Elton John Rock of the Westies Album Cover
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Find sources: Rock of the Westies - news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this model message) Elton JohnRock's studio album from WestiesStudio album Elton JohnReleased4 October 1975[1]Recorded June-July 1975StudioCaribou Ranch, Nederland, Colorado; remixed on Trident, LondonGenreRockhard rocksoft rockrock and roll[2]Length43:39LabelMCA (USA), DJM (UK)ProducerGus DudgeonElton John captain fantastic chronology and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975) Rock of the Westies(1975) Here and There (1976 Singles) from Rock of the Westies Island GirlReleased: September 29, 1975 Grow Some Funk of Your Own/I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)Released on January 12, 1976 Professional ratingsReview scoresReviewSourceAllMusic[3]Christgau's Record GuideA–[4]Rolling Stone (unranked)[5] Rock of the Westies is the tenth studio album by English musician Elton John, released in October 1975. The title is a piece of spoonerism about the phrase West of the Rockies, the album that was recorded at The Caribou Ranch in the Colorado Rockies. Like Captain Fantastic and Brown Dirt Cowboy, Rock of the Westies debuted on the Billboard 200 on the Billboard 200, the only two albums of the time to do so. It was also successful (though to a lesser extent) in the artist's home territory in the UK, where he reached 5th place on the UK Albums Chart. Robert Christgau ranked him number 7 on his list of the best albums of 1975. History Rock of the Westies contained the single #14 UK) Island Girl, which was released before the album. John noted at the time in a radio interview that he wanted to release Dan Dare (Pilot of the Future) as the album's first single instead of Island Girl because he thought it had more commercial appeal. It was over-ruled, and Dan Dare was never released as a single, while Island Girl became a hit. John's band's makeup was different at Rock of the Westies, without their longtime drummer Nigel Olsson and bassist Dee Murray, both fired during April 1975. In his place were drummer Roger Pope, an old friend who had played in Empty Sky, Tumbleweed Connection and Madman Across the Water, and American bassist Kenny Passarelli, who had previously played with Stephen Stills and was an original member of Joe Walsh's barnstorm band. Pope also played in Kiki Dee's touring band. James Newton Howard, nominated for grammy, Emmy and Oscar, at the time a virtual unknown, was also brought in as keyboardist, giving him his first major publicity. Also included was Caleb Quaye, another old friend of his first de DJM DJM Like Pope, Quaye also played in Empty Sky & Tumbleweed Connection & also john's eponymous release. Retained in the previous line-up were Davey Johnstone and Ray Cooper. A slower and less updated version of Hard Luck Story had already been recorded by Kiki Dee (for whom the song was originally written), and released as a single a year before its recording for Rock of the Westies. Along with Don't Go Breaking My Heart, Ann Orson/Carte Blanche is credited (An 'orse an' /'carte blanche') cart a punning nickname that John created while combing a song (song and lyrics) on his own. The name Ann Orson is also used as the name of a backing vocal. Labelle sang backing vocals on the opening track, Medley: Yell Help/Wednesday Night/Ugly. In the Us, it was certified gold in October 1975 and platinum in March 1993[8] by the RIAA. Outside the U.S. and Canada, this was the last original release of John's studio on DJM Records, before forming his own label, The Rocket Record Company. Street Kids was featured in the 2008 grand theft auto iv game. Track list All tracks are written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, except where noted. Ann Orson & Carte Blanche is a pseudonym used by John and Taupin.Side oneNo.TitleLength1. Medley: Yell Help / Wednesday Night / Ugly (John, Davey Johnstone, Taupin)6:152. Dan Dare (Future Pilot)3:293. Island Girl3:424. Grow Some Funk of Your Own (John, Johnstone, Taupin)4:175. I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)5:27 Side twoNo.TitleLength1. 6:252 Street Kids. Hard Luck Story (Ann Orson & Carte Blanche)5:163. Feed me 4:004. Billy Bones and the WhiteBird4:25 Sides one and two were combined as tracks 1-9 in CD reissues. Bonus tracks (1995 Mercury Records re-edits)No.TitleLength1. Don't Go Breaking My Heart (with Kiki Dee) (Ann Orson & Carte Blanche)4:02 Bonus Tracks (1996 Rocket Records reissues)No.TitleLength1. 