The Thom Bell Sessions

Infobox Album
Name = The Thom Bell Sessions
Type = ep
Artist = Elton John


Released = June, 1979 (reissued February 1989)
Recorded = Autmn 1977
Genre =
Length = 18:05
Label = MCA
Producer =
Reviews =
Last album =
This album =
Next album =

"The Thom Bell Sessions" (MCA-13921) is a mini-album (it has also been referred to as a 12" single) recorded by singer/songwriter Elton John.

Recorded in the Autumn of 1977, the "album" was not released by MCA Records until June of 1979.

The project was a radical departure for John at the time. Up until that time, Elton had worked almost exclusively with lyricist Bernie Taupin and record producer Gus Dudgeon. Also, Elton's band was not used at these sessions. This project brought Elton together with legendary R & B songwriter and producer Thom Bell who had previously worked with The Stylistics , The Delfonics and The Spinners (who sang backing vocals here) among others. Bell produced all the tracks and co-wrote one of the songs with his nephew Leroy Bell and Casey James who together comprised the popular singing duo Bell & James. Bell and James co-wrote the other songs in this set.

During these sessions, Thom Bell also coached Elton John on technical vocal skills, inlcluding encouraging him to sing in a lower register. The results would continue to color future albums, beginning with A Single Man. [His Song: The Musical Journey of Elton John by Elizabeth Rosenthal] The project ended up producing one Top 10 single:"Mama Can't Buy You Love", which peaked at #9 that same year. Although more songs were recorded during the sessions, only three were included in this set. Ten years later, MCA Records released The Complete Thom Bell Sessions (MCA-39115), bringing together the unreleased material with the previously released music.

Track listing

#Mama Can't Buy You Love (L. Bell-C. James) - 4:03
#Three Way Love Affair (L. Bell-C. James) - 5:31
#Are You Ready For Love (L. Bell-T. Bell-C. James) - 8:31

"The Complete Thom Bell Sessions"

In February 1989, this CD was released, which featured three additional songs. [Cornflakes and Classics: A Musical History of Elton John ; [http://whizzo.ca/elton/ej1989.html] ]

#Nice and Slow (L. Bell-C. James)
#Country Love Song (L. Bell-C. James)
#Shine on Through (Elton John-G. Osborne)
#Mama Can't Buy You Love (L. Bell-C. James)
#Are you Ready for Love (L. Bell-C. James)
#Three Way Love Affair (L. Bell-C. James)

References