Elton John Album Reviews: Jump Up! (1982)
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- Опубликовано: 30 сен 2024
- I am reviewing all of Elton John's albums, track by track. Each track will be marked out of ten, with an average track rating given for each album. Please tell me which are your favourite tracks.
• Elton John - Blue Eyes
Wow... Can't believe Elton never played Legal Boys live... Pretty crazy
This album was released April 9th, 1982!! My birthday!! Just exactly 19 years before I was born
I think for me the best track on the album is all quiet on the western front the lyric hits me like a train and the music is pretty good have no idea why it was the worst selling single in phonograms history
One of his best better then to low for zero
I agree with you that legal boys is the best track, brilliant string arrangement, actually i dont mind i am your robot,quirky, there's no weak tracks,7 out of 10
I love Spiteful Child, especially the piano at the beginning, its a great song.
Agreed that the recording of ALL QUIET is overblown. The problem for me on JUMP UP is, once again, the foggy production of the entire album by Chris Thomas. It sounds like Chris stuck a mic in a hallway where Elton was performing a few doors down. All AM Radio mid-range.
Of the first 3 tracks there's something you have to face about Elton in the 80s. It's not that he these songs were 'filler' as much as a thing he was doing since 21 @ 33. He was opening albums with upbeat 'rockers'. But it seems the BITCH IS BACK kinda song was gone. He simply couldn't kick ass. And so instead these 'rollers'.
A roller is those little piano hooks he was doing, like in the opening of SPITEFUL CHILD. He does it in BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS too. It's a style of song. I listened to this disc a billion times back in the day and I found the first 3 cuts to simply be FUN. Elton 'disco', if you will. Something that makes you 'Jump Up' a little.
I like the 'roller' idea rather than the 'rocker'. I think my review was a bit unfair. It was my first video and I think some of those low marks would go up to one or two.
@@eltonmusicfan Thanks for the replies. Mr. Howes -- I put a ginormous reply on one of your BLUE MOVES reviews. In a nutshell I created a new song list and sequence for the disc that I'll hope you'll find fascinating enough to try once or twice. And I'd love to know what you thought of it and my reasoning behind the changes.
This is my favorite album of Elton, maybe because he used different writers. It has more catchy hooks than most of his filler albums.
I would have rated all of the songs way higher, especially Blue Eyes and Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny).
Blue Eyes is the last song on Side 1 and Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny) is the first song on Side 2.
I saw Elton in Festival Hall Melbourne, when this album came out. He had Davey, Dee and Nigel (mabe Ray also) in the band. Was a great show, and my first concert of and international act
i just heard princess on my online radio for FIRST i love the synth on it its beautiful
@@aubindemontfalcon5967 i do too it should just faded not add more, now the retreat w extra syth was cool
The synths screaming with the guitar at the end is my favorite part😩😩😩
@@Garyrag i like the intro idk why elton/ bernie say tis album is fluff
you make videos that are really entertaining, keep up the good work
That's kind. I'm doing my best!
I like this album. Often underrated, it has some true gems in it : Empty Garden, Blue Eyes, All Quiet, Legal Boys... I like the second half of the album more than the first half. Contrary to what a lot of people think, it's "Jump Up" that was the beginning of a comeback for Elton artistically, and this album really set the stage for the next album "Too low for zero". There's more differences between Jump Up and The Fox, than between Jump Up and 2 low 4 0, which is like a continuity, emphasizing on strong tracks for the latter album.
Late to the party. Agreed that Legal Boys is the standout track on this release. I would follow with Empty Garden (works for me just fine), then Blue Eyes/Good Times/Dear John. Ball and Chain is a nice tune that suffers from a trite lyric. The rest for me is filler ending with the tragic I am Your Robot. That being said, the album cover is why I own a Cartier Santos watch to this day, so I must have gotten some enjoyment out of those 6 tracks 40 years ago. Looking forward to the rest of your reviews.
Another album I may have undermarked as this was my first video review. Ball and Chain is not a bad track, though I still think Robot is a bit of a stinker.
Have to disagree with you on empty garden. The lyrics in this song are phenomenal making the link between a garden John Lennon can no longer walk in and Madison Square Gardens where his last live performance with EJ took place in 1975. I personally think this is one of the finest songs he has ever written and is a standout track on a pretty average album to me. Legal boys is to me a really good song but no one else I know agrees
I agree with you on Legal Boys. I've always liked that track. Empty Garden is a bit forced for me and I'm not sure the garden metaphor can go on for that long. The verse is not beautiful. Imagine a Robert Ford type verse - and this could have been great.
