Elton John - Rotten Peaches ('71 LIVE at BBC Studios)

[Elwopey]

PURE TALENT! No More to say, other than thank you Elton and Bernie!

[ericcanrock]

LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks

[GabiElton]

OMG!!!! SIR ELTON... SO PERFECT, SO BEAUTIFUL. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL VOICE, WHAT A TALLENT. My idol, my everything! Elton John Forever *--* ♥

[reginaldk6522]

The bit at the very end where Elton is just playing by himself is beautiful. It's amazing how one man can possess so much talent.

[dandaman99]

This song is more "country" that today's hat-wearing clowns in Nashville.

Pure Genius!

[LizzieBennett1965]

I just wanna tickle Nigel's bare belly. JK, I love this masterpiece!

[nsdrdodo]

Elton John......the best through out history



[tracykd1982]

Love you forever Elton.....Every Album....song...you ...and all of the talent!

[Rocketman2396]

Love <3

[EyMeng]

mic guy was probly like "oh shit why do i keep turning off the reverb?!"

[JayHarsh25]

His transition from a laugh to the start of the song, with one note, is just phenomenal.

[ashleyh81]

goosebumps.. everyone of his songs i loved. wow i never fully appreciated how freaking awesome he is!!

[Zodpounder]

The man's a genius

[terrapin227]

Ahh..music from the good ole days!

Mercy I'm a criminal, Jesus I'm the one

Rotten peaches rotting in the sun

[JanforWidol]

Is this about the Great Depression? Kinda reminds me of Grapes of Wrath.

[1979hahn]

I hi-jacked this album from my stepfather in 79" at th ripe old age of 10, and 'Rotten Peaches" became and remains my favorite Elton tune some 32 yrs later !!!!

[jonvil2009]

incredible....

[007koko007]

Bernie writes lyrics, Elton composes music. It's that simple. Elton doesn't need help from anybody while composing music and he also does not ask anybody for opinion... not even Bernie.

[TheJseiler]

All of you guys are incorrect. Elton never worked with Bernie on lyrics and Elton DID write a majority of the songs. Bernie would mail Elton stacks of lyrics and Elton would sit at the piano and bang out tunes. He'd come up with all the melodies and harmonizations and what not. They wouldn't even discuss the song together.

[mate6mty]

@TheJseiler That is correct I,ve met BERNIE TAUPIN in NASHVILLE after a gig with his band THE FARM DOGS, and I ask him about that! an d he said that he sends the lyrics to ELTON and he takes it from there .I also ask him about the change of lyrics at the last moment for CANDLE IN THE WIND for PRINCESS DIANA and I thought ELTON had done the change but he said that ELTON called asking BERNIE for the new lyrics and he faxed them to pay them at the funeral!!

[danfitz86]

The steinway sounds much better than his current Yamaha

[danfitz86]

The steinway sounds much better than his current Yamaha

[BareNakedBather]

to all you people out there, elton wrote the music and worked witth Taupin on the lyrics throughout their partnership.....Like John and Paul, highly regarded as a singer/songwriter.

Jerry Garcia was another one of those with robert hunter.

You all need to know what music is instead of your ladyboys you listen to now....

[merlok1995]

Where did you take this video?

[wormhead7]

brilliant..............

[okrabay]

hes a good performer but if he were to write songs it would be about shoving bowling pins up mens asses

[jb0177]

I don't care if he likes teh cock.

He is one of the most brilliant performers and songwriters of his time.

[buzlno1]

@jb0177 don't forget , he didn't write these, only performed them

[LeftyLaura1]

@buzlno1 He did write the music.

[BareNakedBather]

@buzlno1  you are stupid....He wrote the music, the lyrics were written with bernie taupin.....this is elton's music and no one else....what a stupid fuck youare

[buzlno1]

@BareNakedBather

Hey Barenaked Douchbag! What I meant was ALL of these! SHEESE! YOU STUPID, MORONIC, EVER SO PERFECT, HIDE BEHIND THE KEYBOARD, JUDGMENTAL, NAME CALLING TWIT!!

BACK OFF U JERK!

[cleverandrew123]

@buzlno1 - Fuck off, you gimp.

You were wrong and got called out on it. Don't throw your toys out of the pram.

[buzlno1]

@cleverandrew123

Blimey, Limey! I made a comment a year ago just to stir things up and it did :) and took a punch or two.

When I read BareNaked's response months later, I had a good chuckle and went out to get some beer. It appears one of my mates decided to write that response while I was out. LOL! Thank you for bringing it to my attention.

Now I'm going back to a more civil forum away from "the madmen across the pond". CHEERS and peace, bender!

[MerryMichaelmas]

...timeless.

[Beatles7962]

I love the element of shyness he had in the early days.

[timothyarts]

I want that shirt........

[Elidoransgar]

He reminds me of Ray Charles here. The same brilliance and fluid soul. His Americana period was his best.

[pr310nobama]

This positively brlliant. There is no other way in my mind to describe this. I am shocked this isn't heard often. Huge Elton fan and Happy 63rd birthday today!

[wolfwhistle07]

at this time the Brits where unequalled in their song writing ...just think of Bowie, Mott the Hoople Rod Stewart, etc...and of course the wonderful Elton John

[candelise]

@wolfwhistle07 Er, yeah?. I guess, Dylan, Joni, Todd Rundgren, Becker/Fagen, Lowell George, Leon Russell, Dr John, Jackson Browne, Sly Stone, Lou Reed, Gil Scott Heron, Stevie Wonder, Laura Nyro etc. don't mean much either. Right!

[wolfwhistle07]

@candelise I think you made my point rather well .....bravo ;-)

[candelise]

@wolfwhistle07  Yes and I'm sure Elton, himself, would agree with you, then and now!!

[wolfwhistle07]

@candelise you must be American .......only an American would

be unable to realise when someone is pulling their leg.....actually that's a bit unfair!!

Canadians , Germans, French, Russians,....wait !! that is Americans....I refer back to my original comment ;-))

[candelise]

@wolfwhistle07 Likewise.

[wolfwhistle07]

@candelise it's true what they say ....two nations seperated by a common language

"likewise what"??.......

[candelise]

@wolfwhistle07 Drowning in a poison-sea of cheap irony and zenphobia? All those countries,surely not! Got it all wrong with the leg-pulling. Gasp! Tee hee! Think I'll enjoy Elton instead.

[userjoe1020]

@candelise I'm American and i realize no one can touch the Brits when it comes to rock.



[candelise]

@userjoe1020 Good for you!!

[mactheartofwarfare]

The Greatest Melody Writer Ever In Popular Music

[MyRickyz]

Fantastic Elton special from 1971 promoting his album Madman Across the Water in BBC Sounds of Saturday. by the way please a special request for my wife is the song"Madman across the water" from this tv show. molto obrigado.

[JalanRumpai]

It's hard believe this Elton and the Elton of today are the same man. That is no criticism of the Elton of 2009, it's more a statement of praise to the young Elton. His voice in the early 70s is pure Americana; pure soul; sometimes pure country; sometimes even gospel. His range here is astonishing and the tone outstanding.

How him and Bernie, 2 young English lads, could sound so brilliantly American is phenomenal.

[averagehomosapien]

@JalanRumpai

Amen! We've embraced this Brit more than even the Brits did!

[candelise]

It goes someway to explaining his greater commercial success in The States than in Blighty! Remember, Bernie was especially in awe of America and could not wait to go there.

[averagehomosapien]

One of my favorite non-popular songs by Elton!!!

[gerland0]

5 minutes de pure bonheure

[Miniermotte]

Dee and Nigel take my breath away!!!

And Elton... wow... wasn't he the cutest muffin back in the 70s? *_*

[17865329]

He can basically duplicate his studio

vocal live here, which is pretty impressive,

he had 5 times the range back then too.

Anytime you see him with his own hair,

and ordinary glasses, you know you're

gonna get some classic pure early EJ.

[crazytree]

@17865329 I actually the vocals in this version are superior to the studio version.

[Shaggy196102]

does his voice sound like it is cracking during the chorus?

[chadisawesomeness]

i think its the video quality

[swingmanu]

ihis voice doesn't crackt! that's the way he sang back in those days and this sensitivity he shares is definitely what made him famous. later, he probably had undisclosed vocal problems( you can't song this way for a very long time , he probably had some corny coaching and ended up singin in a more controlled way and ended up sounding like a 1960's crooner. but, at this time, he was delivering pure beauty! in 1970, he was mentioned by John Lennon (still at his peak) as his favorite singer;

[Bodebodango]

His falsetto was untouchable, as well as being able to sing within every other range known to man until he had throat surgery to remove nogels in about 1986. He lost an octave or so,but whats funny is years ago someone asked him why he always sang his song in such a high registry.Well thankfully if you ask me we were lucky he did I also miss his ability to sing in the higher falsetto! that is how in concert I choose to remember him. check out the concert at the Greek in 1994 i was there Assume

[sbcruiser]

Made my way over on the S.S. Marie...

but I didn't get a flu shot or take tamiflu!

[Satchelabc123]

Unplugged 35 years before everyone else....EJ is untouchable.

[Tehcarp]

This statement is a logical fallacy.

[jonvil2009]

@Satchelabc123 try 39-40 yrs ago

[tracykd1982]

@Satchelabc123 love this man so much....he is timeless

[Greekpeople1]

One of my favorite Elton songs... :)

[rickheddle]

Y'all got great taste....

[allabouttheZ]

no, he is just an awesome songwiter and musician, and that is all ! God Bless him.

[intrepidsinger]

Another GREAT post! What harmonies!!! Live, without studio tricks - showing once again that Elton's rise was no fluke. These are superior musicians, not pop-frauds. And the songs! NOBODY writes lyrics like Bernie. Nobody!

[jum1801]

In 70 EJ was already big in the UK, but not really known in the US. But he toured the US in 71 and it was like magic - he exploded. He became unbelievably huge in in an instant. Rock royalty went gaga over him. No one had ever sounded like EJ, or had lyrics like BT gave him to sing.

EJ's 71 BBC performance shows what it was all about. An incredible, crystalline voice, good range but with heft and depth, and a falsetto that he could slip into like silk.

This is EJ as I like to remember him.

[shcorporation]

Well said, and so true!

[bgwcl]

Actually, he broke in the U.S. first, in late 1970. It wasn't until the Los Angeles Times had done a special feature on him after his gig at the troubadour in 1970 that people started taking notice, namely Leon Russell, Neil Young etc. It was only after his first American tour in 1970 that he was recognised in the U.K., as late as 1971.

[candelise]

Typically slow Brits at the time. They were slow to Led Zep too!

[alfredunhill]

la la la la la la la la .......la la la la la

[allforleyna80]

he did lose something when the 80's came along, but the 70's were golden! =)

[NOTYETUSEDNAME]

actually, he did record a really good record lately. Check out Songs from the west coast. You'll think you're listening to the flip side of the Tumbleweed Connection.

[gusthe77punk]

What a duo Taupine and John has been in the past. I don't much like his stuff after the 70's but damn it was powerful stuff back then.

[coreymichaud]

damn he puts so much emotion into his singing

[pianoplayinman]

and even more into that piano

[eightiesmike73]

Its what you want it to be ..baby!!

[emolizard13]

no its not age it was mostly his surgery but he still has a great voice nusic isnt about anything but lyrics not voice or sound just lyrics

[coreymichaud]

music is definitely not about just lyrics, thats poetry. Music is about lyrics, sound and emotion in my opinion

[sydlivy]

definitly

*****Sydney*****

[awood8205]

Can anyone tell me what this song is about.

It makes reflect on the short amount of time I have spent in prison and all of the cocaine and pills I have tried to give up.

[eltonator]

It's a song about being in prison and desiring to be free

[JensJenkins]

Even better LIVE than on the ALBUM! :O:D Elton is a LEGEND!!

[summer4autumn]

It's a damn shame what's happened to Elton's voice since these days.

Aging robbed him of such an incredible gift. :(

[sydlivy]

yea ik but if he didnt hav that surgury then he wouldnt be able to sing at all :(

[jum1801]

Aging? Surgery? It was more the pounds of cocaine he snorted and the boat-loads of vodka he scarfed which stripped his throat and burned out his nose and sinuses.

Yes, he had a incredible instrument as far as range, clarity, strength, agility, accuracy and control. I listen to his recordings form the early 70's and am amazed at how fantastic he sounds. But he did more to destroy his voice with acting like a prima donna for the last 30 years than age did to take it away.

[sydlivy]

ik he did that stuff in the 80's and in 1975

[macz57]

Yes, you are totally correct. The drug and alcohol abuse will have taken their toll mentally, too. There is no reason why someone in their 5os or 60s couldn't sing as well as they did in their younger days. Sting, Dolly Parton, Michael McDonald, to name a few. Still, I guess we should all be thankful that Elton is actually still alive!

[dfcjr]

macz57, the reason EJ can't sing as well as he did here is because he got throat cancer, we're lucky to here him sing at all anymore.

[shcorporation]

Yes, he got throat cancer as a result of the drugs and alcohol.

[vlunney]

can you imagine Aretha Franklin covering this song???? Damn...

[msarinprod]

ROFL>>>>oh funny! I haven't heard this in so long.

[greyseal87]

I have always loved the song Rotten Peaches and everything off of Madman Across The Water. The title of this song always sounded strange to me, but it's the words and music that count. Elton dominates in this performance with his higher register and great percussive piano playing!

[jum1801]

Yes, the titles to the EJ/BT songs have often seemed odd and sometimes simply perverse and self-defeating. "All The Nasties" for example is one of the loveliest songs ever.

But also I note the soulful nature of EJ's early melodies, with a huge R&B influence. It's nothing like his Tin Pan Alley dreck he's out out since the late 70's.

[sadcracker]

The only thing Elton has over Beethoven is Bernie Taupin. Goes to prove that most mortals can bennifit from syncronicity.

[Dergonay]

Nice Shades

[alfredunhill]

classic..if i had to choose one artist's body of work and that was the only music i could hear for the rest of my life, it would be elton john...

[shaggy19610808]

Great song but you can hear the strain in his voice. This would lead to throat surgery years later and his voice was forever changed

[theunusualbreed]

The drink and drugs probably have more to do with it.

[Satchelabc123]

Elton, Dee and Nigel. That is a good as it gets.

[doofus0123]

and davey! don't forget davey! pick me pick me LOL!

[Satchelabc123]

True, but I believe many think Elton, Dee and Nigel - in terms of a rock trio are untouchable.

[theunusualbreed]

Davey hadn't joined at this point. He joined around 1972 during the recording of Honky Chateau.

[atypical1952]

Thank you for being here. How was Abu Dhabi? I would have loved to have been there.

[tonkali]

No disrespect to anything after Rock of the Westies but if you don't any of EJ's work between Friends/Empty Sky and Rock of the Westies then you are truly missing Elton. Amazing talent!

[garystaley]

Don't forget Blues Moves!!! Excellent album for me better then Rock of the Westies and Caribou!

[CineRecon]

You have to be in love or really high to truly appreciate EJ's early work.

The difference is negligible...

[DavidRandallCurtis]

LOL!

[apatheticsquirrel]

I have to say, fair play to the cameramen at BBC during the 70s. They focus a lot on Elton's fingers at work on the keys and at times, it's nothing short of mesmerising

[atypical1952]

Have fun in Abu Dhabi, wish I could be there, lucky you!!

[bozzah1234]

hiya im 15!!!

i came acrosss elton just thru his pure talent !

i started listening to his new stuff then i nicked my mums albums and now ive been getting his old cassic music since!

he has opoened my mind to the world of music and i know without his talent i would be listening to crap that is about now!

so thanks ELTON you made me differnt

[nandomark]

EJ has absorbed so many influences in a short time between '64 to '70, but he has remained pretty true to the basic EJ sound since then.

[MightySaturn5]

bland

[theunusualbreed]

How?

[richardvollin]

Words can't describe the impact this has on me, or for that matter all those Elton fans who grew up on this early period of Elton and Bernie's genius. Reminds one of the "Grapes Of Wrath" film. This should be out on DVD along with "All the Nasties", and "Goodbye", from the similar BBC broadcast of that period.

[1984nejtigers]

I'm a 40-year-old American dude and I stumbled across the "Madman Across the Water" album on my aun't sterio in 1976. I would never be the same.

[neakofreako]

I think got this album in '73. It's probably my favorite Elton John album of all time. It's truly a shame that the majority of the people only know what they've heard on the radio. There is no other artist in rock music history in my opinion who has ever been this good. These are some of the best memories of my life.

[neakofreako]

I think got this album in '73. It's probably my favorite Elton John album of all time. It's truly a shame that the majority of the people only know what they've heard on the radio. There is no other artist in rock music history in my opinion who has ever been this good. These are some of the best memories of my life.

[djs61909]

So cool to see these posts. I love the classic Elton!! He really stretches his voice at points...a slight crack at 3:33 even...Just so great to see him at this stage....love this series!! Thanks!!!

[MeatloafTribute1]

inspired me to be a pro singer. was 11 when i got th ej bug, thanks elton i owe you, thanks for everything|! xx

[tabboo100]

he really WAS the shit.this period IS elton to me.you can't blame him for going so pop and becomming a multi-millionare,but this stuff that most people don't know is the real deal. his voice isn't this delicate anymore,luckily we have this concert on youtube,in all his glory.

