Elton's TV comedy gets green light from ABC

Elton John's proposed comedy about an aging rocker and his manager has gotten the green light from ABC, the usually unreliable Contact Music reports.

Pop superstar SIR ELTON JOHN is close to realising his Hollywood career - America's ABC network has agreed to broadcast a pilot episode of his TV show.

The ROCKET MAN star is following in the footsteps of his long-term love, producer DAVID FURNISH, by executive producing HIM AND US.

The project stars an ageing rocker, his manager and his group of hangers-on.

SEX AND THE CITY executive producer CINDY CHUPACK is currently writing the script, writes trade paper Hollywood Reporter.

An article from Zap2It.com that has a little more information, some of it being wrong;

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) After kicking around the various developmental corridors of ABC for the past year, a comedy pilot backed by Elton John has finally received the green light.
The pilot, based loosely on John's life and those of some of his peers, will follow the life of a graying rock star, his manager and other assorted hangers-on. Its title, "Him and Us," is also the name of a song on John's most recent album, "Peachtree Road."

Cindy Chupack, a veteran of "Sex and the City" and "Everybody Loves Raymond," is writing the pilot, which will likely be a single-camera comedy, the showbiz trade papers report. She'll also executive produce with John; the singer's manager, Bob Halley; "Desperate Housewives" exec producer Michael Edelstein; and Bruce Roberts.

John is also expected to write original songs for the series with long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin.

"Him and Us" first went into development about a year ago, but it passed through last spring's pilot season without a formal pilot order. With a script now written, ABC and sister studio Touchstone TV decided to forge ahead.

"Elton John's Christmas Party" set to drop November 10.

Universal Music and Starbucks Hear Music are set to release

"Elton John's Christmas Party"

which features 21 tracks chosen by Elton. The set also includes a duet between Elton and Joss Stone on a new John/Taupin track titled "Calling It Christmas" which is also rumored to be released as a single. Starbucks and Universal will donate $2 for every CD purchased to the EJAF.

Here is the complete track listing for for Elton John’s Christmas Party:
1. Step Into Christmas-Elton John
2. Feliz Navidad- El Vez
3. Frosty the Snowman-The Ronettes
4. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town-Bruce Springsteen
5. The Man with All the Toys-The Beach Boys
6. A Change at Christmas (Say It Isn’t So)-The Flaming Lips
7. It Doesn’t Often Snow at Christmas-Pet Shop Boys
8. Spotlight on Christmas-Rufus Wainwright
9. Jingle Bell Rock-The Ventures
10. Run Rudolph Run-Chuck Berry
11. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer-The Crystals
12. Playa’s Ball-Outkast
13. Merry Christmas Baby-Otis Redding
14. Christmas Island-Jimmy Buffett
15. St. Patrick’s Day-John Mayer
16. Please Come Home for Christmas-The Eagles
17. Christmas Must Be Tonight-The Band
18. 2000 Miles-The Pretenders
19. December Will Be Magic Again-Kate Bush
20. New Year’s Day-U2
21. Calling It Christmas-Elton John and Joss Stone

Yet another benefit...

Elton John will perform at a benefit gala for the tenth anniversary of the New York Restoration Project and founder Bette Midler's sixtieth birthday in New York City on October 31st. Sting will also be honored at the event for his environmental work. The NYRP, which reclaims and restores city gardens and open spaces, is also conducting an online auction, through November 8th, with chances to record with Faith Hill in her studio and go backstage at a Dave Matthews Band concert.

A proposal? or an admission?

“I’ve always wanted to marry Elton John.”
Singer Barry Manilow at the Society of Singers’ annual Ella Awards (Reuters, Oct. 10)

Elton looking a little retro at the Ella Awards...

A slew of charity releases....

Elton John will be featured on several charity release during the months of October and November. "Hurricane Relief: Come Together Now" is a compilation album to be released on November 22 featuring Coldplay, Fats Domino, Barbra Streisand, Dave Matthews Band, James Brown and many others. Elton's contribution is a live version of "I'm Still Standing" which Elton reportedly recorded in New Orleans.
The second charity release is a tribute to the late DJ John Peel. Elton will sing and play piano on a cover of the Buzzcocks hit "Ever Fallen in Love," alongside The Who's Roger Daltrey and Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant. The song was debuted on October 10 over all BBC radio stations and will be released as a CD single on November 21 in the UK.

