21 at 33


21 at 33 is the fourteenth studio album by Elton John. Including other releases it is the 21st official release, and was released when Elton John was 33 years old; hence the title.
It was recorded at Super Bear Studios, Nice, France, in August 1979, and Rumbo Recorders and Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, California between January to March 1980.
The album sold over 900,000 copies in the United States, missing a Platinum certification.

Background

The two other founding members of the original Elton John Band, drummer Nigel Olsson and bass player Dee Murray, reunited with him for two songs. His keyboardist James Newton-Howard returned and performed on almost every track as was the case on Rock of the Westies and Blue Moves. Other musicians included members of the Eagles and Toto as well as Peter Noone from Herman's Hermits, Bill Champlin and Toni Tennille of Captain & Tennille fame.
The title comes from the fact that this was John's 21st album in total at the age of 33. According to the liner notes in the remastered edition of the album, the count includes all standard albums, two greatest hits compilations, two live albums, as well as the Friends soundtrack, the three-song, 12-inch EP The Thom Bell Sessions and the UK-only "rarities" collection Lady Samantha.
John has not played any of the material in concert since touring in 1980, with the exception of "Little Jeannie", which, despite having been a huge North American hit, was included only in the two One Night Only concerts in 2000, and the warm up gig for the 2 Madison Square Garden shows in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

Track listing

Side one

Side two

In 2003, Mercury/Universal and The Rocket Record Company reissued the album on CD, remastered by Gary Moore. The lineup contained no bonus tracks.

B-sides

Personnel

Track numbering refers to CD and digital releases of the album.
certification Table Bottom

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts