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Sleeping with the Past (1989)

Where the lyrics of Sleeping with the Past take you, and where it was really made.

Recorded in Denmark, this album became Elton John's best-selling record of the 1980s, even though it first received lukewarm reviews.

Key places

Puk Recording Studios in Denmark (1989)

Recording site Puk Recording Studios — Puk Recording Studios in Gjerlev, Denmark, is listed as a recording location for the album. John played the Bösendorfer acoustic piano here on 'I Never Knew Her Name' and 'Blue Avenue', and 'Love Is Worth Waiting For' was further worked on at Puk. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

AIR London recording location (1989)

Recording site Wild Bunch Studios (London) — AIR Oxford Circus is listed as a London recording location for the album. Only the city centre is pinned, so the exact studio building is not marked. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Sleeping with the Past: 22nd studio album by British musician Elton John
• Released 4 September 1989
• Dedicated to longtime writing partner Bernie Taupin
• Best-selling album in Denmark, where it was recorded
• Features 'Sacrifice' and 'Healing Hands', issued as a double A-side
• Became John's best-selling album of the 1980s

Background

• John and Taupin wanted the songs to reflect 1960s R&B singers Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding and Sam Cooke
• Follows 1988's Reg Strikes Back; the pair aimed for a cohesive album with one consistent theme
• Billy Joel's 1983 album An Innocent Man inspired a similar tribute to the R&B sound of the 1960s and 1970s
• Months after completion, John linked the album's creative success to unpleasant chapters in his life drawing to a close
• John went into rehabilitation in 1990

Recording

• Recorded in Denmark, at Puk Recording Studios
• John played a Roland RD-1000 digital piano on most songs
• On 'I Never Knew Her Name' and 'Blue Avenue' he played a Bösendorfer acoustic piano at Puk
• Davey Johnstone is the only member of the 'classic' Elton John Band who appears on the album
• Guy Babylon made his first appearance on an Elton John album
• Chris Thomas produced and David Nicholas engineered the album
• Remastered in 1998 by Gus Dudgeon for the Elton John: The Classic Years series

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in Pinner, Middlesex, on 25 March 1947.
• Won a junior scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at age 11.
• Formed the blues band Bluesology in 1962; took the name Elton John in 1967.
• Joined DJM Records as a staff songwriter with lyricist Bernie Taupin in 1968.

Members

• Partnered with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967; Taupin writes lyrics and John composes the music.
• Backing band over the years included Davey Johnstone, Nigel Olsson, Dee Murray and Ray Cooper.

Career

• Debut album Empty Sky (1969); Honky Château (1972) became his first US number-one album.
• Seven consecutive US number-one albums between 1972 and 1975.
• Composed The Lion King and Aida with Tim Rice; won Academy Awards and a Tony Award.
• Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour (2018–2023) was the highest-grossing tour at the time.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Received lukewarm reviews when released in 1989
• Released late in John's 1989 American tour leg, with little support from MCA Records
• At a New Haven, Connecticut show on 18 October 1989, John said he would not perform material from the new album because MCA was not promoting it

Records

• UK Albums Chart: peaked at No. 6 in October 1989
• After 'Sacrifice' and 'Healing Hands' reached No. 1 as a double A-side single in June 1990, the album returned to No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart
• Gave John his first UK No. 1 album since 1974's Elton John's Greatest Hits
• First UK platinum album since 1985's Ice on Fire
• Became his highest-selling studio album in the UK, certified 3× Platinum
• United States: certified gold by the RIAA in October 1989 and platinum in April 1990
• Became John's best selling album of the 1980s
• 'Whispers' reached No. 11 in France; 'Blue Avenue' reached the Top 75 in the Netherlands

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Guy Babylon made his debut on this album and went on to play keyboards with John for the next 20 years
• 'Love Is a Cannibal' was featured in the 1989 film Ghostbusters II
• Wynonna Judd recorded a contemporary country cover of 'Stone's Throw from Hurtin'', which was featured in the 1992 film Leap of Faith starring Steve Martin
• John collapsed onstage during the first week of the tour that followed the album
• 'Dancing in the End Zone' and 'Love Is a Cannibal' were released as B-sides and later added as bonus tracks on CD reissues

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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