Elton John - 2009-10-13 - Antwerp, Belgium (SBD)

Elton John

2009-10-13

Red Piano Show

Sportpaleis Antwerpen

Antwerp, Belgium

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

01. Bennie And The Jets

02. Philadelphia Freedom

03. Believe

04. Daniel

05. Rocket Man

06. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues

07. Someone Saved My Life Tonight

08. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

09. Nikita

10. Tiny Dancer

11. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me

12. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

13. Candle In The Wind

14. Pinball Wizard

15. The Bitch Is Back

16. I'm Still Standing

17. Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)

18. Sound Montage

19. Your Song

Elton John - 2009-10-13 - Antwerp, Belgium (SBD)

Elton John was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1994, along with the Grateful Dead, The Band, The Animals, Bob Marley and John Lennon, just to list a few members of that class. Elton was inducted by an Axl Rose of Guns & Roses, as unlikely a choice as you could imagine! During his acceptance speech, Elton acknowledged his longtime song writing partner, Bernie Taupin, who he brought him on stage to share the award. Bernie was eventually inducted in 2023 in the Musical Excellence category.

Today's post captures Elton during his 2009 Red Piano tour of Europe. The Red Piano show originated in February 2004 when Elton started a residency at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. He originally was slated to perform 25 shows a year at Caesar’s over 3 years, but wound up doing over 40 shows annually from 2004 through 2008, before ending the run with around 20 Las Vegas performances in 2009. The set list each night was the same, a run of 15 of Elton’s greatest hits such as Your Song, Bennie and The Jets, Rocket Man and Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting. The Red Piano proved so successful in Las Vegas, that Elton took the show to Europe for short tours in both 2008 and 2009. This soundboard recording captures Elton performing a slightly expanded Red Piano set in Antwerp on October 13, 2009, 17 years ago today.  

Elton John - 1997-09-19 - VH1 Storytellers, New Orleans, LA (TV SBD)

Elton John 

1997-09-19

VH-1 Storytellers

House of Blues

New Orleans, LA

TV SBD Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

01. Your Song 

02. talk 

03. Talking Old Soldiers 

04. talk

05. I Don't Wanna Go On With You like That 

06. talk 

07. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues

08. talk 

09. Daniel

10. talk 

11. Levon 

12. talk 

13. Something About The Way You Look Tonight 

14. talk 

15. Long Way From Happiness

16. talk 

17. Bennie And The Jets 

18. talk 

19. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word 

20. talk 

21. Take Me To The Pilot 

22. talk 

23. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me 

Elton John - 1997-09-19 - VH1 Storytellers, New Orleans, LA (TV SBD)

1997: In 1996, VH1 launched Storytellers, a program in which artists performed in front of a small audience, and recounted stories about their music, writing experiences and memories. The show had its hey day between its debut and 2002, when 67 of its 98 episodes aired. This soundboard recording captures Elton John's appearance on Storytellers, from New Orleans on September 19, 1997, 29 years ago today. Elton was promoting his just about to be released album, The Big Picture, his 26th studio disc at that point in his career. The album was dedicated to Elton John’s friend, popular fashion designer Gianni Versace, who was murdered a few months before the album's release. The album did well commercially, reaching #9 in the US on the Billboard charts and climbing all the way to #3 in the UK. Despite that success, Elton’s long time friend and lyricist Bernie Taupin, considered this disc his least favorite of all their collaborations. Note: This is another test of Buzzheavier  - see our September 15 post for more details. NOTE 2 - originally an issue with the link - fixed as of  9 am Eastern, September 19.

Music For Montserrat - 1997-09-15 - London, UK (TV SBD)

Music for Montserrat

featuring Paul McCartney, Elton John, Eric Clapton, etc.

