Elton John - Blue Moves (1976) [Complete 2xLP]

Blue Moves is the eleventh studio album by English musician Elton John. It was released on 22 October 1976 through John's own Rocket Record Company (his first for the label), alongside MCA Records in certain countries. John's second double album, it was recorded at EMI Studios, Brother Studios, Eastern Sound and Sunset Sound Recorders, and was his last to be produced by longtime collaborator Gus Dudgeon until Ice on Fire (1985). Additionally, the album would be the last collaboration between John and lyricist Bernie Taupin for the next few years until a partial resumption of their working partnership with 21 at 33 (1980).

The music on Blue Moves is considered some of John's most experimental, fusing genres such as pop, gospel, disco and jazz while also including orchestral elements and extended song lengths. Guests on the album include David Crosby, Graham Nash, Bruce Johnston and Toni Tennille contributing backing vocals, alongside performances by both the Martyn Ford Orchestra and London Symphony Orchestra, the former of which performing string arrangements by Paul Buckmaster.

Upon its release, Blue Moves received mixed reviews. Some critics found the album to be excessive, while others felt it did not include enough strong material to warrant its length. However, some retrospective reviews have been more positive, highlighting it as one of John's most underrated releases and praising its experimental nature, and John himself has declared it one of his favorites. Blue Moves reached number 3 on the US Billboard 200, breaking his streak of number one albums there, while it matched that position on the UK Albums Chart. The album's first single, "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word", reached the top 10 in the US and the top 20 in the UK, while further singles "Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)" and "Crazy Water" (only released in the UK) both reached the top 30. The album would go on to be certified both Platinum by the RIAA and Gold by the BPI.

Tracklist:
LP-1
A1 - Your Starter For... 0:00
A2 - Tonight 1:21
A3 - One Horse Town 9:09
A4 - Chameleon 15:01
B1 - Boogie Pilgrim
B2 - Cage The Songbird
B3 - Crazy Water
B4 - Shoulder Holster

LP-2
C1 - Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word 40:28
C2 - Out Of The Blue 44:14
C3 - Between Seventeen And Twenty
C4 - The Wide-Eyed And Laughing
C5 - Someone's Final Song
D1 - Where's The Shoorah?
D2 - If There's A God In Heaven (What's He Waiting For?)
D3 - Idol
D4 - Theme From A Non-Existent TV Series
D5 - Bite Your Lip (Get Up And Dance!)

Audio: 195 kbps 48.000 kHz

Musicians
Elton John – acoustic piano (1–5, 7–10, 13–16, 18), vocals (2–9, 12–16, 18), vocalese (11), harmonium (14), harpsichord (17)
Curt Becher – backing vocals (4, 10, 11, 13), BGV arrangements (11, 13)
Harry Bluestone – strings leader (18)
Michael Brecker – saxophone (5, 8, 16)
Randy Brecker – trumpet (5, 8, 16)
Paul Buckmaster – string arrangements and conductor (3, 7, 15), brass arrangements (7)
Cindy Bullens – backing vocals (4, 7, 11)
Clark Burroughs – backing vocals (13)
Joe Chemay – backing vocals (11, 13)
Rev. James Cleveland – choir director (5, 14, 18)
Ray Cooper – glockenspiel (1, 17), marimba (1, 17), gong (3), tambourine (3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 15), vibraphone (3, 4, 9, 10), bells (3), shaker (4, 6, 11), triangle (6), finger cymbals (6), congas (7, 10, 11, 15, 18), rototom (12)
The Cornerstone Institutional Baptist Church and the Southern California Community Choir – choirs (5, 14, 18)
David Crosby – backing vocals (6)
Daryl Dragon – BGV arrangements (7)
The Martyn Ford Orchestra – strings (3, 7, 15), brass (7)
Carl Fortina – accordion (8)
Ron Hicklin – backing vocals (4, 7)
Michael Hurwitz – cello (3)
Bruce Johnston – backing vocals (4, 7, 10, 11, 13), BGV arrangements (4, 11, 13)
Davey Johnstone – mandolin (2, 11, 17), electric guitar (3, 7, 10, 15), slide guitar (5, 18), acoustic guitar (6), dulcimer (6), sitar (12), slide guitar (18)
Jon Joyce – backing vocals (4, 7, 11)
The London Symphony Orchestra – strings (2, 9)
Gene Morford – backing vocals (4, 7)
Graham Nash – backing vocals (6)
James Newton Howard – synthesizers (1, 3, 6, 10, 12, 13, 17, 18), Fender Rhodes (3, 9, 13, 17), Hammond organ (5, 11, 15), mellotron (6), clavinet (7)
The Gene Page Strings – strings (18)
Kenny Passarelli – bass guitar (1, 3–5, 7–11, 14–18)
Roger Pope – drums (1, 3–5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 15–18)
Caleb Quaye – acoustic guitar (1, 4, 6, 12, 17), electric guitar (3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 15, 18), guitar solo (3, 10, 15), 12-string guitar (12)
Barry Rogers – trombone (5, 8, 16)
David Sanborn – saxophone (5, 8, 16)
Richard Studt – strings leader (3, 7, 12, 15), brass leader (7)
Toni Tennille – backing vocals (4, 7, 10, 13)