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Empty Sky

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Empty Sky was Elton John's debut and was released on 6 June 1969 in the United Kingdom. The album was recorded in the winter of 1968 and the spring of 1969 in the eight-track studio of DJM Records. It is the only album from his early period not produced by Gus Dudgeon: that was done by Steve Brown, a DJM employee. In the United States the record was not released until January 1975.

John himself plays piano, organ and harpsichord, with guitarist Caleb Quaye and drummer Roger Pope, among others. Skyline Pigeon is the best-known song, one of the first songs about which he and lyricist Bernie Taupin became truly enthusiastic. Later he recorded it again, with orchestra and piano in place of harpsichord. A reviewer of the time found the lyrics still somewhat pretentious, but the music beautiful. In retrospect AllMusic saw mainly promise in it. He himself calls the album naive.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Skyline Pigeon and notice the harpsichord that takes the place of the piano here. If you know the later version, compare it with the recording with orchestra.

Track list

  1. 1Empty Sky8:30Apple Music ↗
  2. 2Val-Hala4:12Apple Music ↗
  3. 3Western Ford Gateway3:15Apple Music ↗
  4. 4Hymn 20004:30Apple Music ↗
  5. 5Lady What's Tomorrow3:09Apple Music ↗
  6. 6Sails3:45Apple Music ↗
  7. 7The Scaffold3:18Apple Music ↗
  8. 8Skyline Pigeon3:38Apple Music ↗
  9. 9Gulliver/It's Hay Chewed (Reprise Version)6:58Apple Music ↗
  10. 10Lady Samantha3:03Apple Music ↗
  11. 11All Across the Havens2:53Apple Music ↗
  12. 12It's Me That You Need4:04Apple Music ↗
  13. 13Just Like Strange Rain3:44Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

Categories: Albums and songs