1997-09-15

Royal Albert Hall

London, UK

TV SBD Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included 

01. intro by George Martin

Carl Perkins

02. talk 

03. Blue Suede Shoes 

Midge Ure

04. talk - MC

05. talk - Midge Ure

06. Dancing With Tears In My Eyes 

07. Vienna 

Phil Collins

08. talk - George Martin

09. talk - Phil Collins

10. In The Air Tonight 

11. Take Me Home 

Arrow

12. talk 

13. Hot Hot Hot 

Jimmy Buffett

14. talk 

15. Volcano 

Mark Knopfler

16. talk - Phil Collins

17. talk - Mark Knopfler

18. Going Home 

19. talk 

20. Brothers in Arms 

21. talk 

22. Money For Nothing (with Sting, Phil Collins, Eric Clapton & Ray Cooper)

Sting

23. talk - Phil Collins

24. Message In A Bottle 

25. Fields Of Gold 

26. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic 

Elton John

27. talk - George Martin

28. talk - Elton John

29. Your Song 

30. talk 

31. Live Like Horses 

32. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me 

Eric Clapton

33. talk - Carl Perkins

34. Broken Hearted 

35. Layla (with Mark Knopfler)

36. talk 

37. Same Old Blues (with Mark Knopfler & Phil Collins)

Paul McCartney

38. talk - George Martin

39. talk - Paul McCartney

40. Yesterday 

41 talk 

42. Golden Slumbers (with Phil Collins, Mark Knopfler & Eric Clapton)

43. Carry That Weight > The End (with Phil Collins, Mark Knopfler & Eric Clapton)

44. talk - George Martin)

45. Hey Jude (with everybody)

46. Kansas City > Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey (with everybody)

47. talk - Paul McCartney & George Martin

Music For Montserrat - 1997-09-15 - London, UK (TV SBD)

1997: In 1979, George Martin, the legendary producer of The Beatles, financed the building of a recording studio on the Island on Montserrat in the Caribbean From 1979 to 1989, about 70 albums were recorded there, including Synchronicity by the Police and Brothers in Arms" by Dire Straits.  Unfortunately, in 1989, Category Four hurricane Hugo hit Montserrat, destroying almost 90 percent of all buildings on the island, including Martin's recording studio. Then, in 1995, the main volcano on the island, Soufriere Hills erupted, and once again the island was devasted. Martin then led an effort to stage a benefit concert to help rebuild the island. He assembled an all star cast of perfromers, all who had recorded on the island, including Carl Perkins, Phil Collins, Mark Knopfler, Jimmy Buffett, Sting, Elton John, Eric clapton, and Sir Paul McCartney.  For Perkons, it would be his last live performance prior to his death just a few months later in January 1998.  For McCartney, it was his first live performance in the wake of the death of hios wife Linda.  This TV soundboard recording captures the entire show, from the Royal Albert Hall in London, on September 15, 1997, 29 years ago today. A thanks to the blog Albums That Should Exist for the original files.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Today and tomorrow I'm testing a host called Buzzheavier for a variety of reasons:

• I need a host for when files are too large for mirrored.to
• Uploads and downloads are extremely fast
• it's anonymous, so less chance of links being removed or flagged
• it's easy to use

When you click on the link, you'll be taken to the download page.  Click on the blue download button.  A new window will open - IGNORE/CLOSE it. Go back to the download page and click the blue button again, The download will start!  Let me know how it works!

Elton John - 1976-08-15 - Madison Square Garden, NY (Ex Aud)

Elton John

1976-08-15

Louder Than Concorde (But Not Quite As Pretty!) Tour

Madison Square Garden

New York, NY

HQ Audience Recording

320 kbps 

Artwork Included

01. Grow Some Funk Of Your Own

02. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

03. Island Girl

04. Rocket Man

05. Hercules

06. Bennie And The Jets

07. Funeral for a Friend > Love Lies Bleeding

08. Love Song

09. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

10. Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me

11. Empty Sky

12. Someone Saved My Life Tonight

13. Don't Go Breaking My Heart*

14. I Got The Music In Me*

15. Philadelphia Freedom

16. We All Fall In Love Sometimes

17. Curtains

18. Tell Me When the Whistle Blows

19. Band Introductions

20. Saturday Night's Alright (for Fighting)

21. Your Song

22. Pinball Wizard

* with Kiki Dee

Elton John - 1976-08-15 - Madison Square Garden, NY (Ex Aud)

