Blue Moves

Untitled

Blue Moves is the eleventh studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1976. It was also his second double album, and his first album recorded by his own Rocket Records Ltd. While giving a concert at Wembley Arena to promote the album, he spontaneously announced "That's it, this is the last one." He didn't say for how long, but he was serious and temporarily left the scene.

Elton John has stated that Blue Moves is one of his favourite albums he has ever recorded.

An excerpt from "Out of the Blue" was used for the closing titles on Top Gear up until the mid 1990s.

Track listing

Side one

1. "Your Starter for..." (instr./Caleb Quaye) – 1:23
2. "Tonight" – 7:52
3. "One Horse Town" (John, James Newton-Howard, Taupin) – 5:56
4. "Chameleon" – 5:27

Side two

1. "Boogie Pilgrim" (John, Davey Johnstone, Quaye, Taupin) – 6:05
2. "Cage the Songbird" (John, Johnstone, Taupin) – 3:25
3. "Crazy Water" – 5:42
4. "Shoulder Holster" – 5:10

Side three

1. "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" – 3:48
2. "Out of the Blue" – 6:14
3. "Between Seventeen and Twenty" – 5:17
4. "The Wide-Eyed and Laughing" (John, Johnstone, Newton-Howard, Quaye, Taupin) – 3:27
5. "Someone's Final Song" – 4:10

Side four

1. "Where's the Shoorah?" – 4:09
2. "If There's a God in Heaven (What's He Waiting For?)" (John, Johnstone, Taupin) – 4:25
3. "Idol" – 4:08
4. "Theme from a Non-Existent TV Series" – 1:19
5. "Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)" – 6:43

All songs by John/Taupin, except where noted.

B-sides

Song	Format
"Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance) (Remix by Tom Moulton)"	Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance) 7" (US), 12" (US/UK) (short version), 12" (US/UK) (full version)

Personnel

• Elton John - piano, harmonium, harpsichord, vocals, electric harpsichord
• Curt Becher - background vocals
• Michael Brecker - horn
• Randy Brecker - horn
• Paul Buckmaster - conductor
• Cindy Bullens - vocals, background vocals
• Clark Burroughs - vocals, background vocals
• Joe Chemay - vocals, background vocals
• Ray Cooper - percussion, conga, glockenspiel, gong, marimba, tambourine, triangle, vibraphone, shaker, tubular bells, finger cymbals, rototoms, bell tree
• Cornerstone Choir
• David Crosby - vocals, background vocals
• Martyn Ford - strings, orchestra
• Carl Fortina - accordion
• Ron Hicklin - vocals, background vocals
• Michael Hurwitz - cello
• Bruce Johnston - background vocals
• Davey Johnstone - dulcimer, acoustic guitar, guitar, mandolin, electric guitar, sitar, vocals, slide guitar
• Jan Joyce - vocals
• Jon Joyce - background vocals
• The London Symphony Orchestra
• Gene Morford - vocals, background vocals
• Graham Nash - vocals, background vocals
• James Newton-Howard - organ, synthesizer, clavinet, conductor, keyboard, electric piano, mellotron
• Gene Page - strings
• Kenny Passarelli - bass
• Roger Pope - drums
• Caleb Quaye - acoustic guitar, guitar, electric guitar, 12 string guitar
• Barry Rogers - horn
• David Sanborn - saxophone
• Toni Tennille - vocals, background vocals

Production

• Producer: Gus Dudgeon
• Engineers: Arun Chakraverty, Gus Dudgeon, Mark Howlett, John Kurlander, Earle Mankey, John Stewart
• Mixing: Phil Dunne
• Remixing: Gus Dudgeon, Phil Dunne
• Cutting engineer: Arun Chakraverty
• Director: Rev. James Cleveland
• Coordination: David Larkham
• Arrangers: Curt Becher, Paul Buckmaster, Daryl Dragon, Bruce Johnston, James Newton-Howard
• Art direction: David Costa
• Photography: David Nutter
• Liner notes: Gus Dudgeon

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year	Chart	Position
1976	Pop Albums	3

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1976	"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"	Adult Contemporary	1
1976	"Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word"	Pop Singles	6
1977	"Bite Your Lip (Get up and Dance!)"	Pop Singles	28