Elton John – Reg Strikes Back
Reg Strikes Back is available from the Mr. Hansen Records collection as a US Gloversville pressing on MCA Records, released in 1988. This gatefold edition includes a printed credit inner sleeve and represents an interesting late-1980s chapter in Elton John’s long and ever-evolving career.
The album title refers to Elton John’s birth name, Reginald Dwight, and the record has often been viewed as a confident comeback statement. After years of enormous success, personal changes and shifting musical trends, Elton returned with an album that combined his unmistakable melodic instincts with the polished pop-rock production of the late 1980s.
Produced by Chris Thomas, Reg Strikes Back features a strong supporting cast of musicians and guests. Pete Townshend appears on guitar on Town of Plenty, while jazz legend Freddie Hubbard contributes trumpet and flugelhorn to Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two). The album also includes backing vocals from Adrian Baker, Bruce Johnston and Carl Wilson on Since God Invented Girls, adding a rich West Coast harmony feel to the closing track.
Highlights include I Don’t Wanna Go On With You Like That, one of Elton John’s strongest late-1980s singles, the elegant A Word in Spanish, the reflective Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two) and the cinematic Since God Invented Girls. Throughout the album, Elton’s piano, keyboards and unmistakable voice are supported by Davey Johnstone on guitar, Charlie Morgan on drums, David Paton on bass, Fred Mandel on synthesizer and Ray Cooper on percussion.
The gatefold cover is also part of the album’s identity, presenting Elton John in a moment of reinvention — looking back at his past while stepping into a new phase of his career. For collectors, this US MCA Gloversville pressing is a desirable edition, especially with its gatefold sleeve and printed credit inner.
Record details
Artist: Elton John
Title: Reg Strikes Back
Label: MCA Records
Catalogue number: MCA-6240
Format: Vinyl LP, Album, Gloversville Pressing, Gatefold
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock
Recorded and mixed at: Air Studios, London
Producer: Chris Thomas
Mastered by: Tim Young
Pressing plant: MCA Pressing Plant, Gloversville
Every record at Mr. Hansen Records is professionally cleaned, conservatively graded according to the Goldmine Standard and securely packed with collector-grade care.
Reg Strikes Back is available from the Mr. Hansen Records collection with VG+ vinyl and a VG+ sleeve.