I've seen Sir Elton John 6 times, but today's show was the first, as well well as being the very first concert I ever attended.  My lifetime of live rock and roll all started with this one. In early spring 1976, tickets went on sale for Elton John at Madison Square Garden, a then unheard of 7 show stand at the World's Greatest Arena which would conclude his world wide Louder Than The Concorde (But Not Quite As Pretty) Tour. Elton, while not yet a Sir, was easily the biggest rock star in the world at the time. The previous year, he had become the first artist to ever have an album debut at #1 on the Billboard charts, when he released Captain Fantastic and The Brown Dirt Cowboy. When the next release, Rock of The Westies also went to #1, it marked his 6th straight album that reached the top spot. So, it came as no surprise that my buddies and I decided our first concert experience had to be Elton at the Garden. Shut out from getting tickets through Ticketron, we opted for the local scalper, who sold us floor seats for $25. My dad gave me hell for paying three times the face value ($8.50!) to go see "some long haired rock and roller" (pretty ironic given the state of Elton's hair line). Parental disapproval aside, we made the trek from NJ to The Garden on August 15, 1976, 50 years - yes a half century - ago today. The 20,000 of us that packed MSG that night had little use for the seats we paid for, as we spent the entire show on our feet. Elton easily lived up to his self anointed nickname of Captain Fantastic on that August night. The concert included classic tunes such as Bennie and the Jets, Rocket Man, Saturday Night's Alright, and Your Song, surprise selections such as Love Song, Hercules, and Empty Sky, and even a special guest as Kiki Dee joined Elton for their joint number 1 single, Don't Go Breaking My Heart, as well as her own hit, I Got The Music In Me. After 3 hours and 22 songs, Elton had left the building and we all knew we had gotten our $25 worth, despite what the parents might have thought. Now thanks to my good friend Andy, to whom I'll always be indebted, I have an excellent audience recording of my first concert, so I can relive the memories whenever I want. This is the concert that inspired my self published book, Ten Rules Of The Road That I Learned At My First Concert, so it just had to be included in this month's posts!

Elton John - 2009-07-05 - Stuttgart, Germany (SBD)

Elton John
2009-07-05
Schleyerhalle
Stuttgart, Germany
Soundboard Recording
320 kbps
Artwork included

01. Funeral For A Friend > 
02. Love Lies Bleeding
03. Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)
04. Burn Down the Mission
05. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
06. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
07. Daniel
08. Honky Cat
09. I Want Love
10. Rocket Man
11. Sad Songs (Say So Much)
12. Take Me To The Pilot  
13. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
14. Tiny Dancer
15. Sacrifice
16. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
17. All The Girls Love Alice
18. Candle In the Wind
19. Skyline Pigeon
20. Are You Ready for Love
21. Bennie And The Jets
22. The Bitch is Back
23. Crocodile Rock
24. I'm Still Standing
25. Your Song

Elton John - 2009-07-05 - Stuttgart, Germany (SBD)

Elton 2009 - Back To Back - #3: As promised yesterday, here's the 2nd of our 3 part Back To Back set featuring Eltoin John in Europe in the summer of 2009.  This one is a soundboard recording that captures Elton in Stuttgart on July 5, 2009, 17 years ago today. 

Elton John - 2009-07-04 - Nuremburg, Germany (SBD)

Elton John

2009-07-04

EasyCredit-Stadion

Nuremberg, Germany

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork included

01. Funeral For A Friend > 

02. Love Lies Bleeding

03. Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)

04. Burn Down the Mission

05. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

06. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues

07. Daniel

08. Honky Cat

09. I Want Love

10. Rocket Man

11. Sad Songs (Say So Much)

12. Take Me To The Pilot  

13. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

14. Tiny Dancer

15. Sacrifice

16. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me

17. All The Girls Love Alice

18. Candle In the Wind

19. Skyline Pigeon

20. Are You Ready for Love

21. Bennie And The Jets

22. The Bitch is Back

23. Crocodile Rock

24. I'm Still Standing

25. Your Song

Elton John - 2009-07-04 - Nuremburg, Germany (SBD)

Elton 2009 - Back To Back - #2: As promised yesterday, here's the 2nd of our 3 part Back To Back set featuring Elton John in Europe in the summer of 2009.  This one is a soundbaiod recording that captures Elton in Nuremburg on July 4, 2009, 17 years ago today. Download this one, then come back tomorrow for part 3 of this Back To Back set.

Elton John - 2009-07-03 - Dresden, Germany (SBD)

Elton John

2009-07-03

Theaterplatz

Dresden, Germany

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork included

01. Funeral For A Friend > 

02. Love Lies Bleeding

03. Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)

04. Burn Down the Mission

05. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

06. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues

07. Daniel

08. Honky Cat

09. I Want Love

10. Rocket Man

11. Sad Songs (Say So Much)

12. Take Me To The Pilot  

13. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

14. Tiny Dancer

15. Sacrifice

16. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me

17. All The Girls Love Alice

18. Candle In the Wind

19. Skyline Pigeon

20. Are You Ready for Love

21. Bennie And The Jets

22. The Bitch is Back

23. Crocodile Rock

24. I'm Still Standing

25. Your Song

Elton John - 2009-07-03 - Dresden, Germany (SBD)

