Daredevil: Born Again's Cole North Is More Important Than You Realize: Marvel Comics History And Spider-Man Connection Explained
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The Story Behind Elton John's 1969 Single "Empty Sky" and its Link to the Rolling Stones' "Sympathy For The Devil"
"It's difficult to explain the amazement we felt as the album began to take shape, but I remember when we finished work on the title track,"
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In 1967, Elton John and Bernie Taupin started working together after responding to the same ad in NME magazine to work as songwriters for Liberty Records. John said he couldnât write lyrics but could provide the music, and Bernie wasnât much of a musician but wrote plenty of songs. After they were hired by Dick James (of DJM Records), they began writing songs for Lulu, Roger Cook, Edward Woodward, and more artists under the label. It was the beginning of their nearly 60-year collaboration, and by â68, they started working on Johnâs debut album Empty Sky.
Recorded at the Dick James Studios at 71-75 New Oxford Street in the Soho area of London, Empty Sky came together as a ânatural progression,â according to Empty Sky guitarist Caleb Quaye. âDick [James] was like a father to us,â he said. âHe gave us the opportunity to learn our craft in that little studio. And thatâs what we did. We couldnât wait to get into the studio to do our demos or whatever. We couldnât wait to work this stuff out.â
John added, âItâs difficult to explain the amazement we felt as the album began to take shape, but I remember when we finished work on the title track. It just floored me. I thought it was the best thing Iâd ever heard in my life.
[RELATED: The Story Behind How Grouch Marx, Oscar Wilde, and François Truffaut Inspired Eltonâs Johnâs âDonât Shoot Me, Iâm Only the Piano Playerâ]
Elton John and his lyricist, Bernie Taupin (left), pose for a portrait in circa 1971 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)Opening the album, âEmpty Skyâ is the longest track, running nearly eight and a half minutes long, and centers around the story of a prisoner mourning the loss of their freedom.
Iâm not a rat to be spat on locked up in this roomThose bars that look towards the sunAt night look towards the moonEvery day, the swallows play in the clouds of loveMake me wish that I had wings, take me high above
And I looked high and saw the empty skyIf I could only, could only flyIâd drift with them in endless spaceBut no man flies from this place
At night I lay upon my bench and stare towards the starsThe cold night air comes creeping in and home seems, oh, so farIf only I could swing upon those twinkling dots aboveIâd look down from the heavens upon the ones I love
And I looked high and saw the empty skyIf I could only, I could only flyIâd drift with them in endless spaceBut no man flies from this place
When the Rolling Stones released their seventh album, Beggars Banquet, and among their classics âStreet Fighting Manâ and âSalt of the Earth,â it was âSympathy for the Devilâ that caught Taupinâs ear while they recorded âEmpty Sky.â
âThe title track was quite interesting,â said Taupin in a 1989 interview. âI actually wouldnât mind re-recording that song because it was done in a two-track studio. We were basically trying to do âSympathy For The Devilâ with that introduction. So that one track really stands out for me, and, in fact, Elton used to do that song onstage until sometime in the mid-seventies. I think it would be really interesting to do that song again.â
Opening with congo drums and piano, âEmpty Skyâ had a similar intro to the Stonesâ âSympathyâ but took different turns.
âA great rock and roll track,â said John in 2013 of âEmpty Skyâ and its recording. âI love it to death. I remember doing the vocals in the stairwell to get that echo in a very small studio in London. [Caleb Quayeâs] guitar solo was done in the stairwell as well. It came together so brilliantly and still sounds so good. Itâs hard for a piano player to write a rock & roll song. It sounded like a Stones song. I thought, âI can do this.ââ
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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