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{{Redirect|The Greatest Discovery|the Star Trek podcast|The Greatest Discovery (podcast)}} |
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{{ Album infobox | <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Albums --> |
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{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}} |
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| Name = Elton John |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}} |
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| Type = ] |
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{{Infobox album |
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| Artist = ] |
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| Cover = Elton John - Elton John.jpg |
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| name = Elton John |
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| Background = orange |
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| type = studio |
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| Released = August ] |
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| artist = ] |
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| cover = Elton John - Elton John.jpg |
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| Recorded = 1970 |
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| Genre = ] |
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| alt = |
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| released = {{Start date|1970|4|10|df=yes}} |
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| Length = 54:56 |
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| Label = ] |
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| recorded = January 1970 |
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| Producer = ] |
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| studio = ], ] |
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| Reviews = |
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| genre = ] |
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| length = {{Duration|m=39|s=27}} |
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*'']'' ] |
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| label = {{hlist|]|]}} |
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*] (B) |
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| producer = ] |
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* '']'' (not rated) |
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| Last album = '']'' <br /> (1969) |
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| prev_title = ] |
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| prev_year = 1969 |
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| This album = ''Elton John'' <br /> (1970) |
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| Next album = '']'' <br /> (1970) |
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| next_title = ] |
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| next_year = 1970 |
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| misc = {{Singles |
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| name = Elton John |
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| type = studio |
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| single1 = ] |
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| single1date = 20 March 1970<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Elton+John&titel=Border+Song&cat=s|title=Elton John - Border Song|first=Steffen|last=Hung|website=hitparade.ch}}</ref> |
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| single2 = ] |
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| single2date = 26 October 1970 |
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}} |
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}} |
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}} |
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'''''Elton John''''' is the second{{efn|''Elton John'' was John's first album to be released in the United States, as his debut album '']'' (1969) would not be released there until 1975.}} studio album by English singer-songwriter ]. It was released on 10 April 1970 through ]. Including John's breakthrough single "]", the album helped establish his career during the rise of the singer-songwriter era of popular music. |
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'''''Elton John''''' is the second album from ]. |
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In the US, ''Elton John'' was certified gold in February 1971 by the ]. In the same year, it was nominated for the ] at the ]. In 2003, the album was ranked number 468 on '']'' magazine's list of ]. On 27 November 2012, it was inducted into the ] as an album cited as exhibiting "qualitative or historical significance".<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219001619/http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/hall-of-fame#g |date=19 February 2011 }}. ''Grammy.org''. Retrieved 21 December 2012</ref> |
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Because '']'' didn't see an American release, Elton John's self-titled second album was many people's first exposure to his music. Compared to the ambitious ''Empty Sky'', the follow-up features the catchy melodies and intelligent lyrics that John and lyricist ] became known for. Prime among these was "]", which became one of their ] efforts. |
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==Production== |
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This was the first of a string of John albums produced by ]. As Dudgeon recalled in a '']'' magazine interview, the album was not actually intended to launch John as an artist, but rather as a collection of polished demos for other artists to consider recording his and co-writer ]'s songs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mixonline.com/recording/gus-dudgeon-1942-2002-364951|title=Gus Dudgeon, 1942–2002|first=Rick|last=Clark|website=Mixonline|date=October 2002 }}</ref> Two songs from the album did find their way into the repertoire of other artists in 1970: "]" was recorded by ] as an album track on their LP '']'', while ] released a cover of "]" as a single that reached number 37 in the US ] and number 5 on the ], later included on her 1972 album '']''. |
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The song "No Shoe Strings on Louise" was intended (as homage or parody) to sound like a ] song.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.resurrectionsongs.com/2015/04/18/wont-you-please-excuse-my-frankness-but-its-not-my-cup-of-tea-elton-john-elton-john-1970/ |author= J |date= 18 April 2015 |title= Won't you please excuse my frankness but it's not my cup of tea: Elton John – ''Elton John'' (1970) |publisher= www.resurrectionsongs.com |access-date= 3 October 2016 |quote= The side is rounded off with the 'Rolling Stones country' tinged 'No Shoe Strings on Louise' (even Elton's phrasing is similar to Jagger's at times – "All those city women want to make us poor men and this land's got the worse for the worrying")... |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161003204206/http://www.resurrectionsongs.com/2015/04/18/wont-you-please-excuse-my-frankness-but-its-not-my-cup-of-tea-elton-john-elton-john-1970/ |archive-date= 3 October 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Bernardin |first= Claude |title= Rocket Man: Elton John From A – Z |url= https://archive.org/details/rocketmaneltonjo00bern |url-access= registration |location= Westport, Conn. |publisher= Greenwood/Praeger |year= 1995 |page= |isbn= 0-275-95698-9 |quote= He tried to impersonate Mick Jagger. The song is about loose women.}}</ref> |
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==Reception== |
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{{Music ratings |
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|rev1 = ] |
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|rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>Stephen Thomas Erlewine . Allmusic.</ref> |
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|rev2 = '']'' |
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|rev2score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|chapter=John, Elton|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|title-link=Encyclopedia of Popular Music|publisher=Omnibus Press|location=London|edition=5th concise|year=2011|isbn=978-0-85712-595-8|page=2,003}}</ref> |
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}} |