Elton 2009 - Back To Back - #1: In 2009, Elton John played 68 concerts arund the world, but in the process, did 4 separate and unique tours. Early in the year, he played numerous Face To Face shows with fellow piano man, Billy Joel.  Later in the year, he played a series of two man shows with Ray Cooper, which he folllowed by bringing the Red Piano tour, which had been so successful in Las Vegas, to Europe.  In between, starting in June, he launched a summer tour with his regular backing band that took him across Europe.  This soundboard recording captures Elton during that summer run, in Dresden, on July 3, 2009, 17 years ago today.  Download this one, then come back tomorrow and the next day for parts 2 and 3 of this Back To Back set.

Elton John - 2009-06-06 - Limerick, Ireland (SBD)

Elton John

2009-06-06

Thomond Park,

Limerick, Ireland

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

01. Funeral For A Friend > Love Lies Bleeding

02. Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)

03. Burn Down The Mission

04. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

05. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues

06. Daniel

07. Honky Cat

08. I Want Love

09. Rocket Man

xx. Sad Songs (Say So Much) (missing)

10. Take Me To The Pilot

11. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

12. Tiny Dancer

xx. Sacrifice (missing)

13. applause

14. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me

15. Band Introductions

16. All The Girls Love Alice

17. Candle In The Wind

18. applause

xx. Skyline Pigeon (missing)

19. Are You Ready For Love

20. Bennie And The Jets

21. The Bitch Is Back

22. Crocodile Rock

23. applause

xx. I'm Still Standing (missing)

24. Your Song

Elton John - 2009-06-06 - Limerick, Ireland (SBD)

As I've discussed on several occasions on this blog, my very first concert was Elton John at Madison Square Garden on August 15, 1976. That show was the inspiration for my book,TEN RULES OF THE ROAD I LEARNED AT MY FIRST CONCERT: AN ORDINARY GUY'S LIFETIME OF LIVE ROCK & ROLL. Since then, I've seen him 5 more times, all at The World's Most Famous Arena, including:

1. a performance in 1992 during his The One tour, 
2. a outstanding solo show in October 1999, 
3. a 30th anniversary tribute to the Captain Fantastic album in September 2005, 
4. his 60th birthday concert, which was also his 60th concert at MSG, in March 2007 
5. and a concert in November 2018 during his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour 

Elton is one of those rare artists, like Paul McCartney, where you can attend a show, hear 30 great tunes, and still make a list of #1 hits and classics he didn't play! (case in point - the last time I saw Elton he didn't play Honky Cat, Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word,  or Captain Fantastic, just to name 3!)

This soundboard recording captures Sir Elton 17 years ago today in Ireland on June 6, 2009, one of 85 concerts he played that year.  In addition to shows with his full band, such as this one, Elton in 2009 also played Red Piano shows in Las Vegas, Face to Face concerts with Billy Joel, as well as duet performances with Ray Cooper. 

Elton John - 2010-05-01 - Youngstown, OH (SBD)

Elton John

2010-05-01

Covelli Center

Youngstown, OH

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

01. Funeral for a Friend > Love Lies Bleeding

02. Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting

03. Levon

04. Madman Across The Water

05. Tiny Dancer

06. Philadelphia Freedom

07. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

08. Daniel

09. Rocket Man 

10. I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues

11. Someone Saved My Life Tonight

12. Take Me To The Pilot

13. Something About The Way You Look Tonight

14. Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Me

15. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

16. Candle In The Wind

17. Never Too Old (To Hold Somebody)

18. Honky Cat

19. Burn Down the Mission

20. Bennie And The Jets

21. The Bitch Is Back

22. I'm Still Standing

23. Crocodile Rock

Encore:

24. Your Song

25. Circle Of Life

Elton John - 2010-05-01 - Youngstown, OH (SBD)

Elton John opened 2010 by partnering with Billy Joel on a Face to Face Tour, then closed the year on the road with another collaborator., Leon Russell, In between, starting in April, he launched a tour with his regular backing band that took him to North America and Europe. The set list for these shows included just 1 new tune - Never Too Old, which would be featured on The Union album released later that year. The other 2 dozen songs each night were a greatest hits compilation from his long storied career. This soundboard recording captures Captain Fantastic during that 2010 tour, in Youngstown on May 1, 2010, 16 ago today. 