[eamonncake]

I know you wrote that comment ages ago but you are so right. Where I come from if you said you liked Elton John you'd be laughed off the street. I think a lot of his stuff in the 80s and 90s is pretty middle of the road (duetting with Ronan Keating for fuck's sake), but how anybody could not like this is absolutely beyond me. His 70s albums are up there with the best ever.

[Satchelabc123]

They shoul put this on IMAX for everyone to enjoy. For the younger people who only know Elton as the composer of Lion King. There is something absolutely mesmorizing about this stuff.

[meskeleros]

What a beautiful voice he had!!!!!!

[judges77]

Rotten Peaches,Razor Face,Holidy Inn,Mona Lisas'an Mad Hatters,Tiny Dancer,etc..!! What a freakin' setlist! BBC get your asses busy, and put this live stuff out on DVD!! Don't you folks know how to make money off all us Eltonaholics!

[andyrfit]

Makes you wonder what else is gathering dust in the BBC vaults, doesn't it? When are they going to start putting the archives on-line like they said? After all, this and all the other buried treasure belongs to us, the British people.

[mearen]

They'd make so much money off us Elton fanatics! I'd buy this on DVD in a heartbeat.

[AUS10TEX]

i am a texan but your right elton and bernie were incredible then. my brother played "tumb;eweed" nite and day when i was a kid..it is one of my favorite albums.....ever.

[Anacardiff]

No one says anything about the band, they were just great, Dee Murray is one of the best bassis of all time, and their voices just match perfect. PURE GOLD

[mousieearz]

I absolutely love the early Elton/Taupin team. I could listen to him forever. (and I do)

[Neeuq2001]

Genius!

[kwillyou22]

Vintage EJ. Some of his best stuff from the early years, I especially like him solo on the piano. HE and Bernie Taupin are as good as Lennon/McCartney!!

[logansand]

i loved his early music so much. he seemed so, personal, when performing. and his music is so raw, and unperfect, which, well, makes it perfect. Rotten Peaches is one of my favorite songs off of madman, and he is just absolutely incredible.

[lectrovoice]

71, in the sun, smiles and peaches for everyone

[tylertech]

Elton John at his zenith. Just him and the piano, it just doesn't get any better.

[mearen]

I agree completely!

[Anacardiff]

and the band!!! Dee Murray, Nigel Olson in backing vocals, Perfection!!!!

[88930P]

Madman Accross the Water,Tumbleweed Connection....2 bottles of wine is STILL a great way to spend a Saturday Evening. Great post from whomever this came from. Rotten Peaches is one of my favorite all time Elton tunes. Thanks.

[miketardifmoney]

1971 Elton- love it. I'll stack up his 1970-1975 body of work up against anyone in the record biz.  Those albums were so good.

[rporro1]

Thanks for the post

Is FANTASTIC the young ELTON

Excellent Lyrics by Bernie Taupin

Please more performance.

[lectrovoice]

Another great Elton song, I guess thats one of the beni's of discovering a great musician late in there career, you have that incredible back log to enjoy... it kind of reminds me of when I discovered MASH and watched it twice a weak for 2 years, awesome.

[Alenephoenix]

I half agree with you. Elton till the end of Goodbye Yellow Brick Rd., was still good! - Grey Seal, Funeral for a Friend, etc.& I want to hear "Where to, now, St. Peter?" & others. He plays the same exact songs in his concerts even tho he has great treasures from before 1975!

[timetrialon]

Where did you get this DVD? I searched amazon but I didn't find it.

[willih007]

I can't believe I found this! anything with Elton in the early 70's is GOLD

[tps607]

God,I've been waiting for someone to post this.Thanks!!!

[jinzo012]

Amazing production values for 1971. Please hrleo post Indian Sunset from this concert. Thanks!

[g2no2000]

Thanks for the post

Rotten Peaches is one of my favorite Elton songs

Excellent lyrics by Taupin!

[bobvilla11]

indian sunset is in my opinion the best song from that whole concert.

someone post

im not converting the dvd

[EltonForever]

Please post any other performances from this..thanks!

[ZFGokuSSJ1]

Definitely... The Madman era is the best Elton we ever got.

[bobvilla11]

elton at his prime

literally

i dont think you'll find him in better performance shape.

after this he's plagued with drugs, overtouring, and bulimia

enjoy elton at his performaning peak.