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With 12 studio albums released, his first show in the US and the release of “Rocket Man”, the 70s saw Elton John’s career become one that rivalled any other in popular culture.
1970
Elton John’s self titled album released.
Elton’s second album in the UK was released on April 10, 1970 and then later, on July 22, became his first US release. The album was the first of many to be produced by Gus Dudgeon and as well as being certified gold by the RIAA, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Album of the Year. It included one of Elton’s biggest hits, Your Song, and has since been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
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Doug Weston's nightclub the Troubadour, where Elton John held his first US show.
“Tuesday night at the Troubadour was just the beginning. He's going to be one of Rock's biggest and most important stars.”
Left: Robert Hilburn's review in the August 27, 1970 Los Angeles Times.
Right: Elton making his American debut at the Troubadour in Los Angeles.
Elton John made his American debut at Doug Weston’s nightclub on the night of August 25, 1970 and almost immediately after he, Nigel Olsson and Dee Murray left the stage at 9081 Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, the aftershocks of his seismic recital began to roll across the landscape of not only his own career but also popular music worldwide.
“Folks, I’ve never done this before, so please be kind to me. I’m like the rest of you; I’m here because of having listened to Elton John’s album. So I’m going to take my seat with you now and enjoy the show.” – Neil Diamond
“I didn’t come down for two days I was so high from the excitement of that night. I think there were maybe 300 people in that room Tuesday night, but everybody I talk to [now] says, “Yeah, I was there!” So there must have been 30,000 at The Troubadour that night. ”
1972
Rocket Man was one of three songs chosen for The Cut in 2017, supported by YouTube, to have its first ever official music video made by an aspiring young filmmaker. Majid Adin’s winning video for Rocket Man is a poignant animated work which draws on his personal experiences as an Iranian refugee making his way to England – giving a new perspective to the lyrics and themes of travel and loneliness. A fine art university graduate working in animation production, Adin travelled across Europe during the 2015 refugee crisis, spending time in the infamous Calais Jungle camp before being granted asylum in the UK and now rebuilding his life as an artist in Britain. Majid partnered with animation director Stephen McNally to realise his vision for this achingly powerful and human story.
September 7th – Elton plays the Hollywood Bowl
Elton pulled out all the stops for his September 7, 1973, show at the Hollywood Bowl. The show began with an introduction by porn star Linda Lovelace and, as Elton descended the staircase on to the stage, doves were released from five grand pianos by impersonators of Queen Elizabeth, Elvis Presley, Frankenstein’s Monster, the Pope, The Beatles, Batman and Robin, Mae West, and Groucho Marx.
Featuring six songs from his latest chart-topper, Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player, and debuting five tracks from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road a month before its release, Elton and the band tore through the 16-song set list with ostrich feathers seemingly flying off his shoulders.
“He played off the audience’s reaction which was frenetic throughout.”
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Elton playing his show at the Hollywood Bowl on September 7th, 1973. (Photo: Ed Caraeff @ Iconic Images)
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was released on October 5, 1973, on MCA Records in the US and Canada, and on DJM Records in the rest of the world. Within a month, it had reached #1 on the Billboard Top 200, where it stayed for 8 weeks as part of GYBR’s 2-year stay on the chart.
The record is packed with fan-favourites such as Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting), Bennie And The Jets and Candle In The Wind and in 2003, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. It is certified 8x Platinum by the RIAA for sales exceeding 8 million units.
1974
Above: July 1974, Elton in his L.A. garden wearing a Tommy Nutter suit.
Top right: Elton on stage in feather costume by Bob Mackie. (Photo: Sam Emerson)
Bottom Right: Elton at home in white bomber jacket with feathers, also by Bob Mackie. (Photo: Terry O'Neill @ Iconic Images)
John Lennon joins Elton on stage at Madison Square Garden
When Elton added his vocals to John Lennon’s Whatever Gets You Thru The Night a deal was made that if the song reached #1 on the Billboard chart, the latter would join Elton on stage at one of his upcoming Madison Square Garden shows. Lennon agreed, thinking that the track would never top the chart as none of his solo material had so far.
Two days before Elton and the band’s fall tour of North America began at the Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, Whatever Gets You Thru The Night was released as Walls And Bridges’ debut single in the US on September 23, 1974. On November 16, much to Lennon’s amazement, it reached #1, knocking off Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet.
“Elton called and said, ‘Remember when you promised…?’ It wasn’t like I promised some agent or something, so I was suddenly stuck. I had to go on stage.”
The appearance of John Lennon at Elton’s concert on Thanksgiving night 1974 at Madison Square Garden in New York City remains the single most memorable concert for Elton, his band and crew…and virtually everyone else who was there. It would be John’s last ever concert appearance.
“One of the greatest moments of my life, not only just my musical life but my personal life, was in this very building in 1974. Someone came on stage and sang three songs with us. And I’ve never heard a reception in the whole of my life like it. It was ten minutes of the most deafening roar. That person was very special, and of course you know I’m talking about John Lennon … Every time I play this building I think of him, and how much I miss him and how much he enriched all our lives.” – Elton at Madison Square Garden, October 2000
1975
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October 1975 - Elton John posing for the crowd at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles. (Terry O'Neill @ Iconic Images)
1976
“I remember hearing it on the radio for the first time and thinking, “Wow.” ‘Cos some records, especially in those days, they have to sound great on the radio…and this was one of those records that did. I remember thinking, “Oh, this could do okay…this could go.” – Kiki Dee
And “go” it went…
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Elton and Kiki Dee on the set of the music video for "Don't Go Breaking My Heart".
Albums released in 1970s
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