Elton John - 2000-04-18 - Syrause NY (Ex Aud)

Elton John
2000-04-18
Syracuse War Memorial
Syracuse, NY
Excellent Audience Recording
320 kbps
Artwork Included

CD 1:
01. Your Song
02. Skyline Pigeon
03. The Greatest dDiscovery
04. Border Song
05. Daniel
06. Harmony
07. Honky Cat
08. Rocket Man
09. Tiny Dancer
10. Someday Out Of The Blue
11. Philadelphia Freedom

CD 2:
01. Blessed
02. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
03. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
04. Ticking
05. Carla Etude > Tonight
06. Burn Down The Mission
07. The One
08. Blue Eyes
09. Empty Garden

CD 3:
01. Take Me To The Pilot
02. Crocodile Rock
03. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
04. Can You Feel The Love Tonight
05. Bennie And The Jets
06. Candle In The Wind

Elton John  - 2000-04-18 - Syracuse NY (Ex Aud)

Elton John was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1994, along with the Grateful Dead, The Band, The Animals, Bob Marley and John Lennon, just to list a few members of that class. Elton was inducted by an Axl Rose of Guns & Roses, as unlikely a choice as you could imagine! During his acceptance speech, Elton acknowledged his longtime song writing partner, Bernie Taupin, who he brought him on stage to share the award.  Bernie was eventually inducted in the Musical Excellence category in 2023.

In any event, this excellent audience recording skips ahead 6 years after that ceremomy, to capture Elton in Syracuse on April 18, 2000, 26 years ago today.  Over a year prior, in February 1999, Elton launched a solo acoustic tour which would stretch into 2000 and feature shows in North America and Europe. My wife and I were fortunate to catch Elton near the end of the 1999 leg of that tour, on October 15, 1999 at Madison Square Garden. Elton played over 2 dozen songs in a show that lasted over 3 hours, with no breaks, making the 20,000 seat arena feel like an intimate piano bar. Truly one of the most memorable shows of the almost 175 concerts I have been fortunate enough to attend. 

Elton John - 2024-03-20 - Washington, DC (TV SBD)

Elton John 

2024-03-20

Gershwin Prize Ceremony 

D.A.R. Constitution Hall

Washington, DC 

TV SBD Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

01. Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters

02. Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting

03. Your Song

Elton John - 2024-03-20 - Washington, DC (TV SBD)

2020s - #4: In 2024, Elton John and Bernie Taupin were awarded the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, given to composers or performers for their lifetime contributions to popular music. Prior winners at that point included Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Hal David, Burth Bacharach, Carole King, Billy Joel, Smokey Robinson, and Willie Nelson. This TV soundboard recording captures Elton performing at the awards ceremony, on March 20, 2024, 2 years ago today.

Elton John - 2009-01-17 - São Paulo, Brazil (FM)

Elton John

2009-01-17

Arena Skol Anhembi

São Paulo, Brazil

FM recording

192 kbps

Artwork Included

01. The Bitch Is Back

02. Madman Across The Water

03. Tiny Dancer

04. Levon

05. Believe

06. Take Me To The Pilot

07. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

08. Daniel

09. Rocket Man

10. Honky Cat

11. Sacrifice

12. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me

13. Band Introduction

14. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues

15. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

16. Candle In The Wind

17. Bennie And The Jets

18. Sad Songs (Say So Much)

19. Philadelphia Freedom

20. I'm Still Standing

21. Crocodile Rock

22. Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)

23. Skyline Pigeon

24. Your Song

Elton John - 2009-01-17 - São Paulo, Brazil (FM)

2000s - #3: As the first decade of the 21st century came to a close, Elton John continued to remain a vibrant force in the music industry. In 2006, he released The Captain and The Kid, a new studio album which was the follow up to his 1975 number one album, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy.  The next year, he released Rocket Man: Definitive Hits, a 17 song compilation that included 13 number one songs. He continued to perform his Red Piano shows in Las Vegas, extending the initial 3 year run for another 3 years, as well as taking the performance to Europe.  From 2006 to 2008, Elton played over 300 concerts, including solo shows, concerts with his full band, and his Red Piano gig.  After closing 2008 with a New Year's Eve show at Wembley, he was on the road again just 2 weeks later, in South America, for the first of what would be 85 concerts in 2009.  He launched his 2009 tour in Sao Paolo, Brazil, on January 17, 2009, 9 years ago today.  This FM recording of the show captures the complete concert, all 24 tunes, unlike some bootlegs of the show which have only 17 of songs. Of note, the next to last song of the night is Skyline Pigeon, a tune from his first album which was released almost 40 years earlier!

