Tag Archives: Elton John

by

Song of the Day #6,405: ‘That’s What Friends Are For’ – Dionne Warwick & Friends

It’s a real cheesefest this weekend. Just when you thought it was safe to come back to the blog after yesterday’s Barry Manilow offering, I’m serving up a little ‘That’s What Friends Are For.’

The week of January 18, 1986, was the first of a four-week stint at #1 for this collaboration between Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder. Written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager, the song was originally recorded by Rod Stewart for the soundtrack of the 1982 film Night Shift.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #6,334: ‘Island Girl’ – Elton John

Throwing back to the week of November 8, 1975, we find Elton John atop the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Island Girl,’ the first single from his album Rock of the Westies.

This song has the distinction of being the only one of John’s nine U.S. #1 hits that I’ve never heard. Or at least I have no recollection of hearing it before learning it would be the subject of a Throwback Weekend post today.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #6,125: ‘Philadelphia Freedom’ – Elton John

Throwing back to the week of April 12, 1975, we find Elton John atop the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Philadelphia Freedom.’ This was John’s fourth #1 hit on the chart on his way to seven in his career.

This was the first song John and lyricist Bernie Taupin ever wrote as a standalone single. John wanted to honor his friend Billie Jean King, who had become an international voice for feminism after her defeat of Bobby Riggs in the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ tennis match. The song was named for the Philadelphia Freedoms, King’s team in the World Team Tennis league.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #6,027: ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ – Elton John

Throwing back to the week of January 4, 1974, we find Elton John atop the Billboard Hot 100 with a cover of The Beatles’ ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.’

John held the top spot for two weeks with the psychedelic classic, which is two more than the original version spent at #1 — it was never released as a single.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #5,897: ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ – Elton John & Kiki Dee

Top Ten Songs of the Summer
#9 – Elton John & Kiki Dee – ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ (1976)

Elton John has been in the running for Song of the Summer a half dozen times during his career, for songs as varied as ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me’ and ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight?’ But only once did he claim the title, and it was for this infectious duet with English pop singer Kiki Lee.

Continue reading →