Ice on Fire

Infobox Album |
Name = Ice on Fire
Type = Album
Artist = Elton John


Released = November 1985
Recorded = 1985
Genre = Pop, New Wave
Length = 46:17
Label = Geffen (US/Canada) Rocket Records
Producer = Gus Dudgeon
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|2.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:1e63mpe39f8o link]
* "Rolling Stone" (not rated) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/eltonjohn/albums/album/112331/review/5944971/ice_on_fire link] |
Last album = "Breaking Hearts"
(1984)
This album = "Ice on Fire"
(1985)
Next album = "Leather Jackets"
(1986)

"Ice on Fire" is the nineteenth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, recorded at Sol Studios and released in 1985. It was the first album since "Blue Moves" produced by Gus Dudgeon, who helped make Elton a superstar, but was met with little praise, and only reached number 48 on the US charts. George Michael appears on two tracks on the album: "Nikita" and "Wrap Her Up".

Despite the mediocre sales of the album, both those tracks became Top 20 hits, the former reaching #7 in the US and #4 in the UK. Roger Taylor and John Deacon of Queen play drums and bass guitar respectively on the track "Too Young".

Track listing

All songs by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, except where noted

ide one

# "This Town" – 3:56
# "Cry to Heaven" – 4:15
# "Soul Glove" – 3:31
# "Nikita" – 5:43
# "Too Young" – 5:13

ide two

# "Wrap Her Up" – 6:21 (Elton John, Davey Johnstone, Fred Mandel, Johnny Mandel, Charlie Morgan, Bernie Taupin, Paul Westwood)
# "Satellite" – 4:37
# "Tell Me What the Papers Say" – 3:40
# "Candy by the Pound" – 3:56
# "Shoot Down the Moon" – 5:00

The CD and cassette contain the bonus track "Act of War" (duet with Millie Jackson)

Bonus tracks (1998 CD reissue)

# "The Man Who Never Died" (Elton John)
# "Restless (Live 1984)"
# "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word (Live 1977)" [erroneously listed as "Live 1984"]
# "I'm Still Standing (Live 1984)"

The remastered 1998 version did not include "Act of War" and also featured an extended alternate intro to "Satellite". The live version of "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word" is not the version found on the 12" single of "Nikita", but is an unreleased version from 1977 (Live at Rainbow Rock in May). It is unknown why the switch occurred.

B-sides

Personnel

*Elton John: Vocals, piano, synthesisers
*Guy Babylon: keyboards
*David Bitelli: tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone
*Raul D'Oliveira: trumpets
*Gus Dudgeon: Simmons drum
*Deon Estus: Bass
*John Deacon: Bass
*Mel Gaynor: Drums, electric guitar
*Davey Johnstone: Electric guitar, spanish guitar, synth guitar
*Nik Kershaw: Electric guitar
*Fred Mandel: Electric guitar, keyboards, synthesisers
*Dave Mattacks: Drums
*George Michael: backing vocals
*Charlie Morgan: Drums
*Dee Murray: Bass, backing vocals
*James Newton-Howard: String arrangements
*Pino Palladino: Bass
*David Paton: Bass
*Frank Ricotti: Percussion
*Paul Spong: trumpets
*Rick Taylor: Trombone
*Roger Taylor: Drums
*Pete Thomas: Alto saxophone
*Paul Westwood: Bass

Credits

*Produced by Gus Dudgeon
*All lyrics by Bernie Taupin
*Recorded by Stuart Epps
*Mixed by Graham Dickson & Gus Dudgeon
*Mastered by Greg Fulginiti