Elton John - 2002-12-01 - London, UK (TV SBD)

Elton John

with the Royal Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra

2002-12-01

Royal Opera House

London, UK

TV Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

01. Skyline Pigeon

02. Border Song

03. Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters

04. Tiny Dancer

05. Original Sin

06. Holiday Inn

07. Someone Saved My Life Tonight

08. Circle Of Life

09. Sixty Years On

10. I Need You To Turn To

11. The Greatest Discovery

12. Carla Etude > Tonight

13. Take Me To The Pilot

14. This Train Don't Stop There Anymore

15. Have Mercy On The Criminal

16. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

17. Believe

18. Philadelphia Freedom

19. Burn Down The Mission

20. Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me

21. Your Song

22. Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)

Elton John - 2002-12-01 - London, UK (TV SBD)

In early spring 1976, tickets went on sale for Elton John at Madison Square Garden, a then unheard of 7 show stand at the World's Greatest Arena which would conclude his world wide Louder Than The Concorde (But Not Quite As Pretty) Tour. Elton, while not yet a Sir, was easily the biggest rock star in the world at the time. So, it came as no surprise that my buddies and I decided our first concert experience had to be Elton at the Garden. Shut out from getting tickets through Ticketron, we opted for the local scalper, who sold us floor seats for $25. My dad gave me hell for paying three times the face value ($8.50!) to go see "some long haired rock and roller" (pretty ironic given the state of Elton's hair line). Parental disapproval aside, we made the trek from NJ to The Garden on August 15, 1976. That concert eventually inspired my self published book, Ten Rules Of The Road That I Learned At My First Concert. Since that 1976 show, I've seen Elton live 5 more times, all at MSG: 

• the One tour in October 1992
• a solo performance in October 1999
• the 30th anniversary of Captain Fantastic in September 2005
• his 60th birthday concert in March 2007
• the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in November 2018

This TV soundboard recording captures Elton in London, on December 1, 2002, 23 years ago today, backed by the Royal Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra. 

Elton John - 2022-11-20 - Los Angeles, CA (Webcast)

Elton John

2022-11-20

Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles, CA 

Webcast recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

01. Opening

02. Bennie And The Jets

03. Philadelphia Freedom

04. Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues

05. Border Song

06. Tiny Dancer

07. Have Mercy On The Criminal

08. Rocket Man

09. Take Me To The Pilot

10. Someone Saved My Life Tonight

11. Levon

12. Candle In The Wind

13. Funeral For A Friend > Love Lies Bleeding

14. Burn Down The Mission

15. Sad Songs Say So Much

16. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

17. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (w/ Brandi Carlile)

18. The Bitch Is Back

19. I'm Still Standing

20. Don't Go Breaking My Heart (w/ Kiki Dee)

21. Crocodile Rock

22. Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting

23. Cold Heart (w/ Dua Lipa)

24. Your Song

25. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 

Elton John - 2022-11-20 - Los Angeles, CA (Webcast)

2020s - #3: In September 2018, Elton John lauched his final tour, aptly named Farewell Yellow Brick Road, a play on title of his #1 album and single from 1973. Due to the pandemic, the tour stretched over 5 years, encompassing more than 300 shows across 3 continents, and grossing almost $940 milllion in revenue before coming to an end on July 8, 2023 in  Sweden. Along the way, Elton played his final US shows on November 17, 19, and 20 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Elton chose Los Angeles as a "Circle of Life" moment - his first US performances had been at the Troubador night club in the City of Angels in 1970!  In addition, Elton had played 2 legendary concerts at Dodger Stadium in 1975, when he was at the peak of his career, making him the first artist since The Beatles to play that venue. This webcast recording captures Elton's final historic American concert, on November 20, 2022, 3 years ago today.  

