1983, is the seventeenth studio album release by Elton John. The album marked a comeback for John, whose previous four albums had failed european singles retreat yield many enduring international hit singles, and had disappointing sales compared to his string of hit records released during the first half of the 1970s. For the first time since Blue Moves in 1976, all lyrics were written by Bernie Taupin. At the insistence of Taupin, John decided to go back to basics and returned to working with Taupin full-time.

For the first time since A Single Man, John played synthesizers in addition to piano, since James Newton Howard left the band. John felt that synths allowed him to write better fast rock songs, having not been entirely happy with such compositions performed on piano. The album was written and recorded in approximately two weeks, with overdubs completed in a week. The original LP issue of the album featured a die-cut cover with a special inner sleeve. No CD release has duplicated these die-cuts. All B-sides released on US singles from this time originate from his 1978 album A Single Man and the 21 at 33 sessions from 1980.

They were also previously released on European singles. Reviewing the album in Rolling Stone, Don Shewey commented, “Elton John and Bernie Taupin have written some great hit singles, but since the early Elton John LP, they have never produced an album of consistently first-rate material. 6:46 B-side of “I’m Still Standing” recorded in 1978 and withdrawn as a 12″ picture disc-single. 7:34 B-side also recorded in 1978. Music by Elton John and Tim Renwick.