Sails - 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. He performed "Lady Samantha" and "Sails" (perhaps more?).

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

[strangefruit42]

There's nothing like his early stuff. He was so brilliant, devoted, hungry with an intense and rough sound. I love Empty Sky to pieces.

[ThomasWL1]

Thanks for posting. This version sure kicks ass. Roger Pope is such an energetic drummer.

I'm sure the full radio gig set list was this:

1. Son of Your Father

2. Lady Samantha

3. Sails

4. Rock 'n' Roll Madonna

All these songs didn't survive after the broadcast, sadly. :-(

[louvregroove]

What strikes me about this is how dead on his pitch and sense of melody is. This is a LIVE recording.

[demonhoopa]

@cdawg4391 Gotta throw in Tumbleweed and Madman with those. Great stuff!

[cdawg4391]

Where and how did you get this?

[cdawg4391]

@strangefruit42 Best EJ Albums: Empty Sky and 11-17-70 (or 17-11-70, depending on which side of the pond you live).

[cdawg4391]

Wild drumming and guitar solo. This sh-t is awesome!

[ThomasWeiling]

Sure, they all "survived" but not in live performance.

[Master1Icy]

@ThomasWL1 Actually Sails survived on Elton Johns Empty Skies.

[Francky31700]

GIGANTIK!!!Following please

[chenlung1]

Agreed.

It has a number of gems.