2023 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - 2023-11-03 - Brooklyn, NY (TV SBD)

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductions

2023-11-03

Barclays Center

Brooklyn, NY

TV Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

Willie Nelson

01. Speech > Whiskey River

02. Crazy (with Sheryl Crow)

03. On The Road Again (with Dave Matthews, Sheryl Crow, Chris Stapleton

Sheryl Crow

01. If It Makes You Happy (with Olivia Rodrigo)

02. Strong Enough (with Stevie Nicks) >

03. Everyday Is A Winding Road (with Stevie Nicks, Peter Frampton)

Robie Robertson Tribute

05. The Weight (with Chris Stapleton, Sheryl Crow, Brittany Howard, Elton John)

2023 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - 2023-11-03 - Brooklyn, NY (TV SBD)

2020s - #2: The 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremony continued to see the institution widen its net beyond classic rock, with inductees such as country legend Willie Nelson, and hip hop star Missy Elliot. The Hall also recognized lyricist Bernie Taupin, whose work with Elton John produced countless hit tunes, and TV host Don Cornelius, who created Soul Train, perhaps the first show to specifically focus on African American culture, music and dance.  Sheryl Crow was all over the ceremony, playing 3 of her tunes, with guest appearances by Olivia Rodrigo, Stevie Nicks and Peter Frampton, joining Willie Nelson for Crazy, and taking a verse of The Weight during the tribute to Robbie Robertson.  

This TV soundboard recording captures the musical highlights from that ceremony on November 3, 2023, 2 years ago today. A complete list of inductees is provided below.

Elton John - 1980-11-02 - Anaheim, CA (Ex Aud)

Elton John

1980-11-02

Convention Center

Anaheim, CA

Excellent Audience recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

01. Funeral For A Friend > Love Lies Bleeding

02. Tiny Dancer

03. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

04. All The Young Girls Love Alice

05. Rocket Man

06. Philadelphia Freedom

07. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

08. Saturday Night (Nigel Olsson doing his own song)

09. All I Want Is You (Nigel Olsson)

10. Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting

11. Harmony

12. Little Jeannie

13. Bennie And The Jets

14. Imagine

15. Ego

16 Have Mercy On The Criminal

17. Someone Saved My Life Tonight

18. Bite Your Lip (Get Up And Dance)

19. Great Balls Of Fire >

20. Good Golly Miss Molly >

21. I Saw Her Standing There

Elton John - 1980-11-02 - Anaheim, CA (Ex Aud)

1980s - #1: In August 1976, Elton John ended his Louder As A Concorde Tour with the record 7 shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden in August 1976 (the August 15 show was the catalyst for my book, Ten Rules Of The Road I Learned At My First Concert). He would play only 9 concerts in 1977 and would even announce his retirement at a November 3 show that year. The stress of writing, recording and touring had clearly caught up with Elton. The next time Elton toured, in 1979, he played smaller venues, such as the Palladium in New York, accompanied only by percussionist Ray Cooper. The shows were a return to an earlier, simpler time in his career. Elton finally returned to full band shows at 20,000 seat arenas in 1980, launching a world tour on September 4 that would take him to the US, New Zealand, and Australia.  This excellent audience recording, from legendary taper Mike Millard, captures Elton during the US leg, in Anaheim, on November 2, 1980, 45 years ago today.

Elton John - 2018-10-19 - Madison Square Garden, New York, NY (SBD)

Elton John

2018-10-19

Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour

Madison Square Garden

New York, NY

Soundboard recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

01. Bennie And The Jets

02. All The Girls Love Alice

03. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues

04. Border Song

05. Tiny Dancer

06. Philadelphia Freedom

07. Indian Sunset (Elton and Ray Cooper only)

08. Rocket Man 

09. Take Me To The Pilot

10. Someone Saved My Life Tonight

11. Levon

12. Candle In The Wind (Elton solo)

13. Funeral For A Friend > Love Lies Bleeding

14. Burn Down The Mission

15. Believe

16. Daniel introduction (Song missing)

17. Sad Songs (Say So Much)

18. Band Introductions

19. Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me

20. The Bitch Is Back

21. I'm Still Standing

22. Crocodile Rock

23. Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting

Encore:

24. Your Song > 

25. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Elton John  - 2018-10-19 - Madison Square Garden, New York, NY (SBD)

Elton 2018 - Back To Back - #2: As promised yesterday, here's the 2nd half of our Back to Back set featuring Elton John during his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. This one is a soundboard recording from Madison Square Garden on October 19, 2018, 7 years ago today.  

