Rainbow Rocks Record Store Day 2025

Elton John – Live from the Rainbow Theatre with Ray Cooper, this year’s vinyl offering for Record Store Day, shines a spotlight on one of Elton’s most sought-after live recordings amongst his more devout fans as it presents 12 of his lesser-performed songs in an intimate setting.

By John F. Higgins

Rainbow ticket holders expecting to see the Elton of old – in this case meaning less than a year ago – were in for a big surprise. Shunning the glittery stage-wear that had become, and remains, his brand in favour of something you might find him wearing on a casual stroll (right down to track suit trousers and trainers), Elton performed the first half of the concert solo before Ray Cooper exploded out from behind the backdrop, virtually daring the audience to turn their attention away from the name on the ticket.

Live from the Rainbow Theatre with Ray Cooper includes a dozen passionate recitals of songs from eight of the 11 studio albums Elton had released so far in his career – most of which he had rarely, if ever, performed in concert up to that time. On this LP we hear the live debuts of Cage The Songbird, Idol, I Feel Like A Bullet (In The Gun Of Robert Ford), Roy Rogers, and, nearly, Ticking, which Elton had performed just once before. Only one of the songs Elton plays on this album had been a single in the UK, 1970’s Border Song, and only I Feel Like A Bullet… from this concert has been released before, but never on vinyl.

Listeners should note that the eight solo Elton songs on the album are presented as they would have been to the band members on their respective albums – albeit with slight vocal and piano effects on two songs (these were done in real time, thanks to new technology). The intimate size of the venue (the total attendance for the six Rainbow shows was less than one night at Madison Square Garden) comes through on the recording so well that we might be forgiven for thinking Elton had knocked on our front door and sat down at the family piano.

The remaining four songs benefit from the addition of übercussionist Ray Cooper. How could they not? (He had his own cheering section by now…the Ray Cooper Appreciation Society.) Rotating through an arsenal of instruments – tambourine, conga drums, vibraphone, xylophone, tympani, snare drum, and chimes – Ray provides the perfect complement to Elton’s voice and piano.

Ray was already a part of Elton’s touring (and recording) band – the May 2nd performance was his 148th with Elton – but the Rainbow Theatre was the first time the pair teamed up for just a two-man show. Elton felt the format was such a winner that it was revived in February 1979, with the A Single Man Tour, and continued intermittently throughout the rest of his touring career, totaling nearly 250 shows. The pair made international headlines when the 1979 tour went to the USSR, a first for an artist of Elton’s stature.

Elton John – Live from the Rainbow Theatre with Ray Cooper showcases Elton’s songwriting, piano playing, singing, and even his sense of humour (listen closely) with the mere drop of a phonograph needle. In short, it is a remarkable peek into the artist’s career at the end of its first decade.

Song list:

Side A

1. The Greatest Discovery
2. Border Song
3. Cage The Songbird
4. Where To Now St. Peter?
5. Ticking
6. Better Off Dead (w/Ray Cooper)

Side B

1. Sweet Painted Lady
2. Tonight (w/Ray Cooper)
3. Idol (w/Ray Cooper)
4. I Feel Like A Bullet (In The Gun Of Robert Ford) (w/Ray Cooper)
5. Roy Rogers
6. Dan Dare (Pilot Of The Future)