Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 22, 2026

Breaking Hearts

Breaking Hearts is the eighteenth studio album by British musician Elton John. It was released on 18 June 1984 through John's Rocket label in the UK and Geffen Records in the US. Like the preceding Too Low for Zero (1983), the album was produced by Chris Thomas and features the classic Elton John Band lineup of Davey Johnstone on guitar, Dee Murray on bass, and Nigel Olsson on drums.

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Breaking Hearts
Studio album by
Elton John
Released18 June 19841
RecordedDecember 1983 – April 1984
StudiosAIR, Montserrat
GenrePop rock
Length40:43
LabelsGeffen (US), Rocket (UK)
ProducerChris Thomas
Elton John chronology
Too Low for Zero
(1983) 		Breaking Hearts
(1984) 		Ice on Fire
(1985)
Singles from Breaking Hearts
  1. "Sad Songs (Say So Much)"
    Released: May 1984
  2. "Passengers"
    Released: August 1984
  3. "Who Wears These Shoes?"
    Released: October 19842
  4. "In Neon"
    Released: November 1984
  5. "Breaking Hearts"
    Released: February 1985

Breaking Hearts is the eighteenth studio album by British musician Elton John. It was released on 18 June 1984 through John's Rocket label in the UK and Geffen Records in the US. Like the preceding Too Low for Zero (1983), the album was produced by Chris Thomas and features the classic Elton John Band lineup of Davey Johnstone on guitar, Dee Murray on bass, and Nigel Olsson on drums.

Upon release, Breaking Hearts was a commercial success, peaking at number two in the UK and number 20 in the US. "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" was released as the album's lead single and reached number five in the US and number seven in the UK. Four further singles were released, including "Passengers", which reached number five in the UK, as well as "Who Wears These Shoes?" and "In Neon", both of which reached the top 40 in the US.

Background

This album would be the last to feature all (core) members of the "classic Elton John Band lineup" playing their instruments (although they would reunite to provide backing vocals on John's Reg Strikes Back album). It was the last of Elton John's studio albums to feature bass from Dee Murray, who would die in 1992 of skin cancer, and it was the last studio album until 2001's Songs from the West Coast that would feature Nigel Olsson on drums. It was also the last recorded album in which John played both piano and keyboards in the studio by himself.

Breaking Hearts was also the first album since Victim of Love to not feature a string or horn section on any track. This is one of only two albums with John's classic band to which (unofficial member) Ray Cooper did not contribute at all, the other being 1973's Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player. Shortly after the tour, the band line-up would change and Gus Dudgeon, John's former producer, would produce the next two albums. In the US, it was certified gold in September 1984 and platinum in August 1998 by the RIAA.

John has continued performing "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" as of 2023, as he included the song in his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour setlist. Apart from the 1984 Breaking Hearts Tour (both the European and the North American leg), no other songs from the album have been performed live except "Restless" and "Passengers", on the following 1985–1986 Ice on Fire World Tour (the latter song only performed on the UK leg).

Music and lyrics

In comparison with John's previous albums, the music on Breaking Hearts features greater emphasis on Johnstone's guitar as opposed to John's piano, while John utilized the synthesizer to a greater extent.34

Release and reception

Commercial performance

Upon release, Breaking Hearts continued the success of its predecessor. Its first single, "Sad Songs (Say So Much)", charted in the UK on May 26, and ended up peaking at number seven, making it John's third UK top 10 hit in the span of a year.5 In the US, the single debuted at number 49 (John's highest single debut of the decade) and made it to the top 40 within two weeks. By July, it had entered the top 10, and on August 11, it reached its peak of number five.6 This marked the first time since 1975 that John had two singles in a row reach the top 10 in the US.6

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStar7
The Encyclopedia of Popular MusicStarStar8
Record MirrorStar9
Smash Hits3/1010
SoundsStarStar11

Initial reviews for Breaking Hearts were negative. Robin Smith of Record Mirror rated the album one star out of five, lamenting how "a man of Reg's character could turn his hands to such a boring record."9 Smith felt the majority of the record consisted of "Taupin's by now over-familiar cowboy songs", and stated that while John "does his best with the material", the rest of the musicians "sound very disinterested."9 Tom Hibbert of Smash Hits categorized its songs as "plodding 'rockers'" and "tawdry ballads" with "clichéd arrangements and snoozy singing of lyrics as trite as can be".10 Musician felt that while John's melodies hadn't "lost their pop sense", they had lost their "effervescence"; the magazine also criticized Taupin's "misogynistic" lyrics.12 A more positive review in Cash Box declared the album to be a "substantial LP" which "hearken[s] back to the heyday of Captain Fantastic".13 The magazine described "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" as "poignant and touching" and the title track as "beautifully melodic", while listing "'Lil Frigerator" and "Passengers" as further highlights.13

