Elton John-Grimsby 1974

[djs61909]

Elton will live forever!!

[RodgersFan2009]

Hey LondonAcidHouse1988 don't get uptight either way boths creatures would give you a sting and no I'm not a Watford follower sadly a Mariners man, one day we'll back in league football in the mean time carry on rocking and best regards to all at Vicarage Rd - hope I got that right !

[MrJbroc3]

the good old days... excellent Elton!!

[ChiroQuacker]

this was an era when being bald put you at a distinct disadvantage...the rock Gods had long flowing healthy heads of hair...the chicks loved that....you had to have cool hair

shows you how truly talented elton was....despite being a bald headed dude...he was the biggest star in the world...

[villamartinfun]

Taupin also lived very close to Louth, spitting distance from Grimsby and would have known the place well. If memory serves me correct, EJ wasn't involved at Watford until the late 70's, long after this song was penned.

[LondonAcidHouse1988]

@villamartinfun he was involved from the early 70s - i started going to see Watford in 1974 and he was already a director then and obviously supported them and attended at Vicarage Road since his childhood

[RodgersFan2009]

The word is this track was written following a visit to watch Watford play Grimsby Town FC when Reg was heavily involved with the Bees, in fact I can remember being at the match which was in mid - week how sad is that?

[LondonAcidHouse1988]

@RodgersFan2009 well you can't have been a Watford man or you'd know they're called the Hornets not the Bees

[Gazbobs]

Bernie Taupin was born in the village of Anwick near Sleaford but spent most of his chidhood on his dads farm at Owmby by Spittal which if it was a cattle farm he'd have probably visited Grimsbys cattle market.

[HBsongwriter]

I heard somewhere that this was a complete Bernie song, and he grew up there. Not totally sure though and could be wrong, but that's how I always viewed this song. Thank you a billion for this and Ticking, magnificent videos.

[superowl64]

Learn to speak English and you might figure it out

[superowl64]

As what appears to be a diehard fan you aren't qualified to comment on my post as

A) You can't see him from a neutral standpoint and

B) You'd probably have us believe that a recording of him straining one out on the bog is highly recommended listening.

[Rocketman2396]

@superowl64 What are you talking about?

[superowl64]

Just look what he's turned into now. A prissy old queen prone to tantrums and hissy fits when he doesn't get things exactly as he wants. Pretty sad really considering the talent he had.

[Rocketman2396]

@superowl64 He's not that anymore, If anything he was that a lot more in the 70's and 80's, with the drugs and whatnot. And Elton still has a lot of talent, he still plays piano selling out concerts doesn't he? Yes he does.

[pugwash84]

@Survivor2002 grimsby is just across the water from hull in the north of england.

[SuperMegaUberGenius]

i can bitch because i'm better than you

[ftsjr]

Some years ago, I watched a documentary on the life of Elton John. Supposedly, he considered the Caribou album to be one of his lesser efforts. However, I thought it to be a terrific collection of tunes.

[ZozoneZ]

cheers elton

[castletriglav]

Bernie described Grimsby as a "shithole", but Elton thought it would be funny to romanticize the little town.

[ZozoneZ]

cheers i live there

[weirdguy75]

Am I the only one who hears a similar chord progression to crocodile rock?

[ua259253]

my classical music

[tke34]

Such raw talent, plus he's just a genuinely sweet (except when he's a bitch <3) and generous guy.

[muskokan59]

I love these video's from the early days of Elton.Thanks for posting!!

[ranchoboyeros]

Superduper

[SkunkDroppings]

i just heard a new song by elton that will appear on his next cd with leon russell...the new song was three chords over and over with a bland lyric and vocal...now here in this clip elton sings a song with nice melodic different sections...but these days his songs have no dynamics..and no melody with boring bland chords played over and over...

yet this song keeps your interest cause the verses, bride and chorus's are all different....as is the piano playing

[10Shivi]

this is a great song, and yes he has been to Grimsby. Skinners Arms is the Smokers Arms pub near Freeman Street. Met him twice - once at the Winter Gardens when he was still Reg Dwight and then few years later when he was at Bernies wedding, I worked with Bernies wife.

[alcarr99]

One of my favs from Caribou. Don't think

he performed this one live many times

over the years. Excellent!

[tomweston1]

I've heard also that Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics for 'Saturdays Night's Alright for Fighting' about Market Rasen and Wragby (or maybe Louth) meeting on Saturday Night's and fighting in the village squares etc. Im positive that there must be some truth in that. LOL.

[LondonAcidHouse1988]

@tomweston1 there is if you go in the Aston Arms in Market Rasen theres a cutting on the wall about it

[tomweston1]

I'm from Grimsby and was exstatic when i first heard this song about 10 years ago. the mythical pub he sings about 'Skinners Arms' was probably invisioned down or near Freeman Street, the Long street that leads down to the Fish Docks. The Pier he sings about is sadly now a shadow of its former self, once upon a time it had a beautiful theatre on the end which my dad used to play at night after night, and now it's a sh*tty nightclub. What a fantastic song.

[Thompson3479]

ahah im from grimsby ontario!! this is cool! :P

[OntoitinThere]

I really enjoyed the Caribou album voice of Elton John and found myself missing it in his future work.

[Buzzardstubble]

Elton John did come to Grimsby, when GTFC played Watford one year, he liked it so much he wrote a song about it. And the song writer you are talking about is Bernie Taupin who was from Market Rasen.

[azzaGYS]

good old GrimsbY aye ahaahaa, shame he never came here and tht one of his song writers was from caistor thts why he sang a song called grimsby

[danJS90]

even elton john knew the score, GY !!

