Little Jeannie

"Little Jeanie"
Single by Elton John
from the album 21 at 33
B-side "Conquer the Sun"
Released 1 May 1980 (US)
Recorded August 1979
Genre Rock, Pop, Adult Contemporary
Length 4:46 (single)
5:08 (album)
Label Rocket
Writer(s) Elton John / Gary Osborne
Producer(s) Elton John, Clive Franks
Certification Gold (RIAA)
Elton John singles chronology
"Johnny B. Goode"
(1979)
"Little Jeanie"
(1980)
"Sartorial Eloquence (Don't Ya Wanna Play This Game No More?)"
(1980)

"Little Jeannie" (spelled "Little Jeanie" on the cover of the single) is a song by Elton John and Gary Osborne, recorded by John and released as a single in 1980 from John's 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".

It became John's fifth #1 on the U.S. Adult contemporary chart,[1] and was certified Gold by the RIAA.[2] It peaked at #3 in both Billboard and Cash Box.

In Canada, it hit #1 one on the RPM 100 national singles chart.[3]

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". In the US, it would be Elton'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.

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

Charts and certifications

Chart performance

Chart (1980) Peak
position
Canadian RPM 100 1
South African Singles Chart[4] 8
UK Singles Chart 33
US Billboard Hot 100 3
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 1

Sales and certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Canada (Music Canada)[5] Gold 75,000^
United States (RIAA)[6] Gold 1,000,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

See also

References

Preceded by
"Funkytown" by Lipps Inc
Canadian RPM 100 number-one single
19 July 1980 (one week)
Succeeded by
"It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" by Billy Joel
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