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.
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.
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.
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.
Continuing my look at the albums of 1975…
I did an Elton John deep dive a few years ago after watching the movie Rocketman. I listened to most of his albums but skipped a stretch between 1974 and 1983 that includes his work without lyricist Bernie Taupin and several releases widely considered his worst.
I gave a cursory listen to 1975’s Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy but in retrospect should have given it more time. It is purportedly John’s own favorite of his albums, and having given it a few spins myself now, I’m a fan.
Meet Me In Montauk 