Elton John's "Hard Luck Story" - Kiki Dee

The original 1974 version, released as a single on Rocket Records. Elton John & Bernie Taupin wrote this song for Kiki Dee and then Elton produced the record, along with Clive Franks. Not a hit, the song then disappeared without a trace! Later that same year Kiki had a big hit (with Elton and Clive producing) with the song "I've Got the Music in Me".

"Hard Luck Story" appeared again on Elton John's own "Rock of the Westies" album in 1975, with Kiki Dee singing back-up vocals. For Elton's version the lyrics were altered, so they could be sung by the "husband" in the story - which really didn't work so well. It's quite interesting to hear the original lyrics, which were meant to be from the unhappy wife's perspective!

Incidentally the songwriting credits are given to "Ann Orson - Carte Blanche" which were aliases for Elton John & Bernie Taupin. They also published "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" under the same names! (The names are a joke about "horse and cart" ....)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Elton
• John
• Bernie
• Taupin
• Ann
• Orson
• Carte
• Blanche
• Kiki
• Dee

[sbcruiser]

God this is great!!!!

Can't get enough!!!!

[gallery606]

Very interesting to hear this version - I liked Elton's version just fine, but this lyric makes more sense . . .

[mistersmith6000]

Verses sounds like Cliff Richard's Devil Woman!

[MegaSteviebhoy]

Kiki is a very under-rated singer Her version of this song is briiliant AND im a big elton fan xxx

[oldnewbie47]

Great version, better even than Elton's but it simply isn't mixed all that well. Her voice is not upfront as it should be. The music itself, with the exception of the drums, sounds muffled and too compressed. Well then in the second half it gets brighter and more radio ready but turns to mud again shortly into the repeat chorus... sigh... poor Kiki just didn't have the production team she needed (Elton obviously is not a producer. Where was Gus??).

[dlshiloh]

The driving funk and her sultry voice does it - and I agree with everyone how the lyric makes more sense.

[intrepidsinger]

Ronnie, you have done it again! To paraphrase another EJ/BT classic: You've been mining gold - again! Wherever do you find these gems? Amazing! Kiki's version is a bit swampy/Philly soul and her voice is, as always, spot-on. It's like a completely different song. I do love Elton's version, but this one is more proof of the fact that outside of England, Kiki is one of the most underrated female vocalists of the past 50 years. GREAT POST - again!!!

[the13corinne]

kiki dee's version is the best!! i love the remasters!! kiki is queen of brit pop!!

[strangefruit42]

I like Elton's 'ooheeooheeooh' better, but apart from that... Kiki did one hell of a job. And the lyrics make more sense this way indeed.

[motoGPrider1]

Great audio. thanx !

[Vivopermusica]

Fantastic! I liked Elton's version but this is a wonderful interpretation and Kiki's voice is really soulful.