@@eltonmusicfan Thanks. Interesting that we can interpret things differently. I’ve always found empty garden to be a deeply moving, well written song with poignant lyrics. Maybe my loyalty to it is because I love JL so much
*Slight* error here: you split the sides incorrectly. "Blue Eyes" ends Side One of the album, with "Empty Garden" opening Side Two.
Otherwise, decent review. Can't say I agree on some of your thoughts, in particular "Empty Garden", which I liked even before I knew it was about John Lennon, but I am enjoying your reviews. You're very well-spoken!
Thanks. It was a slip.
empty gaarden so sad i cant even sing it wo tearing up
The alternate, more uptempo version of Where have the good times gone? that is on the jewel box is one of my favorite Elton songs. Overall I liked Jump Up better years ago than I do now. To me I don't think it has aged well.
Yes, I have that faster version as a single. A pretty decent song.
I really liked this album but it had some duff tracks on it. According to Wikipedia Bernie doesn’t like it, but let’s play it again and see how it has stood the test of time. Written before watching your video.
1) Dear John. I know it’s a bit throwaway but Elton’s fantastic piano is, well, fantastic. It would always be on a driving mix-tape. I’m going to have to give it a 6 for sheer energy.
2) Spiteful Child. I’ve always really liked this one too, coming to appreciate the sentiments behind the vicious lyrics. ‘I put my money on vengeance before the race had begun.’ I like Elton on the backing vocals. Another 6.
3) Ball and Chain. No, I really don’t like this at all, the ‘do-do-dos’ are really annoying. Gave it a fair listen after many years but it’s a true skipper, 1. Ouch.
4) Legal Boys. Now this is a truly great song. Not catchy or commercial but important. Beautiful orchestration, Elton starts by singing in quite formal tones and then the anguish breaks through. You can’t help but wonder what tune Andrew Lloyd Webber might have given to these words. I like the way it doesn’t outstay its welcome. A definite 9.
5) I Am Your Robot. I can only assume Bernie decided to write some lyrics that even Elton couldn’t write a tune to. And yet of course Elton could write a tune to the weather forecast. It’s a long way from ‘I saw your eyes tonight like headlights through the fog’ to ‘My serial number is 44357’. Despite that, the production, especially when everything kicks in towards the end, does make it something I can listen to, unlike Ball and Chain. So let’s say 3.
6) Blue Eyes. When I first heard this I thought it must be a cover of some older song, as it didn’t sound to me like an Elton song. We really should hear this everywhere. Really nice and a deserved hit. For once, well done Gary Osborne. 8.
7) Empty Garden. I’ve said before that I’m not a Beatles fan but Lennon’s assassination had a big effect on everyone. I was at teacher training college, and when my colleague drove up to my lodgings to take us to our teaching practice, he was crying. ‘What’s wrong?’ I said, not having heard the news. ‘Some B*$£&£d shot John Lennon,’ he managed to get out. ‘Oh,’ I said blithely, ‘is he okay?’ We drove the rest of the way with him sobbing periodically and wiping his eyes. I felt like pointing out that John Lennon would surely not want us to crash and kill ourselves on his behalf. Anyway, back to the song. It’s obviously a great and important song, though I don’t rate it quite as highly as some people seem to. Great concept and chorus, 7.
8) Princess. Now this what I call greatness! Sorry, just joking. No idea why this exists. It’s not unlistenable and I wouldn’t skip it, and that - is it an organ? - is quite nice. 2.
9) Where Have All the Good Times Gone? Really great song. I know it’s a kind of pastiche but it’s on the mix-tape for sure. Elton’s in fine voice, as he is on the whole album and it’s really upbeat (despite the sentiment!). An easy 8.
10) All Quiet On the Western Front. I look on Wikipedia and see he’s only played this live during the 1982 tour. Well, I saw him live for the first time on that tour, at the Hammersmith Apollo, so I must have heard this live - though I don’t remember it. I certainly remember the opening, Funeral For A Friend, Elton and the piano rising up through the mist. Anyway, the song is lovely and poignant, great lyrics, and I love the series of, I suppose false endings with different instrumentation on each. The bells make us think of that Christmas Day truce. 8 from me.
