Elton John
Sir Elton John is one of the best-known musicians in the world, but that wasn’t always so. Paul McGowan had a chance in the early 1970s at the start of his career to both launch the world premiere of his then-new song, Rocket Man, as well as spend time with the musical legend. Pulled from Paul’s archives of rock star interviews he conducted in Munich Germany, this is one you don’t want to miss.
I liked the interview, thanks Paul.
Thanks for sharing Paul. Your voice is hardly recognizable.
His voice is younger and the recording is quite distorted.
Yeah, sorry about that. Back then I used a hand held microphone and a Nagra tape recorder and for some reason I got too close to the mic. I probably should have redone my questions in today’s voice but felt this to be a more accurate version of what actually happened that many years ago.
Nice! Do you know what recording of Madman Across The Water you excerpted? That’s not the original album version.
Great interview Paul! You wrote about still having the 2-track tape of “Rocket Man” that Elton gave you. I’m curious about the source of the other musical excerpts included, which sound terrific. Were they included in the original broadcast, or added just for this podcast, or were modern digital versions dubbed in place of the originals (if they had been included in the original broadcast) for the podcast? I didn’t notice any vinyl/acetate pops or tics, or tape hiss!
All the excerpts were downloaded MP3 from Amazon and the entire interview was produced by me in the last few months.
Thanks for the kind remarks.
First class interview! I’m glad you left your original audio. The small sound glitches do not take away from the interview at all. I’m really impressed with how centered Elton seems. A great moment was memorialized.
Now that Otari I see in your videos makes sense! Nice job!
Very nice Paul – – Have you or anyone here have a copy of the LP – 11-17-70 ? Elton on piano with only bass and drums recorded in a small venue with a live audience. Excellent early Elton.
No, but I have heard of it.
I don’t suppose you kept any photos of you and Elton … ?
Never had any in the first place. Just my trusty Nagara recorder and a microphone.
I do have the Rocket Man master saved.
Very nice.
do you have the sound checks you did back then for your audition ?