Lady Samantha - Elton John LIVE 1969

Elton John performed LIVE on BBC Radio in 1969. Lady Samantha & Sails were performed, both songs written by Elton John & Bernie Taupin.

Elton had released "Lady Samantha" as a single in January 1969 and even though it didn't sell successfully (they sold almost 4,000 copies!), it got good reviews in the music papers. So he was invited to plug the single on BBC, Radio One ...

It was at this time that some of the BBC production panel commented about Elton's songs: (as Michael Parkinson quoted in his 2000 interview with EJ)

"Male vocal in the 1969 feeling ... thin, piercing voice with no emotional appeal. Don't think this singer doing his own weird material is right for radio at present ... Writes dreary songs and sounds like a one-key singer ..."

As Michael Parkinson said in 2000 - They didn't realize that they were auditioning a Legend!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Elton
• John
• BBC

[chenlung1]

Somewhere else said this was 1971. Oh well :).

Thanks for posting! Elton-wise, I've got 'All The Nasties' from the Old Grey Whistle Test in 1971.

[RonnieFriend]

This (and the performance of "Sails" - video also posted) is definitely 1969. 14th July 1969 to be exact! (I've now added more comments on the side....)

The 1971 appearances (TV & Radio) were promoting songs from the "Madman Across the Water" album.

[katskahnne]

@flashbackcaruso I worked with Dave briefly at KEZY in Anaheim (early 80's) and it sure sounds like his voice!

[whitegirlblue]

Thanks for posting Ronnie....just noticed this.

[tangopalace]

Can this be speed corrected? It is lightly fast (sharp).

[apx24]

How wrong were that BBC panel lol?

[TheJabberjaws5]

Love it!!

[flashbackcaruso]

Good to hear this complete with the intro which is usually cut, although the whole thing needs speed correcting. Radio One's 'Elton John At The Beeb' documentary in the 80s said this version was from the Stuart Henry show 3rd November 1968, but other sources say July 1969 (Dave Symonds show). Seeing as 'Sails' also survives from this session, the latter is more likely to be correct. Does anyone have the recently recovered October 1969 Speakeasy session?

[chenlung1]

"His first single"? Someone didn't do their research!

Yeah, this seems to be sped-up a little, hence the semi-tone up.

[TylerWayneThompson]

Wow...this is great! His voice was even higher here than in the mid 70's...He sounds great here...and he still does!!!

~Tyler~

[Umskiddy]

Brilliant !