(Rock, Psychedelic Rock) [LP] [24/192] Elton John - Regimental Sgt. Zippo (previously unreleased album of 1968) - 2021, FLAC (tracks)

foobar2000 1.5.5 / Замер динамического диапазона (DR) 1.1.1
Дата отчёта: 2021-07-15 00:32:25
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Анализ: Elton John / Regimental Sgt. Zippo [2021 Record Store Day Pressing]
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DR Пики RMS Продолжительность трека
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DR12 -1.55 дБ -15.24 дБ 2:38 01-When I Was Tealby ABbey
DR11 -1.11 дБ -14.19 дБ 3:10 02-And The Clock Goes Around
DR13 -0.08 дБ -15.10 дБ 2:34 03-Sitting Doing Nothing
DR13 -1.65 дБ -15.66 дБ 3:21 04-Turn To Me
DR12 -0.93 дБ -14.65 дБ 2:06 05-Angel Tree
DR11 -0.17 дБ -13.71 дБ 4:48 06-Regimental Sgt. Zippo
DR11 -3.18 дБ -16.00 дБ 3:17 07-A Dandelion Dies In The Wind
DR13 -1.04 дБ -16.15 дБ 2:36 08-You'll Be Sorry To See Me Go
DR11 -0.33 дБ -12.36 дБ 3:52 09-Nina
DR12 -0.71 дБ -15.89 дБ 4:12 10-Tartan Coloured Lady
DR12 -0.43 дБ -14.55 дБ 2:48 11-Hourglass
DR11 -0.62 дБ -13.75 дБ 4:11 12-Watching The Planes Go By
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Количество треков: 12
Реальные значения DR: DR12
Частота: 192000 Гц
Каналов: 2
Разрядность: 24
Битрейт: 3011 кбит/с
Кодек: FLAC
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Elton John’s fabled debut album, Regimental Sgt Zippo album was originally slated for release in 1968, but ultimately shelved until it was released 53 years later as a limited edition 180g mono pressing for Record Store Day 2021.
It was during the intense research phase for last year’s Jewel Box box set Rarities items that the hidden history of Regimental Sgt. Zippo came into focus. In late 1967 and early 1968, the year before Empty Sky was released, twelve songs were recorded and organized onto two LP sides for intended release as Elton’s introduction to the world.
However, it was not to be.
As graphic designer David Larkham recalls, “[Then-manager] Steve Brown would have said to Dick James, ‘Give these guys a little more slack other than just as songwriters in the ‘moon and June’ genre that you’re looking for because they do have other things to say.’ And then a bit later he may have said to Elton and Bernie, ‘Let’s shelve this album and see what you can come up with, and let me produce the next album.’ Which turned out to be Empty Sky.”
Three of the twelve songs on the unreleased 1968 LP were actually included, in their final version, on Jewel Box last year. The box set also contains eight more RSZ titles, but in the form of early demos or previous incarnations (there is also one alternate mix). The remaining song, “You’ll Be Sorry To See Me Go”, has its official debut with the Record Store Day drop.
The earliest known activity for a song on Regimental Sgt. Zippo was the recording of the demo for Nina on November 3, 1967, a mere month after the release of Bluesology’s third and final single (“Since I Found You Baby”) and a full week before Elton and Bernie signed their first publishing deal with Dick James.
On the 15th of that month (so now five days into the songwriting team working on the clock, as opposed to skulking around the 1st-floor studios in the dead of night to capture their steadily growing volume of work before the famed publisher’s staff became wise), Elton, producer/guitarist Caleb Quaye, and the musicians mentioned below picked up their instruments and fired up the four-track tape machine to cut the full-band version of “Nina”. At some point after, strings were added to the track, and the project was launched. “Regimental Sgt. Zippo was put together as an album, it wasn’t just a pile of demos”, says Larkham.
Elton’s studio work that year was not yet done. In amidst demo-ing and developing a number of other John/Taupin compositions, Elton – or, more accurately, someone at the Dick James office – registered “Angel Tree” with the UK copyright office on December 13, quite possibly at the very same moment the demo was being recorded. As an intriguing point of reference, Elton sang backing vocals for the Tom Jones hit “Delilah” the following week. The version of “Angel Tree” heard on RSZ was recorded on January 11, 1968, with the backing vocals tracked on the 19th, during the same session as the orchestration for Elton’s first single, “I’ve Been Loving You”, was recorded.
Busy days indeed: in March and April of 1968, he recorded the bulk of RSZ as well as a handful of other new songs, released “I’ve Been Loving You”, and played his first club performance under his own name on April 30 at the Marquee Club in London. 20 days later, the album’s title track, evoking not only the Beatles’ mind-blowing Sgt. Pepper album but also Elton’s birth name, “Reg”, and the fact that his father was a regimented military man, was tracked and the sessions were complete.
And that is where the story ended…for 53 years. Until now. Finally, “the album that never was”, as Elton calls it, has a home on the Record Store Day shelves and in fans’ collections. –eltonjohn.com
All songs written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, unless otherwise noted.
Recorded on four-track at Dick James Studios, 71-75 New Oxford Street, London, UK.
Produced by Caleb Quaye
Engineered by Frank Owen
Musicians:
Elton John (as Reg Dwight): Piano, Electric Piano, Organ, Harpsichord, Lead and Backing Vocals
Caleb Quaye: Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Flute, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Dee Murray: Bass, Backing Vocals
Dave Hynes: Drums, Backing Vocals
Paul Fenoulhet Orchestra – arranged by Zack Laurence
Track Listing and Info
Side 1
01. When I Was Tealby Abbey
UK copyright: April 3, 1968
Recorded: April 5, 1968 (take 7)
First of two songs recorded during 7 PM session
Instruments: Piano, organ, guitar, bass, drums, lead vocals, backing vocals, orchestra, flute, timpani, cymbals
Arranged Band Version [Jewel Box: Piano Demo]
Trivia
There is, in fact, a church in the village of Tealby, which is located just a few miles from Bernie’s childhood home in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire.
