Saturday, June 3, 2023 2pm ET: Time Machine 1973 Number One LP: Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is the seventh studio album by English singer-songwriter Elton John, first released October 3, 1973 as a double LP. The album has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide and is widely regarded as John’s magnum opus. Among the 17 tracks, the album contains the hits “Candle in the Wind”, US number-one single “Bennie and the Jets”, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” plus live favorites “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” and “Harmony”.

It was recorded at the Studio d’enregistrement Michel Magne at the Château d’Hérouville in France after problems recording at the intended location in Jamaica. The move provided John and his band with a great deal of creative inspiration and an abundance of quality material was produced, leading to the decision to release the work as a double album (LP).

In 2020, the album was ranked number 112 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. It was also ranked number 59 in Channel 4’s 2009 list of 100 Greatest Albums.

The album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003 when it was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

1. “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” 11:09
2. “Candle in the Wind” 3:50
3. “Bennie and the Jets” 5:23
4. “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” 3:13
5. “This Song Has No Title” 2:23
6. “Grey Seal” 4:00
7. “Jamaica Jerk-Off” 3:39
8. “I’ve Seen That Movie Too” 5:59
9. “Sweet Painted Lady” 3:54
10. “The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909–34)” 4:23
11. “Dirty Little Girl” 5:00
12. “All the Girls Love Alice” 5:09
13. “Your Sister Can’t Twist (But She Can Rock ‘n Roll)” 2:42
14. “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” 4:57
15. “Roy Rogers” 4:07
16. “Social Disease” 3:42
17. “Harmony” 2:46

2003 Additions

1. “Whenever You’re Ready (We’ll Go Steady Again)” 2:52
2. “Jack Rabbit” 1:50
3. “Screw You (Young Man’s Blues)” 4:42
4. “Candle in the Wind” (2003 acoustic remix by Greg Penny) 3:51

Elton John – vocals, acoustic piano (1–6, 8–10, 12–17), Fender Rhodes (5, 6), Farfisa organ (3, 5, 7, 13), mellotron (5, 6, 11)
Davey Johnstone – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, Leslie guitar, slide guitar, steel guitar, banjo
Dee Murray – bass guitar
Nigel Olsson – drums, congas, tambourine, car effects (12)
Dee Murray, Davey Johnstone, Nigel Olsson – backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 10, 13, 17)
Del Newman – orchestral arrangements (4, 8–10, 15, 17)
David Katz – orchestra contractor (4, 8–10, 15, 17)
Leroy Gómez – saxophone solo (16)
David Hentschel – ARP synthesizer (1, 12)
Kiki Dee – backing vocals (12)
Ray Cooper – tambourine on (12)
Uncredited – Vocal interjections on “Jamaica Jerk-Off” (credited to Prince Rhino, Reggae Dwight and Toots Taupin, possibly a pseudonym for Elton John and Bernie Taupin, though this is uncertain), drum machine, maracas, timbales, claves on “Jamaica Jerk-Off”, castanets on “Funeral for a Friend”, shaker on “I’ve Seen That Movie Too”, tambourine on “Social Disease”, accordion, vibraphone on “Sweet Painted Lady”

Saturday, May 27, 2023 3pm ET: Time Machine Number One LP: Elton John – Caribou (1974)

Caribou is the eighth studio album by English singer Elton John, released June 28, 1974. It was his fourth chart-topping album in the United States and his third in the United Kingdom. The album contains the singles “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”, which reached number 16 in the UK Singles Chart and number two in the US, and “The Bitch Is Back”, which reached number 15 in the UK and number four in the US. Both singles reached number one in Canada on the RPM 100 national Top Singles Chart, as did the album itself.

The album met with lukewarm reviews on its release and legacy reviews do not consider the record to be among John’s best work from his early 1970s peak period. However, the album was a commercial success and has been certified double-platinum in the US as well as receiving a gold certification in the UK. The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Album of the Year at the 17th Annual Grammy Awards.