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] in a contemporary (1970) review for '']'' felt that the album was over-produced and over-orchestrated, comparing it unfavourably with the less mannered and orchestrated '']''; though he felt that John had "so immense a talent" that "he'll delight you senseless despite it all".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/eltonjohn/albums/album/121562/review/5942220/elton_john| author=]|magazine=]|date=12 Nov 1970|title=Album Reviews Elton John| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002034152/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/eltonjohn/albums/album/121562/review/5942220/elton_john| archive-date=2 October 2007}}</ref> ] in his weekly "Consumer Guide" column for '']'' also felt the album was overdone ("overweening", "histrionic overload", "semi-classical ponderousness"), but that it had "a surprising complement of memorable tracks", including "Your Song" which, despite its "affected offhandedness", he considered "an instant standard".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=7129|work=robertchristgau.com|author=]|date=November 1970|title=Consumer Guide Album Elton John: Elton John}}</ref> |
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{{Clear}} |
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==Track listing== |
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==Track listing== |
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{{track listing |
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# ] |
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| all_writing = ] and ] |
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# I Need You To Turn To |
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| headline = Side one |
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# Take Me To The Pilot |
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| title1 = ] |
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# No Shoe String On Louise |
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| length1 = 4:04 |
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# First Episode At Hienton |
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| title2 = I Need You to Turn To |
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# Sixty Years On |
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| length2 = 2:32 |
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# Border Song |
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| title3 = ] |
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# The Greatest Discovery |
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| length3 = 3:46 |
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# The Cage |
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| title4 = No Shoe Strings on Louise |
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# The King Must Die |
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| length4 = 3:31 |
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# Bad Side Of The Moon * |
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| title5 = First Episode at Hienton |
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# Grey Seal (original version) * |
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| length5 = 4:48 |
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#Rock And Roll Madonna * |
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}} |
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{{track listing |
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| headline = Side two |
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| title6 = Sixty Years On |
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| length6 = 4:35 |
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| title7 = ] |
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| length7 = 3:22 |
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| title8 = The Greatest Discovery |
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| length8 = 4:12 |
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| title9 = The Cage |
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| length9 = 3:28 |
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| title10 = The King Must Die |
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| length10 = 5:21 |
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| total_length = 39:27 |
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}} |
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{{track listing |
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| headline = Bonus tracks (1995 Mercury and 1996 Rocket reissue) |
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| title11 = Bad Side of the Moon |
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| length11 = 3:15 |
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| title12 = Grey Seal |
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| length12 = 3:35 |
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| title13 = ] |
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| length13 = 4:18 |
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| total_length = 50:35 |
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}} |
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{{Track listing |
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(*) bonus tracks included on the digitally-remastered 1996 re-release |
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| headline = 2008 deluxe edition bonus disc |
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| title1 = Your Song |
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| note1 = Demo version |
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| length1 = 3:33 |
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| title2 = I Need You to Turn To |
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| note2 = Piano demo |
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| length2 = 2:10 |
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| title3 = Take Me to the Pilot |
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| note3 = Piano demo |
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| length3 = 2:34 |
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| title4 = No Shoe Strings on Louise |
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| note4 = Piano demo |
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| length4 = 3:31 |
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| title5 = Sixty Years On |
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| note5 = Piano demo |
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| length5 = 4:20 |
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| title6 = The Greatest Discovery |
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| note6 = Piano demo |
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| length6 = 3:56 |
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| title7 = The Cage |
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| note7 = Demo version |
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| length7 = 3:20 |
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| title8 = The King Must Die |
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| note8 = Piano demo |
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| length8 = 5:22 |
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| title9 = Rock and Roll Madonna |
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| note9 = Piano demo |
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| length9 = 3:10 |
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| title10 = Thank You Mama |
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| note10 = Piano demo |
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| length10 = 3:19 |
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| title11 = All the Way Down to El Paso |
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| note11 = Piano demo |
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| length11 = 2:48 |
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| title12 = I'm Going Home |
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| note12 = Piano demo |
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| length12 = 3:03 |
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| title13 = Grey Seal |
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| note13 = Piano demo |
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| length13 = 3:18 |
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| title14 = Rock and Roll Madonna |
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| note14 = Incomplete band demo |
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| length14 = 2:53 |
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| title15 = Bad Side of the Moon |
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| length15 = 3:11 |
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| title16 = Grey Seal |
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| note16 = 1970 version |
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| length16 = 3:34 |
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| title17 = Rock and Roll Madonna |
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| length17 = 4:16 |
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| title18 = Border Song |
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| note18 = ] session |
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| length18 = 3:19 |
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| title19 = Your Song |
