Elton John LIVE at The Troubadour, LA 1970 - Sixty Years On

[@crumbsmusicmedia]

Remember it well, wonderful to have been there!

[@RonnieFriend]

Wow! Wonderful to hear from you Mr. Ray Williams, the man who put Elton & Bernie together!

[@MAMODMAN95]

Absolute miracle these two genuises where introduced to each other !

[@cian2168]

Good god, it's the man himself.

[@jordan6988]

Ray thanks for everything xo

[@jaywilliams8327]

Thx ray

[@jamesb8305]

I wish I grew up in the 60's to see the many stars born at the Troubador.

[@3wideBob]

I saw Elton in 1970. He WAS a madman, dancing on his grand piano. At one point, he stood on his head and played the piano upside down! He opened for the Mark-Almond Band.

[@PEMBERTONCHEVROLET]

3wideBob I saw him February 1971 in okc and have been a most avid fan since that night.

[@genenie5981]

He's one of the greatest of our generation.

[@IVTLTD]

Wow, chills! First time I have ever seen footage with vocals from that legendary show. He had no idea what was to come

[@jordan6988]

Imagine being elton and being able to go on youtube and litterly rewatch your life. You know he remembers this night better than any concert hes ever done this was the one that made him a star and watching videos of young him performing before anybody knew his name. Has to be an insane feeling

[@oscarwilde1441]

It won't stop to amaze me how three people can sound like a full orchestra from heaven

[@MzJanuary]

Elton is a beast on those keys. Simply fabulous.

[@pfdrtom]

I hear ya, friend! I was 10 years old when I first heard this yet it touched me. How could a song like this mean something to a 10 year old? I don't know, it just did and still does to this day. Best wishes to you, MzJ!!!

[@NoahGernan]

Elton à un talent fou de pouvoir créer de si bonnes mélodies en si peu de temps c'est incroyable, ainsi que les paroles de Bernie Taupin qui sont magnifiques, elles sont restés toujours aussi bonnes en plus de 50 ans.... Ce sont 2 génies de la musique ; pas d'autres mots pour définir un tel talent.

[@Sean-mclaughlin]

No one else can mix a soft, slow ballad with a hard rocking song better than Elton. Pure genius. I love how he completely gets into it while banging those keys.

[@GerriWritesAbit]

Me too! It's awesome!

[@robertlavender4278]

One of the seminal moments in not just rock and roll but music history.

[@jcm1560]

that night at the troubadour a legend was born the greatest artist of all times sir ELTON JOHN

[@linwoodwilliams5319]

Yes

[@jamesferrell336]

exactly

[@OzFrog48Z]

I saw Elton perform this song in 1971 at the HIC in Honolulu, Hawaii. I had never heard of him then. One of the best concerts I ever attended.

[@dalegillman5287]

You’re lucky, friend.

[@honeypie784]

Saw him at the HIC/Neil Blaisdell Center in 1974 myself. At the height, when "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" was out.

[@levinwhitfield3398]

I stood in line at the HIC arena during the YELLOW BRICK ROAD TOUR. The guy in front of me bought the last ticket.

[@jeanettegault276]

Wish I could have been there,a star was born.Magnificent 💕💕💕

[@rabooey]

I cannot believe there's video footage of this show. I did not expect to find a single still picture, let alone video footage. I'm floored AF. :o

[@Amphy002]

This can't be right, because I have it on good authority that on that night Elton played Crocodile Rock - which he hadn't written yet - and then the audience floated up to the ceiling.

[@RonnieFriend]

😂 🤣 😃 😄 😅 😆 😉

[@wcleere]

😂👍🏻

[@talithafreitas4610]

😂😂😂😂

[@King_Colombia_Inc]

AHAAAH!! 😂😂😂

[@ianmcphee5650]

It’s a shame they didn’t put this in the film instead . It could have made for an emotional scene but I suppose for the sake of a film what they did sticks in the memory too . The film was pretty cool all in all . I love this song so much though

[@name639]

Forty nine years now and still fresh, new and inspiring! Thank you for giving us this!

[@RonnieFriend]

UR welcome! Happy to share! 😃

[@RandyR]

Been inside that famous nightclub many times.. If those walls could talk, the stories it could tell. Wish I could have been there on this fantastic night. Thanks for the upload

[@RonnieFriend]

Cool. UR welcome!

[@debbiegubala5429]

Sir Elton is wonderful....no one can ever top him...he's a legend to behold..