Retrospective reviews are more positive. Lindsey Planer of AllMusic declared the album to be "one of John's most consistent efforts during his half decade on Geffen Records", though he lamented the fact that the record's "lighter pop" tracks such as "In Neon" and "Passengers" "criminally under-utilized the synergy between the artist and band."7 Ultimate Classic Rock stated that the album "capture[s] a moment that found John happily reunited with his longtime songwriting partner and surrounded with some of the musicians who'd helped create his biggest hits", noting that while "it doesn't contain many of the delirious highlights fans had come to expect from [John's] best albums", it is also devoid of "most of the traps that would ensnare him later in the decade."3

Track listing

All tracks are written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, except where noted.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Restless"5:17
2."Slow Down Georgie (She's Poison)"4:10
3."Who Wears These Shoes?"4:04
4."Breaking Hearts (Ain't What It Used to Be)"3:34
5."Li'l 'Frigerator"3:37
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Passengers" (John, Taupin, Davey Johnstone, Phineas Mkhize)3:24
2."In Neon"4:19
3."Burning Buildings"4:02
4."Did He Shoot Her?"3:21
5."Sad Songs (Say So Much)"4:55
Total length:40:43
  • 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.

Musicians

  • Elton John – lead and backing vocals, synthesizers (tracks 1–3, 5–7, 9, 10), pianos (tracks 3–5, 7–10), Hammond organ (track 5), Fender Rhodes (track 7), clavinet (track 10)
  • Davey Johnstone – backing vocals (tracks 1–4, 6–10), electric guitar (tracks 1–3, 5, 7–9), acoustic guitar (tracks 2, 6–8, 10), sitar (track 9)
  • Dee Murray – bass guitar (tracks 1–3, 5–10), backing vocals (tracks 1–4, 6–10)
  • Nigel Olsson – drums (tracks 1–3, 5–10), backing vocals (tracks 1–4, 6–10)
  • Andrew Thompson – saxophone (track 5)

Production

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Breaking Hearts
Region Certification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)32 Platinum 15,000^
Spain (Promusicae)22 Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)33 Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)34 Gold 240,00031
United States (RIAA)35 Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

References

  1. "Music Week" (PDF). p. 33.
  2. "Music Week" (PDF). p. 50.
  3. Giles, Jeff (29 June 2014). "How Elton John Kept His Hot Streak Going on 'Breaking Hearts'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 25 June 2026.
  4. Rosenthal 2001, p. 237
  5. Rosenthal 2001, p. 248
  6. Rosenthal 2001, p. 249
  7. "Breaking Hearts". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  8. Larkin, Colin (2011). "John, Elton". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). London: Omnibus Press. p. 2,003. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
  9. Smith, Robin (23 June 1984). "Albums". Record Mirror. p. 18. ISSN 0144-5804.
  10. Hibbert, Tom (5–18 July 1984). "Album Reviews". Smash Hits. 6 (14): 21.
  11. Black, Bill (30 June 1984). "The Big Match". Sounds. p. 37.
  12. "Rock Short Takes" (PDF). Musician. No. 72. October 1984. p. 95.
  13. "Feature Picks" (PDF). Cash Box. 14 July 1984. p. 7. ISSN 0006-7289. Retrieved 25 June 2026. {{cite web}}: Check |issn= value (help)
  14. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  15. "Austriancharts.at – Elton John – Breaking Hearts" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  16. "Top RPM Albums: Image 5268". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  17. "Dutchcharts.nl – Elton John – Breaking Hearts" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  18. "Offiziellecharts.de – Elton John – Breaking Hearts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  19. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  20. "Charts.nz – Elton John – Breaking Hearts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  21. "Norwegiancharts.com – Elton John – Breaking Hearts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  22. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  23. "Swedishcharts.com – Elton John – Breaking Hearts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  24. "Swisscharts.com – Elton John – Breaking Hearts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  25. "Official Albums Chart on 24/6/1984 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  26. "Elton John Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  27. "Jahreshitparade 1984" (in German). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 29 March 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  28. "Top RPM Albums: Image 9642". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  29. "Top Selling Albums of 1984 – The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  30. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1984" (in German). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 6 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  31. "Complete UK Year-End Albums Chart – 1984". Chart Heaven. Archived from the original on 19 May 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  32. "New Zealand album certifications – Elton John – Breaking Hearts". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 2 June 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  33. "Elton on Fire" (PDF). Music & Media. World Radio History. 3 May 1986. p. 3. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  34. "British album certifications – Elton John – Breaking Hearts". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 February 2021. Select albums in the Formats field. Type Breaking Hearts Elton John in the "Search:" field.
  35. "American album certifications – Elton John – Breaking Hearts". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
External links