Elton John: Reg Strikes Back - 1988

This album was hyped very much as Elton John's "comeback" album after some torrid years in his personal life - the break up of his odd marriage and a huge cocaine consumption. 

It was unfairly criticised by many in the media and bracketed with 1986's execrable Leather Jackets. That was an unfair comparison. This album is a million miles better - and a considerable relief. The difference between both albums is light and day.

So, what has Reginald got to offer?....

Town Of Plenty is a catchy, upbeat opener, with, unfortunately, a synthesiser riff, but it is a good one, and the lyrics show a vast improvement on Bernie's last incomprehensibly bad effort on the previous album. Elton's voice is one fine form now, after a successful operation. This track is a real breath of fresh air, after the last outing. 

A Word In Spanish is an evocative, melodic and appealing Latin-flavoured ballad. It sort of puts me in mind of Madonna's La Isla Bonita - probably just due to the Spanish/Latin thing.

Re-recording a beautiful classic like Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters from Honky Château was usably not the best of ideas, but if you take this punchy, horn-driven bluesy thumper as a completely new track, it works fine. The trumpet solo is impressive. It just doesn't match the original, of course, so it is best viewed separately, if that is possible. I like the version of it, though, it has some soul, and power. Similarly, I Don't Want To Go On With You Like That is a singalong slice of insistent piano and drum boogie, with another great vocal. Many have put this track down, why I am not quite sure. I have always liked it. 

Japanese Hands is a lovely, atmospheric song, that sees Bernie Taupin back on lyrical form. Heaven knows what happened to his muse in 1986. He was back now, no doubting that. This is a fine song. You feel both Elton and Bernie have their mojos back. 

Goodbye Marlon Brando has a welcome seventies-style guitar riff and rocks, healthily. It also has some cynically witty lyrics. The Camera Never Lies is another rocking corker of a track, Elton back to his best. There really was nothing like this on Leather Jackets. Some great boogie-woogie piano on it too. This is more like it. 

Heavy Traffic harks back in places to Honky Château in its slightly funky sound. Poor Cow has a decidedly odd vocal from Elton, but it has another vibrant urban funky flavour to it. Since God Invented Girls is a haunting, moving ballad to end on. 

This was, contrary to much popular opinion, an impressive album. It has good sound quality too. It helped to pave the way, critically, for what would be Elton's next huge-seller....

The non-album extra track was Rope Around A Fool, a nice chunky number, delivered with a healthy enthusiasm and considerable vitality that adds to the “Elton is back” feeling of the album.

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