Elton John began inching back into the mainstream with Jump Up, an uneven but strong record highlighted by "Empty Garden." Its success set the stage for Too Low for Zero, a full-fledged reunion with his best collaborator, Bernie Taupin, and his classic touring band.
Happily, this is a reunion that works like gangbusters, capturing everybody at a near-peak of their form.
That means there aren't just hit singles, but there are album tracks, like the opener, "Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)," that strongly (and favorably) recall Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
John hadn't been this engaging in years, not since Gerald Ford was in office.
Why does this work so well? Well, the question isn't just consistency, since records like A Single Man were strong, but it's because each cut here showcases John at a peak.
He's rocking with a vengeance on "I'm Still Standing" and "Kiss the Bride," crafting a gorgeous romantic standard with "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" -- songs that anchor this album, giving the hits context.
While this may not be as rich as his classic early period, it's a terrific record, an exemplary illustration of what a veteran artist could achieve in the early '80s.
| Title/Composers | Performer | Listen | Time | Size | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)Elton John, Bernie Taupin | Elton John | Play | 04:20 | 9 MB | 24 MB |
| 2 | I'm Still StandingElton John, Bernie Taupin | Elton John | Play | 03:03 | 7 MB | 19 MB |
| 3 | Too Low for ZeroElton John, Bernie Taupin | Elton John | Play | 05:47 | 13 MB | 34 MB |
| 4 | ReligionElton John, Bernie Taupin | Elton John | Play | 04:06 | 9 MB | 25 MB |
| 5 | I Guess That's Why They Call It the BluesElton John, Davey Johnstone, Bernie Taupin | Elton John | Play | 04:42 | 10 MB | 29 MB |
| 6 | CrystalElton John, Bernie Taupin | Elton John | Play | 05:05 | 11 MB | 29 MB |
| 7 | Kiss the BrideElton John, Bernie Taupin | Elton John | Play | 04:23 | 10 MB | 28 MB |
| 8 | Whipping BoyElton John, Bernie Taupin | Elton John | Play | 03:43 | 8 MB | 25 MB |
| 9 | SaintElton John, Bernie Taupin | Elton John | Play | 05:19 | 12 MB | 31 MB |
| 10 | One More ArrowElton John, Bernie Taupin | Elton John | Play | 03:34 | 8 MB | 18 MB |
| 44 mins | 101 MB | |||||
| 44 mins | 265 MB | |||||
| Artist | Job | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kiki Dee | Guest Artist |
| 2 | Elton John | Composer, Primary Artist |
| 3 | Davey Johnstone | Composer |
| 4 | Bernie Taupin | Composer |
| 5 | Stevie Wonder | Guest Artist |
| Quality | Format | Encoding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | MP3 | 320kps 44.1kHz | MP3 is an audio coding format which uses a form of lossy data compression. The highest bitrate of this format is 320kbps (kbit/s). MP3 Digital audio takes less amount of space (up to 90% reduction in size) and the quality is not as good as the original one. |
| CD Quality | FLAC | 16bit 44.1kHz | FLAC is an audio coding format which uses lossless compression. Digital audio in FLAC format has a smaller size and retains the same quality of the original Compact Disc (CD). |