Elton John - Pinball Wizard (Dodger Stadium 1975)

[wandreeff]

Elton is coming to my Northern Canadian city in April. YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY­YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY­YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY­YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY­YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY. We're all very excited here!!!!

[wags2010]

@wandreeff and he's playing a solo show from what i read. i've only seen him with a band, but from videos and recordings i'll bet that those solo shows are a very special treat. ENJOY!

[merseymasala]

We shot it over two nights, so maybe the crew switched it out one of those nights.

[RMG36000]

the who´s version "IS" elton's version.

there is no versions, the song is from all of them to us.

[funkkyzenzei]

Cool hair...

[T0MMY1969]

When was this LIVE？

[THEnyyguy]

had no idea he wrote this thought it pete t.

[MovieTech]

@THEnyyguy Pete Townshend DID write it.

[Quaxi3]

bist du moped! (are you crazy?) ;o)

[cideinzunza]

ARP 2600 :D

[DDozer93]

haha elton was bald!



[TwoPointsUp]

The gal at 3:42 looks just like SIBEL SHEPARED, if anyone know what I mean! Thanks, 2pOINTS UP

[tmtmoormr]

he performed well here even though he was deeply depressed at this time he tried to kill himself by overdosing i get sad watching this

[TwoPointsUp]

@tmtmoormr - What are u talking about? How do u know he was "suicidal" at this time?? I'm not being critical, i just want to know why u presume He was?

[BanzaiM50]

@TwoPointsUp You can read many different biographical stories, as well as just liner notes in some of the greatest hits albums that have come out over the years which have biographical information. This is the time period where he had the toughest times mentally and emotionally and considered suicide. The entire reason songs like "Someone Saved my Life Tonight" existed, though that was referencing a very specific situation, those conflicts led to his depression.

[TwoPointsUp]

@BanzaiM50 -Yes, looking into it, you seem to be accurate ("Someone Saved" was written a lot later, tho, and Elton didn't write the lyrics, Burnie T wrote them all..Also, he didn't try the OD route only, seems he tried the old Depression Era carbon minoxide deal once..

[mtthwskdmr2]

@tmtmoormr I love elton, musically and lyrricly speaking, i had never known of this, which in turn has made me depressed reading about it

[Hollywoodsteve]

The versions by the Who and Elton John are NOT meant to be compared to one another. One is the original version and one was created for a movie based on that original piece.

[DerDeziBelzeBub]

both versions, the original and this one, are great :D

[dougrobinson2024]

0:46 Bump!

[mocus1]

you have to pick up the tempo live......to keep the crowd hoppin'

[jdkrensel]

I love Elton John, but this version of pinball wizard is too quick. Sorry, but the Who's version is much better.

[ProxqPL]

@jdkrensel I agree

[bwsot7m]

0:46 Yup O.O

[beatlemacfab]

I WAS AT THAT CONCERT @ DODGER STADIUM!!!!!!!!!!!

[werytraveler]

@beatlemacfab NIIICE!

[MrHfisher]

I like the who's version better than Elton's

[AjoFresco]

Wait... Why does Elton's microphone keep changing from an SM57 to an SM58?

[FutureAbe]

@AjoFresco His roadies must be equipment changing ninjas

[IronPinkBlack]

the version with the who is better

[patrick9648]

whats the deal with the cameraman and the extreme close ups and the out of focus shots.

[patrick9648]

funny how Elton has more hair now than he did in the 70's.

[Thumper17]

@patrick9648

Hair transplant surgery, apparently.

[waterhoen49]

I still hope for The Who and Elton John to come back together for 1 last show where they play this all-time classic!

[MrKnightswhosayni]

Remember being at this concert! EJ was the man in the 70's...

[rollingcube]

Definitive

[brockula]

I read Elton's fingers actually bled playing this concert.

[talha318]

:46 .....was the camera man zooming into what I think he was? or does ths shirt say something worth reading?

[GroovingPict]

I love Elton John's version of this, and this is a great performance... but whoever produced this live video should be shot... this has to be the crappiest production of live footage Ive ever seen (and by that I dont mean the picture quality that has degraded with age).

[sescob22]

The great thing about Elton live is that he always looks like he is having as much fun as the audience. I recently saw him in concert and even in his 60s he still looked like he was having the time of his life. What a performer!

[sescob22]

The great thing about Elton live is that he always looks like he is having as much fun as the audience. I recently saw him in concert and even in his 60s he still looked like he was having the time of his life. What a performer!

[pbmax]

Dodger Stadium without one single Mexican in the audience! The good old days were the best.

[bigcatisbig]

@pbmax

I am not even going to dignify your

statement with an answer

are you aware that the land (chavez ravine) was stolen

from mexican people ? And the city of Los Angeles is still in court for this?

educate yourself and free your mind

from that racism slavery

peace

[pbmax]

@bigcatisbig What does that have to do with illegal immigration?? Nothing. Educate yourself.

[bigcatisbig]

@pbmax

...so...you are a hater?

two words for you lil creature

GROW UP

I will not use any of my time on you

I m not on the pen pal program good bye

[pbmax]

@bigcatisbig Again, what does that have to do with illegal immigration?? When you start replying unemotionally, you'll start to grow up. Sadly, this will never happen for you.

[karenina56]

@pbmax Bigcatisbig is right--you've made an incredibly racist remark. You might want to find out the history you're living in. Just sayin'.

[jb0177]

Cocaine is a hell of a drug...

[jb0177]

I can smell the cocaine eminating from the stadium...

[muskokan59]

Back in the mid 70's there was no one bigger than Sir Elton. Ah...those were the days,musically !!!!!!

[squanto2]

I was there. We were standing pretty close to the stage. My friend and I (15 year old miscreants) were sailing Ritz Crackers at the stage like Frizbees.

Boink...off the piano!

Boink...off the vodka glass!!!!

Then my friend threw his rum bottle and it shattered off one of the PA speakers.

Stupid.

[stretchmorgan]

This is pretty happening.

[samsamba08]

Could anyone tell me, are there any 70's Elton John concerts like this available as DVD's or even as bootlegs (downloads)? Would be cool to see, just as a curiosity. The coke-fueled madness, the outfits, the glasses... I've seen snippets, but never a full concert.

[cme98]

omg look at the baldness. i think it's awesome, but come on, back then.... not popular

[powerman5000ca]

Elton at his Masterful Best

Thanks for sharing

[laaxe]

I was there! Remember it like it was yesterday! Heavy heavy cop presence, but a great time non the less!

[kenadam9]

@ John Turpin - correct - that is James Newton Howard...

[SkunkDroppings]

this was one of the greatest tour i ever saw..and i have seen 'em all...but it was bittersweet with dee and nigel having been fired....not nice...it was over money..he couldnt pay them sidemans wages anymore...they were a band..like the stones...wyman and watts didnt write shit..but they were rolling stones...so the elton john band...elton, dee, nigel and davey would be no more..sans bullshit reunions....

[omersidon]

awesome performer!

[Karenfan09]

I think this video was shot at the 2 different shows that Elton gave at Dodger Stadium back in 1975....If you notice during the clip, at the beginning of the song, there was a lot of daylight then about 2 minutes into the song all of the sudden darkness envelops Dodger Stadium along with Elton singing into 2 different microphones.

[josiahgust]

@Karenfan09 yeah, they do that a lot with dvds and live recordings.

[EminemFan202]

I wish I could've gone to this...sadly I wasn't a thought in '75 :(

[groovysoulster]

Wow! Where is this video from? I'd love to own it. I was at that show as a tiny kid and remember freaking when he came out in that Dodger uniform. Such a great memory.

[PianoShapedObject]

@groovysoulster Its from a documentary called "Captain Fantastic He Is". Bootlegs only as far as I know and very hard to find them.

[groovysoulster]

@PianoShapedObject Thanks for letting me know. I'll keep a lookout.

[slapoglue]

R.I.P. Guy Babylon totally one of the best keyboardist backups.

[JohnTaupin]

@slapoglue you know Guy isn't in Elton's band here. He didn't join till a little while later. I believe that is James Newton Howard (film composer) on keys.

