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The Captain & the Kid (2006)

Where the lyrics of The Captain & the Kid take you, and where it was really made.

Elton John's second autobiographical album with Bernie Taupin reached No. 6 in the UK but left the US chart quickly, and no physical single was released.

Key places

Recorded at Center Stage, Atlanta (2006)

Recording site Center Stage — Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia is listed as one of the recording locations for The Captain & the Kid. John Antenucci is credited as studio manager for Center Stage. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Townhouse Studios, London (2006)

Recording site Townhouse Studios — Townhouse Studios in London, England is listed as one of the recording locations for The Captain & the Kid. The album was also recorded in Atlanta at Center Stage. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• The Captain & the Kid: 28th studio album by British musician Elton John
• Released in 2006
• Second autobiographical album with lyricist Bernie Taupin
• Picks up where Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975) left off
• Chronicles events in their lives over the three decades in between

Background

• Manager Merck Mercuriadis suggested in 2005 that John and Taupin write a follow-up to Captain Fantastic and The Brown Dirt Cowboy
• Interscope Records released no physical single, emphasizing the album as a body of work
• Third album after Tumbleweed Connection and Leather Jackets without a UK Top 40 single
• Radio single 'The Bridge' was released
• Booklet has photos of John and Taupin from throughout their careers
• 'And the House Fell Down' is based (metaphorically) on The Three Little Pigs
• First album by John and Taupin to show both of them together on the front cover

Recording

• Matt Still served as producer, recording engineer and mixing engineer
• Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia and Townhouse Studios in London are listed as recording locations
• Bob Ludwig mastered the album at Gateway Mastering in Portland, Maine
• Guy Babylon played keyboards; it was the last studio album to feature him, and he died in 2009

Cover

• Cover photography by Ryan McGinley
• Art direction and design by David Costa

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

• The Captain & the Kid reached No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart, a clear improvement over the previous album Peachtree Road (2004), which peaked at No. 21
• Interscope Records announced there would be no physical single from the album

Reappraisal

• At concerts in early 2007, John made clear his dissatisfaction with Interscope Records' promotion of the album
• He had threatened to terminate his contract with the label over this
• Because of that, John did not release a solo album again until 2013's The Diving Board

Records

• UK Albums Chart: No. 6
• US Billboard 200: No. 18
• Fell off the US chart quickly after debuting
• Previous album Peachtree Road: UK No. 21 (2004)

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Guy Babylon's keyboard work on this album was his last on a Elton John studio album, and he died in 2009
• Bob Birch's bass and vocals here were his last appearance on any of John's solo studio albums before his own death in August 2012
• The booklet's lyrics section includes 'Across the River Thames' and '12', which do not appear on the album
• 'Across the River Thames' was offered as a free download to anyone who played the CD on a computer
• Producer Matt Still said John's spaniel Arthur barked during the recording of 'Just Like Noah's Ark', and that bark was sampled in place of the cowbell

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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