Maps of Music

Leather Jackets (1986)

Where the lyrics of Leather Jackets take you, and where it was really made.

John himself has called Leather Jackets the worst album of his career, and its record charted lower than any of his other studio albums.

Key places

Recording at Wisseloord Studios (1986)

Recording site Wisseloord Studios — The album's recording is linked to Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum. The point marks the studio building itself. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recording in London (1986)

Recording site Wild Bunch Studios (London) — The album was recorded at CTS in London. The point shows only the city centre, not the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recording in Cookham (1986)

Recording site The Mill — The album was recorded at The SOL in Cookham. The point shows only the town centre, not the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Leather Jackets is the twentieth studio album by Elton John
• Released 27 October 1986 through Geffen Records in the US and The Rocket Record Company in other territories
• The last album John made with producer Gus Dudgeon
• Includes newly recorded material and outtakes from the previous album Ice on Fire (1985)
• Recording coincided with a period of personal turmoil for John
• His cocaine addiction was worsening during the sessions
• Polyps on his vocal cords caused vocal struggles, removed by surgery in 1987, which deepened his voice

Background

• Heartache All Over the World was the only single from the album to achieve chart success in the US, though it failed to crack the top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100
• Slow Rivers was a collaboration with Cliff Richard, released as a single in the UK
• Cher collaborated with Lady Choc Ice, actually John himself, to write Don't Trust That Woman
• Roger Taylor and John Deacon of Queen played drums and bass on Angeline
• John played Paris during the 1986 leg of the Ice on Fire Tour
• Heartache All Over the World and Slow Rivers were included in his 1986 Australian Tour De Force with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
• The album has not been reissued in remastered form on CD; it became available for digital download in 2008
• Two songs, Hoop of Fire and I Fall Apart, were issued on the 2020 compilation Elton: Jewel Box

Recording

• Recorded at Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum, the Netherlands
• Also recorded at CTS in London and at The SOL in Cookham
• Mastered for the US release at Artisan Sound Recorders in North Hollywood, California

Cover

• The cover has a biker-inspired look, which John later described as very butch but a total disaster
• Photography by Gered Mankowitz
• Art direction by David Costa, artwork by Andrew Christian

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in Pinner, Middlesex, on 25 March 1947.
• Won a junior scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at age 11.
• Formed the blues band Bluesology in 1962; took the name Elton John in 1967.
• Joined DJM Records as a staff songwriter with lyricist Bernie Taupin in 1968.

Members

• Partnered with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967; Taupin writes lyrics and John composes the music.
• Backing band over the years included Davey Johnstone, Nigel Olsson, Dee Murray and Ray Cooper.

Career

• Debut album Empty Sky (1969); Honky Château (1972) became his first US number-one album.
• Seven consecutive US number-one albums between 1972 and 1975.
• Composed The Lion King and Aida with Tim Rice; won Academy Awards and a Tony Award.
• Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour (2018–2023) was the highest-grossing tour at the time.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Reviews of the album were largely negative
• Matt Springer of Ultimate Classic Rock placed it at number 31 in his ranking of all of John's studio albums, calling it the worst of the 80s, with awful songs and equally awful production

Reappraisal

• Lindsay Planer for AllMusic found the material half-hearted and the performances less than inspired
• Planer found John's voice beginning to show signs of extreme fatigue and strain
• Planer also found bright moments, including Heartache All Over the World and John's collaborations with Cliff Richard and Cher
• John himself has called the album the worst of his career
• In 2006 he said it was his least favourite of all his albums

Records

• Stalled at number 91 in the US, the lowest-charting studio album of John's career
• First studio album since Tumbleweed Connection (1970) without a top 40 hit
• Two years later, Reg Strikes Back (1988) reacted to the failure and was a much more successful self-proclaimed comeback album

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The album was the last one John made with producer Gus Dudgeon.
• Heartache All Over the World was the only single from the album to achieve chart success in the US.
• Cher collaborated with Lady Choc Ice, actually John himself, to write Don't Trust That Woman.
• John played Paris on the 1986 leg of the Ice on Fire Tour, and the song later became a minor FM hit for some jazz radio stations.
• Two songs from the album were issued on the 2020 compilation Elton: Jewel Box.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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