Ice on Fire

by Elton John

Overview

Sandwiched between 1984's Top 20 hit Breaking Hearts and 1986's commercial disaster Leather Jackets, 1985's Ice on Fire is a forgotten Elton John effort. While it is hardly a masterpiece -- it isn't even up to the standard of such '80s efforts as Too Low for Zero -- it's still an enjoyable record, living proof of the power of professionalism. John was riding high on his comeback of the early '80s and ready to turn out another record. And that's what Ice on Fire is -- another Elton John album, in the best possible sense. Sure, it does mark the reunion of John and lyricist Bernie Taupin with producer Gus Dudgeon, who helmed John's greatest recordings, but you'd never know it from the sound of the record. Ice on Fire is pure 1985, heavy on synthetic drums and keyboards -- the kind of record where Davy Johnstone is credited with guitar, but it never sounds as if there's a guitar on the record, or any other "real" instrument, for that matter. That's not really a criticism, since John always made state-of-the-art records, so it should come as little surprise that this sounds like its time; it's sort of fun, in a way, since it instantly brings back its era. The biggest complaint is that much of the record never rises to the level of memorable. The two singles, the cold-war ballad "Nikita" and the George Michael-featured "Wrap Her Up," are the strongest items here, but even those are rather disposable. The rest of the album shares the same sparkling, canned production, and a few songs could have held their own on the Top 40, but much of it is just average Elton. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	06/16/2023
Label:	Emi Records / Island / Umr
UPC:	0602455160799
Rank:	84277

Tracks

1. This Town
2. Cry To Heaven
3. Soul Glove
4. Nikita
5. Too Young
6. Wrap Her Up
7. Satellite
8. Tell Me What The Papers Say
9. Candy By The Pound
10. Shoot Down The Moon

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Elton John   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals,Keyboards,Synthesizer
Millie Jackson   Primary Artist,Vocals
George Michael   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Jean-Yves Lievaux   Primary Artist
John Deacon   Guest Artist,Bass
Roger Taylor   Guest Artist,Drums
Deon Estus   Guest Artist,Bass
Nik Kershaw   Guest Artist,Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Kiki Dee   Guest Artist,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Sister Sledge   Guest Artist,Vocals
Charlie Morgan   Drums
Fred Mandel   Guitar,Keyboards,Synthesizer
David Paton   Bass
Joni Sledge   Vocals (Background)
Pino Palladino   Bass
Rick Taylor   Trombone
Kathy Sledge   Vocals (Background)
Pete Wingfield   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Richard Taylor   Trombone
Katie Kissoon   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Philip Todd   Saxophone,Sax (Alto)
Chris Pyne   Trombone
Mel Gaynor   Drums
Davey Johnstone   Guitar,Vocals,Synthesizer,Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Dave Mattacks   Drums,Drums (Snare)
Frank Ricotti   Congas,Shaker,Percussion,Tambourine,Vibraphone
Paul Spong   Trumpet
Gus Dudgeon   Vocals,Whistle (Human)
Paul Westwood   Bass
Pete Thomas   Saxophone,Sax (Tenor)
Nick Pentelow   Saxophone,Sax (Tenor)
Bob Sydor   Saxophone,Sax (Tenor)
Onward International Horns   Horn
Kim Sledge   Vocals (Background)
Alan Carvell   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
David Bitelli   Saxophone,Sax (Tenor),Sax (Baritone)
Raul d'Oliveira   Trumpet
Debbie Sledge   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Charlie Morgan   Composer
Fred Mandel   Composer
Johnny Mandel   Composer
Bernie Taupin   Composer,Lyricist
Stuart Epps   Engineer
Davey Johnstone   Composer
Elton John   Composer
Gus Dudgeon   Engineer,Producer
Paul Westwood   Composer
Graham Dickson   Engineer