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| note19 = BBC session |
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| length19 = 3:59 |
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| title20 = Take Me to the Pilot |
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| note20 = BBC session |
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| length20 = 3:33 |
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| total_length = 65:49 |
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}} |
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==B-sides== |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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|- |
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! Song |
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! Format |
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| "Bad Side of the Moon" || "Border Song" 7" (US) |
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|- |
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| "Into the Old Man's Shoes" || "Your Song" 7" (UK) |
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|} |
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==Live recordings== |
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John performed many of these songs live,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Elton John Albums Statistics|url=https://www.setlist.fm/stats/albums/elton-john-63d6be6f.html |website=setlist.fm}}</ref> and included six of these ten songs on his 1987 album '']''. |
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==Personnel== |
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==Personnel== |
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Track numbers refer to CD and digital releases of the album. |
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*Elton John - ], ], ], ] |
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* Elton John – piano, vocals (all tracks), ] (2) |
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*] - vocals, background vocals |
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* Diana Lewis – ] (5, 9) |
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*] - ] |
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* ] – organ (6, 7) |
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*Tony Burrows - vocals, background vocals |
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*Frank Clark - ], ], ] |
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* Frank Clark – acoustic guitar (1), double bass (10) |
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* Colin Green – additional guitar (1, 7), Spanish guitar (6) |
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*Roger Cook - vocals, background vocals |
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* Clive Hicks – ] (1), rhythm guitar (4), guitar (7, 8, 10), acoustic guitar (9) |
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*Terry Cox - ] |
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* Roland Harker – guitar (2) |
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*Brian Dee - ], keyboard |
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* ] – rhythm guitar (3) |
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*Lesley Duncan - vocals, background vocals |
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* ] – lead guitar (3, 4, 5), additional guitar (9) |
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*Kay Garner - vocals, background vocals |
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* ] – bass guitar, double bass (1, 7, 8) |
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*Colin Green - guitar, ] |
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*Roland Harker - guitar |
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* Alan Weighall – bass guitar (3, 4, 9) |
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* Les Hurdle – bass guitar (10) |
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*Tony Hazzard - vocals, background vocals |
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* ] – drums (1, 3, 4, 7, 9) |
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*Clive Hicks - acoustic guitar, guitar, ], ] |
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* ] – drums (8, 10) |
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*Les Hurdie - bass |
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* Dennis Lopez – percussion (3, 4) |
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*Skaila Kanga - ] |
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* Tex Navarra – percussion (9) |
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*David Katz - ] |
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* ] – ] (2, 8) |
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*Diana Lewis - ], ] |
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* ] – cello solo (8), orchestral arrangements and conductor |
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*Dennis Lopez - ] |
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* David Katz – orchestra contractor |
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*Barbara Moore - vocals, choir, chorus |
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* ] – backing vocals (3, 4, 7, 9) |
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*Barry Morgan - drums |
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* ] – backing vocals (3, 4, 7, 9) |
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*Tex Navarra - percussion |
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* ] – backing vocals (3, 4, 7, 9) |
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*Alan Parker - rhythm guitar |
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* ] – backing vocals (3, 4, 7, 9) |
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*] - guitar |
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* Kay Garner – backing vocals (3, 4, 7, 9) |
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*Dave Richmond - bass |
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* ] – backing vocals (3, 4, 7, 9) |
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*Alan Weighall - bass |
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* ] – backing vocals, ] leader (7) |
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;Technical |
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==Production== |
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*Producer: Gus Dudgeon |
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* ] – producer, liner notes |
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*Engineer: Robin Geoffrey Cable |
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* Robin Geoffrey Cable – ] |
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*Editing: Gus Skinas |
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* Gus Skinas – editing |
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* Alan Harris – original mastering |
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*Remastering: Tony Cousins |
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* Tony Cousins – remastering |
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*Digital transfers: Ricky Graham |
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* Ricky Graham – digital transfers |
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*Surround sound: Greg Penny |
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* Greg Penny – ] |
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*Lyricist: Bernie Taupin |
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* Steve Brown – production coordinator |
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*Arranger: Paul Buckmaster |
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* David Larkham – ] |
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*Orchestra contractor: David Katz |
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* Stowell Stanford – photography |
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*Art direction: David Larkham |
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* Jim Goff – artwork |
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*Liner notes: Gus Dudgeon, John Tobler |
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* ] – liner notes |
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==Accolades== |
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'''Grammy Awards''' |
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{{Awards table}} |
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|- |
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| style="width:35px; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|] || rowspan="2"| ''Elton John'' || ]<ref name="1970saoty">{{cite web|title=GRAMMYs' Best Albums 1970–1979 |url=http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/news/grammys-best-albums-0 |work=grammy.org |access-date=1 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304111252/http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/news/grammys-best-albums-0 |archive-date=4 March 2014 }}</ref> || {{nom}} |
