| "Dreamboat" | "Kiss the Bride" 7" /12" |
| "I'm Still Standing" | "I'm Still Standing" 12" |
| "Je Veux De La Tendresse" | "Cold as Christmas"/"Crystal" 12" |
| "Lonely Boy" | "Too Low for Zero" 7" |
- Though Chris Thomas was the album's original producer, Gus Dudgeon supervised the remastering for the 1998 Mercury re-release.
Personnel
- Elton John – piano, Fender Rhodes, synthesiser, clavinet, lead vocals, backing vocals
- Davey Johnstone – acoustic guitar, electric guitar backing vocals
- Dee Murray – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Nigel Olsson – drums, tambourine on "Whipping Boy", backing vocals
- Ray Cooper – percussion on "Cold as Christmas "
- Skaila Kanga – harp on "Cold as Christmas "
- Kiki Dee – backing vocals on "Cold as Christmas "
- Stevie Wonder – harmonica on "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues"
- James Newton Howard – string arrangement on "One More Arrow"
On bonus tracks
- Produced by Elton John and Clive Franks
- Elton John – piano on "Earn While You Learn" and "The Retreat", Hammond organ on "Earn While You Learn" and "Dreamboat", Fender Rhodes on "Dreamboat", mellotron on "Earn While You Learn", vocals on "Dreamboat and "The Retreat"
- Tim Renwick – guitar on "Earn While You Learn" and "Dreamboat"
- Steve Holley – drums on "Earn While You Learn" and "Dreamboat"
- Clive Franks – bass guitar on "Earn While You Learn" and "Dreamboat"
- Ray Cooper – tambourine on "Earn While You Learn" and "Dreamboat", triangle on "Earn While You Learn"
- Paul Buckmaster – orchestra arrangement on "Dreamboat"
- Steve Lukather – guitar on "The Retreat"
- Reggie McBride – bass guitar on "The Retreat"
- Alvin Taylor – drums on "The Retreat"
- David Paich – Hammond organ on "The Retreat"
- James Newton-Howard – synthesizer on "The Retreat"
Credits
- Produced by Chris Thomas
- Recorded and Mixed by Bill Price
- Mixed at AIR Studios London
- Mastered by Chris Thomas and Greg Fulginiti.
- Management: John Reid
- Art Direction: Rod Dyer
- Design: Clive Piercy
Charts