Copyright 1989, 2008 Paul Maclauchlan Permission granted to copy this information if credit is given Explanation of symbols: + Live * Non-LP B-side # guest appearance $ If you have this I would love to hear it! CB Concert broadcast
UK NEWSPAPER - Melody Maker
Article: Inside Elton's Honky Château by Chris Welch with photos by Barrie Wentzell. An interview was held at Elton John's home in Surrey, where he talked about the pressures of fame and the upcoming Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player album.
Elton John: "We made the album last June, and it seemed like it would never come out. But I wanted a long gap and we only had one LP out last year. I didn't want the situation where every few months there was an Elton John album out."
"I really believe fame can make you into a withdrawn case. Look at George Harrison, Dylan, Presley, Lennon and Cassidy - they rarely go out. I love success. If I don't enjoy it what would be the point? But I know a lot of stars who don't get enjoyment out of it and are really miserable. I love going out - I'm not going to become a hermit for anyone. Mind you, when you get plagued by autograph hunters, and you are right in the middle of a meal - that's a bit of an aggravation."
UK 45
DJM DJS 275 (UK: #4; 10 weeks)
Elton John: "Dick James said he didn't want another single released to detract from sales of the new album, so I've more or less forced him to put it out. He has disowned it, so I am having to pay for all the advertising. But he says he will pay for the adverts if the single makes the Top Ten. Isn't that nice?"
ENGLAND CONCERT - Eric Clapton at the Rainbow Theatre, London
Elton John watches the show.
US CONCERT - Carnegie Hall, New York City NY
Elton John performs at the famous Carnegie Hall. He is interviewed by Ken Evans of the New Musical Express.
Elton John: "I've never really done a major British tour so I really would like to do one of about three and a half weeks and do ballrooms and places like that. There's definitely going to be a big tour, either in February or March. We do neglect England but it is just finding the places and the time to play. I find touring rather boring, not the gigs, but driving to Bolton isn't quite as glamorous as driving to Santiago. But we really have got to get our finger out to do it. We did a short tour of England just before we came on this one and it was really amazing. There were great crowds and we owe it to them to go out there and do it again."
US LP - DON'T SHOOT ME I'M ONLY THE PIANO
PLAYER
MCA 2100
- All songs written by Elton John & Bernie Taupin.
- Starring Elton John with Davey Johnstone Dee Murray Nigel Olsson
- Orchestral arrangements by Paul Buckmaster
- Lyrics by Bernie Taupin
- Produced by Gus Dudgeon
- Engineered by Ken Scott
- Recorded at Strawberry Studios France
- Co-ordinated by Steve Brown
- Art direction & sleeve design by Michael Ross (thanks to Ron) & David Larkham (Teepee Graphics)
- Cover photography by Ed Caraeff
- Re-mixed at Trident Studios London
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UK LP - DON'T SHOOT ME I'M ONLY THE PIANO
PLAYER
DJM DJLPH 427 (UK: #1; 42 weeks)
Same songs as US LP
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Buy: |
ENGLAND CONCERT - Dusty Springfield
Elton John joins Dusty Springfield onstage during one of her shows.
UK NEWSPAPER - Melody Maker
A full page ad announces the launch of The Rocket Record Company. The firm is owned by Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Gus Dudgeon, John Reid and Steve Brown.
UK NEWSPAPER - New Musical Express
The article: The Fighting Side Of Elton John discusses the star who hates those men in the music industry with big fat cigars, and how he's starting his own record label to prove it.
UK TV - The Old Grey Whistle Test
In an interview with Bob Harris, Elton John says, "I know I haven't the best image for rock and roll and that probably gets in the way of my music sometimes. But most of my clothes are just for a laugh."
19 show British tour. The band features Elton John (piano), Dee Murray (bass), Davey Johnstone (guitar) and Nigel Olsson (drums). At one venue, the band is kept barricaded in the building for an hour after the show as they are mobbed by fans.
SCOTLAND CONCERT - Greens Playhouse, Glasgow
Elton John: "We don't carry around a heavy mob, and if the stage is low we have to watch out for them. It took us an hour to get out of a building in Glasgow, and we've had to use decoys because we were trapped. There were times when I thought the fans would rip us apart. I'd rather they lined up for two hours and I signed autographs for them, but they wouldn't do that."
