Elton John The Thom Bell Sessions 12" Single Vinyl RSD 2016

TRACKLISTING

A. Are You Ready For Love 8:31B1. Three Way Love Affair 5:31B2. Mama Can't Buy You Love 4:03

Following a temporary hiatus in his partnership with longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin, Elton John turned to producer Thom Bell and the warm sounds of Philly soul for his next step. Bell was already a name producer for his work with some of the decade’s biggest R&B acts such as the Spinners, the Stylistics and the Detroit Spinners and, while recorded in 1977, the fruits of their collaboration would not find an official release until 1979 by which time Elton’s ever-restless muse had already moved on. They were not, however, destined to languish in obscurity and by the late 1990s copies of the original 12” of the sessions were changing hands for silly money among house heads. In 2003 Ashley Beedle’s spirited remix of the lead track ‘Are You Ready For Love’ gave Elton a much-deserved Number 1 single. For Record Store Day 2016 they’re once again available in all their full-length glory on this 2 track black vinyl release.