Which gives us 58/100, 5.8 per track. Which is a shame for an album I really like, but three pretty terrible songs make it a sad Jump Down!
Not sure if you’ve done the B-sides from this (from Wikipedia) but:
Take Me Down to the Ocean. It’s okay but leave Beach Boys songs to the Beach Boys I’d say. He obviously likes it enough to put it in the Jewel Box but I’ll only give it a 4.
Hey Papa Legba. I heard this before and didn’t like it but I just gave it another listen and it’s actually okay while being nothing special. Nice ending. Should have been on the album. 4.
Where Have All the Good Times Gone? (Alternate mix) I’ve heard this before and much prefer the album version, but it’s still a great song so I can’t mark it down much. 7. I imagine this is the way he’d play it live.
The Retreat. What an odd song to have as a B-side to Princess. Anyway, I found this a few years ago and I really like it. Should have been on the album, what were they thinking? ‘Can’t have two war songs on one album! Not when we have a classic like Princess!’ Nice lyrics by Bernie, well sung and produced. 7.
Thanks. A very comprehensive review. I might be more generous on some like Princess and Ball and Chain. I wouldn't skip over them. The Retreat is such a fine track. I would love to see that on an original album somewhere, or to hear him sing it now.
@@eltonmusicfan I'd listen to arguments about Princess - I really like that bright, breezy start - 'haven't you heard what's new' - but I have never like B&C. Good thing we're all different. Elton's next album - a series of Pnau remixes of 'Ball and Chain' featuring Ed Sheeran, Adele and Geri Halliwell.
Haven’t listened yet...but I must say... I mostly always liked this album, felt it gets a bad wrap...was well recorded...the guitar bass and drums and synths are well recorded album rocks. People dismiss because no Davey or Nigel, but there s some great guitar and unbeatable drums by members of Toto...Johnny cash introduced him when he sang “ball and chain” , but was not the Johnny Cash show, both were guests on Saturday night live,should be duly mentioned that Pete Townsend played guitar on that song. “I am your robot” gets a bad rap too. I realize it’s not deep in any way...Elton has said that he wrote most of the lyrics, but hey, cant some songs just be fun? I’m sure Bernie helped , but mostly Elton...I’ll bet if you took away the vocals and words people would like “robot”. Outstanding rock guitar and drums synths...and robot sound effects...if indeed it was an instrumental, I think people would see this differently, this song rocks! I respectfully disagree with you and most fans on “robot”. It’s a creative piece.
A good point about Robot. Different words and maybe it could be a winner. I like ELO's Time album for robotic atmosphere. Thanks for the tip about the Johnny Cash show. I love late Johnny Cash albums - his last four are so moving.
I am enjoying all your reviews, and so far, I agree with you on this album the most. But "Dear John" a 3 ?? "Legal Boys" is a complex but catchy masterwork that ranks in my top 5 underrated Elton songs. The lyric is superb, and shows the less-is-more directness that Bernie only seldom can execute as well (I know, I know, I'm in the small club named "Bernie is largely overrated").
Legal Boys was actually written by Tim Rice, good track and one of my favourites too.
@@stevemills2051 Yes, my point being that Rice pulled off what Bernie seldom does, a coherent, concise, and direct approach--Rice isn't trying to be Dylan.
Spot on mate, check out Talking Old Soldiers. Now that's Bernie at his best, tears me up every time.
I think it is a strong lyric and tells a good story. Maybe more of a show song, but still a fine piece of work overall.
That's a fantastic song. I will be reviewing Tumbleweed soon.
Love this album! This is the first Elton album I ever listened to. My mom used to sing "Blue Eyes" to me when I was a kid. "I Am Your Robot" is definitely different, it's not the worst song in the world, and I like the melody.
You join a small club of I Am Your Robot fans!
@@eltonmusicfan Haha. It's catchy, that's for sure.
If the lyrics were different, I think the track has merit as a typical synth-heavy early 80s song. As it is, it’s stupid, but shows they were at least having a little fun with throwaway stuff, but this was probably best left as a deep cut and not as an album track.
I agree with most of your review. Legal boys is the best song, I am your robot the worst. All in all a rather mediocre album. Not his best in the eighties.
Thanks for your comments. Not his finest album but one of the first I bought, so it holds special memories. Glad you like Legal Boys. It hardly ever gets mentioned.
