# ON THIS DAY: 24 June 1988 – Elton John Released ‘Reg Strikes Back’ **Featured** — On Your Markus **Published:** 24 June 2025 **Author:** Markus Hamence **Source:** https://onyourmarkus.au/on-this-day-24-june-1988-elton-john-released-reg-strikes-back/ The ‘Reg’ That Roared By the summer of 1988, Elton John was ready to reclaim his narrative. Recovering from throat surgery, navigating a difficult divorce, battling substance issues, and confronting relentless tabloid scrutiny – including a libel case against The Sun – he staged a dramatic reset. The album’s title, Reg Strikes Back, asserts a… --- ## The ‘Reg’ That Roared By the summer of 1988, Elton John was ready to reclaim his narrative. Recovering from throat surgery, navigating a difficult divorce, battling substance issues, and confronting relentless tabloid scrutiny – including a libel case against The *Sun* – he staged a dramatic reset. The album’s title, *Reg Strikes Back*, asserts a return to his roots – Reginald Kenneth Dwight – on his own terms. The iconic album cover, styled by David Costa and photographer Gered Mankowitz, features a flamboyant heap of Elton’s past stage costumes, symbolizing the shedding of his former selves – complete with a Minnie Mouse chasing Donald Duck – as he stepped into a new era. ![](https://media.onyourmarkus.au/originals/26201/A1ZBb8U8I2L._UF8941000_QL80_.jpg) ## Production & Musical Shift Teaming once again with producer Chris Thomas, Elton pivoted from traditional grand piano to an electric Roland RD‑1000 – a sonic choice that complemented the polished pop-rock aesthetic. Recording sessions spanned legendary studios across the globe – London’s Air Studios and Westside, plus L.A.’s Circle Seven and The Record Plant – under engineers like Bill Price and Michael Mason. It was a tight, layered production, leaner without orchestration but rich with synths (Fred Mandel) and percussion (Ray Cooper). ![](https://media.onyourmarkus.au/originals/26204/attachment-GettyImages-106282582.jpg) ## Track-by-Track Breakdown 1. **Town of Plenty** = A vibrant reintroduction featuring a guest guitar cameo by Pete Townshend. Its energetic groove set the stage for Elton’s resurgence. 2. **A Word in Spanish** – A Rolling Stone-praised ballad infused with Spanish guitar warmth; it became a US hit, peaking at #19. 3. **Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two)** – A sequel to his earlier classic, this track leans into Latin-jazz and dance, featuring Freddie Hubbard’s trumpet. “My favourite track on the album,” Elton admitted, citing its ‘New York feel’. 4. **I Don’t Wanna Go On With You Like That** – A pulsating dance-pop anthem that resonated deeply – #2 on Billboard Hot 100 and Elton’s biggest US single of the ’80s. 5. **Japanese Hands** – Synth-heavy and dramatic, it was a bold sonic detour that showcased Elton’s willingness to experiment. 6. **Goodbye Marlon Brando** – Charged with defiant energy, the song lashes out at sensationalist media—a pointed statement after his libel victory. 7. **The Camera Never Lies** – Solid, radio-friendly pop-rock aimed squarely at adult contemporary audiences. 8. **Heavy Traffic** – Co-written with Davey Johnstone, it’s a groove-laden rocker born in spontaneous studio urgency – Bernie Taupin even wrote verses over the phone that day. 9. **Poor Cow** – A tender, lilting ballad offering a reflective calm amid the album’s broader narratives. 10. **Since God Invented Girls** – A breezy, affectionate ode to romance, enriched by lush harmonies from Beach Boys alumni Adrian Baker, Bruce Johnston and Carl Wilson. The CD reissue (1998) added bonus remixes – including a Shep Pettibone dance mix, a piano strip-back, and a Renaissance dance club cut. ## Commercial & Critical Reception - Released June 20, 1988 (internationally June 24), the album peaked at #16 on the US Billboard 200 (#18 UK) and earned Gold certification in the US by August. - Chart highlights: #13 in Australia, Canada, various European markets; 2× Platinum in Canada and Gold in Australia, France, Switzerland. - Reviews were mixed: Rolling Stone gave 3/5, while some European outlets criticised it as ‘mediocre’. Still, major outlets like Chicago Tribune applauded its ‘fan‑pleasing’ spirit. ## Touring & Aftermath Following a year off to heal and regroup, Elton debuted a refreshed band—including new R&B-driven rhythm section (Jonathan Moffett, Romeo Williams) and backing vocals by Marlena Jeter, Natalie Jackson, Alex Brown—at an AIDS benefit in L.A., featuring the then-unreleased “Love Is Worth Waiting For”. The U.S. tour ran from September 9 to October 22, 1988 (Miami Arena → Madison Square Garden), followed by a Europe and Eastern Europe tour in Spring 1989 as they built momentum into *Sleeping With The Past*. ![](https://media.onyourmarkus.au/originals/26203/GettyImages-515842068.webp) ## Legacy & Personal Revival Elton’s memoir *Me* reflects on *Leather Jackets* as a low point—“an unmitigated disaster”—and frames *Reg Strikes Back* as a pivotal turning point. His voice, renewed post-surgery, sounded richer and more assured. “By the time I came back, my life had changed even more than my home had,” he recalled—referring to a personal rebirth as transformative as his refurbished English property. ![](https://media.onyourmarkus.au/originals/26207/John-Elton_PH-10-88-3-copy.jpg) ## Why *Reg Strikes Back* Still Matters - **Reclaiming identity**: Defiance against media pressure, addiction, and personal loss – all channeled into a bold musical statement. - **Modern yet nostalgic**: Blends synth-driven ’80s production with classic Elton/Taupin storytelling and emotional resonance. - **Band transformation**: Fresh collaborators reshaped his live sound, laying groundwork for what came next. ### Recommended Listening Guide - **Start with**: ‘I Don’t Wanna Go On With You Like That’ – danceable but deeply confessional. - **Then dive into**: ‘Heavy Traffic’ and ‘Town of Plenty’ for studio spontaneity and vigor. - **Don’t miss**: ‘Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two)’ – Elton’s personal highlight. - **Wrap up with**: ‘Goodbye Marlon Brando’ to feel the album’s emotional grit and personal resolve. ### Conclusion *Reg Strikes Back* is more than an album – it’s Elton’s statement of survival. Written under duress and delivered with conviction, it signifies a phoenix moment – a confident re-emergence from turbulence, rooted in personal identity and musical integrity. If you’re exploring this era, *Reg Strikes Back* is essential: a snapshot of an artist who, at a crossroads, chose to rebuild, reclaim, and strike back. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5. ![](https://media.onyourmarkus.au/originals/26206/tumblr_p6r7m9omvN1x2su3eo1_1280.jpg)