Type: Lyrics are included with the album, Contains explicit content
Genre: Rock
Review
Glitzy showmanship fuels Caribou and the shiny surface of the album is alluring, although only a few tracks on the record rank among John's best work. "The Bitch Is Back" is one of his best hard rock cuts, and "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" is one of his classic ballads. While the rest of the album has its share of filler or competent genre exercises, "Pinky" is a fine ballad and "Dixie Lily" is an endearing stab at country. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi
Caribou is the eighth album by the Englishsinger-songwriterElton John, released in 1974 (see 1974 in music). It was John's 4th chart-topping album in the U.S. and his 3rd in the U.K. The album contains the singles, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me", which reached # 16 in the UK Singles Chart and # 2 in the U.S., and "The Bitch Is Back", which reached # 15 in the U.K. and # 4 in the U.S. Both these singles reached # 1 in Canada on the RPM 100 national Top Singles Chart (as did the album itself).[3][4] The album was named for the Caribou Ranch recording studio, where the album was recorded. In the U.S. the album was certified Gold on 7/5/1974 and was certified Platinum and 2x Platinum on 3/23/1993 by the R.I.A.A.
In the liner notes to the 1995 CD re-release, John described the album as being quickly recorded in January 1974, with only about 9 days to get everything recorded, as he and the band "were under enormous pressure" to finish the album and then immediately embark on a Japanese tour. Producer Gus Dudgeon would later add additional backing vocals, horns and other overdubs after John and the band had finished their work.
In addition to the obvious hit singles, John has over the years played several others songs from this album in concert, including "Grimsby," "You're So Static," "Ticking" and "Dixie Lily."
The 1995 CD reissue contains 4 songs from the general period in and around the "Caribou" release, though only two of them, the b-sides "Sick City" and "Cold Highway," were recorded during the album's sessions. "Step Into Christmas" was recorded during a previous one-off single session, and "Pinball Wizard" was recorded at The Who's studio in England during the sessions for the "Tommy" movie score and soundtrack album.
When MCA Records re-issued this album, on cassette tape, in the 1980s, "You're So Static" and "Stinker" were swapped in the album's running order. You're So Static also featured an early fade out. (Just before he sings for the final time)
At one point, the title of this album was to be "Ol' Pink Eyes Is Back" a pun on Frank Sinatra's "Ol' Blue Eyes Is Back".
On the 1995 CD, "You're So Static" is spelled incorrectly as "Your're So Static".
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