instrumentals were done "to the exclusion of sense." Village Voice critic Robert Christgau described it as "impossibly weepy" and "excessive". Lindsay Planer of Allmusic later said the album showed the "inevitable fatigue" of John's "immense creativity" that had helped create the previous albums of his career. Track listing Notes Initial CD versions of the album maintain the same running order, but omit the following tracks: Shoulder Holster, The Wide Eyed and Laughing,and Out of the Blue, It has since been remastered and re-released as a 2-CD set retaining the original LP track listing. Personnel Track numbering refers to the 2-CD and digital releases of the album. Elton John – acoustic piano (1–5, 7–10, 13–16, 18), vocals (2–9, 12–16, 18), vocalese (11), harmonium (14), harpsichord (17) Curt Becher – backing vocals (4, 10, 11, 13), BGV arrangements (11, 13) Harry Bluestone – strings leader (18) Michael Brecker – saxophone (5, 8, 16) Randy Brecker – trumpet (5, 8, 16) Paul Buckmaster – string arrangements and conductor (3, 7, 15), brass arrangements (7) Cindy Bullens – backing vocals (4, 7, 11) Clark Burroughs – backing vocals (13) Joe Chemay – backing vocals (11, 13) Rev. James Cleveland – choir director (5, 14, 18) Ray Cooper – glockenspiel (1, 17), marimba (1, 17), gong (3), tambourine (3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 15), vibraphone (3, 4, 9, 10), bells (3), shaker (4, 6, 11), triangle (6), finger cymbals (6), congas (7, 10, 11, 15, 18), rototom (12) The Cornerstone Institutional Baptist Church and the Southern California Community Choir – choirs (5, 14, 18) David Crosby – backing vocals (6, 12) Daryl Dragon – BGV arrangements (7) The Martyn Ford Orchestra – strings (3, 7, 15), brass (7) Carl Fortina – accordion (8) Ron Hicklin – backing vocals (4, 7) Michael Hurwitz – cello (3) Bruce Johnston – backing vocals (4, 7, 10, 11, 13), BGV arrangements (4, 11, 13) Davey Johnstone – mandolin (2, 11, 17), electric guitar (3, 7, 10, 15), slide guitar (5, 18), acoustic guitar (6), dulcimer (6), sitar (12), slide guitar (18) Jon Joyce – backing vocals (4, 7, 11) The London Symphony Orchestra – strings (2, 9) Gene Morford – backing vocals (4, 7) Graham Nash – backing vocals (6, 12) James Newton Howard – synthesizers (1, 3, 6, 10, 12, 13, 17, 18), Fender Rhodes (3, 9, 13, 17), Hammond organ (5, 11, 15), mellotron (6), clavinet (7)