Reg Strikes Back
Encyclopedia
Reg Strikes Back is the twenty-first studio album
by British singer/songwriter Elton John
, released in 1988. It was his self-proclaimed comeback album, and his own way of fighting back against bad press. The "Reg" in Reg Strikes Back refers to Elton John's birth name, Reginald Kenneth Dwight. This is the last album that bassist Dee Murray
would appear on. He died in 1992. The tracks "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That" and "A Word In Spanish" peaked at # 2 and # 19 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. John brought back producer Chris Thomas. This is the first studio album to be recorded and released after John's throat surgery the previous year. The album cover features costumes and props from John's collection that he decided to put up for auction.
John does not play a grand piano on this album, replacing it with a Roland RD-1000 digital piano, a mainstay of the Elton John sound. Where John uses a Yamaha DCFIIISPRO concert grand piano with MIDI output on stage and has done since his switch to Yamaha pianos in 1993, the rack form of the RD-1000, the MKS20, has been in his rack ever since, and its bright, expressive pianos and warm electric pianos are part of John's live sound to this day. In the U.S. it was certified Gold on
8/19/1988 by the R.I.A.A.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by British singer/songwriter Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, released in 1988. It was his self-proclaimed comeback album, and his own way of fighting back against bad press. The "Reg" in Reg Strikes Back refers to Elton John's birth name, Reginald Kenneth Dwight. This is the last album that bassist Dee Murray
Dee Murray
Dee Murray was an English bassist, best known as a member of Elton John's original rock band.-Biography:Murray was born David Murray Oates in Southgate, London in 1946...
would appear on. He died in 1992. The tracks "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That" and "A Word In Spanish" peaked at # 2 and # 19 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. John brought back producer Chris Thomas. This is the first studio album to be recorded and released after John's throat surgery the previous year. The album cover features costumes and props from John's collection that he decided to put up for auction.
John does not play a grand piano on this album, replacing it with a Roland RD-1000 digital piano, a mainstay of the Elton John sound. Where John uses a Yamaha DCFIIISPRO concert grand piano with MIDI output on stage and has done since his switch to Yamaha pianos in 1993, the rack form of the RD-1000, the MKS20, has been in his rack ever since, and its bright, expressive pianos and warm electric pianos are part of John's live sound to this day. In the U.S. it was certified Gold on
8/19/1988 by the R.I.A.A.
Side One
- "Town of PlentyTown of Plenty"Town of Plenty" is an Elton John song from the album Reg Strikes Back, and was released in 1988. The song was the first album track to be heard after Elton's throat surgery. Pete Townshend plays acoustic guitar on the track, while Davey Johnstone plays electric. Among the backing vocalists...
" – 3:40 - "A Word in Spanish" – 4:39
- "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two)Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two)"Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters " is a song by Elton John and Bernie Taupin for the album Reg Strikes Back.The song is about New York City and is a continuation of the song "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" from the 1972 album Honky Château....
" – 4:12 - "I Don't Wanna Go on with You Like ThatI Don't Wanna Go on with You Like That"I Don't Wanna Go on with You Like That" is a hit song from British performer Elton John's 1988 album, Reg Strikes Back. The song was written by John and his long-time songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin. The song reached #30 on the UK Singles Chart...
" – 4:35 - "Japanese Hands" – 4:40
Side Two
- "Goodbye Marlon Brando" – 3:30
- "The Camera Never Lies" – 4:37
- "Heavy Traffic" (Elton John, Taupin and Davey JohnstoneDavey JohnstoneDavey Johnstone , is a Scottish rock guitarist and vocalist, best known for his work with Elton John.-Career:...
