Little Jeannie

"Little Jeannie" (spelled "Little Jeanie" on the cover of certain single releases) is a song written by English musician Elton John and Gary Osborne recorded by John, and released as a single in 1980 from John's studio album 21 at 33. It reached number three on the Billboard pop chart in the United States, becoming the singer's biggest U.S. hit since 1976's "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (a duet with singer Kiki Dee), and his highest-charting solo hit since 1975's "Island Girl". In the US, it would be John's highest-charting single co-written with Gary Osborne, while in the UK, where the song only reached number 33, "Blue Eyes" would eventually hold that honour.

"Little Jeannie"
Single by Elton John
from the album 21 at 33
B-side"Conquer the Sun"
Released1 May 1980 (US)
RecordedAugust 1979
GenreSoft rock[1]
Length4:46 (single)
5:08 (album)
LabelRocket
Songwriter(s)Elton John, Gary Osborne
Producer(s)Elton John, Clive Franks
Elton John singles chronology
"Johnny B. Goode"
(1979)		 "Little Jeannie"
(1980)		 "Sartorial Eloquence (Don't Ya Wanna Play This Game No More?)"
(1980)

It became John's fifth No. 1 on the U.S. Adult contemporary chart,[2] and was certified Gold by the RIAA.[3] It peaked at No. 3 in both Billboard and Cash Box. In Canada, it hit number one on the RPM 100 national singles chart.[4]

Despite its impressive performance in the US charts, Elton John has rarely performed "Little Jeannie" live, doing so only on his 1980 tour and during 2000's One Night Only concerts.[5]

Composition

Composed in the key of B flat, which allowed its notable saxophone solo to ring out, the song can be described as an uptempo ballad similar in feel, with its electric piano, to his earlier 1973 hit, "Daniel".

Critical reception

Billboard's reviewer noted that "this melodic midtempo ballad recalls the consummate commercial craftsmanship which characterized John's output around the time of Caribou in 1974" and "some brassy horn fills constitute the only real update on John's traditional sound."[6] Cash Box said that "the Latin-flavored percussives and brass add a new exciting dimension to the mid-tempo beat."[7] Record World said that it shows the "stylistic genius that brought us 'Your Song' and other pop ballad hits."[8]

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (1980) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] 9
Belgium (Ultratop) Singles Chart[10] 20
Canadian RPM 100 1
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[11] 2
German Singles Chart[12] 23
New Zealand Singles Chart (RIANZ)[13] 5
South African Singles Chart[14] 8
Switzerland Singles Chart[15] 4
UK Singles Chart[16] 33
US Billboard Hot 100[17] 3
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[18] 1

Year end charts
Year-end chart (1980)Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[19] 80
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[20] 16

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[21] Gold 75,000^
United States (RIAA)[22] Gold 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

References
  1. Simpson, Dave (13 September 2018). "Elton John's 50 greatest songs – ranked!". The Guardian.
  2. The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th Edition, 1996
  3. "American certifications – Little Jeannie". Recording Industry Association of America.
  4. Library and Archives Canada. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.7835a&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=1fetjl5dimcjovbnngneubjrg4
  5. "Little Jeannie by Elton John Song Statistics | setlist.fm". www.setlist.fm. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  6. "Review: Elton John – Little Jeannie" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 92, no. 18. New York: Billboard Publications Inc. 3 May 1980. p. 55. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022 – via World Radio History.
  7. "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 3 May 1980. p. 20. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  8. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 3 May 1980. p. 1. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  9. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  10. ""Little Jeannie" on the Belgium Singles Chart". ultratop.be. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  11. "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada" (PDF). Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 26 July 1980. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  12. ""Little Jeannie" on the German Singles Chart". Charts.org.nz. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  13. ""Little Jeannie" on the New Zealand Singles Chart". Charts.org.nz. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  14. ""Little Jeannie" on the South African Singles Chart". Springbok Radio. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  15. ""Little Jeannie" on the Swiss Singles Chart". Charts.org.nz. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  16. "OfficialCharts.com". Official Charts. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  17. "Billboard: The Hot 100, 19 July 1980". Billboard. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  18. "Billboard: Adult Contemporary Chart, 14 June 1980". Billboard. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  19. "National Top 100 Singles for 1980". Kent Music Report. 5 January 1981. Retrieved 17 January 2022 – via Imgur.
  20. "1980 Talent in Action – Year End Charts : Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 92, no. 51. 20 December 1980. p. TIA-10. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  21. "Canadian single certifications – Elton John – Little Jeannie". Music Canada. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  22. "American single certifications – John, Elton – Little Jeannie". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
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