1. “The Bitch Is Back” 3:44
2. “Pinky” 3:54
3. “Grimsby” 3:46
4. “Dixie Lily” 2:55
5. “Solar Prestige a Gammon” 2:52
6. “You’re So Static” 4:53
7. “I’ve Seen the Saucers” 4:48
8. “Stinker” 5:20
9. “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” 5:36
10. “Ticking” 7:34
11. “Pinball Wizard” 5:09
12. “Sick City” 5:23
13. “Cold Highway” 3:25
14. “Step into Christmas” 4:32

Elton John – lead vocals, acoustic piano, Hammond organ (9)
David Hentschel – ARP synthesizer (2, 5, 10), mellotron (9)
Chester D. Thompson – Hammond organ (8)
Davey Johnstone – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, backing vocals
Dee Murray – bass guitar, backing vocals
Nigel Olsson – drums, backing vocals
Ray Cooper – tambourine, congas, whistle, vibraphone, snare, castanets, tubular bells, maracas
Lenny Pickett – tenor saxophone solo (1), soprano saxophone solo (4, 5), clarinet (5)
Tower of Power – horn section (1, 6, 8, 9)
Emilio Castillo – tenor saxophone
Steve Kupka – baritone saxophone
Lenny Pickett – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, clarinet
Mic Gillette – trombone, trumpet
Greg Adams – trumpet, horn arrangements (1, 6, 8)
Del Newman – horn arrangements (9)
Clydie King – backing vocals (1, 6)
Sherlie Matthews – backing vocals (1)
Jessie Mae Smith – backing vocals (1)
Dusty Springfield – backing vocals (1)
Billy Hinsche – backing vocals (9)
Bruce Johnston – backing vocals (9)
Toni Tennille – backing vocals (9)
Carl Wilson – backing vocals (9), vocal arrangements (9)
Daryl Dragon – vocal arrangements (9)

Wednesday, May 10, 2023 9pm ET: Feature LP – Elton John (1970)

Elton John is the second studio album by English singer-songwriter Elton John, released on April 10, 1970 by DJM Records. It was released by Uni Records as John’s debut album in the United States; many people there assumed it was his first album, as Empty Sky was not released in that country until 1975. Elton John includes his breakthrough single “Your Song”, and helped to establish his career during what was considered the “singer-songwriter” era of popular music. In the US, it was certified gold in February 1971 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In the same year, it was nominated for the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

This was the first of a string of John albums produced by Gus Dudgeon. As Dudgeon recalled in a Mix magazine interview, the album was not actually intended to launch John as an artist, but rather as a collection of polished demos for other artists to consider recording his and co-writer Bernie Taupin’s songs.

In 2003, the album was ranked number 468 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. On November 27, 2012, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame as an album cited as exhibiting “qualitative or historical significance”.

The song “No Shoe Strings on Louise” was intended (as homage or parody) to sound like a Mick Jagger song.

1. “Your Song” 4:02
2. “I Need You to Turn To” 2:35
3. “Take Me to the Pilot” 3:47
4. “No Shoe Strings on Louise” 3:31
5. “First Episode at Hienton” 4:48

1. “Sixty Years On” 4:35
2. “Border Song” 3:22
3. “The Greatest Discovery” 4:12
4. “The Cage” 3:28
5. “The King Must Die” 5:23

11. “Bad Side of the Moon” 3:15
12. “Grey Seal (Original version)” 3:35
13. “Rock and Roll Madonna” 4:17

Grammy Awards 1971
Elton John Album of the Year – Nominated
Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male – Nominated

Friday, April 21, 2023 1am ET: Feature Live LP: Elton John – Here and There (1976)

Here and There, released in 1976, is a live album by British singer-songwriter Elton John; it is his fourteenth official album release. The title refers to the two concerts represented on the album: “Here” is a concert recorded at the Royal Festival Hall in London during the summer of 1974; “There” is a concert recorded at New York City’s Madison Square Garden on November 28, 1974.

CD1
1. “Skyline Pigeon” 5:41
2. “Border Song” 3:27
3. “Take Me to the Pilot” 4:33
4. “Country Comfort” 6:44
5. “Love Song” (with Lesley Duncan) 5:03
6. “Bad Side of the Moon” 7:54
7. “Burn Down the Mission” 8:25
8. “Honky Cat” 7:04
9. “Crocodile Rock” 4:08
10. “Candle in the Wind” 3:57
11. “Your Song” 3:56
12. “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” 7:09

CD2
1. “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” 11:53
2. “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time)” 5:03
3. “Take Me to the Pilot” 6:00
4. “Bennie and the Jets” 5:59
5. “Grey Seal” 5:27
6. “Daniel” 4:06
7. “You’re So Static” 4:32
8. “Whatever Gets You thru the Night” (with John Lennon) 4:40
9. “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” (with John Lennon) 6:15
10. “I Saw Her Standing There” (with John Lennon) 3:17
11. “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” 5:57
12. “Your Song” 3:58
13. “The Bitch Is Back” 4:23

Elton John – Piano, Vocals
Ray Cooper – Tambourine (CD No. 1 tracks 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12; CD No. 2 tracks 1, 2, 4, 7, 9–13), Congas (CD No. 1 tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12; CD No. 2 tracks 3, 5, 6, 8), Bells (CD No. 1 track 6; CD No. 2 track 9), Vibes (CD No. 1 track 7; CD No. 2 track 2), Duck Call on “Honky Cat”, Organ on “Crocodile Rock”
Lesley Duncan – Vocals (“Love Song” only)
Davey Johnstone – Guitars (except CD No. 1 tracks 1, 2, 11), Background vocals (except : CD No. 1 tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 11; CD No. 2 tracks 5–8, 9, 12–13), Mandolin on “Honky Cat”
John Lennon – Guitar, Vocals (CD No. 2, tracks 8–10 only)
Dee Murray – Bass (except CD No. 1 tracks 1, 11), Background vocals (except: CD No. 1 tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 11; CD No. 2 tracks 5–8, 9, 12–13)
Nigel Olsson – Drums (except CD No. 1 tracks 1, 11), Background vocals (except: CD No. 1 tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 11; CD No. 2 tracks 5–8, 9, 12–13)

Monday, April 17, 2023 11:15pm ET: Feature LP: Elton John – 21 @ 33 (1980)

21 at 33 is the fourteenth studio album by Elton John, and his 21st album in total, made when John was 33 years old, hence the title, it was released May 13, 1980. 21 at 33 was recorded at Super Bear Studios, Nice, France, in September 1979, and Rumbo Recorders and Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, California, from January to March 1980. Three singles were released from the album, including “Little Jeannie”, his highest-charting U.S. single in 5 years. The album sold over 900,000 copies in the United States, missing a Platinum certification.

1. “Chasing the Crown” 5:36
2. “Little Jeannie” 5:14
3. “Sartorial Eloquence” 4:45
4. “Two Rooms at the End of the World” 5:40
5. “White Lady White Powder” 4:34
6. “Dear God” 3:47
7. “Never Gonna Fall in Love Again” 4:09
8. “Take Me Back” 3:52
9. “Give Me the Love” 5:30

