STUCK IN THE VINYL AGAIN - ELTON JOHN - ROCK OF THE WESTIES

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Great Monday morning gang and welcome back to Stuck In The Vinyl Again . Today we celebrate   English-American songwriter, singer and visual artist, Bernie Taupin, as he celebrates his 73rd Birthday. Happy Birthday Bernie ! He was born in 1950 and is best known as the songwriting partner of Elton John and today we have him on Elton's tenth studio album, Rock Of The Westies. The LP was released October 4, 1975 on the MCA label and produced by Gus Dudgeon. It peaked at #47 in Japan, #33 in Germany, #25 in Finland, #16 in Italy, #8 in Spain, #6 in Sweden, #5 ion the UK, #4 in Australia and New Zealand, #3 in Denmark, and #1 in Canada and on the Hot 100. Two singles were released ; "Island Girl" (#27 Billboard Adult Contemporary, #14 UK, #12 Australia, #4 Canada, New Zealand, #1 Hot 100, Cash Box) and "Grow Some Funk Of Your Own" (#14 Hot 100).

Side one

1. "Medley: Yell Help / Wednesday Night / Ugly" (John, Davey Johnstone, Taupin) 6:15

2. "Dan Dare (Pilot of the Future)" 3:29

3. "Island Girl" 3:42

4. "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" (John, Johnstone, Taupin) 4:47

5. "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)" 5:27

Side two

1. "Street Kids" 6:25

2. "Hard Luck Story" (Ann Orson & Carte Blanche) 5:16

3. "Feed Me" 4:00

4. "Billy Bones and the White Bird" 4:25

Elton John – lead vocals, acoustic piano (all except 8)

James Newton Howard – harpsichord (1), Elka Rhapsody string synthesizer (1), ARP synthesizer (1, 3), Hohner clavinet (1, 2), mellotron (3), electric piano (4, 5, 7, 8, 9), synthesizers (4, 5, 9)

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), acoustic guitar (4, 5), guitar solo (5)

Caleb Quaye – electric guitar (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9), backing vocals (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8), acoustic guitar (3, 4, 5), rhythm guitar (6), lead guitar solo (6)

Kenny Passarelli – bass guitar, backing vocals (2, 3, 4, 6, 7)

Roger Pope – drums (1-5, 7–9)

Ray Cooper – tambourine (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 chimes (8), maracas (9), kettle drums (9)

Labelle – backing vocals (1)

Ann Orson – backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9)

Kiki Dee – backing vocals (2, 3, 4, 6–9)

Clive Franks – backing vocals (8)

Production

Gus Dudgeon – producer

Jeff Guercio – engineer

Mark Guercio – assistant engineer

Arun Chakraverty – mastering

John Tobler – liner notes

Terry O'Neill – album cover photograph

David Larkham – art direction and design