[Rodney21a]

Cocain is a Hell of a drug. This version is like 10x faster than the other version"red Piano" on Youtube 5x faster than The Who's version and 3c faster than the movie version....Hell of a drugg

[ejdbk]

great cover

THE WHO ROCKS

[ACanette]

It's amazing how when sing properly this song improves. It's not such a different version is just that Elton can do the right vocals.

[chocolatechick101]

I can't decide if I like this version or The Who's version better... So I won't.... :D

[popmartzoo]

Please, Elton's version of this song blows The Who's away! I respect The Who, but their version sounds like a demo compared to this. The EJ version rocks!!

[EminemFan202]

the whos version pwns

[brickslam]

@EminemFan202 No. 

[skitfel]

the whos version owns this

[KidVlogger317]

Well they are the original.

[newktrane]

As I'm viewing this great clip yet again, I was thinking that I sorta agree with EJ's comments at the time in explaining the switch from the classic quartet w/Nigel, Dee(RIP), & Davey-this 2nd lineup had a bigger sound with the extra band members included. More POWER(as the 1975 Live At Wembley cd-included as a bonus disc on the 30th anniversary of Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy- makes perfectly clear..........) Great to see tennis great Billie Jean King dancing/having fun & EJ's mom.

[newktrane]

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn!!! I'm speechless....................­...rare film from this legendary show. The 70s came much too early-or perhaps Youtube & digital cameras arrived too late-imagine being able to seen vintage footage from those 1970s marathon concert tours by EJ, Funkadelic, Stevie, EW&F, etc................online-afte­r someone's uploaded last night's show-circa 1972/3/4/5/6 . Anyway............, Clips like this are why I treasure Youtube so much. Thanks!

[Thumper17]

This is so Raw and Animalistic.

[samsamba08]

Hey where did you get this video? Just out of curiousity it would be nice to see a full live Elton John concert from the '70's.

[yiommi]

At 1:41 you can see he has 2 vocal mikes one for when he sits and one for when he stands up its odd that he used a 57 and a 58

[countryday66]

this concert was filmed over two nights back in October 1975. There were different mics used on each night and the film just cut the two night's footage together which accounts for the switch.

[themontythe]

Anyone else notice that at the start he has a Shure SM57 for his vocal at the start then from 0:32 he has an SM58 then he's back to the SM57 after that...

[Victor1970s]

Televisionarchives is right.

According to Wikipedia, Elton John tried to kill himself with a drug overdose during "Elton John Week" in Los Angeles in October, 1975. EJ was dealing with so much pressure from superstardum and it was taking its toll on him. Seems money doesn't buy happiness after-all.

[raceywalrus]

Good grief. Bernie found Elton on the floor with the gas oven on with the window open. A sad attempt and cry for help.

It had nothing to do with superstardom it had to do with his girlfriend at the time that he was going to be marrying.

[Victor1970s]

There was a story in the late 1960s about Elton John trying to kill himself after going out and drinking with Long John Baldry

and Bernie Taupin. It said that EJ was found by Bernie Taupin lying on the kitchen floor with gas coming out of a stove with the window opened. He failed, of course, and only tried to kill himself to get out of marrying his fiance. I couldn't find any record of John trying to kill himself the week of October 25, 1975.

[RayNDeere]

That moment about the gas stove inspired the song "Someone saved my life tonight."

I also heard about the attempt in 1975 on a show about Elton.

[coolfunkandthefab4]

yeah, i've heard that one too.

if the window was open would the gas really be enough to make one pass out?

or was he just lying there beginning to feel stupid.

and on the EJ week attempt in the EJ bio His Song there was some mention. but in that book half of the stuff said was disproved by other interviews with him so...idk..

[Victor1970s]

Hold on, Why would Elton John want to kill himself the same week he's about to play to over 100,000 people during 2 shows at Dodger Stadium? He was the biggest pop star in the world in 1975.

[thespider1409]

Try search google and you will know why =) but i can tell you one thing....He failed badly at killing himself XD

[TELEVISIONARCHIVES]

How to believe he tried to kill himself the same week.

[DuaLeaD]

Elton's version is by far better....But the ultimate would be if the The Who had performed it with him, will full theatrics and everything....

[Jumpinflashjack]

I like Elton's version better than The Who.

