Elton John

Sir Elton John is one of the UK’s greatest exports. His prolific career as a songwriter has gifted the world with more than 30 studio albums and nine No.1s. He’s the third most successful artist in the history of the Billboard Hot 100, sitting behind only The Beatles and Madonna. This special edition celebrates the incredible life of Captain Fantastic. Trace his journey from humble childhood to overnight superstardom, his personal struggles, career shifts and charitable efforts. After more than half a century, he’s finally choosing to hang up his glittery star-shaped glasses, so take a deep dive into the legacy of a remarkable man.…

When Reginald Kenneth Dwight was born on March 25, 1947, his father Stan, who served in the Royal Air Force, was overseas. His mother, Sheila, gave birth in her parents’ house in the London suburb of Pinner, where she and Stan – who’d married two years earlier – still lived. According to Elton, his father showed little interest in him, and it’s often been suggested that Sheila had craved a daughter. Photographs of infant Reggie show off golden curls rather in the style of Shirley Temple, and, already, no shortage of costume changes. If the colorful nature of the future rock star was hinted at there, Britain at the time sighed in shades of grey. Food shortages and rationing persisted, despite Britain ‘winning’ the war. For Reggie, as for many…

Elton John’s 2021 chart-topping collaboration with Dua Lipa, ‘Cold Heart’, marked his 33rd Top 10 song in the UK and his first No.1 in 16 years. But more than that, the song – a mash-up of ‘Rocket Man’, ‘Sacrifice’, ‘Kiss The Bride’ and ‘Where’s The Shoorah?’ – is a celebration of the enduring appeal of the back catalogue Elton created with his lyric partner, Bernie Taupin. Their Song Elton met Bernie in the summer of 1967. Both had responded to a talent search ad in the NME and were introduced by Liberty Records executive, Ray Williams. Reg Dwight was a gigging musician, with stints in Bluesology and Long John Baldry’s band. Bernie Taupin was a farm boy poet who loved Coleridge and The Lone Ranger. Both were shy, awkward and…

“Liberty Wants Talent” said the ad in the June 17, 1967 edition of the NME. Among the respondents was Reg Dwight from Pinner, who auditioned live, playing piano and singing covers ‘He’ll Have To Go’ and ‘Mammy’. The verdict: talented, but the glasses and pudgy frame are definitely not pop star material. Meanwhile, Lincolnshire farm boy and wannabe cowboy, Bernie Taupin, mailed in a sheaf of his poems. It was Liberty’s Ray Williams who played matchmaker between the two misfit hopefuls. “We started writing together and it felt comfortable right away,” Elton has commented on the partnership. “Like a hand in glove.”…

Released 6 June 1969 TRACKLIST Portrait of an artist working out his identity As a debut, this feels like a curiosity now, with a retroactive challenge: can you hear the seeds of Elton’s greatness? They’re there, if buried beneath layers of 1969 flavors of the moment – meandering blues rock, flowery psychedelia and dirge-y folk. While stints with Bluesology and Long John Baldry gave Elton the well-rounded chops to copy any style, it’s slightly cringeworthy to hear him imitating Jagger on ‘Empty Sky,’ Dylan on ‘Lady What’s Tomorrow’, and a medieval troubadour What’s Tomorrow’, and a medieval troubadour on ‘Val-Hala.’ Meanwhile, Bernie’s lyrics retain the awkwardness of schoolboy poetry. ‘Western Ford Gateway’ and ‘Sails’ have their charms, but it’s not until eight songs in that there’s a true a-ha moment. You…

Elton’s Seventies were a charmed sprint along the yellow brick road to fame, followed by a jaundiced burn-out where he narrowly avoided becoming another candle in the wind. With a debut album under his own name, albeit one that only sold 4,000 copies at first and wasn’t released in the States until years later, Elton was in a degree of demand. However he wasn’t too proud to take hack work, doing impersonations of other singers on the Top Of The Pops series of budget albums, wherein covers of current hits were quickly bashed out. He performed passable acts of everyone from Stevie Wonder to Mungo Jerry. He’s also claimed to have sang on The England World Cup Squad’s 1970 chart-topper ‘Back Home’. He was, too, working shifts at Music Land…