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"Ball & Chain"
Single by Elton John
from the album Jump Up!
B-side"Where Have All the Good Times Gone" (alternate version)
ReleasedSeptember 1982
RecordedSeptember–October 1981
GenreRock, acoustic pop
Length3:27
Label Geffen (US)
Rocket (UK)
Songwriter(s) Elton John, Gary Osborne
Producer(s) Chris Thomas
Elton John singles chronology
"Princess"
(1982)
"Ball & Chain"
(1982)
" All Quiet on the Western Front"
(1982)

"Ball & Chain" is a song by English musician Elton John with lyrics by Gary Osborne. It is the third track on his 1982 album Jump Up! and was released as a single in the United States in September that year. It features Pete Townshend of The Who on acoustic guitar. Osborne added some French words into the song.

In 1985, Country music artist Kathy Mattea covered the song on her second album From My Heart.

Musical structure

The song opens with Townshend's percussive guitar playing, and subtle piano from Elton. The song then builds to a climactic finish, placing the final verse one octave higher.

Release

It was released in the US in September 1982 without charting and was performed by John during the 1982 leg of his Jump Up Tour. [1]

Billboard called it "plain good fun, with a buoyant rhythm guitar and crisp production." [2]

Music video

A promotional video was made for this song featuring John singing the song without playing piano with his classic band performing in a white background. [3]

Charts

Chart (1984) Peak
position
US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard) [4] 14

Personnel

References

  1. ^ "Ball And Chain – Elton John (Song Statistics)". setlist.fm. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Top Single Picks". Billboard. 20 November 1982. p. 67. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Elton John – Ball and Chain (Promo Video)". Retrieved 14 February 2022 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ "Elton John Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 October 2023.