Elton John’s raucous 1975 album Rock of the Westies is set to receive a 50th Anniversary Edition reissue on 20th November via UMR. Available across 2LP, 2CD, 1LP, and digital formats, the expanded release features previously unreleased Piano & Vocal Versions from the original sessions, while bringing the 2017 album remasters to CD and digital for the first time.
Recorded at Caribou Ranch in Colorado and produced by Gus Dudgeon, the record captured Elton and a newly assembled band embracing a heavier, looser, and more experimental rock sound.
Reflecting on the album, Elton John shared: "I had forgotten how good some of the tracks were and how good some of the piano playing was. It just rocks! I love it! It was a fun record to make." He added that it stands as "the most genuine rock and roll record that I’ve ever made."
Rock of the Westies arrived during an extraordinary period for the icon, becoming his sixth consecutive album to hit Number One in the US, where it famously debuted at the top of the Billboard 200.
The bonus material showcases raw, stripped-back studio takes featuring only Elton and his piano. A preview track, the Piano & Vocal Version of 'Street Kids', is available today.
"I listened to the whole album again this year, stripped back to just the piano and vocals," Elton noted. "On 'Street Kids' there is a single, long piano riff throughout the whole song. And there’s absolutely not a single mistake on there. After all these years, I am still very proud of the quality of the musicianship on this record."
Physical formats include a gatefold 2LP pressed on Sea Blue and Electric Blue vinyl with a 16-page booklet, a 2CD digipack with a 24-page booklet, and an exclusive tri-colour 1LP edition.
Fifty years after its original release, the album remains a defining snapshot of Elton John and his band at their most spontaneous and energetic.
