Regimental Sgt. Zippo

Regimental Sgt. Zippo was recorded between November 1967 and May 1968.{{cite web |last=Tyler |first=Kieron |title=Reissue CDs Weekly: Elton John – Regimental Sgt. Zippo |url=https://theartsdesk.com/node/86817/view |website=The Arts Desk |date=27 June 2021 |access-date=26 October 2021}} For the sessions, Elton John worked with musicians who were either his or his manager Steve Brown's associates, including guitarist Caleb Quaye and drummer Roger Pope (both members of the band Hookfoot at the time), and bassist Tony Murray (from the Troggs).{{Cite book |last=John |first=Elton |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wBSMDwAAQBAJ |title=Me: Elton John Official Autobiography |date=2019-10-15 |publisher=Pan Macmillan |isbn=978-1-5098-5333-5 |pages=50: “Caleb Quaye was the in-house engineer, a multi-instrumentalist with a joint permanently smouldering between his fingers. Caleb was very hip and he didn’t let you forget it.” |language=en}} The songs were recorded in a four-track studio at the offices of Dick James Music.

The project was eventually shelved in favour of what became John's debut album, Empty Sky (1969).{{Cite news |last=Simpson |first=Dave |title=Elton John: Regimental Sgt Zippo review – the long lost 'trippy' album |url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/jun/11/elton-john-regimental-sgt-zippo-review-long-lost-trippy-album |date=11 June 2021 |access-date=26 October 2021 |newspaper=The Guardian}} Bernie Taupin later confirmed his and Elton John's love of The Beatles and The Moody Blues,{{Cite web |last=Banulescu |first=Eduard |date=2023-07-14 |title=Crossing the Yellow Brick Road: Elton John Albums Ranked - Alt77 from Worst to Best |url=https://alt77.com/elton-john-albums-ranked-in-order-best-worst/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Alt77 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite book |last=John |first=Elton |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wBSMDwAAQBAJ |title=Me: Elton John Official Autobiography |date=2019-10-15 |publisher=Pan Macmillan |isbn=978-1-5098-5333-5 |pages=49 |language=en}} however, Dick James whose company published John and Taupin's songs didn't believe that this was the right artistic direction for them.{{Cite book |last=John |first=Elton |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wBSMDwAAQBAJ |title=Me: Elton John Official Autobiography |date=2019-10-15 |publisher=Pan Macmillan |isbn=978-1-5098-5333-5 |pages=51 |language=en}}

According to John's collaborator Bernie Taupin, the album's trippy sound was "a tip of the hat to Sgt. Pepper. It certainly proved that we were hanging on the coattails of things that were currently popular – things like 'A Whiter Shade of Pale' were in vogue at that particular point in time. I think, in a way, I was literally trying to be part of a gang."{{Cite web |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/bernie-taupin-elton-john-box-set |last=Kielty |first=Martin |title=Bernie Taupin Didn't Want Elton John Box Set Released |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |publisher=Townsquare Media, Inc. |date=4 November 2020 |access-date=24 April 2022}}

Plastic Penny, which featured drummer Nigel Olsson, who played on Empty Sky, and by 1970 was a member of the Elton John Band, covered "Turn to Me" in 1969 on their album Currency.{{cite web |url=https://www.eltonjohn.com/stories/regimental-sgt.-zippo-in-detail |title=Regimental Sgt. Zippo - In Detail |last=Higgins |first=John F. |website=Elton John |date=12 June 2021}}

Regimental Sgt. Zippo was eventually released, 53 years after its recording, on 12 June 2021 for Record Store Day, as a mono vinyl-only release limited to 7,000 copies.{{cite magazine |last=Willman |first=Chris |title=Record Store Day 2021's Most Wanted: Elton John, Tom Petty, Prince, Ariana Grande and More |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/record-store-day-2021-most-wanted-elton-john-tom-petty-prince-1234994995 |magazine=Variety |date=12 June 2021 |access-date=26 October 2021}}{{Cite news |last=Edmonds |first=Lizzie |date=2021-06-11 |title=Sir Elton John releases 'lost' first album recorded when he was 19 |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/sir-elton-john-lost-album-regimental-sgt-zippo-b940152.html |access-date=2023-07-26 |newspaper=Evening Standard |language=en}} It was released on compact disc on 8 July 2022, featuring both mono and stereo mixes of the complete album, along with a stereo vinyl version.{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Regimental-Sgt-Zippo-Elton-John/dp/B09WTWLYGR/ref=sr_1_2?crid=30ES42Y9SZZWY&keywords=regimental+sgt.+zippo+elton+john&qid=1654045840&s=music&sprefix=Regim,popular,99&sr=1-2|title=Regimental Sgt. Zippo|date=4 April 2022|access-date=4 April 2023|website=Amazon.com}}

All tracks are written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, except where noted.

Side one

1. "When I Was Tealby Abbey" – 2:35
2. "And the Clock Goes Round" – 3:06
3. "Sitting Doing Nothing" (John, Caleb Quaye) – 2:30
4. "Turn to Me" – 3:16
5. "Angel Tree" – 2:04
6. "Regimental Sgt. Zippo" – 4:44

Side two

1. "A Dandelion Dies in the Wind" – 3:14
2. "You'll Be Sorry to See Me Go" (John, Quaye) – 2:34
3. "Nina" – 3:50
4. "Tartan Coloured Lady" – 4:09
5. "Hourglass" – 2:44
6. "Watching the Planes Go By" – 4:07

Credits adapted from Elton John's website and album liner notes.{{cite AV media notes |title=Regimental Sgt. Zippo |last=John |first=Elton |year=2021 |type=Album liner notes |publisher=Rocket Entertainment}}

Musicians

• "Elton John (as Reg Dwight)"{{efn|All of John's writing credits are listed as by Elton John; in listing the musicians who played on the album, John's musician credit literally reads Elton John (as Reg Dwight)}} – acoustic piano, electric piano, organ, harpsichord, lead and backing vocals
• Caleb Quaye – acoustic and electric guitars, flute, percussion, backing vocals
• Tony Murray – bass, backing vocals
• Dave Hynes – drums, backing vocals
• Paul Fenoulhet Orchestra – orchestra
• Zack Laurence – orchestral arrangements

Technical

• Caleb Quaye – producer
• Dave Larkham – original Elton John illustration
• Darren Evans – sleeve design
• Frank Owen – engineer
• John Barrett – mixing
• Sean Magee – mastering

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• {{Discogs master|type=album|2569637|name=Regimental Sgt. Zippo}}

{{Elton John}}

Category:2021 albums

Category:Elton John albums

Category:Psychedelic rock albums by English artists

Category:Mercury Records albums