LOS ANGELES (Island/Universal/UMe) - With a new
Elton John album, PEACHTREE ROAD, being issued on Universal Records on November 9, 2004, five of Elton's earliest albums will be issued in the SACD Hybrid format on October 26, 2004. Simultaneously released in the new format will be three early albums from another icon, fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Eric Clapton. Each album, which can be played in SACD
Stereo and SACD Surround Sound on SACD players and in CD Audio on CD and DVD-Video players, has been remastered using the original analog master tapes.
The Elton releases on Island/Universal/UMe reformat the definitive mid-'90s CD reissues update from one of the top-selling solo artists of all time, while retaining their liner notes, graphics and bonus tracks.
ELTON JOHN (1970) was his breakthrough second album. His first to go gold, the LP hit No 4 thanks to the gentle ballad "Your Song," which charted Top 10. Other fan favorites penned by John and lyricist Bernie Taupin are "Take Me To The Pilot," "Sixty Years On" and "Border Song." The bonus tracks are "Bad Side Of The Moon," "Grey Seal" and "Rock 'N' Roll Madonna."
TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION (1971), his third studio album, reached No 5 and was platinum certified. Though it failed to score any hits, "Ballad Of A Well-Known Gun," "Where To Now St. Peter?" and "Burn Down The Mission" remain Elton classics. The bonuses are "Into The Old Man's Shoes" and the original version of "Madman Across The Water."
MADMAN ACROSS THE WATER (1971), his fourth studio album, was again Top 10 (No 8) and reached double platinum status. Alongside the title track and popular "Tiny Dancer" was the album's highest-charter, the Top 30 "Levon."
HONKY CHATEAU (1972), his fifth studio album, stayed at No 1 for five weeks, went platinum and solidified Elton's stardom. The album boasted the Top 10s "Honky Cat" (No 8) and "Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time)" (No 6). "Rocket Man" began a streak of 16 Top 20 hits in a row and the album a streak of seven platinum No 1s. The bonus track is an alternate version of "Slave."
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC AND THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY (1975), his ninth studio album, became the first album by any artist to debut No 1 in the U.S. A triple platinum smash, it was led by the gold, No 4 pop "Someone Saved My Life Tonight." The bonuses are his gold No 1 cover of The Beatles' "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds," the John Lennon-penned "One Day At A Time" and "Philadelphia Freedom," which went platinum and also hit No 1.
Also released are three reissues from Eric Clapton, one of the most popular and respected rock artists in history. All of the EJ albums were mixed in surround sound by Greg Penny, whose previous effort was the GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD Deluxe Edition. The stereo programs on all the albums were remastered by Tony Cousins, using the original EQ notes from the late Gus Dudgeon.
LAYLA AND OTHER ASSORTED LOVE SONGS (1970) was officially from Derek and the Dominos, the group Clapton formed with Delaney & Bonnie alums Bobby Whitlock (organ), Carl Radle (bass) and Jim Gordon (drums) following his 1970 solo debut. With one of the all-time great rock songs, the epic seven-minute "Layla" (which hit No 10 pop and included Duane Allman on guitar), the gold Top 20 album also boasted "Bell Bottom Blues," "Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?" and "Have You Ever Loved A Woman."
461 OCEAN BOULEVARD (1974), his second solo studio outing, went to No 1 pop and gold. Clapton's reading of Bob Marley's outlaw anthem "I Shot The Sheriff" served as many American listeners' first exposure to reggae as it soared to No 1 pop and Top 40 R&B and also went gold. Johnny Otis' "Willie And The Hand Jive" reached the pop Top 30.
SLOWHAND (1977), overall his fifth solo studio album, was his next to go Top 10 (No 2). The platinum disc spawned the tender "Wonderful Tonight"(No 16), country-flavored "Lay Down Sally" (No 3 and gold) and his fiery cover of J.J. Cale's cautionary "Cocaine" (No 30).
LAYLA AND OTHER ASSORTED LOVE SONGS and 461 OCEAN BOULEVARD feature surround sound mixes by the team of Simon Climie and Mick Guzauski, both of whom have worked on Eric's most recent albums. SLOWHAND was remixed for surround sound by the album's original producer, the legendary Glyn Johns.
