Breaking Hearts

Breaking Hearts is the eighteenth studio album by English singer-songwriter Elton John. It features the quartet of John, Davey Johnstone, Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson. There were four top-40 singles from the album: "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" (US #5/UK #7), "Who Wears These Shoes" (US #16), "In Neon" (US #38), and the UK No. 5 hit "Passengers".

For the Chara song, see Breaking Hearts (song).

Breaking Hearts
Studio album by
Elton John
Released18 June 1984
RecordedDecember 1983 – April 1984
StudioAIR, Montserrat
GenreSoft rock, pop rock
Length40:43
LabelGeffen (US), Rocket (UK)
ProducerChris Thomas
Elton John chronology
Too Low for Zero
(1983)		 Breaking Hearts
(1984)		 Ice on Fire
(1985)
Singles from Breaking Hearts
  1. "Sad Songs (Say So Much)"
    Released: May 1984
  2. "Passengers"
    Released: 1984
  3. "Who Wears These Shoes?"
    Released: 1984
  4. "In Neon"
    Released: 1984
  5. "Breaking Hearts (Ain't What it Used to Be)"
    Released: 1984
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Rolling Stone[2]

Background

This album would be the last to feature all (core) members of the classic "Elton John Band" lineup playing their instruments (although they would reunite to provide backing vocals on John's Reg Strikes Back album). It was the last of John's studio albums to feature bass from Murray, who would die in 1992 of skin cancer, and it was the last studio album until 2001's Songs from the West Coast that would feature Olsson on drums. It was also the last in which John played both piano and keyboards in the studio by himself. There would be a backup keyboardist for every album moving forward.

Breaking Hearts was also the first album since Victim of Love to not feature a string or horn section on any track. This is one of only two albums with John's classic band to which (unofficial member) Ray Cooper did not contribute at all, the other being 1973's Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player. Shortly after the tour, the band line-up would change and Gus Dudgeon, John's former producer, would produce the next two albums. In the US it was certified gold in September 1984 and platinum in August 1998 by the RIAA.

John has continued performing "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" as of 2017. Apart from the 1984 Breaking Hearts Tour, no other songs from the album have been performed live except "Restless" and "Passengers", on the following 1985–1986 World Tour (the latter song only performed on the UK leg).

Track listing

All tracks are written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, except where noted.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Restless"5:17
2."Slow Down Georgie (She's Poison)"4:10
3."Who Wears These Shoes?"4:04
4."Breaking Hearts (Ain't What It Used to Be)"3:34
5."Li'l 'Frigerator"3:37
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Passengers" (John, Taupin, Davey Johnstone, Phineas Mkhize)3:24
2."In Neon"4:19
3."Burning Buildings"4:02
4."Did He Shoot Her?"3:21
5."Sad Songs (Say So Much)"4:55
Total length:40:43
  • Sides one and two were combined as tracks 1–10 on CD reissues.

Personnel

Track numbering refers to CD and digital releases of the album.

  • Elton John – piano (tracks 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10), synthesizer (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10), Hammond organ (track 5), harmonium (track 6), Fender Rhodes (track 7), harpsichord (track 7), clavinet (track 10), lead and backing vocals
  • Davey Johnstone – acoustic guitar (tracks 2, 6, 7, 8, 10), electric guitar (tracks 1-3, 5, 7, 8, 9), sitar (track 9), backing vocals (tracks 1-4, 6-10)
  • Dee Murray – bass guitar (tracks 1-3, 5-10), backing vocals (tracks 1-4, 6-10)
  • Nigel Olsson – drums (tracks 1-3, 5-10), backing vocals (tracks 1-4, 6-10)
  • Andrew Thompson – saxophone (track 5)

Production and design

  • Chris Thomas – producer
  • Renate Blauel – recording
  • Tim Young – mastering (UK)
  • Greg Fulginiti – mastering (US)
  • David Costa – art direction and design
  • Richard Young – photography
  • Patrick Jones – band photography
  • Herb Ritts – Bernie Taupin photo

B-sides
Song Format
"A Simple Man"Sad Songs (Say So Much) 7" (US/UK), 12" (UK)
"Lonely Boy"Who Wears These Shoes? 7" (US) / Passengers 7"/12" (UK)
"Tactics"In Neon 7" (US)
"Tortured"Who Wears These Shoes? 7"/12" (UK)
"Passengers (Extended Mix)"Passengers 12" (UK)
"Who Wears These Shoes? (Extended Version)"Who Wears These Shoes? 12" (UK)
"I Heard It Through the Grapevine (Live)"Who Wears These Shoes? 12" (UK)

"A Simple Man" was recorded in 1982 during the Too Low for Zero sessions.[3] In 2003, Mercury Universal and The Rocket Record Company re-released the album, which was remastered by Gary Moore. As did 21 at 33, The Fox and Jump Up!, it contained no bonus tracks.

Charts

Certifications
Sales certifications for Breaking Hearts
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[4] Platinum 70,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[22] Platinum 15,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[12] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[23] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] Gold 240,000[21]
United States (RIAA)[25] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "Breaking Hearts". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  2. Archived 4 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Elton: Jewel Box liner notes. Retrieved 12 November 2020
  4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  5. "Austriancharts.at – Elton John – Breaking Hearts" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  6. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 5268". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  7. "Dutchcharts.nl – Elton John – Breaking Hearts" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  8. "Offiziellecharts.de – Elton John – Breaking Hearts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  9. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  10. "Charts.nz – Elton John – Breaking Hearts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  11. "Norwegiancharts.com – Elton John – Breaking Hearts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  12. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  13. "Swedishcharts.com – Elton John – Breaking Hearts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  14. "Swisscharts.com – Elton John – Breaking Hearts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  15. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  16. "Elton John Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  17. "Elton John Chart History (Top Current Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  18. "Jahreshitparade 1984" (in German). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 29 March 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  19. "Top 100 Albums of 1984". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 5 January 1985. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  20. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1984" (in German). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 6 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  21. "Complete UK Year-End Albums Chart – 1984". Chart Heaven. Archived from the original on 19 May 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  22. "New Zealand album certifications – Elton John – Breaking Hearts". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  23. "Elton On Fire" (PDF). Music & Media. World Radio History. 3 May 1986. p. 3. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  24. "British album certifications – Elton John – Breaking Hearts". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  25. "American album certifications – Elton John – Breaking Hearts". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 6 February 2021. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
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