The Fox (album)
Encyclopedia
The Fox is the 15th studio album
by British singer/songwriter Elton John
, released in 1981. The track "Elton's Song
" was banned from radio play in some countries due to its content, which included references to homosexuality. The album was produced by John, Clive Franks and for the first time, Chris Thomas, who would produce many more albums with John through most of the 1980s and 1990s.
Three of the songs (noted below) were recorded during the sessions for his previous album 21 at 33
. All b-sides released around this time were also from those sessions.
* Recorded in August 1979 and Produced By Elton John and Clive Franks. Chris Thomas was the Producer for the other tracks.
On some versions of the CD, "Carla/Etude," "Fanfare," and "Chloe" are combined into one track, making it a 9-track album.
French and Canadian releases of the album included "J'Veux de la Tendresse" in place of "Nobody Wins". "Tendresse" was the original French version of the song which Osborne wrote English lyrics for, thus transforming the song into "Nobody Wins."
In 2003, Mercury/Universal and Rocket Records reissued the album on CD, remastered by Gary Moore. The lineup contained no bonus tracks.
in 1982, is a video of all ten singles recorded for "The Fox" album. It is notable as one of the first long-form video releases of an album. The collection was also released on RCA
's CED
digital video disc, a precursor to the laserdisc
and DVD
, but has not been released since. One of the videos, for the song "Elton's Song", dealt with homosexuality
by portraying a teenager's admiration of another teenage boy he yearns for but is too shy to confront. All the videos were directed by Russel Mulcahy.
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 1981. The track "Elton's Song
Elton's Song
"Elton's Song" is a song written by Elton John and Tom Robinson . It first appeared on the 1981 album The Fox, though it had been recorded two years prior, in 1979. It was previewed in concerts from that period....
" was banned from radio play in some countries due to its content, which included references to homosexuality. The album was produced by John, Clive Franks and for the first time, Chris Thomas, who would produce many more albums with John through most of the 1980s and 1990s.
Three of the songs (noted below) were recorded during the sessions for his previous album 21 at 33
21 at 33
-Side two:...
. All b-sides released around this time were also from those sessions.
Side one
- "Breaking Down Barriers" (Elton John, Gary OsborneGary OsborneGary Osborne is an English singer and songwriter from the United Kingdom.-Career:Osborne was born in London, educated in Switzerland, and followed his father into the music industry at the age of fifteen....
) – 4:40 - "Heart in the Right Place" (John, Osborne) – 5:13*
- "Just Like Belgium" – 4:08
- "Nobody Wins" (Jean-Paul Dreau, Gary Osborne) – 3:42
- "Fascist Faces" – 5:10
Side two
- "Carla/Etude" (Elton John) – 4:45*
- "Fanfare" (Elton John, James Newton-Howard) – 1:26*
- "Chloe" (John, Osbourne) – 4:39*
- "Heels of the Wind" – 3:37
- "Elton's SongElton's Song"Elton's Song" is a song written by Elton John and Tom Robinson . It first appeared on the 1981 album The Fox, though it had been recorded two years prior, in 1979. It was previewed in concerts from that period....
" (Elton John, Tom RobinsonTom RobinsonTom Robinson is an English singer-songwriter, bassist and radio presenter, better known for the hits "Glad to Be Gay", "2-4-6-8 Motorway", and "Don't Take No for an Answer", with his Tom Robinson Band...
) – 3:03* - "The Fox" – 5:10
On some versions of the CD, "Carla/Etude," "Fanfare," and "Chloe" are combined into one track, making it a 9-track album.
French and Canadian releases of the album included "J'Veux de la Tendresse" in place of "Nobody Wins". "Tendresse" was the original French version of the song which Osborne wrote English lyrics for, thus transforming the song into "Nobody Wins."
In 2003, Mercury/Universal and Rocket Records reissued the album on CD, remastered by Gary Moore. The lineup contained no bonus tracks.
B-sides
| Song | Format |
|---|---|
| "Fools in Fashion" | Nobody Wins 7" (US/UK) |
| "Tortured" | Chloe 7" (US) |
| "Can't Get Over Getting Over Losing You" | Just Like Belgium 7" (UK) |
| "Nobody Wins (Extended Version)" | Nobody Wins 12" (US) |
| "Je Veux De La Tendresse (French Version of "Nobody Wins")" | Nobody Wins 12" (US) |
"Visions": the videos from "The Fox"
"Visions", released on VHSVHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
in 1982, is a video of all ten singles recorded for "The Fox" album. It is notable as one of the first long-form video releases of an album. The collection was also released on RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
's CED
CED
CED may stand for:*The UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design*Capacitance Electronic Disc, a playback-only video medium*Classical electrodynamics*Community economic development*Collective Earth Defense from the video game Descent³...
digital video disc, a precursor to the laserdisc
Laserdisc
LaserDisc was a home video format and the first commercial optical disc storage medium. Initially licensed, sold, and marketed as MCA DiscoVision in North America in 1978, the technology was previously referred to interally as Optical Videodisc System, Reflective Optical Videodisc, Laser Optical...
and DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
, but has not been released since. One of the videos, for the song "Elton's Song", dealt with homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
by portraying a teenager's admiration of another teenage boy he yearns for but is too shy to confront. All the videos were directed by Russel Mulcahy.
Personnel
- Ronald Baker: Backing Vocals
- Colette Bertrand: French Girl on "Just Like Belgium"
- Varl Carwell: Backing Vocals
- Chuck Cissel: Backing Vocals
- Bill ChamplinBill ChamplinWilliam Bradford "Bill" Champlin is an American singer, guitarist, keyboard player, arranger, producer, and songwriter. His performance work is principally associated with the bands Chicago and the Sons of Champlin...
: Backing Vocals - Rev. James Cleveland: Spoken Voice and Choir on "Fascist Faces"
- Cornerstone Baptist Church Choir: Choir
- Victor FeldmanVictor FeldmanVictor Stanley Feldman was a British jazz musician, best known as a pianist.-Early history:...
: Percussion - Clarence Ford: Backing Vocals
- Roy Galloway: Backing Vocals
- James Gilstrap: Backing Vocals
- Max Gronenthal: Backing Vocals
- Jim HornJim HornJim Horn is an American saxophonist and woodwind player. He was born in Los Angeles, and after replacing saxophonist Steve Douglas in 1959, he toured with member Duane Eddy for five years, playing sax and flute on the road, and in the recording studio...
: Alto SaxophoneAlto saxophoneThe alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions... - Elton John: PianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, PianosPianosPianos is a two-story bar/restaurant/live music venue in the Lower East Side section of Manhattan at 158 Ludlow Street.Its stage attracts local and national alternative rock groups as well as DJs, though a more typical performance consists of smaller name local and touring acts...
, Vocals, Backing Vocals, Vocal Solo on "Breaking Down Barriers" - Roger LinnRoger LinnRoger Linn is an industrial designer, mainly of electronic drum machines, and has recently branched out into guitar effects pedals. His products have become underground hits, being used on many famous recordings...
: Drum Synthesizer programming - John LehmanJohn LehmanJohn F. Lehman, Jr. is an American investment banker and writer who served as Secretary of the Navy in the Reagan administration and in 2003–04 was a member of the 9/11 Commission....
: Backing Vocals - Tamara Matoesian: Backing Vocals
- Reggie McBride: BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- 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...
: Bass, Backing Vocals - James Newton-Howard: Synthesizers, VocoderVocoderA vocoder is an analysis/synthesis system, mostly used for speech. In the encoder, the input is passed through a multiband filter, each band is passed through an envelope follower, and the control signals from the envelope followers are communicated to the decoder...
, Fender Rhodes, OrganOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, Synthesizer Programming, String Arrangement, ConductorConductingConducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble... - 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...
: Drums - Gary OsborneGary OsborneGary Osborne is an English singer and songwriter from the United Kingdom.-Career:Osborne was born in London, educated in Switzerland, and followed his father into the music industry at the age of fifteen....
: Backing Vocals - Mickey RaphaelMickey RaphaelMichael Siegfried "Mickey" Raphael is a professional harmonica player, best known for his work with Willie Nelson. He has recorded with Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Elton John, Mötley Crüe, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Chesney, U2 and Neil Young.Raphael's style is mostly second...
: HarmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes... - Stephanie Spruill: 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....
, Tambourines, Backing Vocals - Alvin Taylor: Drums
- Oren Waters: Backing Vocals
- Richie ZitoRichie ZitoRichie Zito is a session guitarist and record producer from Los Angeles.He has worked with Poison, Neil Sedaka, Yvonne Elliman, Eric Carmen, Art Garfunkel, Leo Sayer, Diana Ross, Marc Tanner, Elton John, the Motels, as well as The Cult, White Lion, Eddie Money, Heart, and Bad English...
: GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, Guitars