[@JefferyDenson-bg4td]

I passed The Troubadour a few days ago just riding around LA, San Diego, San Francisco, wine country. Nice trip

[@guymitchell4784]

I spent a day with Elton and Bernie Taupin at WMCA studios in Manhattan later that year. The occasion was Alex Bennett's interview of his featured guests Alice Cooper and his drummer Neil Smith. I and my friend David Baronfeld had interviewed Bennett earlier that day and he was so impressed he asked us to stay for his show...we were his audience...we sat in the back on chairs underneath the engineer's window and Alex asked us to make really loud boisterous noises when he raised his arm so his engineer (Jimmy Walker!) could do a sound check. We didn't know sitting with us was Elton John and Bernie Taupin...we had never heard of them. The show's topic was how the artist got into the music business. We were impressed by who Elton said he played with in England...a list of who's who in rock...after his interview he sat down with us again and we waited for Alex to interview a band from New Jersey. When the show wrapped we hung out a while chatting and rode the elevator to the street with Elton and Bernie where we said our goodbyes. Had I known what he would become I would have made plans to meet him again...but that never happened. Dave and I ended up eating dinner at a local restaurant. Months later I was reading LIFE magazine and I came across an article about the return of the veil in womens fashion...as I scanned the thumbnail photos that bordered the main photo I noticed...Dave and I sitting at the counter of that restaurant! We were oblivious to the fashion shoot. But what an ending to an amazing day!

[@valentina642]

Awesome!!!!

[@sebe1015]

It's the unnoticed comments like this that are the most interesting.

[@frbmp5100]

Wow Man...

[@johanndaart7326]

Insane arc! Thanks for the story :)

[@3075bridget]

I bet Elton was super cute then. Bernie, too 🥰

[@theguru97]

I was there at the Troubadour....night 3 of the week of performances....unbelievable!!

[@wisu3529]

You witnessed history

[@BubbaYoga]

Jesus Christ he could play. Magnificent.

[@Facts_dont_hurt]

Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson were just as important as Elton John regarding the sound and impact of this show.

[@baileyrobley7811]

I so very much wish I could have been there!

[@Nikita-ez4ko]

Who would’ve thought that within 5 years, his career would skyrocket. By August of this year, he will have been performing for 50 years!

[@ManUtdMrs]

He was so talented from the off. Kudos have to go to Bernie Taupin, too. A truly stellar pairing.

[@timmckeown1313]

That voice was clear as a bell back then. Beautiful.

[@thomasharmon6444]

Wow. Just saw Rocket Man and here is the proof. Thanks so Much!

[@irishman4671]

And a superstar is born...

[@janjohn9885]

Fabulous, I would so love to see the whole footage of these performances. Thank you for this! Eltons’ music never ages.

[@RonnieFriend]

UR welcome! Whenever I come across cool stuff for my EJ collection, I like to share 😊 I also wish we had a film of the whole show! I had seen a few short clips of this song before but recently came across this more extensive treasure. But still just the one song....

[@juliejoyner8784]

The rest is history!! I haven't seen this one either. I love the classic Elton. I had them all when I was young and I all of them in DC's now. I used to play his records all night, too! This one was always too loud for mom!

[@frankperdue6585]

Think about how young he was......crazy talent

[@pc4110]

Great hearing this recording. Talk about full circle, I was at Sir Elton's 60th birthday show at MSG in 2007, and he of course opened with this one. Thanks for posting!!

[@sueadams7196]

This performance gives me goose bumps every time! Such beautiful execution.

[@brucedauphin2952]

It’s no wonder with a performance like this Elton John became a superstar overnight. I can almost imagine this sort of magic never happened ever before in the music industry and probably never ever will again.

[@johnp4100]

Freakin Amazing! I wish i had been able to see him in those days.

[@mitchellcaver8261]

I wish Elton would make a surprise Troubadour performance one more time.

[@bushbasher85]

I have thought it would be appropriate if he ended his farewell tour with a surprise show at the troubadour with just himself, Nigel, and his bassist. (Too bad Dee Murray is not with us anymore). And finish it how he can begin.

[@deckenneth]

He's in LA to call it a Live career on November 20th...maybe before then?

[@haferman1]

He's playing Dodger Stadium Nov 17, 19, 20. Troubadour calendar is wide open Nov 20 and 21...

[@Planet_Shel]

@@deckenneth I think he recently did a site gig there

[@MarisValdez-o3h]

In 1975, Elton had three 5th anniversary shows at the Troubadour. It was a benefit concert.

[@bytorgerhold8008]

Nigel Ollson who is still playing with Elton to this day!

[@lamarjohnson4576]

One of the first songs i heard from Elton made me realize this man got talent. Nigel always with him on drums

[@portcullis5622]

Apart from when Elton sacked his rhythm section in the late 1970s.

[@russhawkins175]

​@Portcullis and in the 80's...

[@MummyLadan]

Incredible!!! Love it this version.

[@smithpm81]

outstanding song and talent

[@adam_abyss]

Absolutely Incredible.

[@lindacares2215]

Fascinating just finished swatching Rocket Man for the 5th time....just love this!!!

[@maryclark5329]

What a treat I never thought I'd ever seen footage of this ! Thank you so much!!

[@RonnieFriend]

Cool. UR welcome! Glad U enjoy :-)

[@SandyWolf-]

Elton has been one of my favorite musicians since I can remember listening to music back in late 60s I had pictures and posters all over my walls I remember going to see the movie Tommy at the theater just for him not The who. Still my favorite singer of great songs the man will always be legend in my mind!

[@patrickward2526]

Bob Dylan was there that night and was blown away by the show

[@paulagwhyte1720]

He was beautiful and perfect! And he and Bernie were meant to be together and they look like brothers.

[@bassetthound1234]

A Friend asked me if I wanted to go to a Concert cuz a friend got sick or something.. I asked who it was playing.. I had no idea who Elton John was.. At the Greek around this same time.. Maybe 71?? Little did I know this was from the Album 17-11-70.. First time for a Concert.. Wow.. I was a fan forever after that.. Next time I got to see Elton was in Hawaii.. 3 Different times.. Rock On ET..

[@cuffysworld469]

I was born a month after this concert. My entire life has literally had Elton John's music in it. I turn 50 next week. I wish I would have been able to see him in his hey day in the 70s.

[@RayNDeere]

I love the live versions of Sixty Years On a little better than the studio version. Stripping it down to piano/bass/drums gives it such a raw energy than having the orchestration on the studio version

[@eastend59]

How good are Elton's vocals on this one!

[@eastend59]

@@nealtownsend7286 Do I know you?

[@RipCityJB]

Let's not forget the legendary rhythm section of Dee Murray (RIP) and Nigel Olssen. Saw Elton last weekend in his final California show.....with Nigel on drums, 52 years later!

[@cuffysworld469]

My God I could listen to this constantly. Thanks so much for posting this!!

[@RonnieFriend]

Cool. UR welcome, Glad U enjoy!

[@vanchumley3]

Thank you for putting this up been looking for this for years 😊

[@DS-nx1pi]

A classic! Thanks Bernie

[@lupcokotevski2907]

Amazing find. Elton was embarrassed that one of his idols, David Ackles (pictured early in the clip) was supporting him. Elton was also thrilled that he was playing the same piano that another of his idols, Laura Nyro, played the week before. See KZbin Elton John/Laura Nyro for an interview with Elvis Costello where he discusses Nyro and Ackles.

[@joemamaurmama]

Just saw the movie. I was listening to him in 1970. Thanks for sharing this!

[@RonnieFriend]

Cool. UR welcome. It's a fun fantasy scene in the movie! It's also fun to read his own description of the event in his new autobio.... I love how he describes meeting Leon Russell there...

[@bytorgerhold8008]

Was lucky enough to see Elton w/Dee and Nigel at the Fillmore East in 1971...from that day on made up my mind to play piano and sing for the rest of my life and I was lucky enough to make a living at it. I'm just amazed at how I can still remember the words to over 90% of his songs to this day and I still remember that concert 2nd row, aisle seat in front of the piano!

[@terencemckennabitch8580]

Elton John, Reginald Dwight, whoever, changed my life so much from the first time I listed to this whole album and I have never been the same. 💓

[@hangjbat]

An astonishing one-in-a-million talent.

[@francier5185]

I've loved him since 1972. ❤

[@goofe.washington953]

I’ve known for a long time that a video tape of his performance at the Troubadour existed. Why it’s never been released in its entirety, after all these many years, baffles me.

[@loke5551]

lost or destroyed, perhaps?

[@toastertwo1602]

Maybe only part of it was filmed. For TV news like an example.

[@regmccormack3157]

Now that is one amazing piece of nostalgia, Elton was truly one of the greatest performers ever.

[@poohbearsauntie]

Reg ~ He Still IS, My Friend.

[@valagal]

Is one of the greatest!!

[@poohbearsauntie]

James ~ I Absolutely Agree, Dear One!!

[@Motspur]

The birth of a global icon...

[@njgarvin]

Amazing! I have chills 💕

[@nobutternotes]

200th comment! Such a historic moment. So glad there is a recording of any of it at all. So rare.

[@andresearles8171]

Only one word AWESOME!

[@frankiefelinesalwayswelcom5825]

Fabulous upload !!! Have always loved this song so much. Thanks

[@gianlucaluchina9018]

Elton Legend of Pop..❤️❤️

[@ea9541]

Also there, stroke of amazing luck...tks 4 releasing

[@melvinknight4638]

Classic and timeless! Thank you for posting!

[@RonnieFriend]

UR welcome! Glad U enjoy 😃

[@BenTinEz]

50 years ever since

[@tomlehr861]

So young so much talent,groundbreaker

[@helenhucker346]

Excellent find! Thank you so much for sharing.

[@pnynx]

Thanks for sharing. My favourite Elton's song !

[@RonnieFriend]

UR welcome! Glad U enjoy 😃

[@MJ-oi5wb]

I have been reading The Bitch is Back book, and in it they talk of the album 11-17-70 where they used a dark pic of him. They said they used it because he was not attractive and it was the best pic of him. I don't get that, he's always been very attractive!!! This is a great video, thanks for sharing

[@RonnieFriend]

UR welcome. Glad U enjoy!

[@gemslaysall]

Thanks for sharing that info. That’s some ridiculous and shallow decision making on their part! I agree with you, I think Elton is/was a very handsome chap.

[@Tatiana-se5mm]

Elton in the 70s was very cute...unfortunately he didn't think so! :(

[@williamlee6444]

Did they mean the 1970 'Elton John' album cover ???

[@VIKTOR-pp8pu]

✨✨✨ A STAR IS BORN !!!!!!!!!!

[@eltonjohnfan100]

You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to hear this!!

[@winterlongone]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!! I didn't know this was out there!

[@RonnieFriend]

UR very welcome. Glad U enjoy

[@declanhampson1098]

2:32 I see Taron Egerton in that picture. It’s crazy how they look so similar. It was a brilliant choice having him play Elton in the movie!

[@njgarvin]

I see that👍 he was so so good in the part.

[@skaybaltimore]

My all time favorite EJ song and version of the song. Thanks.

[@banburylitho4068]

I’ve never heard song before and am a medium level Elton fan but by Jeezoo.. I’ve got tingles watching this.. that crystal voice, drumming and the whole band so tight.. what a historic gig

[@lbb1225]

Banbury litho ...EJ has plenty of songs like this...enjoy the discovery

[@mikegruber172]

Mona lisas and Mad hatters. try that one. I saw him sing this in CT a few days before his 60th bday concert as MSG in 2007

[@Hex488]

This is amazing

[@Penny-bt4gc]

Love it.

[@kungfuwomn]

Double Wow he's the greatest !!!

[@kathyalohamora]

Just Wow!

[@King_Colombia_Inc]

Legends start somewhere…

[@kimhoffmann3445]

Amazing - the day the world changed forever

[@أحمدالصاعدي-ك3ل]

the lyrics of Bernie Taubin made Elton john what he is today.

[@virgochick1]

And Elton being able to put Bernie's lyrics into song has made Bernie what he is today as well.....I think both men (Bernie and Elton) would agree.

[@glendawest5256]

@@virgochick1 Hand in hand went the music and the rhyme, the Captain and the Kid.

[@smeghead61]

Wow, did you work that out all by yourself? FFS

[@vaniaruiz7605]

Fantastic! Thanks for share!!

[@RonnieFriend]

UR welcome

[@dirkmcgurkin1272]

Hey Ronnie. Thanks for everything you do! I had always read there was no video taken from the Troubadour. This is incredibly.

[@RonnieFriend]

UR welcome. Yes, I felt the same when I came across this! So cool to hear and to see, at least the little that survived.

[@MarisValdez-o3h]

I have read that Elton's PR person filmed the entire concerts. The first time I saw this Troubadour footage was on the music show "The Midnight Special" in 1975.

[@mikegruber172]

Imagine at this point Elton was barely known in the USA

[@maluminse1]

Barely? Not at all. Unknown.

[@mandaleeross1325]

The beard game was impressive back then.

[@ВикторЖелезняков-м9ь]

My fave song, i really like it

[@Ryolsen123gaming]

Wow!

[@allanoshyer7341]

One of the best ever

[@georgepage5388]

50 years on

[@shadowcowmooo7415]

i cant tell if this is a joke but the title is referring to the song '60 years on'

[@portcullis5622]

@@shadowcowmooo7415 Well, as the comment was posted in 2020, it was probably part joke, part fact.

[@bethbockus1395]

OMG Where has this Video been? Its friggin great! thank you Ronnie

[@RonnieFriend]

UR welcome. Glad U enjoy it!

[@garymancuso3974]

GENIUS...

[@joancrawford1146]

What a man, what a man, what a man ❤️

[@malgorzatapiotrowska9539]

Love Love Love