Elton John Empty Sky First U.S Pressing Vinyl Rip Flac With Bonus Single
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Empty Sky
Studio album by Elton John
Released 3 June 1969 (UK)
13 January 1975 (USA)
Recorded Dick James Music Studios, London, from December 1968 to April 1969
Genre Psychedelic rock
Length 54:56
Label DJM Records
MCA Records (US/Canada-1975)
Producer Steve Brown
Professional reviews
* Allmusic 2/5 stars link
Empty Sky is the debut album of British singer/songwriter Elton John, released on June 3, 1969. It was finally released in the United States in January 1975, with a different cover photograph, well after John's fame had been established internationally. Recorded during the winter of 1968 and spring of 1969 in a DJM 8-track studio, "Empty Sky" is the only album in the early part of Elton's career not produced by Gus Dudgeon, instead helmed by friend and DJM staffer Steve Brown.
While the instrumental accompaniment in Empty Sky could be classified as mildly psychedelic rock, Elton's flair for pop melody is obvious even at this early stage. [1] Elton adds to the unique sound of the album by playing harpsichord on several tracks, including "Skyline Pigeon", which Elton has described as being "the first song Bernie and I ever got excited about that we ever wrote."[1]
Years away from his classic 70s era band, Elton used musicians that were either his or producer Steve Brown's friends. Caleb Quaye on guitar and Roger Pope on drums, both members of the band Hookfoot at the time, played on many of the tracks. (Quaye and Pope would rejoin John a few years later as part of his studio and touring band behind "Rock of the Westies" in 1975 and "Blue Moves" in 1976.) Tony Murray from The Troggs played bass. Notable on "Empty Sky" is the first appearance with John of then Plastic Penny and Spencer Davis Group member Nigel Olsson, who played drums on "Lady What's Tomorrow?" (Olsson and fellow Spencer Davis bandmate, bassist Dee Murray, would soon join John as his early 70s touring band.) Also listed in the production credits is Clive Franks, who would later produce John's live sound in concert for a tremendous amount of his touring career, as well as occasionally co-produce with John on albums such as "A Single Man" and "21 at 33." The original sleeve design was done by David Larkham (billed as "Dave"), who would go on to create designs for John and other artists.
Although John has since called the album naive, he does have fond memories of making the record. These include walking home from recording at 4 a.m. and lodging at the Salvation Army HQ in Oxford Street, which was run by Steve Brown's father. "I remember when we finished work on the title track - it just floored me. I thought it was the best thing I'd ever heard in my life," John recalled.[2]
Contents
Track listing
All songs by Elton John and Bernie Taupin
Track listing
1. "Empty Sky" – 8:28
2. "Val-Hala" – 4:12*
3. "Western Ford Gateway" – 3:16
4. "Hymn 2000" – 4:29
5. "Lady What's Tomorrow" – 3:10
6. "Sails" - 3:45
7. "The Scaffold" – 3:18
8. "Skyline Pigeon" – 3:37
9. "Gulliver/Hay Chewed/Reprise" – 6:59*
* "Val-Hala" was properly titled "Valhalla" on the 1975 American re-issue.
Also Included U.S Single
1. "Lady Samantha" – 3:02
2. "It's Me That You Need" – 4:04
Personnel
* Elton John - piano, organ, electric piano, harpsichord
* Caleb Quaye - electric and acoustic guitars, conga drums
* Tony Murray - bass guitar
* Roger Pope - drums, percussion
* Don Fay - tenor saxophone, flute
* Graham Vickery - harmonica
* Nigel Olsson - drums (on "Lady What's Tomorrow")
Production
* Producer: Steve Brown
* Engineer: Frank Owen
* Tape operator and whistling: Clive Franks
* Liner notes: Gus Dudgeon, John Tobler
Trivia
Elton later recalled that he was "unsure what style he was going to be... [maybe what] Leonard Cohen sounds like."[3]
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)
Year Chart Position
1975 Pop Albums 6
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