Elton John – lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic piano (1, 3, 5, 6), overdubbed piano (1, 3, 5, 6, 8), Yamaha electric piano (4), Wurlitzer electric piano (8)
James Newton Howard – Fender Rhodes (2, 6, 7), Yamaha CS-80 (2), electronic keyboards (3, 7), acoustic piano (9)
David Paich – organ (6)
Steve Lukather – electric guitar (1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9)
Richie Zito – acoustic guitar (2, 7), electric guitar (5, 8)
Steve Wrather – electric guitar (7)
Reggie McBride – bass (1–4, 6–9)
Dee Murray – backing vocals (2), bass (5)
Alvin Taylor – drums (1, 3, 4, 6–9)
Nigel Olsson – drums (2, 5)
Victor Feldman – tambourine (1, 3, 5, 9)
Clive Franks – tambourine (4, 6), cowbell (4)
Lenny Castro – congas (5, 9)
Jim Horn – brass arrangements (2, 4), piccolo flute (2), alto saxophone (2), tenor saxophone (4)
Richie Cannata – alto saxophone (7)
Larry Williams – tenor saxophone (9)
Chuck Findley – trombone (2, 4), trumpet (2, 4)
Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone (9)
Jerry Hey – flugelhorn (2, 9), trumpet (4, 9), brass arrangements (9)
Larry Hall – trumpet (9), flugelhorn (9)
Byron Berline – fiddle (8)
David Foster – string arrangements (9)
Venette Gloud – backing vocals (1, 3, 6, 9)
Stephanie Spruill – backing vocals (1, 3, 6, 9)
Carmen Twillie – backing vocals (1, 3, 6, 9)
Bill Champlin – backing vocals (2, 9)
Max Gronenthal – backing vocals (2)
Glenn Frey – backing vocals (5)
Don Henley – backing vocals (5)
Timothy B. Schmit – backing vocals (5)
Curt Becher – choir vocals (6)
Joe Chemay – choir vocals (6)
Bruce Johnston – choir arrangements (6), choir vocals (6)
Jon Joyce – choir vocals (6)
Peter Noone – choir vocals (6)
Toni Tennille – choir vocals (6)

Wednesday, April 5, 2023 9pm ET: Feature LP: Elton John – Captain and The Kid (2006)

The Captain & the Kid is the twenty-eighth studio album by British singer-songwriter Elton John, released September 18, 2006. It is his second autobiographical album with lyricist Bernie Taupin, picking up where Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975) left off. The Captain & the Kid chronicles the events in their lives over the intervening three decades.

The Captain & the Kid reached No. 6 in the UK, a considerable improvement over the performance of John’s preceding Peachtree Road in 2004, which peaked at No. 21. Captain reached No. 18 in the US, before quickly falling off the charts. At concerts in early 2007, John made clear his dissatisfaction with Interscope Records’ promotion of the album, having threatened to terminate his contract with the label.

Interscope Records announced that there would be no physical single released from this album as the emphasis is on presenting the album as a body of work. However, a radio single would be released in “The Bridge”. The album’s booklet has photos of John and Taupin all throughout their career, and in the lyrics section, two songs are included, “Across the River Thames” and “12”, which do not appear on the album. “Across the River Thames” was available as a free download to anyone who played the CD on a computer. This is the first album created by John and Taupin to show them together on the cover. It was also the last studio album to feature Guy Babylon on keyboards; he died in 2009, and was replaced by Kim Bullard. This was also Bob Birch’s last appearance on any of John’s solo studio albums before his own death in August 2012 (Birch last appeared on the Gnomeo and Juliet soundtrack).

“Postcards from Richard Nixon” – 5:15
“Just Like Noah’s Ark” – 5:33
“Wouldn’t Have You Any Other Way (NYC)” – 4:38
“Tinderbox” – 4:25
“And the House Fell Down” – 4:48
“Blues Never Fade Away” – 4:45
“The Bridge” – 3:38
“I Must Have Lost It on the Wind” – 3:53
“Old ’67” – 4:01
“The Captain and the Kid” – 5:03

Monday, March 27, 2023, 7pm ET: Feature LP: Elton John – Honky Chateau 50th Anniversary Edition (2023)

Honky Château is the fifth studio album by English musician Elton John. It was released in 1972, and was titled after the 18th century French chateau where it was recorded, Château d’Hérouville. The album reached number one in the US, the first of John’s seven consecutive US number one albums.

Two singles were released worldwide from Honky Château, “Rocket Man” and “Honky Cat”. A third single, “Hercules”, was prepared for release, but this never materialised. This was the final Elton John album on the Uni label in the US and Canada before MCA consolidated all of its various labels under the MCA brand. This and John’s earlier Uni albums were later reissued on MCA Records.

