Sleeping with the Past [Polygram International Bonus Track] [Remaster] (CD - 1989)

Personnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, keyboards); Davey Johnstone (guitar, keyboards, background vocals); Jonathan Moffett (guitar, drums); Vince Denham (saxophone); Fred Mandel, Guy Babylon (keyboards); Romeo Williams (bass); Marlena Jeter, Natalie Jackson, Mortonette Jenkins (background vocals).

Recorded at Puk Studios, Denmark.

Digitally remastered by Gus Dudgeon.

Personnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, keyboards, background vocals); Fred Mandel (guitar, keyboards); Davey Johnstone (guitar, background vocals); Vince Denham (saxophone); Guy Babylon (keyboards); Jonathan Moffett (drums); Peter Iversen (programming); Natalie Jackson, Marlena Jeter (background vocals).

Recording information: Puk Studios.

Photographer: Herb Ritts.

SLEEPING WITH THE PAST finds Elton John finishing off the eighties with a mature, and above all, serious musical statement. Kicking off with the tropical groove and social message of "Durban Deep," the album moves straight into the anthemic "Healing Hands," with its larger-than-life chorus, inspiring lyric and stirring piano runs. The seamless teamwork of Elton and Bernie Taupin reaches a career high with the instant classic, "Sacrifice," a tender ballad which instantly took its rightful place among the pair's best work. This varied, solid work finishes out with the epic production number that is "Amazes Me" and the quiet build and slow burn of "Blue Avenue."

The past Elton John has in mind is the era of soul music of the mid-'60s to the mid-'70s, and although all the songs are new, he re-creates the period well here. The album's most notable selection is the ballad "Sacrifice," which, amazingly, became his first-ever number-one hit in the U.K. [The Polygram International edition features two bonus tracks, "Dancing in the End Zone" and "Love is a Cannibal."] ~ William Ruhlmann minimize