Elton John - 2018-10-18 - Madison Square Garden, New York, NY (SBD)

Elton John

2018-10-18

Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour

Madison Square Garden

New York, NY

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

01. Bennie And The Jets

02. All The Girls Love Alice

03. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues

04. Border Song

05. Tiny Dancer

06. Philadelphia Freedom

07. Indian Sunset (Elton and Ray Cooper only)

08. Rocket Man 

09. Take Me To The Pilot

10. Someone Saved My Life Tonight

11. Levon

12. Candle In The Wind (Elton solo)

13. Funeral For A Friend > Love Lies Bleeding

14. Burn Down The Mission

15. Believe

xx. Daniel (missing)

16. Sad Songs (Say So Much)

17. Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me

18. The Bitch Is Back

19. I'm Still Standing

20. Crocodile Rock

21. Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting

Encore:

22. Your Song > Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Elton John - 2018-10-18 - Madison Square Garden, New York, NY (SBD) 

Elton 2018 - Back To Back - #1: In September 2018, Elton John launched his final tour, aptly named Farewell Yellow Brick Road, a play on words on the title of his #1 album and single from 1973. Due to the pandemic, the tour stretched over 5 years, encompassing more than 300 shows, across 3 continents, before coming to an end in Sweden in July 2023. I saw Elton early on in that tour, in November 2018 at Madison Square Garden.  It was a bittersweet moment  since my very first concert has been Sir Elton at that very same venue in August 1976. In fact, I dediciated an entire chapter to it in my book. In any event, this soundboard recording captures Elton during the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, just about 2 weeks before I saw him, on October 18, 2018, 7 years ago today.  Download this one, then come back tomorrow for part 2 of this Back To Back set.

Elton John - 1986-10-10 - Los Angeles, CA (late) (FM)

Elton John

1986-10-10

Universal Amphitheatre

Los Angeles, CA

FM Broadcast

128 kbps

Artwork Included

01. Opening

02. Tonight

03. One Horse Town

04. Better Off Dead

05. Rocket Man

06. Philadelphia Freedom

07. Burn Down The Mission

08. Someone Saved My Life Tonight

09. The Bitch Is Back

10. A Song For You

11. Blue Eyes

12. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues

13. Levon

14. Paris

15. Restless

16. Bennie & The Jets

17. Band Intros

18. Love Song

19. Sad Songs

20. This Town

21. I'm Still Standing

22. Nikita

23. Saturday Night's Alright

24. Candle In The Wind

25. Daniel

26. Your Song

Elton John - 1986-10-10 - Los Angeles, CA (FM) 

Elton 1986 - Back to Back - #2: As promised earlier today, here's the 2nd half of our Back to Back set featuring Elton John in 1986. This FM broadcast captures the late show in Los Angeles on October 10, 1986, 39 years ago today, in Los Angeles. Download this one to hear Sir Elton on his last tour before the surgery that would forever change his vocal register, but fortunately didn’t stop him from singing.

 

Elton John - 1986-10-10 - Los Angeles, CA (early) (FM)

Elton John

1986-10-10

Early Show

Universal Amphitheatre

Los Angeles, CA

FM Broadcast

128 kbps

Artwork Included

01. Opening

02. Tonight

03. One Horse Town

04. Better Off Dead

05. Rocket Man

06. Philadelphia Freedom

07. Burn Down The Mission

08. Someone Saved My Life Tod

09. The Bitch Is Back

10. A Song For You

11. Blue Eyes

12. I Guess That's Why They

13. Band Chatter

14. Levon

15. Paris

16. Restless

17. Bennie & The Jets

18. Band Intros

19. Love Song

20. Sad Songs

21. This Town

22. I'm Still Standing

23. Crowd

24. Nikita

25. Saturday Night's Alright

26. Candle In The Wind

27. Daniel

28. Crowd

29. Your Song

Elton John - 1986-10-10 - Los Angeles, CA (FM) 

Elton 1986 - Back to Back - #1: On August 15 1986, Elton John launched the North American leg of his World Tour, which would comprise 38 shows in less than two months. The shows featured just 1 song each from his 1985 album Ice on Fire and his soon to be released disc Leather Jackets, Nikita and Paris, respectively. Neither album represented Elton’s best work, despite the fact he was again working with producer Gus Dudgeon, who had been with Elton during his peak in the early 1970s. Elton’s cocaine addiction was hampering his studio work, and also impacted the quality of many of his concerts on this tour. In addition, Elton was thought to be suffering from laryngitis, which reduced his voice to a whisper during some encores. As we now know, the supposed laryngitis was actually nodules on his vocal chords, which would require surgery in early 1987, after he completed a 27 show tour of Australia in November and December of 1986. This FM broadcast captures the early show from Los Angles on October 10, 1986, 39 years ago today. Download this one, then come back later today for the 2nd half of this Back To Back set,