[MyRickyz]

That is the original Elton voice in the Caribou era. that voice changed after his "Blue moves album in 1976. a really shame his songs also moved down to bland pop music since that time..

[candelise]

A lot of tosh for sure, but it wasn't all bad. Many good songs since then.

[JoeyPencils]

ya...even Capt Fantastic is kind of a let down to me...he was the berries when he first hit the scene

[jaytee591]

What a voice Elton had in the 70's...this song really showcases it. Thanks for posting...another classic.

[oaklandmariner]

elton came to grimsby to watch watford play grimsby on a tuesday night in the early seventies, he liked grimsby and came up with this song

[tekkenlord777]

Wrong! Read The Wiki...

Bernie Taupin, who lived in Humberston and Tealby, near Market Rasen, when in his teens, wrote a song called Grimsby that was featured on Elton John's 1974 album "Caribou"

[LBjim]

I love this song. I reminds me of my childhood Mexican vacations as a youth listening to those 8 tracks on the Pacific Coast..wow the 70's..Thanks...

[lucadunning]

Hahahahahaa ! GY !

[zzhamstring]

I guess if you live in the U.K. on the east coast,this tune really hits home? I live in Canada myself, but loved this tune when my older brother picked up this tune from the Caribou LP in the early 70's.

[cungar1001]

I remember kistening to this when I was 14 and having no idea what it was about, But it sure sounded cool.

[cliveandchris]

This is great Grimsby is still out there..

well done must tell my friends. clive

[cbp76]

Grimsby hasnt got a beach. Cleethorpes beach isnt shingle,

[lpodruchny]

Love this song. Thanks for posting!!

[bebopPete]

"As I lay sleeping in my bed across the Great Divide, I thought I heard the trawler boats returning on the tide."

Bernie Taupin, awaking from a dream, while encamped in the Colorado rocky mountains at Guercio's studio during the recording of the 'Caribou' album.

"no Cordon-Blue can match the beauty of your pies and peas."

Taupin was raised in Lincolnshire, so it's likely that he travelled to Grimsby during his childhood.

[groovycleaner]

Who? Elton or Bernie, who wrote the lyrics? Elton said during his 1974 concert at the Forum, that Grimsby was an answer to Randy Newman's song "Cleveland". Bernie supposedly wrote it about his experiences so I guess he had been there.

[ancientpagoda]

Groovyclean is right. Its Elton and Bernies counter to Randy Newmans Burn On, about the Cuyahoga River catching fire in the early 1970s because of all its pollution (The Lord can make you tumble, the Lord can make you turn, the Lord make you overflow, but the Lord cant make you burn). They chose Grimsby basically as the English answer at the time to Cleveland, a sh**hole ironically glorified in song.

[TomGreenUK]

Has he ever even been to Grimsby.

[ladylovesER]

thousand thanks for posting..In France I haven't found many videos of Elton's early seventies..

you're a goldmine to me !!

[groovycleaner]

Don't know. I have connections in the UK. I will ask. I know that Elton did a show in '71 where he sang Tiny Dancer and All the Nasties, then he did a show on Christmas Eve 1974 from the Hammersmith Odeon, all broadcast on The Old Grey Whistle Test. Some of those are here on youtube.

[davidinla36]

Thanks for posting.

Was "Old Grey Whistle Test" a weekly TV music show in the UK?

[JAYROX1969]

Yes, it ran from 1971 to1987 on BBC 2.

[groovycleaner]

I have never known of him doing that in concert. It would have been great. During the '74 tour he did Grimsby, You're So Static and Don't Let The Sun Go Down. He did Dixie Lily during the '75 tour. Video for Grimsby and DLTSGD are on the Hammersmith show from Xmas '74. I think someone has Grimsby from that show up here on Youtube.

[ghasgfhag]

Fantastic, now we just need to see a live performance of "I've seen the saucers"..........any chance?

[johntrafford]

hi all elton fans in my opinion this early period in his song forming is what i inevitably go back to absolutely perfect

[bennyblancouk]

What yeahhhhhhhhh

Up the Mariners

[jnoble12]

I always have to sing along with the background "baa-baa-baahs!" during the chorus when I listen to the studio version

[elton1111]

Thanks so much! This is great. There aren't enough videos of Elton during this period, when hits just poured out of him, and his vocals were so effortless.

[WhisperLady023]

Perfect voice... Thanks for this rare stuff!

[groovycleaner]

I have Ticking also. I should be able to get it up in a few days.

[chazzwozer]

Does anyone have the video of "Ticking" from the same broadcast. I know he performed it. I'd love to see it.

[kylebedient]

Awesome video. Thanks!!

[Greekpeople1]

He definitely is a unique legend...

[wyk611]

wow...so rare..

thanks!!!!!

[WhisperLady023]

WAAAAH! Awesome! Thanks!

[Greekpeople1]

WhisperLady023, remember the glasses? On the photo you asked me to send you for the first time... One of the things that made us get to know eachother... Amazing video by the way...

[WhisperLady023]

Awesome glasses!! =D

[godwhyisthistaken]

Thanks, dont forget the doc thats on vh1 tonight, cable...

Wow this is pretty rare fantastic stuff, Eltons flawless! Just him and zee piano sound great! thanks.

[godwhyisthistaken]

And with those big red glasses he cant barely see, great piano.

[ejfan3333]

HAHAHAA :-)

Thanks for sending me this vid!!

[ElliSun]

wow! Thank you!