ENGLAND CONCERT - Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham
ENGLAND CONCERT - De Montfort Hall, Leicester
ENGLAND CONCERT - Liverpool Empire, Liverpool
ENGLAND CONCERT - Liverpool Empire, Liverpool
ENGLAND CONCERT - Guildhall, Preston
ENGLAND CONCERT - City Hall, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Elton John's promoter breaks his ankle keeping the fans at bay.
ENGLAND CONCERT - City Hall, Sheffield
ENGLAND CONCERT - Leeds University, Leeds
ENGLAND CONCERT - Leeds University, Leeds
ENGLAND CONCERT - Colston Hall, Bristol
ENGLAND CONCERT - The Dome, Brighton
US MAGAZINE - Cashbox
Elton John cover.
ENGLAND CONCERT - Winter Gardens, Bournemouth
ENGLAND CONCERT - Guildhall, Southampton
ENGLAND CONCERT - Sundown Theatre, Mile End Road
ENGLAND CONCERT - Sundown Theatre, Edmonton
Rod Stewart presents Elton John with a birthday bouquet of flowers onstage during the show.
ENGLAND CONCERT - Sundown Theatre, Brixton
ENGLAND CONCERT - Coventry Theatre, Coventry
US 45
MCA 40046 (US: #2 (1 week); 15 weeks)
ENGLAND CONCERT - Hard Rock, Manchester
ENGLAND CONCERT - Hard Rock, Manchester
Last of show of the British tour.
UK NEWSPAPER - Melody Maker
An article on how Elton John is now a teen idol, attracting screamers to his shows at the Sundown Theatres.
US MAGAZINE - Circus
Elton John cover and article.
UK NEWSPAPER - Melody Maker
Chris Charlesworth reports how Elton Johnis mobbed for the first time on the recent British tour..
US LP - LOVING & FREE - Kiki
Dee
MCA 395
Elton: co-producer
7 show concert tour in Italy. Kiki Dee provides backup vocals.
ITALY CONCERT - Palasport, Naples
ITALY CONCERT - Palasport, Rome
ITALY CONCERT - Bologna
ITALY CONCERT - Stadio, Florence
ITALY CONCERT - Turin
ITALY CONCERT - Palasport, Genoa
ITALY CONCERT - Velodromo Vigorelli, Milan
UK RADIO - The Rolling Stones Story (BBC1)
Elton John is interviewed for the documentary.
ENGLAND JAM SESSION - Cafe Royal, Regent Street London
Elton John attends a Wings concert at London's Hammersmith Odeon and later goes to the "End Of The UK Tour" party held at the reception hall of the Cafe Royal in Regent Street, London. Paul McCartney gives an impromtu performance alternating between guitar and drums while Elton joins in on piano.
FRANCE STUDIO SESSIONS - Strawberry Studios
Elton Johnand the band record Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting, Jack Rabbit, Whenever You're Ready, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Screw You, Candle In The Wind, Bennie And The Jets, and Harmony.
UK 45
DJM DJX 502 (UK: #7; 9 weeks)
Elton John: "I'm getting a bit fed-up with singer-songwriter records. They drive me mad. I was labelled a singer-songwriter and did four LP's in that syndrome. But I've always fought against the Elton John syndrome. People take it too seriously. I'd like us to be a band. On the first albums we used a lot of session men, but we could never do it that way now, planning it down to the last flute."
US 45
MCA 40105 (US: #12; 12 weeks)
CANADA RADIO - The Elton John Story (CJOM FM)
Part 1 of a radio documentary
CANADA RADIO - The Elton John Story (CJOM FM)
Part 2 of a radio documentary
UK RADIO - The Beatles Story (BBC1)
Elton John is interviewed for the documentary.
43 show American tour that begins in Mobile AL on August 15 and ends October 21 in Gainesville FL. Elton John breaks stadium attendance records set by Elvis Presley. During the Atlanta tour stop, Elton John and Iggy Pop make an impromptu club appearance at Richard's.
US CONCERT - Mobile AL
Opening night of an American tour.
