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Regimental Sgt. Zippo

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Regimental Sgt. Zippo
Studio album by
Elton John
Released12 June 2021
RecordedNovember 1967 – May 1968
StudioDick James Music (London)
Length38:53
Label
ProducerCaleb Quaye
Elton John chronology
Elton: Jewel Box
(2020) 		Regimental Sgt. Zippo
(2021) 		The Lockdown Sessions
(2021)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Daily Telegraph[2]
The Guardian[3]

Regimental Sgt. Zippo is the thirty-first studio album by English musician Elton John. Recorded during late 1967 and early 1968, it was originally intended to be John's debut album, but his publisher Dick James did not approve of the record's musical style, and the album was scrapped. John then recorded and released Empty Sky (1969) as his debut album instead. Regimental Sgt. Zippo remained unreleased until Record Store Day of June 2021, when it was issued in mono on vinyl. It was followed by a wider release of the album in July 2022 in stereo vinyl and stereo/mono CD.

Background

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Regimental Sgt. Zippo was recorded between November 1967 and May 1968.[4] For the sessions, John worked with musicians who were either his or his manager Steve Brown's associates, including guitarist Caleb Quaye and drummer Roger Pope (both members of the band Hookfoot at the time), and bassist Tony Murray (from the Troggs).[5] The songs were recorded in a four-track studio at the offices of Dick James Music.

The project was eventually shelved in favour of what became John's debut album, Empty Sky (1969).[3] Bernie Taupin later confirmed his and Elton John's love of The Beatles and Moody Blues,[6][7] however, Dick James whose company published John and Taupin's songs didn't believe that this was the right artistic direction for them.[8]

According to John's collaborator Bernie Taupin, the album's trippy sound was "a tip of the hat to Sgt. Pepper. It certainly proved that we were hanging on the coattails of things that were currently popular – things like 'A Whiter Shade of Pale' were in vogue at that particular point in time. I think, in a way, I was literally trying to be part of a gang."[9]

Plastic Penny, which featured drummer Nigel Olsson, who played on Empty Sky, and by 1970 was a member of John's band, covered "Turn to Me" in 1969.[10]

Release

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Regimental Sgt. Zippo was eventually released, 53 years after its recording, on 12 June 2021 for Record Store Day, as a mono vinyl-only release[3] limited to 7,000 copies.[11][12] It was released on compact disc on 8 July 2022, featuring both mono and stereo mixes of the complete album, along with a stereo vinyl version.[13]

Track listing

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

Side one

  1. "When I Was Tealby Abbey" – 2:35
  2. "And the Clock Goes Round" – 3:06
  3. "Sitting Doing Nothing" (John, Caleb Quaye) – 2:30
  4. "Turn to Me" – 3:16
  5. "Angel Tree" – 2:04
  6. "Regimental Sgt. Zippo" – 4:44

Side two

  1. "A Dandelion Dies in the Wind" – 3:14
  2. "You'll Be Sorry to See Me Go" (John, Quaye) – 2:34
  3. "Nina" – 3:50
  4. "Tartan Coloured Lady" – 4:09
  5. "Hourglass" – 2:44
  6. "Watching the Planes Go By" – 4:07

Personnel

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Credits adapted from Elton John's website[10] and album liner notes.[14]

Musicians

  • Elton John (as Reg Dwight) – acoustic piano, electric piano, organ, harpsichord, lead and backing vocals
  • Caleb Quaye – acoustic and electric guitars, flute, percussion, backing vocals
  • Tony Murray – bass, backing vocals
  • Dave Hynes – drums, backing vocals
  • Paul Fenoulhet Orchestra – orchestra
  • Zack Laurence – orchestral arrangements

Technical

  • Caleb Quaye – producer
  • Dave Larkham – original Elton John illustration
  • Darren Evans – sleeve design
  • Frank Owen – engineer
  • John Barrett – mixing
  • Sean Magee – mastering

Charts

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Chart (2021–2022) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[15] 191
Scottish Albums (OCC)[16] 15
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 96
US Billboard 200[18] 197
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[19] 21
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[20] 42
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[21] 10

References

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  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Elton John – Regimental Sgt Zippo". AllMusic.
  2. ^ McCormick, Neil (11 June 2021). "Regimental Sgt Zippo, review: Elton John's long-lost album is a psychedelic jumble". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Simpson, Dave (11 June 2021). "Elton John: Regimental Sgt Zippo review – the long lost 'trippy' album". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  4. ^ Tyler, Kieron (27 June 2021). "Reissue CDs Weekly: Elton John – Regimental Sgt. Zippo". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  5. ^ John, Elton (15 October 2019). Me: Elton John Official Autobiography. Pan Macmillan. pp. 50: “Caleb Quaye was the in-house engineer, a multi-instrumentalist with a joint permanently smouldering between his fingers. Caleb was very hip and he didn’t let you forget it.”. ISBN 978-1-5098-5333-5.
  6. ^ Banulescu, Eduard (14 July 2023). "Crossing the Yellow Brick Road: Elton John Albums Ranked - Alt77 from Worst to Best". Alt77. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  7. ^ John, Elton (15 October 2019). Me: Elton John Official Autobiography. Pan Macmillan. p. 49. ISBN 978-1-5098-5333-5.
  8. ^ John, Elton (15 October 2019). Me: Elton John Official Autobiography. Pan Macmillan. p. 51. ISBN 978-1-5098-5333-5.
  9. ^ Kielty, Martin (4 November 2020). "Bernie Taupin Didn't Want Elton John Box Set Released". Ultimate Classic Rock. Townsquare Media, Inc. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  10. ^ a b Higgins, John F. (12 June 2021). "Regimental Sgt. Zippo - In Detail". Elton John.
  11. ^ Willman, Chris (12 June 2021). "Record Store Day 2021's Most Wanted: Elton John, Tom Petty, Prince, Ariana Grande and More". Variety. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  12. ^ Edmonds, Lizzie (11 June 2021). "Sir Elton John releases 'lost' first album recorded when he was 19". Evening Standard. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  13. ^ "Regimental Sgt. Zippo". Amazon.com. 4 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  14. ^ John, Elton (2021). Regimental Sgt. Zippo (Album liner notes). Rocket Entertainment.
  15. ^ "Ultratop.be – Elton John – Regimental Sgt. Zippo" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  16. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  17. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Elton John – Regimental Sgt. Zippo". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  18. ^ "Elton John Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  19. ^ "Elton John Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  20. ^ "Elton John Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  21. ^ "Elton John Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
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