Maps of Music

Victim of Love (1979)

Where the lyrics of Victim of Love take you, and where it was really made.

Elton John sang on this disco album but wrote none of its songs and played no piano or keyboards, and critics panned it.

Key places

Musicland Studios, Munich (1979)

Recording site Musicland Studios — Musicland Studios in Munich is listed as a recording location for this album. The point sits on the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Rusk Sound, Hollywood (1979)

Recording site The Music Grinder (Hollywood) — Rusk Sound in Hollywood is listed as a recording location for this album. The point is placed at the city centre, not at the studio. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Victim of Love: thirteenth studio album by British musician Elton John
• Disco album released in 1979, shortly after disco's peak in popularity
• Not well received by critics or in sales
• Under 36 minutes: the shortest album of John's career
• Title track reached moderate chart success as a single

Background

• John wrote none of the songs and played no piano or keyboards; he only provided vocals
• First album without any of his original Elton John Band members
• Atypical of his recording career in several respects
• John admitted in 1998 that the disco direction was a way of "leaping on a bandwagon"
• Little marketing: one appearance on the Australian television series Countdown
• No tour to promote the album

Recording

• Recording locations listed: Musicland Studios in Munich and Rusk Sound in Hollywood
• Personnel include Thor Baldursson (keyboards, arrangements) and Steve Lukather (guitar solos)
• Marcus Miller on bass and Keith Forsey on drums
• Pete Bellotte produced the album
• Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons sang backing vocals on the title track

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

• The New York Times wrote that John still had an appealing pop baritone but little individuality
• The album was panned by critics

Reappraisal

• Matt Springer of Ultimate Classic Rock placed the album at the bottom of a ranking of all John's studio albums
• The Rolling Stone Album Guide called it the "nadir" of John's recorded output

Records

• Title track: No. 31 on US Billboard Hot 100, No. 38 in Australia, No. 46 in Canada
• Title track: No. 11 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart
• All tracks reached No. 55 on the US Billboard Disco Top 100
• Third lowest-charting US album of John's career, after Leather Jackets and Ice on Fire

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Title track's B-side "Strangers" later appeared as a bonus track on the 1998 Mercury reissue of A Single Man, since it was recorded during those sessions
• CD track breaks were wrong in the 1980s; the 2003 remaster corrected them
• "Warm Love in a Cold World" appeared on the Pickwick compilation "Love Songs"
• Along with A Single Man, one of only two studio albums without contributions from Bernie Taupin (as of 2026)
• Side one opens with "Johnny B. Goode" (Chuck Berry), running 8:06

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Maps of Ages ↗ (mapsofages.com)

Privacy · Contact