Reg Strikes Back

[BiteUrLip]

After the low spot of Leather Jackets, the album Reg Strikes Back was considered as a comeback album.

However, it is not so for me. The material on RSB is more quality consistent, but as a whole, it is not better. Actually according to my data, it is slightly worse than LJ.

The album starts with "Town Of Plenty", which I always mix with "This Town" because of the word "town". Anyway, TOP is a fine start for the album - it's joyous. "A Word In Spanish" was a single, but it's not better than the previous track. Something has always been wrong with that track - musically it's confusing at least, although I'm not giving it a bad score. "Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters Pt. 2" is catchy, but something irritates in it. Then comes the lead single, and that is the winner from this album. Always liked it a lot! It's very catchy. The side one ends with "Japanese Hands", and that's a beautiful track. The side two opens with "Goodbye Marlon Brando", a decent, slow rocker. "The Camera Never Lies" on the other hand is one of my favorites from this album, and it is the definitive highlight of side two. The quality drops at lot after that, and "Heavy Traffic" is just bearable. "Poor Cow" is the weakest track here, and I don't have much sympathy for it. The ending track, "Since God Invented Girls", is an interesting song, but it also fails somehow.

Bonus tracks - "Rope Around A Fool" is a throw-a-way b-side. Then we have three remixes, and they are only shadows of what the original songs were. I am usually against remixes generally and these ain't exceptions.

1. Town Of Plenty *****
2. A Word In Spanish *****
3. Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters Pt. 2 *****
4. I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That *****+
5. Japanese Hands *****
6. Goodbye Marlon Brando ****½
7. The Camera Never Lies *****
8. Heavy Traffic ***
9. Poor Cow **
10. Since God Invented Girls ****

Bonus tracks:

11. Rope Around A Fool ***½
12. I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That [Shep Pettibone Mix] ****½
13. I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That [Just Elton and His Piano Mix] ***½
14. Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters Pt. 2 [The Renaissance Mix] ****

[rocketman]

1. Town Of Plenty 5
2. A Word In Spanish 3.75
3. Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters Pt. 2   5
4. I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That 4.25
5. Japanese Hands 2.5
6. Goodbye Marlon Brando 4.5
7. The Camera Never Lies 4.5
8. Heavy Traffic 3.25
9. Poor Cow 4.5
10. Since God Invented Girls 4

Bonus tracks:

11. Rope Around A Fool 3.5
12. I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That [Shep Pettibone Mix] 4
13. I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That [Just Elton and His Piano Mix] 2.5
14. Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters Pt. 2 [The Renaissance Mix] N/A

Elton John effectively had two 1980's comebacks - the 1983 comeback with reunited band mates Davey, Dee, and Nigel, and the 1988 comeback, or perhaps more accurately, "Strike-Back" from throat surgery and the poor performance of two consecutive studio albums.

For Reg Strikes Back, Elton also discarded part of his 1970's and early to mid 80's persona in terms of dress and costume design, selling off his outfits at auction, many of which are pictured on the album's cover. It makes for some of the best, or at least funniest, album art on an Elton John album.

Inside, the contents were, mostly, indicative that Elton was indeed back, or at least recharged and singing quite well. The production by Chris Thomas clearly highlights Elton's vocals, almost a little too much so, with a sort of "shouty" mix that presents Elton's voice clearly at the forefront. The band is basically comprised of the musicians who accompanied Elton on tour and in the studio during the prior three years, with Ray Cooper added on some tracks and a searing trumpet solo by Freddie Hubbard on Mona Lisas PT 2.

The songs stack up quite well, though there is some inconsistency in quality. The ballads fail to measure up to Elton's better standards. But the album rocks out as well as anything since Rock Of The Westies, as every up-tempo tune more than makes up for the somewhat bland ballads. Town Of Plenty and Mona Lisas both garner a 5-star rating, and 'I Don't Wanna' was a bona-fide hit, reaching #2 in the US. 'Camera' lays down as heavy a backbeat as you'll hear on an Elton John album, and along with 'Marlon Brando' reaches the high standard of Elton's best rockers.

