since the early Elton John LP, they have never produced an album of consistently first-rate material. And although Too Low for Zero is a big step up from losers like Blue Moves and A Single Man, it doesn't hang together, either." He praised the catchy energy of "I'm Still Standing", "Kiss the Bride", "Crystal", and "Too Low for Zero", and approved of the way those four songs synthesized the styles of popular artists such as The Pointer Sisters and Joe Jackson. However, he felt the rest of the album suffered from poor lyrics, finding the morbidity of "Cold as Christmas" and "One More Arrow" to be especially distasteful. Track listing Sides one and two were combined as tracks 1–10 on CD reissues. Personnel Track numbering refers to CD and digital releases of the album. Elton John – lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic piano (tracks 1–5, 8, 10), Fender Rhodes (Track 1), synthesizers (Tracks 1–7, 9), clavinet (Track 9) Davey Johnstone – acoustic guitar (Tracks 1, 4, 5, 6, 9), electric guitar (Tracks 2-10), backing vocals Dee Murray – bass guitar, backing vocals Nigel Olsson – drums, tambourine on "Whipping Boy", backing vocals Ray Cooper – percussion on "Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)" Skaila Kanga – harp on "Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)" Kiki Dee – backing vocals on "Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)" Stevie Wonder – harmonica on "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" James Newton Howard – string arrangements on "One More Arrow" On bonus tracks Produced by Elton John and Clive Franks Elton John – acoustic piano on "Earn While You Learn" and "The Retreat", organ on "Earn While You Learn" and "Dreamboat", Fender Rhodes on "Dreamboat", mellotron on "Earn While You Learn", vocals on "Dreamboat and "The Retreat" David Paich – Hammond organ on "The Retreat" James Newton-Howard – synthesizers on "The Retreat" Tim Renwick – guitar on "Earn While You Learn" and "Dreamboat" Steve Lukather – guitar on "The Retreat" Clive Franks – bass guitar on "Earn While You Learn" and "Dreamboat" Reggie McBride – bass guitar on "The Retreat" Steve Holley – drums on "Earn While You Learn" and "Dreamboat" Alvin Taylor – drums on "The Retreat" Ray Cooper – tambourine on "Earn While You Learn" and "Dreamboat", triangle on "Earn While You Learn" Paul Buckmaster – orchestra arrangements on