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Album dossier / 1983

Too Low for Zero

Elton John · Pop Rock

A genuine comeback record after five commercially soft albums, Too Low for Zero reunited Elton John with lyricist Bernie Taupin (writing all the lyrics for the first time since 1976's Blue Moves) and the core of his early-1970s backing band -- Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson and Davey Johnstone -- plus percussionist Ray Cooper and Kiki Dee. Produced by Chris Thomas and written and tracked in roughly two weeks at AIR Studios Montserrat with overdubs at Sunset Sound Hollywood, the album marked John's first significant synthesizer use on record, and the original LP's die-cut cover with color-smear inner sleeve became a notable pressing detail. It went platinum in the US and UK and spent over a year on the Billboard chart.