Jump Up! (Elton John album)

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 (he played keyboards again on the soundtrack of Gnomeo & Juliet less than 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 cover shows John's lifelong friend Vance Buck.

After 1982, only "Empty Garden" and "Blue Eyes" have been performed regularly.

Recording

It was recorded at AIR Studios in Montserrat, and Pathe Marconi Studios in France.

Track listing

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

Side one

1. "Dear John" (John, Gary Osborne) – 3:28
2. "Spiteful Child" – 4:11
3. "Ball and Chain" (John, Osborne) – 3:27
4. "Legal Boys" (John, Tim Rice) – 3:08
5. "I Am Your Robot" – 4:42
6. "Blue Eyes" (John, Osborne) – 3:25

Side two

7. "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" – 5:05
8. "Princess" (John, Osborne) – 4:55
9. "Where Have All the Good Times Gone?" – 3:58
10. "All Quiet on the Western Front" – 6:00

Previously only available in the later 1980s and early 1990s on CD in Europe with 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 lots of 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 artworks 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.

However, "Desperation Train" was later recorded and released by John's lyricist Bernie Taupin on his 1987 album, Tribe.

B-sides

"Hey Papa Legba" was recorded during the sessions for 21 at 33 in August 1979.

Personnel

Credits