Down River - Elvis Costello and Elton John

[newjersey73]

Love this song. Love this version . Pure Class.

[valeriacable]

Yes, there's a bigger Elton fan than you: me!

[marybemerry]

This brought tears to my eyes. Two superstars paying tribute to David Ackles by singing my favorite song of all time. My heart is warmed that David is not forgotten. I also appreciate The Hollies recognizing a great song by covering it back in The '70s....but the version that moves me is the original by David, himself. The feel is indescribable.

[peterzang]

@marybemerry You're right...about everything. Don't forget American Gothic, too.

[jmcginleyable]

i love this song. my girlfriend gave me a new perspective on this song the other day. was he supposed to have been in prison?

[echopractic]

@jmcginleyable Yes. "Up river" is a slang phrase for being sent to prison. Rosie has a new lover now and he wishes her well.

[antweezy171]

wana bet after these people left the studio and after this song, they went and searched up David Ackles? :P itz a shame he lefts us so early

[checkeredsockmonkey]

so beautiful.

[irish66]

makes me want to hear David Ackles himself

[MizzSnowflake00]

I remember hearing that Elton played keyboards on some hollies songs

[mizofan]

Great! Elton still has what it takes, his The Union album, with Leon Russell, is superb, with rave reviews. He and Elvis have both been involved on T Bone Burnett tour. They have a lot of respect for each other, Elton championed Elvis early in his career; i doubt Elvis would agree with his fans who slag Elton off (or vice-versa). There is so much hatred round youtube of Elton. Bob Dylan said not long back that he and Elton were the only true stars left. And Elton was a close friend of Lennon

[53floors]

Blinding.

[moorlock2003]

The Hollies' version, from the album "Romany", is best.

[ArnoldGallagher]

How about an album together? Lyrics by EC, music by EJ.

[JohnTaupin]

@ArnoldGallagher It wouldn't be an Elton John album without Bernie Taupin. Elvis is great though!

[verbusen]

Thanks, I had not heard of this show until I just saw your post. I'll look for it as I'm sure it's awesome.

[gschiess]

Saw David Ackles in late sixties at The Bitter End in NYC. Did Down River , Road to Cairo, Be my Friend and on---and on. Accompanied himself on a portable Hammond. Maybe the best live 2 and a half hour show I have ever seen.

[lilccaddy]

@gschiess I don't know what the guy above is talking about,but I envy you a lot! Especially as I was a born New Yorker and have been struggling for many years to produce a show I have created using Ackles' music. Never had the fortune to meet him or see him perform live. So far I am not including this one but who knows? "Times change" and so might my mind!

[nargilaw]

WOW

[Davewosik]

Does anybody know what key this is in?

[Arthur5041975]

It's in the key of "awesome"

[rawr0206]

hehehe

[jazzbox50]

@Davewosik B-FLAT.

[eltonjack88]

love

[rodneyw32]

I cannot stop playing this song....brilliant song writing from Daid Ackles...and a credit to both Elton and Elivis to bringing this to attention....both performances are great ...however would love to hear this with Billy Joel in the bridge where I think Elton falls short

[DCLpg]

Awesome!!!

[rabbitfish63]

Holy crap, with Allan Toussaint on keys? Not a bad "side man"!

[thespermdonor]

I can see where Elton got the inspiration behind Talking Old Soldiers.

[marvinbnaylor]

I heard the original by David Ackles from 68' for the first time the other day, with the atmospheric, slightly out of tune piano. I'ts one of the most moving performances you'll ever hear.

[dantus456]

This song is so beautiful...they sound really good together they should do an album together...

[CLOVEBALL]

Really beautiful!

[jazzbox50]

nice job.thanks

[jazzbox50]

very nice.both musicians did a great job.

[EltonCostello]

i think they sound awesome together..

[Deannaashleyy]

Excellent performance- enjoyed this song very much even I had never heard the song before

[bairn62]

Arthur have you lost your mind? As this so clearly demonstrates, Elton John is a hamfisted musical hack who can only look good next to Elvis Costello. Though what Elvis is doing prostituting himself with this jumped up celeb walrus is beyond me. So what he's sold millions? So has Agadoo by Black Lace and loads of unadulterated crap by the Spice Girls. He only got on cos he's the producer and he made them have him. Elvis, if you're reading this, mate, stop and have a good old think...

