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Reg Strikes Back is the 21st studio album by English musician Elton John. Released in 1988, it was his self-proclaimed comeback album, and his own way of fighting back against bad press.[1] The "Reg" in Reg Strikes Back refers to John's birth name, Reginald Kenneth Dwight.

Reg Strikes Back
Studio album by Elton John
Released	24 June 1988
Recorded	1987–88
Studio	AIR, London
Genre	Pop, rock
Length	42:04 (Original) 64:04 (1998 Reissue)
Label	MCA (Original Release) Rocket / Mercury (Reissue)
Producer	Chris Thomas
Elton John chronology
Elton John's Greatest Hits Vol. 3 (1987) Reg Strikes Back (1988) Sleeping with the Past (1989)
Singles from Reg Strikes Back
"I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That" Released: June 1988 "Town of Plenty" Released: September 1988 (UK) "A Word in Spanish" Released: September 1988 "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two)" Released: 1988 (US)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Chicago Tribune	(mixed)[2]
Los Angeles Times	[3]
The New York Times	(not favourable)[4]
Rolling Stone	[5]

In the US, the album was certified gold in August 1988 by the RIAA. It was also John's third studio album in the 1980's to be placed inside the top 20 of US Billboard 200 (number 16, 1988).[6]

Background

This was the last album that bassist Dee Murray (albeit without bass) appeared on prior to his death in 1992. Additionally, Nigel Olsson, the longtime drummer for John's band, appears (without drums) on backing vocals. John brought back record producer Chris Thomas for the album. This was the first studio album to be recorded and released after John's throat surgery the previous year. The album cover featured costumes from John's collection that he decided to put up for auction.

The tracks "I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That" and "A Word in Spanish" peaked at No. 2 and No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively.

While in the UK, "I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That" was the only song from the album to reach the Top 40 there, reaching #30 as the follow-up "Town of Plenty" and "A Word in Spanish" appears outside the Top 40 on the same chart, peaking at #74 and #91.

Tour

This section needs additional citations for verification. (October 2020)

After taking over a year off (to recover from throat surgery, address personal issues and record Reg Strikes Back in London), John returned to the stage with a new rhythm section. He wanted more of an R&B sound to his material, so drummer Jonathan Moffett and bassist Romeo Williams, along with backing singers Marlena Jeter, Natalie Jackson and Alex Brown, were added to the band. Guitarist Davey Johnstone, now also in the role of music director, had assembled the new band, a task that he continues to do.[7]

The band's first show was at an AIDS benefit at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, where they played a 14-song set that featured the never-released John/Taupin composition, "Love Is Worth Waiting For".[8] The US tour then began on 9 September at the Miami Arena in Miami, Florida and concluded on 22 October at New York's Madison Square Garden.[7]

After recording the follow-up album Sleeping With The Past in Denmark, the band (now with backing vocalist Mortonette Jenkins instead of Alex Brown) resumed their tour on 20 March 1989 at La Halle Tony Garnier in Lyon, France, and played across Eastern Europe and the UK, concluding on 10 June 1989 at the RDS Arena in Dublin.[7]

Track listing

• Sides one and two were combined as tracks 1–10 on CD reissues.

Personnel

Track numbering refers to CD and digital releases of the album.

• Elton John – lead vocals, backing vocals, Roland RD-1000 digital piano (1, 3, 4, 10), synthesizers (2, 5, 6, 9), organ (2), acoustic piano (5, 7, 8)
• Fred Mandel – synthesizers
• Fred McFarlane – programming
• Davey Johnstone – electric guitar (1, 2, 3, 5–9), acoustic guitar (2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10), backing vocals
• Pete Townshend – acoustic guitar (1)
• David Paton – bass
• Charlie Morgan – drums
• Ray Cooper – maracas (6-9), tambourine (6-9), timbales (6-9)
• Freddie Hubbard – trumpet (3), flugelhorn (3)
• Dee Murray – backing vocals
• Nigel Olsson – backing vocals
• Adrian Baker – additional backing vocals (10)
• Bruce Johnston – additional backing vocals (10)
• Carl Wilson – additional backing vocals (10)

Production

• Producer – Chris Thomas
• Recorded and Engineered by Bill Price, Michael Mason and Paul Wertheimer.
• Assistant Engineer – Karl Lever
• Recorded at AIR Studios (London, England), Westside Studios (London, England), Circle Seven Recording and The Record Plant (Los Angeles, CA).
• Mixed at AIR Studios (London)
• Mastered by Tim Young at CBS, London.
• All songs published by Happenstance Ltd.
• Art Direction – David Costa
• Photography – Gered Mankowitz
• Wardrobe – Bob Stacey

1998 Reissue

• Producer and remastering supervision – Mike Gill
• Remixing and additional production on tracks 12, 13 & 14 – Shep Pettibone
• Additional remixing on tracks 12 & 13 by Steve Peck
• Remixing on track 14 by Daniel Abraham
• Editing on tracks 12 & 13 – Junior Vasquez
• Remastered by Gus Dudgeon, Mike Gill and Peter Mew.

Charts

Certifications and sales

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Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[22]	Gold	35,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[23]	2× Platinum	200,000^
France (SNEP)[24]	Gold	100,000*
Italy sales 1988-1989	—	500,000[25]
Spain	—	25,000[26]
United Kingdom (BPI)[27]	Silver	60,000^
United States (RIAA)[28]	Gold	500,000^
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

External links

• Reg Strikes Back at Discogs (list of releases)

На других языках

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[de] Reg Strikes Back

Reg Strikes Back (englisch für: „Reg schlägt zurück“) ist das 21. Studioalbum des britischen Musikers Elton John.

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- [en] Reg Strikes Back

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