Elton John - Live in Los Angeles (September 7th, 1973)

Описание: Elton John
Live in Hollywood Bowl
Los Angeles, California, USA
September 7th, 1973
Audience Recording
Sound Quality: B- / B+
Attendance: 17,500

Audio cortesy of ‪@GregsynthWizard‬, credits to him

After a string of performances throughout 1973, Elton John finally took the stage at the legendary Hollywood Bowl for the first time, marking a significant milestone in his early career. As one of the few artists to headline the iconic venue following The Beatles, Elton and his band were visibly thrilled to perform in such a prestigious location in Los Angeles. The event carried a festive, theatrical flair right from the start—adult film star Linda Lovelace introduced the show, and as Elton descended the staircase onto the stage, he was surrounded by impersonators of Queen Elizabeth II, Elvis Presley, Frankenstein’s Monster, the Pope, Batman and Robin, the Beatles, Groucho Marx, and Mae West. These characters released doves from five brightly colored grand pianos that spelled out "ELTON," setting the tone for a night that blended spectacle with strong musicianship.

The concert was professionally filmed by director Bryan Forbes for the documentary Say Goodbye Norma Jean and Other Things, which features partial footage of the performance. Over the years, additional clips have surfaced, and with the release of Elton’s 2024 documentary Never Too Late, speculation has grown around the existence of a complete video recording hidden within archival material. It's also rumored that a soundboard audio recording exists, and fans have claimed the existence of at least two Super 8 or 8mm film reels of the show—though no solid evidence of these reels has yet emerged.

The set opened with “Elderberry Wine,” delivered with a slightly raspy but energetic vocal. “Your Song,” while confidently sung, deviated heavily from the album version with awkward phrasing that may catch listeners off guard. “High Flying Bird” followed with tight harmonies and a strong, albeit nasal, lead vocal. “Honky Cat” was upbeat and vibrant, with Elton adjusting his phrasing to accommodate vocal limitations, yet it still held its charm. A standout moment came with “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” now a historic performance known for its faithful yet nasally inflected delivery and more modest falsetto. “Hercules” maintained momentum, offering a solid rendition with minor lyric phrasing shifts. “Rocket Man” was serviceable, with Elton sidestepping some of the more demanding early high notes but maintaining a steady interpretation. “Madman Across the Water” leaned into its rock edge, showcasing a particularly strong guitar performance from Davey Johnstone and a powerful vocal by Elton. “Teacher I Need You” was rhythmically tight and aligned well with the studio version. “Have Mercy on the Criminal” stood out as a highlight, with Elton experimenting successfully with aggressive chest voice phrasing.

“All the Girls Love Alice” sounded excellent—his vocals here were more grounded and consistent, though there was a brief moment where his voice cracked. “Daniel” offered a faithful delivery with phrasing close to the original. The dual suite “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” was mixed: the instrumental segment featured superb musicianship, especially from Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson, and Davey Johnstone, while the vocal portion lacked punch, with Elton avoiding the climactic chest notes. “Crocodile Rock” brought renewed energy, aided by an anonymous guest keyboardist (Clive Franks) wearing a crocodile mask, who played a synthesized piano part. Elton hit his falsettos with surprising ease. For the encore, the band returned with “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting),” a lively closer where Elton engaged the crowd, though signs of vocal fatigue began to show. The evening concluded with a spirited rendition of “Honky Tonk Women,” capping off a night that would go down as a standout in Elton John’s early American touring years. powers.

0. Introduction - 0:00
1. Elderberry Wine - 4:44
2. Your Song - 8:51
3. High Flying Bird - 11:35
4. Honky Cat - 15:55
5. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - 22:32
6. Hercules - 26:08
7. Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long Long Time) - 34:47
8. Madman Across The Water - 39:34
9. Teacher I Need You - 52:15
10. Have Mercy On The Criminal - 57:22
11. All The Girls Love Alice - 1:03:46
12. Daniel - 1:09:24
13. Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding - 1:13:30
14. Cocodrile Rock - 1:26:05
15. Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting) - 1:32:59
16. Honky Tonk Women - 1:42:15