Peachtree Road is the twenty-seventh studio album by British singer-songwriter Elton John, released in 2004. It was named after Peachtree Road, the northern part of Peachtree Street in Atlanta, where one of John's four homes is located. This is the only album during his long career on which John has sole credit as producer. On previous projects, he was listed as a co-producer, joined by Clive Franks or Greg Penny; Franks on A Single Man, 21 at 33 and parts of The Fox; Penny on Duets and Made in England. it was recorded in January 2004.
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
Album cover
The album art on the front cover is a photograph from a railroad crossing near the Atlanta suburb of Douglasville, taken by London photographer Sam Taylor-Wood. Taken in by the American South and given complete artistic freedom, she shot thousands of photos during her week-long trip. The trip included other towns like Unadilla and Forsyth in Georgia. While she also visited Peachtree Road in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, she thought it was too busy for the album's more mellow nature. She picked several photos to present to him, and John made the final selection. Other photos from the shoot appear on the back of the album cover and in the included CD and SACD booklet.
Peach Tree Review Video
Debut performance
Songs from the album debuted at The Tabernacle in Atlanta in early November. John also performed at the November 2005 Country Music Association Awards, televised live from Madison Square Garden, duetting with Dolly Parton on "Turn the Light Out When You Leave".
Chart performance
Despite its generally positive reviews, Peachtree Road was one of John's leanest-selling contemporary efforts, reaching No. 17 in the US upon its release, yet only managing No. 21 in the UK, making it one of his rare albums to miss the top ten in his homeland. In the US, it was certified gold in December 2004 by the RIAA.
It debuted at No. 12 in Denmark in November 2004, its highest chart placing in that country.
Additional performers
In addition to Nigel Olsson playing drums on all tracks, once again a permanent member of John's touring and recording band, the album features renowned gospel vocalist Adam McKnight, as well as members of Chicago contributing horns and brass arrangements. Guy Babylon was credited with playing Hammond organ and Rhodes piano instead of keyboards, which was the case on earlier projects.
Other information
The album was re-released in July 2005 with three bonus tracks from Billy Elliot the Musical, as well as a DVD featuring nine tracks from the album performed live in Atlanta. The song "Electricity" from the musical was also released as a single in June 2005. It rose to No. 4 in the UK.
It was dedicated to the memory of Gus and Sheila Dudgeon, the former being John's original producer.
Some editions of the album included bonus - two videos for the two first singles ("Answer in the Sky" and "All That I'm Allowed").
Track listing
All music composed by Elton John. All lyrics written by Bernie Taupin.
- "Weight of the World" - 3:58
- "Porch Swing in Tupelo" - 4:38
- "Answer in the Sky" - 4:03
- "Turn the Lights Out When You Leave" - 5:02
- "My Elusive Drug" - 4:12
- "They Call Her the Cat" - 4:27
- "Freaks in Love" - 4:32
- "All That I'm Allowed" - 4:52
- "I Stop and I Breathe" - 3:39
- "Too Many Tears" - 4:14
- "It's Getting Dark in Here" - 3:50
- "I Can't Keep This from You" - 4:34
Track 8 was titled "All That I'm Allowed" on the original 2004 release of the album, but was titled "All That I'm Allowed (I'm Thankful)" on the 2005 expanded edition.
Bonus tracks (2005 CD reissue)
- "The Letter" (Lyrics: Lee Hall) - 2:33
- "Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher" (Lyrics: Hall) - 3:38
- "Electricity" (Lyrics: Hall) - 3:29
Bonus DVD (2005 reissue)
All tracks recorded live at the Tabernacle, Atlanta (November 2004).
- "Weight of the World"
- "Porch Swing in Tupelo"
- "Answer in the Sky"
- "Turn the Lights Out When You Leave"
- "My Elusive Drug"
- "They Call Her the Cat"
- "Freaks in Love"
- "All That I'm Allowed"
- "I Can't Keep This from You"
B-sides
Personnel
- Elton John - piano, Rhodes, lead and backing vocals
- Davey Johnstone - acoustic, electric, slide, baritone, Leslie and sitar guitars; dobro, mandolin, backing vocals
- Nigel Olsson - drums, backing vocals
- Guy Babylon - Hammond organ, Rhodes, programming, orchestration
- Bob Birch - bass guitar, backing vocals
- John Mahon - percussion, backing vocals
- John Jorgenson - pedal steel guitar
- L'Tanya Shields - choir
- Alecia Terry - choir
- M. Dennis Sims - choir
- Rosalind McKnight - choir
- Mark Ford - choir
- Terrence Davis - choir
- Todd Honeycutt - choir
- Adam McKnight - choir
- James Pankow - trombone, horn arrangement
- Lee Loughnane - trumpet
- Walter Parazaider - tenor saxophone
- Larry Klimas - baritone saxophone
- Martin Tillman - electric cello
- Steve Erodody - cello
- Violins - Charlie Bisharat, Joel Derouin, Bruce Dukow, Endre Granat, Eric J. Hosler, Dimitrie Leiviachi, Phillip Levy, Robin Olson, Sid Page, Mark Robinson, Anatoly Rosinsky & Lisa M. Sutto.
- Violas - Brian Dembrow, Victoria Miskolczy, Simon Oswell & James V. Ross.
Production
- Produced by Elton John
- Engineered & Mixed by Matt Still
- Assistant Engineers - Jason Carson, John Holmes, Josh McDonnell, Josh "Frodo" Monroy, Rob Skipworth & Tom Tapley.
- Mastered by Bob Ludwig
- Keyboard Technicians - Tony Smith & Dale Sticha
- Guitar Technician - Rick Salazar
- Drum Technician - Chris Sobchack
- Photography - Sam Taylor-Wood
- Design - Intro
- Management - Keith Bradley, Derek MacKillop & Frank Presland for Twenty First Artist, Ltd.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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