And finally another charity single release "Tears in Heaven" to raise money to help the victims of the Asian Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina for Save The Children. The song was originally written by Eric Clapton as a tribute to his four-year-old son, Conor, who died in 1991. Sharon Osbourne is behind the project, which also features Mary J Blige, Gwen Stefani, Pink, Phil Collins, Rod Stewart and Andrea Bocelli.

"Elizabethtown" opens in 3rd place

Bolstered by a strong musical soundtrack and some mixed reviews, Cameron Crowe's latest film "Elizabethtown" opens in 3rd place taking in $11 million dollars. "The Fog" and "Wallace and Grommit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" opened in first and second place respectively. Crowe's fascination with Elton John continues with the tune "My Father's Gun" being featured prominently in the film. Previously Crowe has used Elton's "Tiny Dancer" and "Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters" in his semi-autobiographical film "Almost Famous." Some reviews can be found here.

Elton on "Inside The Actor's Studio"

Bravo is running "Inside The Actor's Studio" with Elton John. At first glance it seems a bit odd to see Elton on this show however other musical artists have been featured, Billy Joel for example. The show offers not much new information for any of us die-hard fans but probably would prove interesting to the casual music fan. One interesting segment is Elton demonstrating the differences in chord structures on a piano as opposed to on a guitar. And Elton composing a song to a page from a book has to be seen to be believed. Bravo will be re-airing "Inside...." with Elton on the following dates;

October 16 11AM, 8PM
October 22 11AM
November 18 3PM
November 20 11AM

Elton and Bernie on BBC 2 discussing Captain Fantastic

Elton and Bernie were on BBC 2 today being interviewed to promote the release of "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" Deluxe Edition in the UK. You can hear the entire show by clicking here. It's a fantastic interview where Elton and Bernie discuss the making of Captains Fantastic and also talk about the planned sequel "The Captain and The Kid".

"Peachtree Road Collectors Edition" due November 22

On the heels of the "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" Deluxe Edition, Universal will be a Collectors Edition of "Peachtree Road" on November 22, according to Music Tap. No other details are available.

"Captain Fantastic" Indeed !

The New York Post weighs in with a mostly rave review;

September 23, 2005 -- IN the last breaths of a marathon, three-hour concert, Elton John pounded his piano and wailed though his classic "The Bitch Is Back."
Yes, he is — and the gap-toothed crooner was glorious at the opener of his three sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden.

On paper, three hours of anybody — especially ballad-heavy Elton — seems excessive, except for the Rocket Man's most die-hard followers. And it would have been if John hadn't cracked the show into three distinct segments, tailored to suit his fans' level of devotion.

He started with tunes from his latest album, "Peachtree Road," followed by selections from "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" to warm the house.

An hour and a half into the concert, John and his large rock band became an all-hits jukebox — great for those who know the man from his signature radio classics.

The NY Times chimes in also with basically the same review written in NYT style;

Sir Elton is a relentless tourer, so it's a good thing he's also a restless one. This was, as he promised, a long show, especially for him: he sang almost nonstop for three hours. As usual, the audience greeted nearly every song with a standing ovation, which Sir Elton himself often joined. And the unusual set list helped give the night a weird, memorable structure.

A lot of veteran acts sneakily slip the new songs in among the old, hoping you won't notice. Maybe more of them should be required to do what Sir Elton did: stack eight of them up at the beginning and see how they fare. (The surest beneficiaries of such a plan? Concession stands.) On Wednesday night, the "Peachtree Road" songs certainly didn't flop, though they didn't kill, either. The album is Sir Elton's tribute to Southern traditions: gospel, old-fashioned R&B, country. If anything, "Freaks in Love," a sweet song about lovers who know they're "damaged goods," is too plain and straightforward to be an Elton John classic. The classics tend to flirt treacherously with inanity.

Elton does entire "Captain Fantastic" not entirely.

