Regimental Sgt.Zippo＜限定盤＞

1968年に制作されながらもエルトンの幻のデビュー作となっていた作品。2020年リリース『Jewel Box』で初公開となり、Record Store Day 2021ではモノラルLPレコードでの限定リリースを経た作品が、ステレオ音源でのLPレコード商品化が決定。

Originally slated for release in 1968, Elton John scrapped Regimental Sgt. Zippo in favor of Empty Sky, the LP that became his official debut in 1969. Looking back, it was certainly the right move. Empty Sky touches upon the lush, arty balladry that would become one of Johns signatures in the 1970s, whereas Regimental Sgt. Zippo is very much looking backwards -- at the psychedelic vistas opened up by the Beatles in particular. The very title signals the albums debt to Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds -- a song Elton would later cover -- is a particular touchstone. Melodies swirl through the ornate production, the lyrics are aggressively whimsical, and the recordings are intent on opening up your mind so you can float downstream. As a whole, Regimental Sgt. Zippo is a heavier affair than Pepper -- there are fuzz guitars and washes of organ straight out of Procol Harum -- and it can also get quite Baroque, as the precious Tartan Coloured Lady makes plain. All of this is interesting and makes for a rather interesting artifact, but theres little question it wouldve gotten Elton Johns career off to an unsteady start back in 1968. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine