showbiz

At 68, Elton John releases 33rd studio album

February 05, 2016

Legendary singer-songwriter Elton John will release his 33rd studio album ‘Wonderful Crazy Night’ today. – AFP/Relaxnews pic, February 5, 2016. Today, legendary singer-songwriter Elton John will release his 33rd studio album "Wonderful Crazy Night", adding to his five-decade career.

One of the most popular musical artists of the 20th century, 68-year-old Sir Elton Hercules John has sold more than 250 million albums worldwide, according to the official Elton John website, and has racked up 37 gold and 27 multi-platinum albums. Nominated for 11 Grammys, he won five times (1986, 1991, 1994, 1997 and 2000) and was bestowed with a Grammy Legend Award in 2001. In the United States, Elton John can count 56 top 40 singles, which is second only to Elvis Presley.

"Wonderful Crazy Night" comes three years after his most recent studio release, "The Diving Board" (2013), which had marked the first time in over 30 years that he did not include any of his original band members, reports the Guardian. Co-produced by John and T Bone Burnett, who also worked on "The Diving Board," 
the new album reunites him with his original drummer Nigel Olsson and guitarist Davey Johnstone and features lyrics from his longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin. Fans got a first taste late last year with the song "Looking Up," followed by a live version of the title track and more recently "Blue Wonderful." Early, largely favorable reviews suggest the new work is a mostly upbeat affair, with the strong keyboards John is known for and some Eighties-inspired riffs.

A career paved in hits

Elton John's major breakthrough came with his 1970s single "Your Song" off his second album, "Elton John". A top ten hit in both the US and UK, decades later in 2013, "Your Song" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 1972 "Honky Chateau" launched him into international stardom with hit songs "Rocket Man" and "Honky Cat" and became John's first number 1 album in the US. Other classic Elton John hits of the 70s include "Crocodile Rock," "Daniel", "Bennie and the Jets" and "The Bitch is Back".

Following "Honky Chateau," Elton John produced six other number 1 albums between 1973 and 1975, all of which went platinum.

In 1983 he released "Too Low for Zero," which included the hits "I'm Still Standing" and I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues." For the rest of the 80s, Elton John's albums continued to go gold. In 1992 he released "The One," which would go double platinum. His 1997 re-recording of "Candle in the Wind" for the death of Princess Diana became the fastest-selling single in the history of the UK and the US, making it Elton John's biggest hit ever, reports Billboard.

Since his musical career began in 1969, John has performed over 3,500 concerts in 80 countries.

"Wonderful Crazy Night" can be pre-ordered on eltonjohn.com. – AFP/Relaxnews, February 5, 2016.