02. And The Clock Goes Round
UK copyright: April 3, 1968
Recorded: April 4, 1968 (take 3)
Second of three songs recorded
Instruments: Piano, electric piano, guitars, bass, drums, percussion/clock sound effects, lead vocals, backing vocals
Band Version [Jewel Box: Piano Demo]
03. Sitting Doing Nothing
Writers: Elton John and Caleb Quaye
Recorded: March 7, 1968 (take 4)
Second of two songs recorded
Instruments: Piano, guitar, bass, drums, lead vocals, backing vocals
Band Version (alternate mix) [Jewel Box: Band Version]
Trivia
In what is perhaps the only such instance in Elton’s entire catalog, Elton wrote the lyrics and Caleb wrote the music for this song.
04. Turn To Me
Recorded: March 10, 1968 (take 10)
Second of four songs recorded
Instruments: Piano, organ (two tracks), guitar, bass, drums, lead vocals, backing vocals, horns
Arranged Band Version [same as Jewel Box]
Trivia
This song was covered by Plastic Penny, with band member Nigel Olsson, in 1969…making it one of the earliest connections between Elton and his long-time drummer.
05. Angel Tree
UK copyright: December 13, 1967
Recorded: January 11, 1968 (take 3) / Backing vocals: January 19
Second of two songs recorded
Instruments: Piano, organ, guitar, bass, drums, tambourine, lead vocals, backing vocals, horns
Arranged Band Version [Jewel Box: Piano/Guitar/Tambourine Demo]
Trivia
The lyric refers to a tree in Lincolnshire…the same one referenced in the first line of Burn Down The Mission.
06. Regimental Sgt. Zippo
Recorded: May 20, 1968 (take 2)
Only song recorded that session
Instruments: Piano, organ, guitar, bass, drums, flute, lead vocals, backing vocals, psychedelic effects
Complete Band Version [Jewel Box: Band Version]
Trivia
Dee Murray diary entry: “Went up the office to do a session for Caleb + Reg. They had 4 nos. to do, but decided just to concentrate on one. ‘Regimental Sgt. Zippo!’ Turned out fantastic. Especially a gunshot done with one single beat on the floor tom-tom, echoed limited and compressed, ridiculous noise! Started at 7 pm – finished at 2.15 am.”
Side Two
07. A Dandelion Dies In The Wind
UK copyright: September 29, 1967
Recorded: March 10, 1968 (take 2)
Third of four songs recorded
Instruments: Piano, organ (two tracks), guitar, bass, drums, lead vocals, backing vocals
Band Version [Jewel Box: Piano Demo]
08. You’ll Be Sorry To See Me Go
Writers: Elton John and Caleb Quaye
Recorded: April 4, 1968 (take 3)
Third of three songs recorded
Instruments: Piano, guitar, bass, drums, tambourine, hand claps, lead vocals, backing vocals
Band Version
09. Nina
UK copyright: November 6, 1967
Recorded: November 15, 1967 (take 7)
First of two songs recorded
Instruments: Piano, organ, guitar, bass, drums, lead vocals, orchestra
Arranged Band Version [Jewel Box: Band Version]
10. Tartan Coloured Lady
Recorded: February 16, 1968 (take 11)
Only song recorded that session
Instruments: Harpsichord, guitar, bass, drums, flutes, lead vocals, orchestra
Arranged Band Version [same as Jewel Box]
Trivia
Dee Murray diary entry: “Went up town to do an afternoon session with Reg + Caleb – one number ‘Tartan Coloured Lady‘ harpsichored [sic], jumbo, (drums and bass in M8) Beautiful!”
11. Hourglass
Recorded: March 10, 1968 (take 1)
Third of four songs recorded
Instruments: Piano, electric piano, guitar, bass, drums, lead vocals, backing vocals
Band Version [same as Jewel Box]
12. Watching The Planes Go By
Recorded: February 6, 1968 (take 1)
Second of two songs recorded
Instruments: Piano, organ, guitar, bass, drums, lead vocals, backing vocals, orchestra, horns
Arranged Band Version [Jewel Box: Band Version]
Trivia
This is Caleb Quaye’s favorite song of the “Dick James” era rarities.
Album illustration
The cover art for Regimental Sgt. Zippo was not the original 1968 album design. The LP was shelved well before that part of the production process began; the original album acetate that is in the private collection of Peter Thomas is in a plain sleeve.
In 1969, artist David Larkham was asked by Steve Brown to design something for a press kit to promote Empty Sky and other aspects of the burgeoning artist’s career. He spent “a few nights or a weekend” working around his full-time job with The Evening Standard newspaper to create the pen and ink drawing, based upon a series of black and white photographs that Larkham had taken of Elton the year before. “That was how he looked in 1968, with the horseshoe mustache and Noddy shirt.”
“The illustration was in black and white,” Larkham explained to EltonJohn.com. “Had there been a budget for a four-colour treatment at that time, I am sure that it would have looked kind of like what [designer] Darren Evans did for the Record Store Day release. The swirls and everything around Elton’s head were inspired by famous graphic designer Milton Glaser (he did the iconic Bob Dylan poster), and I put in Bernie’s face [in Elton’s left ear], Elton’s faces, and even a Steve Brown face [on Elton’s left lapel].”
“It was all very of the time (as, indeed, Bernie’s lyrics were for the songs on that album): bright colours and ‘flower-power’. And I feel it still stands the test of time!” –eltonjohn.com