| Empty Sky | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 6 June 1969[1] | |||
| Recorded | November 1968 – April 1969 | |||
| Studio | Dick James, London | |||
| Genre | Soft rock[2] | |||
| Length | 41:11 (original release) 54:53 (1995 reissue) | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | Steve Brown | |||
| Elton John chronology | ||||
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| U.S. release (1975) | ||||
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Empty Sky is the debutstudio album by British singer-songwriterElton John, released in theUnited Kingdom on 6 June 1969. Although imported UK copies of the album were available in the United States,Empty Sky was not issued in the US until January 1975 (onMCA Records), with different cover art, well after John's fame had been established internationally.
Recorded during the winter of 1968 and spring of 1969 atDJM Records'8-track studio,Empty Sky is the only album from the early phase of Elton John's career not produced byGus Dudgeon; instead, production was handled by DJM staff member and close associate Steve Brown. The album was released in the UK in both stereo and mono, the latter now being a rare collector's item.
John playsharpsichord on several tracks, including "Skyline Pigeon", which John has described as being "the first songBernie and I ever got excited about that we ever wrote."[3]
John used musicians who were friends of either him or Brown or both. GuitaristCaleb Quaye and drummer Roger Pope, both at the time members of the bandHookfoot, played on many of the tracks. (Quaye and Pope would rejoin John a few years later as part of his studio and touring band behindRock of the Westies in 1975 andBlue Moves in 1976.) Tony Murray fromThe Troggs played bass.Empty Sky is the first appearance with John of thenPlastic Penny andSpencer Davis Group memberNigel Olsson, who played drums on "Lady What's Tomorrow?" (Olsson and fellow Spencer Davis bandmate, bassistDee Murray, would soon join John as his early 1970s touring band.) Also listed in the production credits is Clive Franks, who would later produce John's live sound in concert for much of his touring career, and would occasionally co-produce with John on albums such asA Single Man and21 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.
"Skyline Pigeon" is the most popular and best-known song on the album, which John, albeit infrequently, performed as part of his live shows. The more definitive version of "Skyline Pigeon" featuring an orchestra and piano backing in place of harpsichord was recorded for 1973'sDon't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player, and initially appeared as the B-side of "Daniel" in 1973. Another appearance of the song was in 1974, when a version recorded inLondon was featured as the opening track on theHere and There live LP and its 1995 CD reissue. The only other song from the album that was played live was the title track, "Empty Sky", was included at various stops on John's 1975Rock of the Westies Tour.
Although John has since called the album naïve, he does have fond memories of making the record. These include walking home from recording at 4 a.m. and lodging atThe Salvation ArmyRegent Hall onOxford 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.[4] He later recalled that he was "unsure what style I was going to be ... [maybe what]Leonard Cohen sounds like."[5]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Disc & Music Echo | |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [6] |
A contemporary review fromDisc & Music Echo said, "Can't help feeling that the lyrics could still do with a little more intensity, a little less youthful pretension. But that's just carping because the music is so nice and pretty that you can't really put it down. Well worth a good, deep listen."[7]AllMusic's retrospective review showed a subdued reaction to the material, concluding "There aren't any forgotten gems onEmpty Sky, but it does suggest John's potential."[2]
All tracks are written byElton John andBernie Taupin.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Empty Sky" | 8:29 |
| 2. | "Val-Hala" | 4:11 |
| 3. | "Western Ford Gateway" | 3:15 |
| 4. | "Hymn 2000" | 4:29 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Lady What's Tomorrow" | 3:09 |
| 2. | "Sails" | 3:45 |
| 3. | "The Scaffold" | 3:18 |
| 4. | "Skyline Pigeon" | 3:37 |
| 5. | "Gulliver / Hay Chewed / Reprise" | 6:58 |
| Total length: | 41:11 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 10. | "Lady Samantha" | 3:02 |
| 11. | "All Across the Havens" | 2:52 |
| 12. | "It's Me That You Need" | 4:04 |
| 13. | "Just Like Strange Rain" | 3:44 |
| Total length: | 54:53 | |
Production
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
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