[loubob11]

dude you got issues... lighten up

[bairn62]

Dude, you can't go through life without issues. Light is good, heavy is good, in-between is good. Certainly got issues with Elton John, every time his talentless moon-faced personage crops up to blight my life.... Anyway, today am light as a bubble of helium. Peace!

[Arthur5041975]

bairn,

Suck it, douchebag.

[bairn62]

Learn to spell performers. If you can't tell the difference between the calibre of Costello's songwriting and the tin-pan-alley, moon-june-spoon, ham-fisted, bash 'em out dirges of Elton John then I dispair. Do you buy your music at the end of the supermarket checkout? IS asshole the best you can do? Fancy an articulacy battle? When you get mad do you want to kill? Bet I know more music history thatn you It's just I like the good stuff

[bairn62]

And I'll learn to spell "that"

[bairn62]

Brilliant. Really got me there. Inarticulate profanity is so wounding. Not really. Shall we just agree to differ? Bit worried about your blood pressure.

[bucksmusic]

Complete garbage. This is a TV show which is not about celbrity. Elton is respected by musicians and his best songs will survive long fatre you have passed on. Sure he has written a few dirges in his time but with a career of over 40 years thats hardly surprising. If you want to talk about music history you ought to know that George Gershwin and Irving Berlin both wrote for Tin-Pan_alley.

[mrgb46]

They both sound great together.

[Arthur5041975]

No. They don't.

[Arthur5041975]

Elvis should have stood back and let Elton perform. Elvis can't hold a candle to Elton.

[jeffreyestal]

These are two great artists...it's a shame some people can't appreciate this first time performance. You probably think John Lennon messed up Elton's 1974 Thanksgiving show at Madison Square Garden!

[princev11]

no lennon and elton john were great

but i think elton should have sang this alone

elvis is good 2

but elton johns god :]

[jeffreyestal]

No argument from me about Elton...there''s no bigger fan than me, I have everything(bootlegs,imports,45­rpm's,etc.) that's out there, but my point was that this is Elvis' show(although co-produced with Sir Elton) and he always sings with his guests. I understand people wanting to hear Elton alone...I think his voice is richer than ever,btw. I'm just a huge fan of both EJ and EC and was thrilled to see them both together, from a selfish point of view...and you can tell they both enjoyed it.

[chatropolis]

Thank God Elvis can't. Elton has sounded the same for his entire career. He's never taken a chance he has no soul. No sexual ref intended but he's a fembot. Elvis has gone where his heart took him Elton might as well be a template for pop.

When it comes to writing songs John can't compare. Elvis Costello is the most prolific singer/song writer of our time.

Johnny Cash couldn't sing or play  but his candle would set Elton on fire. Elton should have let Steve Bieve play the keyboards.

[princev11]

eltons god!

elvis is ok

[jeffreyestal]

Absloutely stunning...thank you for posting this.

[ejfan3333]

brilliant

[AinesFlynn]

I think Elton give a fantastic performace of this song... and is voice is amazing! Another wonderful clip of the wonderful Elton John. Thanks for posting it!

[Tmaan71]

I remember our song...me and Shauna Kearney comes to mind. Spooky Tooth did a tight remake. Shauna, I'll always be your friend.

BPJS '72

[joostbaljon]

Thanks for posting my favorite song, performed by two of my favorite artists! I've been looking for this song for some time now on Youtube, and finally I found it. I'm from 1985 and found this song on a CD collection. The timeless lyrics and Ackles' subdued, honest performance grabbed me from the first time I heard it.

[podbay]

My brother and I were big David Ackles fans when his albums appeared in the 1970s. When his album American Gothic appeared, the music critics fell over one another with praise for the record.

This version of Down River, which was the first Ackles song I ever heard, is brilliant. Thank you SO much for posting this. I live in Canada, don't get the Sundance channel, and would have not seen this if you hadn't shared it on YT.

Perhaps David Ackles will find a new audience. One can only hope.

[gecarragher]

@ podbay, this series was shown on CTV here in Canada for the first time tonight, and this performance was on it, and I must say that I was very impressed with the two of them.

[podbay]

@ gecarragher - thanks for this information. I was aware the series was broadcast tonight, but didn't make the connection. Thanks for letting me know.

[goober310]

WOW! Thank You for posting the full version of this! I watched the show on Sundance the other night and was floored. By the end of this song I had goosebumps, what an amazing & powerful tribute to a man I had previously never heard of.