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|- |
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| ]<ref name="Best Pop Vocal Performance - Male">{{cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/grammy/popsolo.htm|title=Grammy Awards: Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male|publisher=rockonthenet.com|access-date=13 July 2015}}</ref> || {{nom}} |
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{{End}} |
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==Charts== |
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==Charts== |
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{{col-begin}} |
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'''Album''' - ] (North America) |
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{{col-2}} |
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{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 width="550px" |
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!align="left"|Year |
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===Weekly charts=== |
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!align="left"|Chart |
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{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
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!align="left"|Position |
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|- |
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! scope="col"| Chart (1970–1972) |
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! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |
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|- |
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! scope="row"| Australian Albums (])<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref> |
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| align="center"| 2 |
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|- |
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{{Album chart|Canada|4|chartid=3762|artist=Elton John|album=Elton John|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 January 2024}} |
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|- |
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{{Album chart|Netherlands|2|artist=Elton John|album=Elton John|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 January 2024}} |
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|- |
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!scope="row"|Japanese Albums (])<ref name="JPN">{{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005|publisher=]|location=Roppongi, Tokyo|year=2006|isbn=4-87131-077-9|language=ja}}</ref> |
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| align="center"| 40 |
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|- |
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|- |
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{{Album chart|UK2|5|date=19710228|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 January 2024}} |
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|align="left"|1971 |
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|align="left"|Pop Albums |
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|align="left"|4 |
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|- |
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{{Album chart|Billboard200|4|artist=Elton John|rowheader=true|accessdate=12 January 2024}} |
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{{col-2}} |
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===Year-end charts=== |
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'''Singles''' - Billboard (North America) |
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{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
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{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 width="550px" |
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! scope="col"| Chart (1971) |
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!align="left"|Year |
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!align="left"|Single |
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! scope="col"| Position |
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!align="left"|Chart |
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!align="left"|Position |
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|- |
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|- |
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!scope="row"|Australian Albums (])<ref name="auchart">{{Cite book|title=]|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, NSW|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref> |
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|align="left"|1970 |
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|24 |
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|align="left"|"Border Song" |
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|align="left"|Pop Singles |
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|align="left"|92 |
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|- |
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|- |
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!scope="row"|Dutch Albums (])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1971&cat=a |title=Dutch charts jaaroverzichten 1971 |format=ASP |language=nl |access-date=2 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512112218/http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1971&cat=a |archive-date=12 May 2014 }}</ref> |
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|align="left"|1971 |
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|17 |
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|align="left"|"Your Song" |
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|align="left"|Pop Singles |
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|align="left"|8 |
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|- |
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|- |
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!scope="row"|US '']'' |
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|30 |
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{{col-end}} |
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==Certifications== |
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] |
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{{Certification Table Top}} |
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{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=1970|region=Australia|artist=Elton John|title=Elton John|certyear=1974|award=Gold|certref=<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bid.omegaauctions.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-368---elton-john---seld-titled-lp-gold-australian-award/?lot=30933|date=20 February 2023|title=Elton John Self Titled LP. Australian Gold Disc Award}}</ref>}} |
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{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=1974|region=Canada|artist=Elton John|title=Elton John|certyear=2012|award=Platinum|certref=<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.julienslive.com/lot-details/index/catalog/427/lot/193481|date=27 February 2023|title=Elton John: Self-Titled "Platinum" Record Award}}</ref>}} |
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{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|award=Gold|certref=<ref name=CB>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Cash-Box-IDX/70s/1974/CB-1974-07-06-II-OCR-Page-0178.pdf#search=%22tales%20of%20topographic%20gold%20award%22|access-date=20 December 2020|title=great britain's million sellers, 1972-73|magazine=]|date=July 6, 1974|page=8, Part II}}</ref>|relyear=1970}} |
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{{Certification Table Entry|title=Elton John|artist=Elton John|type=album|relyear=1970|certyear=1972|region=United States|award=Platinum|salesamount=1,000,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite web|url= |
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http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Record-World-IDX/IDX/70s/72/Record-World-1972-12-16-OCR-Page-0006.pdf#search=%22elton%20john%20platinum%20two%20million%22|title=IT'S PLATINUM}}</ref>}} |
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{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}} |
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==Notes== |
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{{notelist}} |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist|30em}} |
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==External links== |
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*{{Discogs master|type=album|84203|name=Elton John}} |
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{{Elton John}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Elton John (Album)}} |
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The song "No Shoe Strings on Louise" was intended (as homage or parody) to sound like a Rolling Stones song.