US MAGAZINE - Rolling Stone
Cover story on Elton. Paul Gambaccini does The Rolling Stone Interview with Elton John and Bernie Taupin.
Elton John: "Bowie is having a hit with Space Oddity because I had a hit with Rocket Man"
US CONCERT - Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston TX
US CONCERT - Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City MO
UK RADIO - The Story Of Pop (BBC1)
Elton John is interviewed for the documentary. The magazine pictured was a companion publication to the radio series.
US CONCERT - Metropolitan Sports Center, Bloomington MN
Elton John's first appearance in Minnesota.
US CONCERT - Amphitheater, Chicago IL
US CONCERT - Amphitheater, Chicago IL
US CONCERT - Iowa State Fairgrounds, Des Moines IA
US CONCERT - University of Utah Special Events Center, Salt Lake City UT
Elton John's first appearance in Utah.
UK RADIO - The Poet And The Pub Pianist (BBC1)
Part 1 of a radio profile of Bernie Taupin and Elton John. Featured is an interview of Elton by Brian Matthews. Part 2 is broadcast on September 15.
US CONCERT - Memorial Coliseum, Portland OR
Elton John's first appearance in Oregon.
US CONCERT - Coliseum, Seattle WA
US CONCERT - Balboa Stadium, San Diego CA
US CONCERT - Coliseum, Denver CO
US CONCERT - University of New Mexico Arena, Albuquerque NM
Elton John's first appearance in New Mexico.
US CONCERT - Big Surf, Phoenix AZ
UK 45
DJM DJS 285 (UK: #6; 16 weeks)
US CONCERT - Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles CA
["All The Young Girls
Love Alice"]
Elton Johngoes all out for this show. Linda Lovelace introduces him after a procession of lookalikes of The Beatles, Frankenstein, Marilyn Monroe, the Pope, Groucho Marx and Queen Elizabeth. The stage consisted of five coloured grand pianos, palm trees and a staircase. The piano tops were raised together, spelling ELTON and releasing hundreds of white doves.
Chris Charlesworth, in Melody Maker's September 15 issue, calls this show Elton's finest hour.
US CONCERT - Arena, Long Beach CA
US CONCERT - Oakland Coliseum, Oakland CA
CANADA CONCERT - Coliseum, Vancouver BC
UK RADIO - The Poet And The Pub Pianist (BBC1)
Part 2 of a radio profile of Bernie Taupin and Elton John. Featured is an interview of Elton by Brian Matthews. Part 1 was broadcast on August 30.
US CONCERT - Honolulu International Center, Honolulu HI
US CONCERT - Coliseum, Greensboro NC
US CONCERT - Braves Stadium, Atlanta GA
US CONCERT - Madison Square Garden, New York City NY
US CONCERT - Madison Square Garden, New York City NY
US CONCERT - Boston Gardens, Boston MA
Stevie Wonder joins Elton Johnfor an encore. This is Stevie's first public appearance since he was put in a coma by a serious car crash.
US CONCERT - The Spectrum, Philadelphia PA
US CONCERT - Civic Center, Baltimore MD
Elton John is angered by the treatment of a fan by a security guard, so he dismisses all concert security. The stage is stormed by 500 fans and Maryland officials bar Elton from performing in Maryland for seven years. His next appearance is September 16 1980.
US MAGAZINE - Concert
Elton John cover.
UK LP - GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD
DJM
DJLPO 1001 (UK: #1; 84 weeks)
- Double album
- Lyrics by Bernie Taupin; Music by Elton John
- Dee Murray; Davey Johnstone; Nigel Olsson
- Produced by Gus Dudgeon
- Orchestral arrangements by Del Newman
- Engineered by David Hentschel; Assistant engineers: Andy Scott (France), Peter Kelsey (London)
- Recorded at Strawberry Studios, France
- Remixed at Trident Studios, London
- Co-ordinated by Steve Brown
- Outside cover illustration by Ian Beck
- Inside cover illustrations by David Larkham & Michael Ross, except Harmony & Saturday Night, illustrated by David Scutt
- Art direction by David Larkham & Michael Ross with thanks to David Costa
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| Buy: Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 2 CD set |
Buy: Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 2 CD set |
US LP - GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD
MCA
MCA2-10003
Same songs as UK LP. Rolling Stone magazine reviewed the album in issue #148.