The bonus material adds little if anything of value, but overall, this album, and the attitude it brought with it at the time, is clearly an integral part of Elton John's catalog - a loose, up-tempo, somewhat 'snotty' album with an attitude that was much needed at the time.

[dougs]

REG STRIKES BACK:

Great reviews gentlemen!

REG STRIKES BACK was a very important release for Elton;  his recent bad press and his recent throat surgery had retendered EJ a little frazzled to say the least.  The resulting album was a batch of catchy upbeat pop.  Seen by some as a "comeback" it was Elton's first album post-Geffen.  Interestingly and sadly, it would be the last Elton album to include Dee Murray albeit on backing vocals only.  Chris Thomas was brought back into produce the album.  Gus Dudgeon would never produce another EJ studio album again.   Elton used his touring band (the band from 1985-86) on record;  Davey on guitar. Fred Mandel on keyboards,  David Paton on bass, and Charlie Morgan on drums.  Ray Cooper chipped in on percussion for 4 tracks and Pete Townshend was asked to play acoustic guitar on "Town off Plenty."  

In terms of chart position and sales, REG STRIKES BACK had success in a few specific markets; in Canada, it went 2X platinum and reached #6 and in Italy it went 3X platinum and reached #3.  The USA saw the album peak at 16 and achieve only gold certification.  The album went #18 in the UK achieving only silver certification.  Elton did score with a huge hit single in North America;  "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That" scorched the Canadian charts reaching #1 (#12 song of the year) and #2 in the USA.  The song was released in several formats and also scored big on the USA Hot Dance Club play reaching #7.  This became a classic concert song for EJ featuring hot keyboard solos.  A good song, indeed.  The album, however, didn't score with a second big single.  "A Word in Spanish" managed some success in Canada (#10) and the USA (#19).  "Town of Plenty" was released in a few markets but essentially did not chart.  One song that receives mixed reviews is "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters - Part 2."  Very different from the original on HONKY CHATEAU the song featured some impressive trumpet and flugelhorn from Freddie Hubbard.  This upbeat version came across jazzy in concert on the following tours gathering standing ovations.  The tour in support of REG STRIKES BACK also featured "Goodbye Marlon Brando" which was a decent guitar driven song with a bit of attitude.  The tour featured Elton using a Roland digital keyboard rather than his traditional grand pianos.  REG STRIKES BACK is generally characterized by decent cohesive pop-rock.  "The Camera Never Lies" is one of those good songs.  The album may not be considered a classic but it really doesn't have much in the way of throw-away songs either.  One interesting musical note is how they came up with the finger click sound in "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That."  According to Charlie Morgan, he replaced the snare drum sound with that of him hitting the top of an empty biscuit tin!"  Good for improvisation, boys!

Apparently Elton felt a bit of pressure to perform at a high level on REG STRIKES BACK.  He reportedly broke down in tears one morning in the studio as he tried to make a piano part work on "Town of Plenty."  He ended up going home and the day in the studio was lost.  In North America, MCA Records (Elton had just re-signed with them) gave the record a big push.  Apparently Elton eventually had 22 recorded songs for this project.  A few would show up as B-sides here and there such as "Dancing in the End Zone."  REG STRIKES BACK may not rest at or near the top of Elton's best albums but it was a decent and mostly consistent collection of pop which showed up with some attitude and some excellent piano work as well.

Doug

[rocketman]

Interesting info, Doug, and now I know there's a use for empty biscuit tins!

I forgot to mention that this is one of my favorite albums in terms of lyrics. I think Bernie's work on this album is exceeded only by the two autobiographical Captain albums and by The Diving Board and a few others.

[Commodore Orpington]

A review at the time said that Bernie was doing something very unusual for him, writing socially conscious lyrics.

[kissybissy]

3.5 stars.

[nix]

Album rating: ****

I needed some time to learn to like many years ago, but later it became one of my really favorite. It sounds like he was doing Leather Jackets once again, but trying to do it right this time. 


1. Town Of Plenty ***
2. A Word In Spanish ***
3. Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters Pt. 2 ****½
4. I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That ****½
5. Japanese Hands ****
6. Goodbye Marlon Brando ***½
7. The Camera Never Lies ****
8. Heavy Traffic ****
9. Poor Cow ****½
10. Since God Invented Girls ****½