Elton John - Blue Moves

Blue Moves is the eleventh studio album by British singer-songwriter Elton John, originally released in October 1976 via Rocket Records in the UK and MCA Records in the US.

This was the second studio album to be recorded with the new Elton John Band line-up and the basic tracks were recorded at Eastern Sound Studios in Toronto, Canada in March 1976. Overdubs and additional material were recorded at other locations and the final mix was made at Marquee Studios in London. This was to be the last studio album to be produced by long-time producer Gus Dudgeon until 1985’s Ice On Fire.

This was to be the first album Elton released on his own record label The Rocket Record Company, established in 1973, after completion of his recording contract with Dick James Music (DJM) with the release of the live album Here and There in April 1976.

This album was an epic double album, the second to be released within 3 years after Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973), and remains one of the most musically diverse and interesting albums of his career. Perhaps this is why it did not garner immediate critical acceptance upon release; it was an album unlike any Elton had released until that point, and subsequently.

The general tone of the album is moody, and it covers topics such as break-ups and suicide, however there are other tracks that are fun and light hearted on the album. Its scope is sweeping and hard to generalise.

A number of the tracks are co-written with the band members and orchestral arrangements are shared between Paul Buckmaster and James Newton Howard. There are some amazing backing vocals arranged by Beach Boy member Bruce Johnston, and gospel tinged vocals arranged by the Rev. James Cleveland with The Cornerstone Institutional Baptist and Southern Californian Community Choir. This choir had recorded the classic Aretha Franklin album Amazing Grace (1972).

This is the album that “The Captain” returns to most often – it is best listened to from end to end, and the final track “Bite Your Lip (Get Up And Dance!)” is a cracker, running for more than 6 minutes. This song could be put in the same vein as disco, but also uses rock and roll, gospel, and pop elements, with layers of strings, pianos, guitars and gospel vocals.

From the orchestral “Tonight” to the Beach Boys laced harmony vocals on “Chameleon”, to the acoustic guitar driven Edith Piaf tribute “Cage the Songbird” to the rocker “Crazy Water”, to the hit single “Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word”, to the sad “Someone’s Final Song”, to the jazz influenced “Idol”, to the political statement “If There's A God In Heaven (What's He Waiting For?)”, and the fun brassy “Shoulder Holster”, it is definitely a very diverse Elton album. The band sound tight and all the arrangements work beautifully.

The album did not match the commercial performance of its predecessors, reaching #3 on the US Billboard 200, #3 on the UK and #8 on the Australian Albums charts.

George Michael has covered a couple of songs from Blue Moves in live performances, “Tonight” and “Idol”. He has been quoted as saying that when he was a teenager, he went out to buy the record on the day that it was released and it had a huge impact on him, inspiring him into a career in music. 

Check out the tracks:  “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word”; “Crazy Water”; “Bite Your Lip (Get Up And Dance!)”; “Cage The Songbird”; “Tonight”; and “Idol”.

This double album 2LP record set is a 2017 reissue on 180 gram heavyweight vinyl with remastered audio, replicated artwork in a gatefold sleeve, and digital download code, pressed in Europe.

 

The Elton John Band members that recorded this album were:

• Davey Johnstone (guitars, vocals)
• Ray Cooper (percussion)
• James Newton Howard (keyboards, orchestral arrangements)
• Caleb Quaye (guitars, vocals)
• Roger Pope (drums)
• Kenny Passarelli (bass)