🔘 Dear God – Single: Nov. 1980

Label: The Rocket Record Company

Catalogue Number: XPRES 45 / 6000 591 (Double Pack)

Format: 7" Vinyl Single + Double‑7" Set

Released: November 21, 1980 (UK)

A sleek, synth‑pop Elton prayer — backed with the moody Tactics, and expanded with Steal Away Child and Love So Cold on the double‑pack.

Issued on Rocket in both standard and double‑7" formats, the release marked a distinctive early‑’80s electronic turn.

🔘 Overview

Dear God was released on November 21, 1980 as a UK 7" single on The Rocket Record Company (XPRES 45). A reflective, synth‑pop‑leaning track produced by Elton John and Clive Franks, it showcased Elton’s shift toward a more modern, electronic palette at the dawn of the 1980s.

The standard single was backed with Tactics, while the double‑7" edition (6000 591) added Steal Away Child and Love So Cold. Pressings include plastic‑injection small‑centre singles, PRS‑manufactured copies, and a picture‑sleeve double‑pack. Lacquer on side C of the double set was cut at Precision (PP).

Despite its strong production and atmospheric tone, the single did not chart in the UK.

🔘 Track List (Common Configurations)

7" Vinyl — XPRES 45

A. Dear God

B. Tactics

Double‑7" — 6000 591

Disc 1

A. Dear God

B. Tactics

Disc 2

C. Steal Away Child

D. Love So Cold

Written by: Elton John, Gary Osborne

Produced by: Elton John, Clive Franks

🔘 Release Details

Label: The Rocket Record Company

Formats: 7" Vinyl Single; Double‑7" Vinyl Set

Country: UK

Year: 1980

Notes:

- Standard single and double‑7" pack

- PRS pressing; injection‑moulded centres

- Picture sleeve for double‑pack

- PP lacquer cut on side C

- No UK chart entry

🔘 Variants (Discogs‑Verified)

Variant 1

UK – Rocket – XPRES 45 (1980)

Format: 7" Vinyl (Injection‑moulded)

Variant 2

UK – Rocket – XPRES 45 (1980)

Format: 7" Vinyl (Paper Label, rarer)

Variant 3

UK – Rocket – 6000 591 (1980)

Format: Double‑7" Vinyl (Picture Sleeve)

Variant 4

UK – Rocket – 6000 591 (1980)

Format: Double‑7" Vinyl (PRS pressing; PP lacquer on C‑side)

🔘 Chart Data (BBC / Official Charts Company)

Peak Position: UK — No Chart Entry

Weeks on Chart: —

Chart Run (Official Charts):

No UK chart position recorded.

🔘 Context & Notes

Recording Notes

A cool, synth‑textured production — Elton and Clive Franks leaning into early‑’80s electronic tones and atmospheric arrangements.

Collector Notes

The double‑7" picture‑sleeve edition is the most collectible. PP‑cut C‑sides and PRS pressings are of particular interest to Elton archivists.

Legacy

A cult favourite among early‑’80s Elton releases — introspective, modern, and representative of his transitional electronic period.

🔘 Related Material

Previous Single

Little Jeannie (1980)

Next Single

Nobody Wins (1981)

🔘 Discography (Selected, Chronological)

Dear God — 1980

Tactics — 1980

Steal Away Child — 1980

Love So Cold — 1980

🔘 Mini‑Timeline

Nov. 21, 1980 — UK single released

Late 1980 — Double‑7" issued

🔘 Glam Flashback

Elton steps into the ’80s — synth sheen, introspective mood, and quietly adventurous B‑sides.

🔘 Tags

#EltonJohn #DearGod #1980 #RocketRecordCompany #SynthPop #CliveFranks #VinylArchive #SingleChronicle

🔘 Sources

The Rocket Record Company

Discogs

Official Charts Company

Contemporary music‑press documentation

Elton John archival references