Personnel: Elton John (vocals, piano, synthesizer); George Michael (vocals); Fred Mandel (guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, sequencers, percussion); Davey Johnstone (guitar, synthesizer, background vocals); Nik Kershaw (guitar); Frank Ricotti (vibraphone, percussion); Paul Westwood, Deon Estus, David Paton, John Deacon, Pino Palladino (bass); Charlie Morgan, Mel Gaynor, Dave Mattacks, Roger Taylor (drums); Gus Dudgeon (percussion); Kiki Dee, Katie Kissoon, Pete Wingfield, Alan Carvell (background vocals).

Sister Sledge: Kathy Sledge, Joni Sledge, Debra Sledge, Kim Sledge (background vocals).

Onward International Horns: Phil Todd (alto saxophone); David Bitelli (tenor & baritone saxophones); Bob Sydor, Pete Thomas, Nick Pentelow (tenor saxophone); Paul Spong, Raul D'Oliveira (trumpet); Rick Taylor (trombone & bass trombones); Chris Pyne (trombone).

Recorded at The Sol Studio, Cookham, Berkshire, England. Originally released on Rocket (26). Includes liner notes by John Tobler.

Digitally remastered by Gus Dudgeon (Abbey Road Studios).

It seems as if Elton John was still settling on a discernable style on 1985's ICE ON FIRE. He brought in Gus Dudgeon, the architect of such elaborate, wide-screen productions as GOODBYE YELLOWBRICK ROAD, and his touch can be felt in the lush synthesized sound that dominates this record. Even the song credits, full of Simmons drums, synth-guitar, and Yamaha TX81C, attest to the slick production values.

"Nikita" was the record's Top 10 single. The sweeping melody of this gentle ode to a Russian girl rides atop a percolating rhythm track. The synthesizer-drenched sound tends to place it firmly within its era, but the pull of "Nikita"'s melody is fairly irresistible. It features backing vocals by George Michael, who was at his peak of superstardom at the time. Elsewhere on the record, Elton joins forces with the rhythm section of Queen for "Too Young." The fade of "Wrap Her Up," in which Elton sings out the names of women he'd like to wrap up and take home--ranging from Princess Caroline of Monaco to Nancy Reagan--is the record's strangest moment.