Elton John Rock of the Westies First Pressing Vinyl Rip Flac With Bonus
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Rock of the Westies
Studio album by Elton John
Released 4 October 1975
Recorded Caribou Ranch, Nederland, CO, JuneJuly 1975
Genre Rock
Length 43:39
Label MCA (US/Canada)
DJM Records
Producer Gus Dudgeon
Professional reviews
* Allmusic 3.5/5 stars link
* Robert Christgau (A-) link
* Rolling Stone (not rated) link
Rock of the Westies is the tenth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1975 (see 1975 in music).
Like Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, Rock of the Westies also debuted on the United States Billboard charts at #1, the only two albums at that time to have done so. It was less successful in the artist's home territory of the United Kingdom, where it only reached #5. Rock of the Westies also contained the U.S. #1 (but only #14 in the UK) single, "Island Girl," which was released prior to the album coming out. Elton John noted at the time in a radio interview that he had wanted to release "Dan Dare (Pilot of the Future)" as the album's first single instead of "Island Girl," because he thought it had more commercial potential. He was however, overruled, and "Dan Dare" was never released as a single, and "Island Girl" became a huge hit.
The title of the album is a comedic play on words devised by Elton himself. He turned the phrase "West of the Rockies" into Rock of the Westies.
The make-up of Elton John's band was different on Rock of the Westies, with long-time drummer Nigel Olsson and long-time bass player Dee Murray gone after being fired via telephone by Elton himself. Added in their place were drummer Roger Pope, a long-time acquaintance of John's who had played on "Empty Sky," and bassist Kenny Passarelli, who had previously played with Joe Walsh, among others. Pope and Passarelli had also played in Kiki Dee's touring band. James Newton-Howard, a keyboard whiz kid who had played for singer Melissa Manchester and Ringo Starr, was also brought on board. Also included to help round out the guitar sound was Caleb Quaye, another old mate of John's from back in his early DJM session days. Like Pope, Quaye had also played on "Empty Sky." Retained from the previous lineup were Davey Johnstone and Ray Cooper.
Accordingly, the sound of John's music was somewhat different on this album, and had a much harder edge to it. This was a disappointment to many long-time Elton John fans, which was evident by weaker sales of his next single from Rock of the Westies (the double-sided "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" / "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)"), as well as the somewhat softer sales of his next effort, the double album Blue Moves.
The track "Hard Luck Story" had already been recorded by Kiki Dee and released as a single one year prior to its recording for "Rock Of The Westies". It and "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" are credited to Ann Orson/Carte Blanche (An horse and cart, Blanche) a moniker Elton devised when composing a song (music and lyrics) on his own. The name Ann Orson is also used as the name of a back-up vocalist which is assumed to be Elton.
Labelle performs backing vocals on the opening track, "Medley: Yell Help/Wednesday Night/Ugly."
While the music of Rock of the Westies was not well-regarded during and immediately after the time of its release, it has subsequently been revisited over time by music critics and Elton John fans alike as being a strong effort, and probably his last "great" album during that stage of his career.
Outside the US and Canada, this was the last original studio release from John on DJM Records, as he would finally be able to record for his own Rocket Records.
Contents
Track listing
All songs by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, except where noted.
Side one
1. "Medley (Yell Help/Wednesday Night/Ugly)" 6:13
2. "Dan Dare (Pilot of the Future)" 3:30
3. "Island Girl" 3:42
4. "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" (John, Davey Johnstone, Taupin) 4:43
5. "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)" 5:28
Side two
1. "Street Kids" 6:23
2. "Hard Luck Story" (Ann Orson/Carte Blanche) 5:10
3. "Feed Me" 4:00
4. "Billy Bones and the White Bird" 4:24
Also Included "Sugar on the Floor" B-Side Island Girl 7" (US/UK)
Personnel
* Elton John piano, vocals
* Ray Cooper castanets, conga, maracas, marimba, tambourine, kettle drums, vibraphone, shaker, cowbell, jawbone, bell tree, wind chimes
* Kiki Dee backing vocals
* Clive Franks percussion, vocals, background vocals
* Davey Johnstone acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin, electric guitar, rhythm guitar, background vocals, slide guitar, voice bag
* Labelle backing vocals
* James Newton-Howard synthesiser, harpsichord, electric piano, clavinet, mellotron, elka
* Kenny Passarelli bass, backing vocals
* Ann Orson backing vocals
* Roger Pope drums
* Caleb Quaye acoustic guitar, electric guitar, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Production
* Producer: Gus Dudgeon
* Engineer: Jeff Guercio
* Liner notes: John Tobler
Charts
Album Billboard (North America)
Year Chart Position
1975 Pop Albums 1
Singles Billboard (North America)
Year Single Chart Position
1975 "Island Girl" Pop Singles 1
1976 "Grow Some Funk Of Your Own" Pop Singles 14
1976 "I Feel Like A Bullet (In The Gun Of Robert Ford)" Pop Singles 14
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