Jump Up! (Elton John album)
Jump Up! is the sixteenth studio album by English singer-songwriter Elton John. It was released in 1982 by The Rocket Record Company except in the US and Canada, where it was released by Geffen Records.
Jump Up! | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 9 April 1982 | |||
Recorded | September–October 1981 | |||
Studio | AIR, Montserrat; Pathe Marconi, France | |||
Genre | Rock, soft rock, pop rock | |||
Length | 42:31 | |||
Label | Geffen (US), Rocket (UK) | |||
Producer | Chris Thomas | |||
Elton John chronology | ||||
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Singles from Jump Up! | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [2] |
Rolling Stone | [3] |
Robert Christgau | (B)[4] |
Background
The album includes "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)", a tribute to John Lennon (who had also signed to Geffen for the release of Double Fantasy, which is now owned by EMI). This is one of the first few LPs that showcases John singing in a deeper voice, as can be heard in songs such as "Blue Eyes", "Princess", "Ball and Chain" and "Spiteful Child". "Legal Boys" was written by John and Tim Rice, who later wrote lyrics for The Lion King and The Road to El Dorado. This is the last studio album in which James Newton Howard played keyboards (although he would play keyboards with John again on the soundtrack of Gnomeo & Juliet almost 30 years later).
In a 2010 Sirius radio special, John's lyricist, Bernie Taupin, talking about Jump Up!, said it was "one of our worst albums". He added, "It's a terrible, awful, disposable album, but it had 'Empty Garden' on it, so it's worth it for that one song." In the United States, it was certified gold by the RIAA in November 1982. The album's gatefold artwork shows John's lifelong friend Vance Buck and Gary Osborne's then 5-year-old son Luke.[5]
Since 1982, only "Empty Garden" and "Blue Eyes" have been performed live in concert.
Recording
It was recorded and mixed digitally at AIR Studios in Montserrat,[6] and Pathe Marconi Studios in France.
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Dear John" | John, Gary Osborne | 3:31 |
2. | "Spiteful Child" | John, Taupin | 4:15 |
3. | "Ball & Chain" | John, Osborne | 3:27 |
4. | "Legal Boys" | John, Tim Rice | 3:05 |
5. | "I Am Your Robot" | John, Taupin | 4:43 |
6. | "Blue Eyes" | John, Osborne | 3:25 |
7. | "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" | John, Taupin | 5:09 |
8. | "Princess" | John, Osborne | 4:56 |
9. | "Where Have All the Good Times Gone?" | John, Taupin | 4:00 |
10. | "All Quiet on the Western Front" | John, Taupin | 5:59 |
Previously available since 1983 on CD in Europe on the Rocket/Phonogram label, in 2003, John's company, Rocket, in association with Mercury/Universal Records, reissued the album on CD, remastered by Gary Moore. It had no bonus tracks but did include many new and previously released photographs of John during the early 1980s, full lyrics and snapshots of the cover art for the album's singles, along with liner notes by John Tobler.
Two slightly different covers exist.
Outtakes
Outtakes from Jump Up! include "At This Time in My Life", "Desperation Train", "I'm Not Very Well", "Jerry's Law", "Moral Majority", "Waking Up in Europe" and "The Ace of Hearts and the Jack of Spades". They all have yet to see circulation, either on bootlegs or officially.[7]
However, "Desperation Train" was later recorded and released by John's lyricist Bernie Taupin on his 1987 album, Tribe.
B-sides
Song | Format |
---|---|
"Take Me Down to the Ocean" | "Empty Garden" 7" (US/UK) |
"Hey Papa Legba" | "Blue Eyes" 7" (US/UK) |
"Where Have All the Good Times Gone" (alternate version) | "All Quiet on the Western Front" 7" (UK) / "Ball and Chain" 7" (US) |
"The Retreat" | "Princess" 7" (UK) |
"Hey Papa Legba" and "The Retreat" were recorded during the sessions for 21 at 33 in August 1979.
Personnel
- Elton John – lead vocals, backing vocals, piano, harpsichord on "Empty Garden"
- Pete Townshend – acoustic guitar on "Ball and Chain"
- James Newton Howard – synthesizers, Fender Rhodes
- Dee Murray – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Jeff Porcaro – drums, percussion
- Richie Zito – guitar
- Steve Holley – tambourine on "Ball and Chain", synth drum on "I Am Your Robot"
- Gary Osborne – backing vocals
- Strings and brass arranged and conducted by James Newton Howard
- Brass and orchestra provided by Martyn Ford (billed in the credits as "Mountain Fjord")
- Orchestra led by Gavyn Wright
Production
- Produced by Chris Thomas
- Recorded by Bill Price
- Assistant Engineers: Nigel Barker and Mike Stavrou
- Mastered by Greg Fulginiti at Artisan Sound Recorders (Hollywood, CA).
- A&R: John Kalodner
- Design: David Costa
- Photography: David Nutter
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Charting Singles
Single | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|
Blue Eyes | Australian Singles Chart | 4 |
Belgium Music Charts | 8 | |
Canada (RPM) | 5 | |
Germany Singles Chart | 51 | |
Ireland Singles Chart | 8 | |
Netherlands Music Chart | 19 | |
New Zealand Music Chart | 11 | |
Swiss Music Charts | 9 | |
UK Singles Chart | 8 | |
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 12 | |
US "Billboard"Adult Contemporary | 1 | |
Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny) | Australian Music Chart | 63 |
Canada (RPM) | 8 | |
Ireland Singles Cart | 29 | |
New Zealand Music Chart | 14 | |
UK Singles Chart | 51 | |
U.S.Billboard Hot 100 | 12 | |
U.S. "Billboard" Adult Contemporary | 1 | |
Ball and Chain | U.S. "Billboard Rock Chart | 14 |
Certifications
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
New Zealand (RMNZ)[20] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[21] | Silver | 60,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[22] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- "Elton John - Princess" at Discogs
- Jump Up! at AllMusic
- "Rolling Stone review". Archived from the original on 4 November 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2006.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
- "CG: elton john". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
- http://www.eltonjohnworld.com/index.php/cheryl-s-specials/4818-from-little-jeannie-to-little-monsters-gary-osborne-s-rich-and-enduring-career
- "AIR MONTSERRAT". Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- Rocket Man: Elton John From A-Z (ISBN 0275956989)
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- Library and Archives Canada Archived 29 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 May 2013
- "dutchcharts.nl Elton John - Jump Up!" (ASP). Hung Medien (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- "InfoDisc : Tous les Albums classés par Artiste > Choisir Un Artiste Dans la Liste" (in French). infodisc.fr. Archived from the original (PHP) on 10 September 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- "charts.nz Elton John - Jump Up!" (ASP). Hung Medien. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- "norwegiancharts.com Elton John - Jump Up!". Hung Medien. VG-lista. Archived from the original (ASP) on 26 September 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- "swedishcharts.com Elton John - Jump Up!" (ASP) (in Swedish). Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- "Elton John > Artists > Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
- "allmusic ((( Jump Up! > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- "Album Search: Elton John - Jump Up!" (in German). Media Control. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- "Top 100 Albums '82". RPM. 25 December 1982. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- "Les Albums (CD) de 1982 par InfoDisc" (in French). infodisc.fr. Archived from the original (PHP) on 29 December 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- "New Zealand album certifications – Elton John – Jump Up!". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
- "British album certifications – Elton John – Jump Up". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Jump Up in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- "American album certifications – Elton John – Jump Up". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.