) – 3:28 - "Poor Cow" – 3:50
- "Since God Invented Girls" – 4:54
Bonus tracks (1999 Polygram International reissue)
- "Rope Around a Fool" – 3:48
- "I Don't Wanna Go on with You Like That (Shep Pettibone Mix)" – 5:56
- "I Don't Wanna Go on with You Like That (Just Elton and the Piano Mix)" – 4:37
- "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two) (The Renaissance Mix)" – 6:19
B-sides
| Song | Format |
|---|---|
| "Rope Around a Fool" | I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That 12"/CD (UK) / 7" (US/UK) |
| "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That (Shep Pettibone Mix)" | I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That 12"/CD (US/UK) |
| "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That (The Pub Dub)" | I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That 12"/CD (US) |
| "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That (Just Elton and the Piano Mix)" | I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That 12"/CD (US) |
| "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That (Just for Radio Mix)" | I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That 12" (US) |
| "A Song for You A Song for You "A Song for You" is a soulful love song written and originally recorded by rock singer-songwriter and pianist Leon Russell for his first solo album 'Leon Russell', which was released in 1970 on Shelter Records. A slow, pained plea for forgiveness and understanding from an estranged lover, the tune... /Blue Eyes/I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues (Live in Australia)" |
A Word in Spanish 12"/CD (UK) |
| "Daniel (Live in Australia)" | A Word in Spanish 12"/CD" (UK) |
| "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two) (Renaissance Mix)" | Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two) 12" (US) |
| "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two) (Da Vinci Version)" | Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two) 12" (US) |
| "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two) (Self Portrait Instrumental)" | Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two) 12" (US) |
Personnel
- Elton JohnElton JohnSir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
: Keyboards, Vocals, Harmonies, Backing Vocals - Fred MandelFred MandelFred Mandel is a keyboard player and guitarist.Mandel became involved in music from an early age. He started playing the piano and age 4 and picked up the guitar aged 8...
: Synthesizer - Davey JohnstoneDavey JohnstoneDavey Johnstone , is a Scottish rock guitarist and vocalist, best known for his work with Elton John.-Career:...
: Guitars, Backing Vocals - Pete TownshendPete TownshendPeter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
: Guitar - David PatonDavid PatonDavid Paton is a Scottish bass and guitar player, most notably with three different bands: Pilot, The Alan Parsons Project, and Camel. He has also worked as a solo artist, session musician, and sometime vocalist...
: BassBass (instrument)Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles... - Charlie MorganCharlie MorganCharlie Morgan is an English drummer and percussionist.In 1985 his drumming work with Nik Kershaw attracted the attention of Elton John, who booked him to play on his Ice on Fire album. Later that year John invited him to play with his band at Live Aid...
: Drums - Ray CooperRay CooperRay Cooper is an English musician. He is a session and road-tour percussionist, and occasional actor, who has worked with several musically diverse bands and artists including George Harrison, Billy Joel, Eric Clapton, and Elton John. Cooper is commonly regarded by music fans, critics and fellow...
: TambourineTambourineThe tambourine or marine is a musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head at all....
, Maracas, TimbalesTimbalesTimbales are shallow single-headed drums with metal casing, invented in Cuba. They are shallower in shape than single-headed tom-toms, and usually much higher tuned... - Freddie HubbardFreddie HubbardFrederick Dewayne "Freddie" Hubbard was an American jazz trumpeter. He was known primarily for playing in the bebop, hard bop and post bop styles from the early 1960s and on...
: Trumpet, FlugelhornFlugelhornThe flugelhorn is a brass instrument resembling a trumpet but with a wider, conical bore. Some consider it to be a member of the saxhorn family developed by Adolphe Sax ; however, other historians assert that it derives from the valve bugle designed by Michael Saurle , Munich 1832 , thus... - Dee MurrayDee MurrayDee Murray was an English bassist, best known as a member of Elton John's original rock band.-Biography:Murray was born David Murray Oates in Southgate, London in 1946...
: Backing Vocals - Nigel OlssonNigel OlssonNigel Olsson is an English rock drummer, who is best known for his work with Elton John. Olsson helped establish the Elton John sound as one of the first members of John's band, on drums, percussion and backing vocals. When not working with Elton, Olsson has taken up the role of a session musician...
: Backing Vocals - Adrian BakerAdrian BakerAdrian Baker is an English singer, songwriter, and record producer.-Career:Baker made his debut as a singer on Magnet Records/Epic Records in the United Kingdom. In 1975, he released his first solo album, Into a Dream...
: Backing Vocals - Bruce JohnstonBruce JohnstonBruce Arthur Johnston is a member of The Beach Boys and a songwriter, remembered especially for composing "I Write the Songs". Johnston was not one of the original members of the band...
: Backing Vocals - Carl WilsonCarl WilsonCarl Dean Wilson was an American rock and roll singer and guitarist, best known as a founding member, lead guitarist and sometime lead vocalist of The Beach Boys...
: Backing Vocals
Production
- Produced By Chris Thomas
- Recorded & Engineered By Michael Mason, Peter Mew & Bill Price
- Assistant Engineer: Karl Lever
- Second Engineer: Paul Wertheimer
- Mastered By Tim Young