[Hrannar8]

@Jumpinflashjack Are you crazy he can't beat The Who version, don't get me wrong he does a very good job but it's not better.

[Jackin28]

@Jumpinflashjack cause he's the pinball wizard!!!!

[ADayInAdair]

@Jumpinflashjack You TAKE that BACK!!

[loocow1554]

@Jumpinflashjack the whos version was a million times better

[francescsants]

I wonder when will this whole show finally appear on DVD!!

[ymmijv3]

i saw the movie tommy when i was 12 and now im 14 and i love his version way better than pete townshends

[p30plepers0n]

i honestly think so to

[kylebedient]

definately... Elton can take any song and make it 10 times better... nothing against Pete or The Who, but Elton can sure rock!

[niekvh]

hahaha :p

daaaamn man

xD

[CrossTownDrummer]

What a great clip!!!

I love the way Caleb Quaye does TWO Pete Townshend-style "scissor kicks" during the tune {watch closely}.

Thaks loads for posting this - made my night!

[circlewolf]

miss the good ole days...something to see the band and crowd having such a good time--remember when bands played just cuss it was just plain fun

[jprgames5442]

OMFG! This song rrrruuuulllleeeezzzz! lol

[SlipKid1717]

1:42!!!

[eltonj4ever]

yeeeeeeah!!! Elton rocks!!!

[racesity]

I grew up in Florida acroos the highway was a billiards hall with about 20 pinball machines, could chalk up so many games that the owners just hired me part time. great memories.

[alarbman39]

My $10.00 ticket is still framed. Wow, I wish those prices would come back...

[40Rtruss]

@alarbman39

Special thanks to my friend Stephen Hawking, Time travel is now possible and I am going back to the 60's and 70's anyone wish to join?

[WormYourHonor64]

@40Rtruss MEEEEE!!! Never been there, but it would be nice, wouldn't it?

[40Rtruss]

@WormYourHonor64

Think I would enjoy the journey seeing some of the greatest music artist in history

[Jvergakis]

@alarbman39 hes playing here in norfolk va in march was gonna go till i saw that tickets were like 900 dollars

[StretchPhotography]

@alarbman39 I wish music like this would come back. ;)

[rollingcube]

@alarbman39 that's now worth $300

[Rocketman2396]

@alarbman39 I wish they would too, I paid 50 dollars to see Elton in Philly this March 25th, and their not even too great of seats.

[maddma]

I was there too. WOW! What a concert!

[eric669]

fu...kng amazing!

[brib333]

a little to fast.

[brib333]

Pinball Wizard Elton Johns song?

I dont think so!

Come on kid learn your rock and roll.

[mets2128]

no it was the Who wrote the song

[brib333]

Ya! No shit! I said that!

[farhanlalji]

the who>all

[darkred60]

Big Elton Big!!!!!!

[alarbman39]

I was at the Elton show in 1975 at Dodger Stadium. It was my third concert at the time (Cal Jam And Neil Diamond were 1 & 2). I was only 16 years old at the time. Since then, I have seen Elton 13 times!

[abajibijo]

hahaha that's so sweet

[ianara666]

chapeau!!!

[naufragosrock]

Pete Townshend rules

[eltonator]

He does! And I know him!

[whosnext166]

how do you not love elton john? lol everything the man does is amazing

[intoto2007]

Thit is what rock and roll is all about

[Caligulita]

That's the truest statement I've ever heard,

[Greekpeople1]

Amazing Glasses! Elton at 70s is amazing! Not that he is not now...

[54spiritedwill54]

WOW!! a perfect merge of two shows!!!!

[Satori1800]

thanks for great video:)

[TheGoldenSphinx]

Wow! Talk about a party atmosphere! :)

[darthchaosofrspw]

Great song, but I have to say James Newton Howard's keyboard/synth sounds annoying in this song.

[georgielund07]

I love Elton so much but between 1970 - 1976 he was awesome!!

[jennifersman]

I love the famous photo taken at this concert, where Elton has his back to the camera, you see the "ELTON 1" on the Dodger uniform, and there's people as far as the eye can see all the way to the top of Dodger Stadium, classic!

[1nsectmind]

yeah... Elton on his best! amazing song, amazing video!