I heard Bernie on Sirius radio describe this as “a completely disposable album” with the exception of Empty Garden. I obviously don’t agree, but it is really on the lower end.
It was one of the first I bought so I played it a lot but there aren't many gems on there. Legal Boys is a good track and Good Times.
@johnhowes The video for Blue Eyes was filmed in Sydney on the headland at the southern end Bondi Beach, either just before, or during the Jump Up! Down Under Australian Tour in 82.... fans still flock to it and there is EJ graffiti from the 80s near it still.
I didn't know that. What a wonderful spot, supports the track beautifully.
The best track for me is All quiet on the western front. It's very special and innovative. It reminds me when I saw him on stage in Avignon for the first time on may 26th 82 on the Jump Up tour. (Sorry for my english, I'm french) He didn't sing All quiet on this evening but Ball and chain, Blue eyes, Empty garden and Where have all the good times gone. My favourite souvenir is his rendition of Elton's song at the electric piano. Thanks for your reviews.
I saw the same tour. Was he dressed as a soldier?
@@eltonmusicfan No he wore an outfit full of colors and a red cap. I briefly saw him arriving backstage with a big white hat. I couldnt believe he was going to matérialise in front of me. I was young.....
Should also note that the metaphor for empty garden is that John Lennons last performance was with Elton at Madison square garden, thus the metaphor “can’t you come out to
play in your empty (Madison square) garden”. Elton had a hard time accepting John’s death as we so often do when we lose friends the question is rhetorical and being asked in disbelief.
Many thanks for these comments. I hadn't realised about the garden connection. That makes a lot of sense. All the best.
@@eltonmusicfan best to you also!
For some reason I was never quite able to get into this album. It's really fun at moments, but songs sound mostly like fillers or a collection of B-sides. Not one of my favorites.
1. Dear John - a song that Elton could compose in his sleep and he probably did. Still, fun and catchy 5.5/10
2. Spiteful Child - strange song, interesting verse, but I don't like much chorus.. 4.5/10
3. Ball and Chain - banal just like the previous 2 songs, but more interesting. I like it. 6/10
4. Legal Boys - at first this was one of my favorite songs from the album, but later I started to find it somehow forced. Great to see that Tim Rice wrote lyrics. The song almost sounds like some TV show theme. And yes, the chorus is pretty good, but the song as a whole is kinda too neurotic. 6.5/10
5. I am Your Robot - ooh, this is such a masterpiece... at least on some other planet. Yeah, it's one of his mostly hated songs, but I actually find it catchy. Lyrics are crap, but the melody in the verse is pretty good. On the other hand the chorus is crappy, yet it still all sounds pretty much fun and inspired. To me it's just another mediocre song as the first 3 on the album. Hard to rate this nonsense, but I'll give it 4.5/10
6. Blue Eyes - even though lyrics seem so banal, this one has one of the most beautiful melodies, unique and great chords, beautiful vocals, simply brilliant orchestral arrangement that emphasize everything at the right time and place. Brilliance that would fit better on The Big Picture album than here. 10/10
7. Empty Garden - I agree this song might not be great as some fans say, but it's still a really nice tribute to Lennon with a pretty good melody. Still, there's something about it that doesn't work 100%. 7.5/10
8. Princess - even though it's true that this one sounds like a filler, I still like it more and more with time. There's something so light, charming and happy about it... it sounds sincere without trying to sound like something big. I think that synth ending was too much, but still, a nice song with really good melody 7.5/10
9. Where Have All the Good Times Gone - this one is one of my personal favorites. Brilliant arrangements, powerful vocals, great melody in verse, uplifting chorus! Everything about this song is so great! It's maybe not a classic or not on a level of some of Elton's greatest songs, but it's very close. 9.5/10
10. All Quiet on the Western Front - I never liked this one much. It sounds so corny. Melody is almost childish. It simply doesn't work for me. 4.5/10
This was a bit of a disappointing album, though I liked it very much when I bought it at the time. Later on, comparing it with many of his others, it doesn't rate so highly. Good Times is still a fine song - have you heard the second version he did of it? Blue Eyes is a classic and quite an unusual composition. I still like Legal Boys though some might see it as a bit corny. It's perhaps an early indication of his skill at composing show songs.
@@eltonmusicfan I heard an alternate version of 'Good Times' that is more rock and somehow faster, but I still like the album version much better - better attention to details, better vocals, better arrangement, etc.