Rock of the Westies
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Rock of the Westies is the tenth studio album by English musician Elton John. It was released on 24 October 1975, through DJM Records in the UK and MCA Records in the US. Produced by Gus Dudgeon, the record was recorded in the summer of 1975 at Caribou Ranch in Nederland, Colorado and contained a new lineup of the Elton John Band reflecting John's desire for a harder rock sound.
Titled after a pun on the phrase "West of the Rockies",[1] Rock of the Westies showcases a much more aggressive, rock-based sound than its predecessors. As opposed to the autobiographical themes of the preceding album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, Bernie Taupin's lyrics on Westies cover both personal and fictional themes. Guests on the album include funk rock group Labelle and Kiki Dee, both of whom contribute backing vocals.
Released less than five months after Captain Fantastic, Rock of the Westies repeated that album's then-unprecedented feat of entering the US Billboard 200 chart at number one, and was John's final chart-topping studio album in that country. It was also successful in the artist's home territory of the UK, where it reached number 5. The album's lead single, "Island Girl", topped the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top 20 in multiple other territories. However, sales of the album tapered quickly, and both contemporary and retrospective reviews have been mixed, with some reviewers considering the album to be a misstep in the midst of John's "classic period".
Background
In 1975, John released his ninth studio album, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, which was an instant commercial success, becoming the first album in history to debut at the top of the Billboard 200. However, after recording of the album had completed, John chose to dismiss drummer Nigel Olsson and bassist Dee Murray from his band, citing a desire for a change in sound, specifically a more hard rock-influenced direction. Guitarist Davey Johnstone and percussionist Ray Cooper remained from the previous lineup, while in the place of Olsson and Murray, John added drummer Roger Pope and bassist Kenny Passarelli to the lineup. John also added second guitarist Caleb Quaye and synthesizer player James Newton Howard.[2] Pope and Quaye had previously played as session musicians on John's early albums, while Passarelli had backed artists such as Joe Walsh and Stephen Stills.
Critical reception
Upon release, Rock of the Westies received mixed reviews from critics. In a review for Rolling Stone, Stephen Holden stated the songs "barely accomplish their objective of providing the latest in synthetic boogie", while opining that the new lineup resulted in only "superficial" changes to John's sound. Holden also criticized the lyrics of "Island Girl" as being both sexist and racist, while declaring "Feed Me" to be the album's only set of lyrics to be "more than a glib, slapdash effort."[3]
Conversely, Robert Christgau praised the album, finding it to have Taupin's best lyrics, while stating that the arrangements of "Island Girl" and "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" "elaborate the songs' racial ironies" and praising the band's "fiery temper" on "Street Kids" and "Hard Luck Story".[4]
Track listing
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Personnel
Track numbers refer to CD and digital releases of the album.
Musicians
- Elton John – lead vocals, acoustic piano (all except 8), backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9; as Ann Orson)
- James Newton Howard – harpsichord (1), Elka Rhapsody string synthesizer (1), ARP synthesizer (1, 3), Hohner clavinet (1, 2), mellotron (3), electric piano (4, 5, 7, 8, 9), synthesizers (4, 5, 9)
- Davey Johnstone – electric guitar (1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9), backing vocals (2, 3, 4, 6, 8), rhythm guitar (2, 6), voice bag (2), Ovation guitar (3), banjo (3), slide guitar (3, 6), acoustic guitar (4, 5), guitar solo (5)
- Caleb Quaye – electric guitar (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9), backing vocals (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8), acoustic guitar (3, 4, 5), rhythm guitar (6), lead guitar solo (6)
- Kenny Passarelli – bass guitar, backing vocals (2, 3, 4, 6, 7)
- Roger Pope – drums (1–5, 7–9)
- Ray Cooper – tambourine (1, 3, 5, 6, 9), cowbell (1, 9), congas (1, 3, 6, 7, 8), jawbone (1), marimba (3), castanets (4), bell tree (4), vibraphone (4, 5, 8), shaker (8), wind chimes (8), maracas (9), kettle drums (9)
- Labelle – backing vocals (1)
- Kiki Dee – backing vocals (2, 3, 4, 6–9)
- Clive Franks – backing vocals (8)
Production
- Gus Dudgeon – producer
- Jeff Guercio – engineer
- Mark Guercio – assistant engineer
- Gus Dudgeon, Phil Dunne, Nick Bradford - mixing
- Arun Chakraverty – mastering
- John Tobler – liner notes
- Terry O'Neill – album cover photograph
- David Larkham – art direction and design
Charts
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Certifications
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References
Sources
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Citations
External links
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