In 2003, the album was ranked number 357 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. It was revised to number 359 in 2012, and raised to number 251 in a 2020 list. It was certified gold in July 1972 and platinum in October 1995 by the RIAA.

In February 2023, John announced the album would be reissued in a 50th Anniversary edition on LP (two versions: double LP set and single LP on gold vinyl) and 2-CDs. The double LP and 2-CD configurations include outtakes from the original session tapes. The 2CD format additionally contains eight live recordings from the Royal Festival Hall show in 1972.

1. Honky Cat
2. Mellow
3. I Think I’m Going to Kill Myself
4. Susie (Dramas)
5. Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going To Be A Long, Long Time)
6. Salvation
7. Slave
8. Amy
9. Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters
10. Hercules

HONKY AT THE CHÂTEAU (SESSION DEMOS) PART ONE

11. Salvation (Session Demo)
12. Susie (Dramas) (Session Demo)
13. Rocket Man (It’s Think It’s Going To Be A Long, Long Time) (Session Demo)
14. Mellow (Session Demo)
15. Slave – Alternate “Fast” Version (Session Demo)

HONKY AT THE CHÂTEAU (SESSION DEMOS) PART TWO

1. Honky Cat (Session Demo)
2. I Think I’m Going To Kill Myself (Session Demo)
3. Hercules (Session Demo)
4. Slave (Session Demo)

LIVE AT THE ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL, LONDON, FEBRUARY 5TH 1972

5. Susie (Dramas)
6. Salvation
7. Mellow
8. Amy
9. Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters
10. Honky Cat
11. Rocket Man (It’s Think It’s Going To Be A Long, Long Time
12. Hercules

Saturday, March 25, 2023 2pm ET: Number One Albums of: Elton John – Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975)

Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy is the ninth studio album by Elton John. The album is an autobiographical account of the early musical careers of Elton John (Captain Fantastic) and his long-term lyricist Bernie Taupin (the Brown Dirt Cowboy). It was released in May 1975 by MCA in America and DJM in the UK and was an instant commercial success.

The album reached number 1 in its first week of release on the US Billboard 200, the first ever album to do so, reportedly selling 1.4 million copies within 4 days of release, and it stayed in that position in the chart for seven weeks. June 7, 1975 thru July 12, 1975, August 30, 1975

Though they would all appear on later albums, this was the last album of the 1970s with the original lineup of the Elton John Band (guitarist Davey Johnstone, bassist Dee Murray, and drummer Nigel Olsson). Murray and Olsson, who had formed John’s rhythm section since 1970, were sacked prior to the recording of the follow-up album Rock of the Westies, while Johnstone would leave in 1978. This was the last album until 1983’s Too Low for Zero that Elton John and his classic band would play on together.

In 2003, the album was ranked number 158 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, maintaining the rating in a 2012 revised list

1. “Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy” 5:46
2. “Tower of Babel” 4:28
3. “Bitter Fingers” 4:35
4. “Tell Me When the Whistle Blows” 4:20
5. “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” 6:45
6. “(Gotta Get A) Meal Ticket” 4:01
7. “Better Off Dead” 2:37
8. “Writing” 3:40
9. “We All Fall in Love Sometimes” 4:15
10. “Curtains” 6:15
11. “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” 6:18
12. “One Day at a Time” 3:49
13. “Philadelphia Freedom” 5:22
14. “House of Cards”

Elton John – lead vocals, acoustic piano (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10), Fender Rhodes (1, 4, 5, 8), clavinet (4, 6), ARP String Ensemble (5), harmony vocals (7, 8), harpsichord (9, 10), mellotron (9, 10)
David Hentschel – ARP synthesizer (9, 10)
Davey Johnstone – acoustic guitar (1, 5-10), electric guitar (1-4, 6, 9, 10), mandolin (1), backing vocals (3, 5-10), Leslie guitar (5), acoustic piano (8)
Dee Murray – bass guitar, backing vocals (3, 5-10)
Nigel Olsson – drums, backing vocals (3, 5-10)
Ray Cooper – shaker (1, 5, 8), congas (1, 3, 4, 9, 10), gong (1), jawbone (1), tambourine (1-6, 9, 10), bells (3, 9, 10), cymbals (5), triangle (7, 8), bongos (8)
Gene Page – orchestral arrangements (4)

Thursday 3/2/23 11pm ET: Feature LP: Elton John – A Single Man (1978)

A Single Man is the twelfth studio album by English musician Elton John. Released October 16, 1978, it is the first album where Gary Osborne replaced Bernie Taupin as lyricist. It is also the first of two (the second being Victim of Love) Elton John albums to not have any tracks co-written by Bernie Taupin on the original cut.

A Single Man is the first of John’s albums to not include lyricist Bernie Taupin, and the first since his debut Empty Sky without producer Gus Dudgeon. The returning members of his band are percussionist Ray Cooper and guitarist Davey Johnstone; the latter played on only one song on the album. Paul Buckmaster would not appear on another Elton John album until Made in England. Unlike previous compositions in which lyrics came first, John began writing melodies at a piano and an album unintentionally came about from this. This was also John’s first album in which he started singing in a lower register. “Song for Guy” was written as a tribute to Guy Burchett, a young Rocket messenger who was killed in a motorcycle accident.

The staff and players of Watford Football Club, of whom John was chairman at the time, provide backing vocals on both “Big Dipper” and “Georgia”. Also featured on these tracks are the backing vocals of the female staff from John’s record label, Rocket Records, credited as ‘The South Audley Street Girls’ Choir’.

The photo for the front cover was taken in the Long Walk, which is part of Windsor Great Park in Berkshire. The inside cover shows John in a Jaguar XK140 FHC. John stopped wearing his trademark glasses in public for a period during the late 1970s, and the album photo reflects this.

1. “Shine on Through” 3:45
2. “Return to Paradise” 4:15
3. “I Don’t Care” 4:23
4. “Big Dipper” 4:04
5. “It Ain’t Gonna Be Easy” 8:27
6. “Part-Time Love” 3:16
7. “Georgia” 4:50
8. “Shooting Star” 2:44
9. “Madness” 5:53
10. “Reverie” 0:53
11. “Song for Guy” 6:35
12. “Ego” 4:00
13. “Flinstone Boy” 4:13
14. “I Cry at Night” 3:16
15. “Lovesick” 3:59
16. “Strangers” 4:46

Elton John – lead vocals, backing vocals (1, 2, 8), pianos (1, 4, 11), acoustic piano (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10), clavinet (3), harmonium (7), church organ (7), Fender Rhodes (8), Mellotron (11), synthesizer (11), ARP synthesizer (11), Solina String Synthesizer (11)
Tim Renwick – acoustic guitar (2, 3), electric guitar (4, 5, 6, 9), Leslie guitar (7), mandolin (7)
Davey Johnstone – lead guitar (6), backing vocals (6)
B.J. Cole – pedal steel guitar (7)
Clive Franks – bass (1-7, 9, 11)
Herbie Flowers – bass (8)
Steve Holley – drums (1-9), motor horn (4)
Ray Cooper – tambourine (1, 3–7, 9), marimba (2), shaker (2, 8, 11), vibraphone (5), congas (6, 9), timpani (9), wind chimes (11), rhythm box (11)
John Crocker – clarinet (4), tenor saxophone (8)
Jim Shepherd – trombone (4)
Henry Lowther – trumpet (2)
Patrick Halcox – trumpet (4)
Paul Buckmaster – orchestra arrangements (1, 3, 5, 6, 9), arrangements (2), ARP synthesizer (10)
Gary Osborne – backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 6)
Vicki Brown – backing vocals (3, 6)
Stevie Lange – backing vocals (3, 6)
Joanne Stone – backing vocals (3, 6)
Chris Thompson – backing vocals (3, 6)
The South Audley Street Girl’s Choir – backing vocals (4, 7)
Watford Football Club – backing vocals (4, 7)

Thursday 2/16/23 11pm ET: Feature LP: Elton John – Wonderful Crazy Night (2016)

Wonderful Crazy Night is the thirtieth studio album by British singer-songwriter Elton John. It was released on February 5, 2016. It is John’s first album since 2006’s The Captain & the Kid to feature the Elton John Band, and was written and recorded in 17 days. John’s long-standing percussionist, Ray Cooper, makes his first appearance on any of John’s albums since Made in England in 1995. This is Kim Bullard’s first appearance on keyboards replacing Guy Babylon, and Matt Bissonette replacing Bob Birch on bass.

1. “Wonderful Crazy Night” 3:13
2. “In the Name of You” 4:33
3. “Claw Hammer” 4:22
4. “Blue Wonderful” 3:37
5. “I’ve Got 2 Wings” 4:35
6. “A Good Heart” 4:50
7. “Looking Up” 4:06
8. “Guilty Pleasure” 3:38
9. “Tambourine” 4:17
10. “The Open Chord” 4:04
11. “Free and Easy” 3:55
12. “England and America” 3:51

Elton John – acoustic piano, lead vocals
Kim Bullard – keyboards
Davey Johnstone – guitars, harmony vocals
Matt Bissonette – bass, harmony vocals
Nigel Olsson – drums, harmony vocals
John Mahon – percussion, harmony vocals
Ray Cooper – tambourine (3, 5, 8, 9)
Tom Peterson – baritone saxophone
Joe Sublett – tenor saxophone
Jim Thomson – tenor saxophone
John Grab – trombone
Nick Lane – trombone
William Roper – tuba
Allen Fogle – French horn
Dylan Hart – French horn
Gabe Witcher – horn arrangements and conductor
Ken Stacey – harmony vocals

Wednesday 1/25/23 11pm ET: Feature LP: Elton John – Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player (1973)

Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player is the sixth studio album by English singer-songwriter Elton John. Released January 22,1973 by DJM Records, it was John’s sixth normal studio album release, first of his two studio albums released in 1973 (second one was Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, released nine months later), and was his second straight No. 1 album in the US and first No. 1 album in the UK.

The lead single “Crocodile Rock” yielded John his first No. 1 single in both the US and Canada. “Daniel” was also a major hit from the album, giving him his second Canadian No. 1 single on the RPM Top Singles Chart and No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reaching No. 4 in the UK, one place higher than achieved by “Crocodile Rock”.

1. “Daniel” 3:55
2. “Teacher I Need You” 4:10
3. “Elderberry Wine” 3:34
4. “Blues for My Baby and Me” 5:39
5. “Midnight Creeper” 3:52
6. “Have Mercy on the Criminal” 5:58
7. “I’m Going to Be a Teenage Idol” 3:56
8. “Texan Love Song” 3:33
9. “Crocodile Rock” 3:55
10. “High Flying Bird” 4:12
11. “Screw You (Young Man’s Blues)” 4:43
12. “Jack Rabbit” 1:50
13. “Whenever You’re Ready (We’ll Go Steady Again)” 2:51
14. “Skyline Pigeon” (Piano version) 3:56

Elton John – vocals, Fender Rhodes (1, 5), mellotron (1, 2), acoustic piano (2-4, 6, 7, 9, 10), harmonium (8), Farfisa organ (9)
Ken Scott – ARP synthesizer (1)
Davey Johnstone – acoustic guitar, electric guitar and Leslie guitar (All tracks); banjo (1), backing vocals (2, 7, 10), sitar (4), mandolin (8)
Dee Murray – bass (All tracks), backing vocals (2, 7, 10)
Nigel Olsson – drums (All tracks), maracas (1), backing vocals (2, 7, 10)
Gus Dudgeon – brass arrangements (3, 5, 7)
Paul Buckmaster – orchestral arrangements (4, 6)
Jean-Louis Chautemps – saxophone (3, 5, 7)
Alain Hatot – saxophone (3, 5, 7)
Jacques Bolognesi – trombone (3, 5, 7)
Ivan Jullien – trumpet (3, 5, 7)