4:312 aircraft. Sugar on the Floor (Kiki Dee)4:31 Total length:9:02 B-sides Sugar on the Floor Island Girl (US/UK) Track numbers refer to CD and digital releases of the album. Elton John – piano (all but 8), vocalRay Cooper – pandeiro (1, 3, 5, 6, 9), cowbell (1, 9), congas (1, 3, 6, 7, 8), jawbone (1), marimba (3), castanets (4), bell tree (4), vibraphone (4, 5, 8), shaker (8), wind bells (8), maracas (9), kettle drums (9) Kiki Dee – backing vocals (2, 3, 4, 6-9) Clive Franks – backing vocals (8) Davey Johnstone – electric guitar (1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9), backing vocals (2, 3, 4, 6, 8), rhythm guitar (2, 6), voice bag (2), Ovation guitar (3), banjo (3), slide guitar (3, 6), guitar (2, 6), acoustic guitar (2, 6), acoustic guitar (2, 6), voice (2), Ovation guitar (3), banjo (3), slide guitar (3), slide guitar (3 , 6), guitar (acoustic guitar). 4, 5), guitar solo Labelle – backing vocals (1) James Newton Howard – harpsichord (1), ELKA Rhapsody string synthesizer (1), ARP synthesizer (1, 3), Clavinet Hohner (1, 2), mellotron (3), electric electric piano 5, 7, 8, 9), synthesizer (4, 5, 9) Ann Orson – backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9) Kenny Passarelli – bass, backing vocals (2, 3, 4, 6, 7) Roger Pope – drums (1-5, 7-9) Caleb Quaye – electric guitar (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9), backing vocals (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8), guitar (3, 4, 5), rhythm guitar (6), lead guitar solo (6) Gus Dudgeon production – producer Jeff Guercio – engineer Mark Guercio – assistant engineer Arun Chakraverty – mastering John Tobler – Terry O'Neill liner notes – cover photo of the album David Larkham – art direction and design Chart positions chart (1975) Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart[9] 4 Canadian RPM Albums Chart[10] 1 Danish Albums Chart[11] 3 Finnish Albums Chart[12] 25 French SNE Chart of Albums deP[13] 5 Italian Albums Chart[14] 16 Japanese Oricon LP Chart[15] 47 New Zealand Albums Chart[16] 4 Norwegian VG-list Albums Chart[17] 6 Spanish Albums Chart[18] 8 Swedish Albums Chart[19] 6 UK Albums Chart[20] 5 US Billboard 200[21] 1 West German Media Control Albums Chart[22] 33 Chart (1975) Australian position Albums Chart[9] 3 7 Canadian Albums Chart[23] 11 French Albums Chart[24] 81 Italian Albums Chart[14] 58 Chart (1976) Australian Albums Chart[9] 52 Canadian Albums Chart[2 5] 31 US Billboard Year-End[26] 37 Region CertificationCertifications Units/Sales Canada (Music Canada)[27] Platinum 100,000^ United Kingdom (BPI)[28] Gold 100,[27] 000^ United States (RIAA)[29] Platinum 1,000,000^ *sales numbers based only on certification numbers^shipments based so on certification References ^ ^ Rock of the Westies - Elton John | Songs, Reviews, Credits. Allmusic. Lindsay Planer. Rock of the Westies. Allmusic. Retrieved january 11, 2012. ^ Christgau, Robert( 1981). 1970s Consumer Guide: J. Christgau Disc Guide: 1970s Rock Albums. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved on February 27, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com. ^ Holden, Stephen; Holden, Stephen (December 18, 1975). Rock of the Westies. ^ 10 Fun Facts About 'Rock Of The Westies' and 'The Big Picture'. Elton John. ^ Pazz & Jop 1975: List of Rectors. Robert Christgau. December 29, 1975. Retrieved january 11, 2012. ^ GOLD AND PLATINUM ALBUMS. neosoul. Retrieved October 16, 2012. ^ a b c Kent, David( 1993). Australian graphic book 1970-1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. ^ Library and Archives Canada. Filed february 15, 2015 at Wayback Machine Retrieved on February 24, 2012 ^ ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Ottawa. p. 263. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5. ^ InfoDisc : Tous les Albums by Artist And Choose An Artist In the List: Elton John (em francês). francês). Archived from the original (PHP) on September 10, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2012. ^ a b Hit Parade Italia – Gli album più venduti del 1975 (in Italian). hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved on February 24, 2012. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4- 87131-077-9. ^ charts.nz Elton John – Rock of the Westies (ASP). Hung Medien. New Zealand Music Industry Association. Retrieved February 24, 2012. ^ norwegiancharts.com Elton John – Rock of the Westies (ASP). Hung Medien. VG-list. Retrieved February 24, 2012. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año año, 1959-2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2. ^ swedishcharts.com Elton John – Rock of the Westies (ASP). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved February 24, 2012. ^ The Official Charts Company – Elton John – Rock of the Westies (PHP). Official Graphics Company. Retrieved February 24, 2012. ^ allmusic (((Rock of the Westies > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )).