Too Low for Zero
Elton John's 1983 comeback album with Bernie Taupin lyrics.
Too Low for Zero (stylised as 2 ▼ 4 0) is the seventeenth studio album by British musician Elton John, released in 1983.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Elton John
- Released
- 31 May 1983
- Recorded
- September 1982 – January 1983
- Studio
- AIR
- Salem
- Montserrat; Sunset Sound
- Hollywood
- California
- Genre
- Pop rock
- Length
- 44:23
- Label
- Geffen (US),Rocket (UK)
- Producer
- Chris Thomas
Facts from the source article.
Track listing
Side one
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year) | 4:19 | |
| 2 | I'm Still Standing | 3:02 | |
| 3 | Too Low for Zero | 5:46 | |
| 4 | Religion | 4:05 | |
| 5 | I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues | John, Taupin, Davey Johnstone | 4:41 |
Side two
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crystal | 5:05 |
| 2 | Kiss the Bride | 4:22 |
| 3 | Whipping Boy | 3:43 |
| 4 | Saint | 5:17 |
| 5 | One More Arrow | 3:34 |
| Total length | 44:23 | |
Track listing from the source article.
Background
For the first time since Blue Moves in 1976, all lyrics were written by Bernie Taupin. John reunited with the core of his early 1970s backing band: Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson, Davey Johnstone, Ray Cooper, Kiki Dee, and Skaila Kanga. He played synthesizers in addition to piano, feeling synths allowed better fast rock songs. The album was written and recorded in about two weeks, with overdubs completed in a week, produced by Chris Thomas at AIR Studios in Montserrat and Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood.
Releases
The original LP had a die-cut cover with a special inner sleeve; the four shapes on the cover were cut out, with colours from ink smears on the inner sleeve showing through. The 2010 Japanese SHM CD is the only CD version to replicate this packaging. All US single B-sides from this era originate from his 1978 album A Single Man and the 21 at 33 sessions, previously released on European singles. The album was certified gold in January 1984 and platinum in October 1995 by the RIAA.
Critical reception
In Rolling Stone, Don Shewey wrote that while Elton John and Bernie Taupin had written great hit singles, they had not produced an album of consistently first-rate material since the early Elton John LP. He called Too Low for Zero a big step up from Blue Moves and A Single Man, praising the catchy energy of four songs including "I'm Still Standing" and "Kiss the Bride", but found the rest suffered from poor lyrics, especially the morbidity of "Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)" and "One More Arrow".
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