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| Buy: Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 2 CD set |
Buy: Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 2 CD set |
US CONCERT - University Assembly Hall, Bloomington IN
US CONCERT - Civic Arena, Pittsburgh PA
US CONCERT - Mid South Coliseum, Menphis TN
US CONCERT - Coliseum, Hampton VA
US 45
MCA 40148 (US: #2 (3 weeks); 17 weeks)
US CONCERT - Memorial Stadium, Auburn AL
US CONCERT - Hollywood Sportatorium, Miami FL
US CONCERT - Gainesville FL
US CONCERT - U.G.A. coliseum, Atlanta GA
Final night of the American tour.
US LP - For Everyman - Jackson
Browne
ASYLUM SD5067
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| Buy: Jackson Browne - For Everyman CD |
Buy: Jackson Browne - For Everyman CD |
ENGLAND STUDIO - Trident Studios, London
UK NEWSPAPER - Melody Maker
Interview by Chris Welch:
Elton John: "I'm so glad I grew up in the early pop era. If I was growing up now, it wouldn't be the same. Perhaps I'm getting old but there's not so much magic in Donny Osmond as there was, say, in Ricky Nelson. Everything is so disposable, especially in the States, not so much here. In the old days, pop records weren't made because they sounded chic. It was done out of complete naïvety. Everything is done now for a motive."
UK 45
DJM DJS 290 (UK: #24; 7 weeks)
US 45
MCA 65018 (did not chart)
14 show England Christmas Tour, concluding with 5 nights in London at the Hammersmith Odeon.
ENGLAND CONCERT - Colston Hall, Bristol
Elton John performs with "The Kiki Dee Band".
ENGLAND CONCERT - King's Hall Belle Vue, Manchester
Elton John performs with "The Kiki Dee Band".
US MAGAZINE - Circus
Elton John cover article: "Elton John Rockets Over The Rainbow With Goodbye Yellow Brick Road".
UK TV - Elton John & Bernie Taupin Say Goodbye To Norma Jean And Other Things (ITV network)
Documentary by Bryan Forbes.
ENGLAND CONCERT - Empire Theatre, Liverpool
SCOTLAND CONCERT - Apollo Theatre, Glasgow
SCOTLAND CONCERT - Apollo Theatre, Glasgow
ENGLAND CONCERT - City Hall, Newcastle
ENGLAND CONCERT - American School, London
ENGLAND CONCERT - The Town Hall, Birmingham
ENGLAND CONCERT - The Town Hall, Birmingham
UK RADIO STUDIO - BBC Langham 1 Studio
- Elton John: pub piano
- Broadcast on the John Peel, Sounds Of The Seventies Christmas Day Special on December 25, 1973. Produced by: John Walters; Engineered by: Bob Conduct
These are all "pub piano" versions with Elton Johnand the studio staff clowning around.
Elton and the band perform six Christmas shows in five days in Hammersmith, London. The band consists of Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson, Davey Johnstone, Ray Cooper and Clive Banks.
ENGLAND CONCERT - Hammersmith Odeon, London
ENGLAND CONCERT - Hammersmith Odeon, London
ENGLAND CONCERT - Hammersmith Odeon,
London
["Elderberry Wine"; "21 Years Of Fun"; "Rudolph The Red Nosed
Reindeer"]
Broadcast live by BBC Radio One FM.
ENGLAND CONCERT - Hammersmith Odeon, London
This show was added due to the great demand for tickets.
ENGLAND CONCERT - Hammersmith Odeon, London
ENGLAND CONCERT - Hammersmith Odeon, London
UK RADIO - BBC - John Peel, Sounds Of The Seventies Christmas Day Special
- Elton John: pub piano
- Recorded December 18, 1973, Langham 1. Produced by: John Walters; Engineered by: Bob Conduct
These are all "pub piano" versions with Elton and the studio staff clowning around.
UK LP - Smiling Face - Davey
Johnstone
Rocket ROLA 2 (PIGL 2)
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| Buy: Davey Johnstone - Smiling Face CD |
Buy: Davey Johnstone - Smiling Face CD |
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