[ignoxious]

Yup, that is one of the greatest rock n roll photos of all time. Given the privilege of naming it, I would simply entitle it "God".

They don't make em like they used to...

-Brother Ron

[jennifersman]

I'd add "God meets his subjects..at Dodger Stadium"

LOL

[calmcoolandcollected]

You left out the huge gap in his teeth, and still dreamy.......:-)

[Edhallick]

This is when he started getting mad bald, but nobody cared because the music was incredible. I mean really think about it, he has Ed Asner hair, is small, half blind, yet he drove the teen girls absolutely nuts.

[raunchboy]

Not that it did him any good...he wasn't interested in 'em, hahaha!

[ledddddddd]

This is so great, for years I wanted to see footage of this. The best will be when they release a DVD of this concert!

[cungar]

Man I wanted to go to this concert so bad. I was 14 and no one would take me. I think the tickets were $12.50. Turns out it was a legendary show.

[achuckme]

Elton, Dee ( god rest his soul), Davey and Nigel...I was there for night one...was 17 teen...best fucken concert I have ever been to....no one can top that night!

[uscrules81]

I was there for the Saturday October 25th concert and with all due respect, Dee Murray was not there, nor was Nigel. The original band had broken up and only Davey Johnstone and Ray Cooper remained. I believe Roger Pope was on drums and Kenny Passarelli played bass.

[achuckme]

Ya know you may be right....I have been to so many of his concerts. I know I saw the whole band in Phoenix....anyway thanks for the memory jog...it was still s great concert....

[darthchaosofrspw]

Lucky Luciano, Kenneth Passarelli, you take a modern mosquito to every big city, I sit beside Misdemeanor...

[luangu]

Bald & beautiful; I love the pre-plugs Elton!

[chenlung1]

Clive Franks (?) and Ray Cooper are there. Can't see Nigel Olsson, whilst I can't make out if the blond-haired guy is either Davey or Dee.

[BrotherRon1]

The big stadium scoreboard said:

Elton John

Ray Cooper

James Newton Howard

Davey Johnstone

Kenny Passarelli

Roger Pope

Caleb Quayle

Rock On

[theunusualbreed]

Is Elton's original band is this clip?

[chenlung1]

Don't understand why people voted my comment 'bad' as I merely pointed something out that seems to affect a number of concerts. I wasn't being critical towards Elton in particular, as I could have been wrong (72miche19's comment answers a likely reason). Still love his music.

I was first curious as I'm trying to play the song by ear (no sheet music is available).

[chenlung1]

Was just curious about how these concerts worked with regards to editing and the likes - Thanks 72miche 19 for your answer :). You needn't hurl taunts like "assclown" or claim I talk "shite" (naw man!).

[feedingthemind]

wow, like wow

[pythiumpete]

I was in the 10th grade, my buddy and I were the first two in the stadium after a mad dash across their huge parking lot. We ended up of course in front of the stage where I almost was smashed against a chain link fence they had up for crowd control. Almost caught Elton's Dodger hat when he threw it, it was shredded instanly. Best concert I have ever attended.

[gautamon]

I am devoted fan of The Who but I must admitt that this version rocks hard. I feel the freezing on my back which is a indicator of song I like like! Well done Elton!

[salalinor]

I was there and to this day it still is the best concert I've ever been toooooo and it only cost $10.00 bucks to get in WOW

[dzstephens]

I was there, too! INCREDIBLE concert...!  Wish they would DVD this for all of us fans to enjoy...

[chenlung1]

I suspect the concert has been edited for 'perfection', or there has been substitute shots:

1) Elton sings, but his mouth doesn't move (0:12).

2) The keyboard intro hits the wrong notes (1:57).

I've been told that concerts (in general) are edited audio-wise as well. Kinda disappointing...

[agentconman]

load of shite this guy talks

[72miche19]

The portions of the concert here were not filmed as a "concert" they're part of an old TV documentary so there is footage used from both shows and edited together, probably to get whatever the director thought were the best camera angles from the video available.

[aftguitar94]

so he thought the part with the boobs bouncing was one of the best camera angles? =D

[72miche19]

Yes, very innovative fellow considering this was over 20 yrs before The Man Show's "girls on trampolines" LOL