Wednesday 1/25/23 2pm ET: Feature Artist: Elton John (Part 1)

It’s all Elton John tunes every Wednesday 2pm ET

Christmas: Elton John – Step Into Christmas

Tuesday 11/29/22 8pm ET: Feature LP: Elton John – Peachtree Road (2004)

Peachtree Road is the twenty-seventh studio album by English musician Elton John released on November 9, 2004. The album was named after Peachtree Road, the northern part of Peachtree Street in Atlanta, where one of John’s four homes is located. This is the only album during his long career on which John has sole credit as producer, although on some previous projects he was listed as a co-producer, with Clive Franks (on A Single Man, 21 at 33 and parts of The Fox), or Greg Penny (on Duets and Made in England). It was recorded in January 2004.

Despite its generally positive reviews, Peachtree Road was one of John’s lowest-selling contemporary efforts, reaching No. 17 in the US upon its release, yet only managing No. 21 in the UK, making it one of his rare albums to miss the top ten in his homeland. In the US, it was certified gold in December 2004 by the RIAA.

1. “Weight of the World” 3:58
2. “Porch Swing in Tupelo” 4:38
3. “Answer in the Sky” 4:03
4. “Turn the Lights Out When You Leave” 5:02
5. “My Elusive Drug” 4:12
6. “They Call Her the Cat” 4:27
7. “Freaks in Love” 4:32
8. “All That I’m Allowed” 4:52
9. “I Stop and I Breathe” 3:39
10. “Too Many Tears” 4:14
11. “It’s Getting Dark in Here” 3:50
12. “I Can’t Keep This from You” 4:34

Elton John – lead vocals, acoustic piano, backing vocals (1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12), Rhodes piano (10)
Guy Babylon – programming, orchestral arrangements (1-5, 7-12), Hammond organ (2-9, 11, 12), Rhodes piano (6-9, 11)
Davey Johnstone – electric guitar, acoustic guitar (1-4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12), dobro (1, 2, 6, 10), backing vocals (1, 5, 10), baritone guitar (3, 6), slide guitar (3, 5, 10), Leslie guitar (5), sitar (8), mandolin (10)
John Jorgenson – pedal steel guitar (4)
Bob Birch – bass, backing vocals (1, 5, 10)
Nigel Olsson – drums, backing vocals (1, 5, 10, 11)
John Mahon – percussion, backing vocals (1, 5, 10), programming (9, 11)
Larry Klimas – baritone saxophone (6)
Walter Parazaider – tenor saxophone (6)
James Pankow – trombone (6), horn arrangements (6)
Lee Loughnane – trumpet (6)
Martin Tillman – electric cello (10)

Choir vocals
Charles Bullock (2, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12)
Terrence Davis (2, 6-9, 11, 12)
Todd Honeycutt (2, 6)
Adam McKnight (2, 6-9, 11, 12)
Rosalind McKnight (2, 3, 6)
L’Tanya Shields (2, 3, 6)
M. Denise Sims (2, 3, 6)
Alecia Terry (2, 3, 6)
Mark Ford (6-9, 11, 12)

Tuesday 11/22/22 11am ET: Classic Greatest Hits LP: Elton John – Greatest Hits Vol. 3 1979-1987 (1987)

Elton John’s Greatest Hits Volume III is the twenty-seventh album release for English musician Elton John. Released November 12, 1987, 10 years after Elton John’s Greatest Hits Volume II, the compilation album features his greatest hits from 1979 to 1986 and was made available only in the United States and Canada. All of the songs featured had previously been released on a previous album.

1. “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” 4:42
2. “Mama Can’t Buy You Love” 4:02
3. “Little Jeannie” 4:46
4. “Sad Songs (Say So Much)” 4:48
5. “I’m Still Standing” 3:03
6. “Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)” 5:05
7. “Heartache All Over the World” 4:01
8. “Too Low for Zero” 5:44
9. “Kiss the Bride” 4:20
10. “Blue Eyes” 3:27
11. “Nikita” 4:54
12. “Wrap Her Up” 6:04