Breaking Hearts
Breaking Hearts | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by Elton John | ||||
Released | 9 June 1984[1] | |||
Recorded | December 1983 – April 1984 | |||
Studio | AIR, Montserrat | |||
Genre | Pop rock | |||
Length | 40:43 | |||
Label | Geffen (US), Rocket (UK) | |||
Producer | Chris Thomas | |||
Elton John chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Breaking Hearts | ||||
| ||||
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Record Mirror | [3] |
Rolling Stone | [4] |
Smash Hits | 3/10[5] |
Breaking Hearts is the eighteenth studio album by English musician Elton John, released in 1984. It features the quartet of John, Davey Johnstone, Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson. There were four top-40 singles from the album: "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" (US #5/UK #7), "Who Wears These Shoes" (US #16), "In Neon" (US #38), and the UK No. 5 hit "Passengers".
Background
This album would be the last to feature all (core) members of the classic "Elton John Band" lineup playing their instruments (although they would reunite to provide backing vocals on John's Reg Strikes Back album). It was the last of John's studio albums to feature bass from Murray, who would die in 1992 of skin cancer, and it was the last studio album until 2001's Songs from the West Coast that would feature Olsson on drums. It was also the last recorded album in which John played both piano and keyboards in the studio by himself.
Breaking Hearts was also the first album since Victim of Love to not feature a string or horn section on any track. This is one of only two albums with John's classic band to which (unofficial member) Ray Cooper did not contribute at all, the other being 1973's Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player. Shortly after the tour, the band line-up would change and Gus Dudgeon, John's former producer, would produce the next two albums. In the US, it was certified gold in September 1984 and platinum in August 1998 by the RIAA.
John has continued performing "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" as of 2022, as he included the song in his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour setlist. Apart from the 1984 Breaking Hearts Tour (both the European and the North American leg), no other songs from the album have been performed live except "Restless" and "Passengers", on the following 1985–1986 Ice on Fire World Tour (the latter song only performed on the UK leg).
Track listing
All tracks are written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, except where noted
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Restless" | 5:17 |
2. | "Slow Down Georgie (She's Poison)" | 4:10 |
3. | "Who Wears These Shoes?" | 4:04 |
4. | "Breaking Hearts (Ain't What It Used to Be)" | 3:34 |
5. | "Li'l 'Frigerator" | 3:37 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Passengers" (John, Taupin, Davey Johnstone, Phineas Mkhize) | 3:24 |
2. | "In Neon" | 4:19 |
3. | "Burning Buildings" | 4:02 |
4. | "Did He Shoot Her?" | 3:21 |
5. | "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" | 4:55 |
Total length: | 40:43 |
- Sides one and two were combined as tracks 1–10 on CD reissues.
Personnel
Track numbering refers to CD and digital releases of the album.
- Elton John – lead and backing vocals, synthesizers (tracks 1-3, 5-7, 9, 10), pianos (tracks 3-5, 7-10), Hammond organ (track 5), harmonium (track 6), Fender Rhodes (track 7), harpsichord (track 7), clavinet (track 10)
- Davey Johnstone – backing vocals (tracks 1–4, 6-10), electric guitar (tracks 1–3, 5, 7-9), acoustic guitar (tracks 2, 6-8, 10), sitar (track 9)
- Dee Murray – bass guitar (tracks 1–3, 5-10), backing vocals (tracks 1–4, 6-10)
- Nigel Olsson – drums (tracks 1–3, 5-10), backing vocals (tracks 1–4, 6-10)
- Andrew Thompson – saxophone (track 5)
Production
- Chris Thomas – producer
- Renate Blauel – recording
- Tim Young – mastering (UK)
- Greg Fulginiti – mastering (US)
- David Costa – art direction, design
- Richard Young – photography
- Patrick Jones – band photography
- Herb Ritts – Bernie Taupin photo
Charts
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
New Zealand (RMNZ)[24] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[14] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[25] | Gold | 25,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[26] | Gold | 240,000[23] |
United States (RIAA)[27] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ 1980s
- ^ "Breaking Hearts". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
- ^ Smith, Robin (23 June 1984). "Albums". Record Mirror. p. 18. ISSN 0144-5804.
- ^ [1] Archived 4 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Hibbert, Tom (5–18 July 1984). "Album Reviews". Smash Hits. 6 (14): 21.
- ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Elton John – Breaking Hearts" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 5268". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Elton John – Breaking Hearts" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Elton John – Breaking Hearts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ a b Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Elton John – Breaking Hearts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Elton John – Breaking Hearts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ a b Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Elton John – Breaking Hearts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Elton John – Breaking Hearts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Elton John Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Jahreshitparade 1984" (in German). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 29 March 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Top 100 Albums of 1984". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 5 January 1985. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1984 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1984" (in German). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 6 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Complete UK Year-End Albums Chart – 1984". Chart Heaven. Archived from the original on 19 May 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Elton John – Breaking Hearts". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Elton On Fire" (PDF). Music & Media. World Radio History. 3 May 1986. p. 3. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "British album certifications – Elton John – Breaking Hearts". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "American album certifications – Elton John – Breaking Hearts". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
External links
- Breaking Hearts at Discogs (list of releases)
- v
- t
- e
- Empty Sky
- Elton John
- Tumbleweed Connection
- Madman Across the Water
- Honky Château
- Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
- Caribou
- Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
- Rock of the Westies
- Blue Moves
- A Single Man
- Victim of Love
- 21 at 33
- The Fox
- Jump Up!
- Too Low for Zero
- Breaking Hearts
- Ice on Fire
- Leather Jackets
- Reg Strikes Back
- Sleeping with the Past
- The One
- Duets
- Made in England
- The Big Picture
- Songs from the West Coast
- Peachtree Road
- The Captain & the Kid
- The Diving Board
- Wonderful Crazy Night
- Regimental Sgt. Zippo
- The Lockdown Sessions
- Friends
- The Lion King (1994)
- Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida
- The Muse
- The Road to El Dorado
- Gnomeo & Juliet
- Rocketman
- The Lion King (2019)
- Greatest Hits
- Greatest Hits Volume II
- The Thom Bell Sessions
- Lady Samantha
- Greatest Hits Vol. 3
- The Complete Thom Bell Sessions
- To Be Continued
- The Very Best of Elton John
- Rare Masters
- Greatest Hits 1976–1986
- Chartbusters Go Pop
- Classic Elton John
- Love Songs
- Prologue
- Greatest Hits 1970–2002
- Elton John's Christmas Party
- Rocket Man: The Definitive Hits
- Diamonds
- Elton: Jewel Box
- "I've Been Loving You"
- The Thom Bell Sessions
- Remixed
- Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin
- The Union
- Good Morning to the Night
- Revamp & Restoration
- 1970 World Tour
- West of the Rockies Tour
- Louder Than Concorde Tour
- 1979 tour of the Soviet Union
- 1980 World Tour
- Jump Up Tour
- Too Low for Zero Tour
- European Express Tour
- Breaking Hearts Tour
- Ice on Fire Tour
- Tour De Force
- Sleeping with the Past Tour
- The One Tour
- Face to Face 1994
- Face to Face 1995
- Made in England Tour
- Face to Face 1998
- An Evening with Elton John
- Medusa Tour
- Stately Home Tour
- Face to Face 2001
- Songs from the West Coast Tour
- Face to Face 2002
- A Journey Through Time
- 2003 Tour
- Face to Face 2003
- 2004 Tour
- Peachtree Road Tour
- 2006 European Tour
- The Captain and the Kid Tour
- Rocket Man: Greatest Hits Live
- Face to Face 2009
- Face to Face 2010
- 2010 European Tour
- Greatest Hits Tour
- 40th Anniversary of the Rocket Man
- The Diving Board Tour
- Follow the Yellow Brick Road Tour
- All the Hits Tour
- The Final Curtain Tour
- Wonderful Crazy Night Tour
- Farewell Yellow Brick Road
performances
- The Lion King
- 1994 film
- 2019 film
- 1997 musical
- The Road to El Dorado
- Billy Elliot the Musical
- Aida
- Lestat
- The Devil Wears Prada
- Tammy Faye
- Bernie Taupin
- Elton John Band
- Gus Dudgeon
- Paul Buckmaster
- John Reid
- Ray Williams
- Dick James
- DJM Records
- David Furnish
- Kiki Dee
- Elton John AIDS Foundation
- Watford F.C.
- Bluesology
- Hookfoot
- Woodside, Old Windsor
- Rocket Pictures
- Elton John: Tantrums & Tiaras
- Elton John: Me, Myself & I
- The Union
- Elton John: The Classic Years
- Rocketman (film)
- Me
- Category