If you're going to issue a press release that says the following;

Elton is commemorating the event not only with the release of the expanded, two-CD Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy - Deluxe Edition (Island/UMe), but also by performing a series of historic sold-out concerts on September 16 and 17 at TD Banknorth Garden, Boston and September 21, 23 and 24 at Madison Square Garden, New York where included in the repertoire he will perform the album in its entirety for the first time in over 30 years.

You should then do just that. Last night Elton omitted "Writing" and "Tower Of Babel" from the 30th Anniversary celebration concert. Doesn't make much sense but we talking about Elton. Lets hope he drops "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" and "Daniel" or maybe two of the Peachtree Road songs and adds back the two CF songs missing last night. Here is the complete setlist;

Weight of The World
Porch Swing on Tupelo
Answer In The Sky
Turn Out The Lights When You Leave
My Elusive Drug
They Call Her The Cat
Freaks In Love
All That I'm Allowed
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
Bitter Fingers
Tell Me When the Whistle Blows
Someone Saved My Life Tonight
Meal Ticket
Better Off Dead
We All Fall In Love Sometimes/Curtains
Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
Bennie and the Jets
Daniel
Take Me to The Pilot
Rocket Man
I Guess That's Why The Call it the Blues
Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
Tiny Dancer
Philadelphia Freedom
Sad Songs
Levon
Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
The Bitch Is Back
Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting
Crocodile Rock
Your Song

MSG Katrina Benefit on Pay-Per-View

From the AP:

Pay-Per-View Televising Katrina Concert

By Associated Press
September 16, 2005, 9:29 AM EDT

NEW YORK -- An upcoming benefit concert at Madison Square Garden for those affected by Hurricane Katrina will be available live on pay-per-view television.

Major cable operators will give all proceeds to support the long-term relief and rebuilding efforts on the Gulf Coast, it was announced Thursday. The telecast, which will be available at a cost of $19.95 to viewers, will begin Tuesday at 7 p.m. (EDT).

The "Big Apple to the Big Easy" concert will feature performers including Simon & Garfunkel, Jimmy Buffett, Elton John, Lenny Kravitz, Bette Midler, Elvis Costello, John Fogerty and Diana Krall. New Orleans natives the Neville Brothers and the Meters will also play.

All money raised through sponsorship and ticket sales will go to various relief funds. MSG has also pledged a $1 million donation.

The show will also extend across the city to Radio City Music Hall, where Dave Matthews, Tom Waits, Trey Anastasio, John Mayer and others will perform.
The participating cable operators are Adelphia, Cablevision, Charter, EchoStar's DISH Network and DIRECTV, along with iN DEMAND partners Bright House Networks, Comast, Cox Communications and Time Warner cable systems.

"Captain Fantastic" Deluxe Edition release NOT delayed in the US

Universal may have pushed the release date of "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" Deluxe Edition back by as much as one month. HMC.uk.co has a release date of 10-10-05 while amazon.uk.co has 09-19-05. In the US, CD Universe and Amazon.com are still showing 09-13-05. The reasons for the delay, if true, are most likely due to the recreation of the orginal artwork that came with the album when it was released in 1975.

UPDATE 9/12: EltonJohn.com is still reporting that the US release for the 30th Anniversary "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" Deluxe Edition is September 13th in the US. Here are the release dates I have been able to find;

US: 9-13-05
UK: 10-10-05 from HMV.co.uk and WhatRecords.com
UK: 09-19-05 from Amazon.co.uk

UPDATE2: Jim McKay of the 22nd-row picked up a copy of the CFDE on Saturday and is loving it. So there is no delay in the US.

Elton John and others to perform at Katrina Benefit on September 20

Elton, Fats among perfomers at Katrina benefit
By Jonathan Cohen
NEW YORK (Billboard) - Big names such as Elton John and Rod Stewart will team up with some of New Orleans' most notable musicians, including recently rescued veterans Fats Domino and Allen Toussaint, during a September 20 benefit for victims of Hurricane Katrina at Madison Square Garden.The concert, dubbed "From the Big Apple to the Big Easy," will also feature Jimmy Buffett, Stevie Nicks, Lenny Kravitz, Bette Midler, John Fogerty, Loggins & Mussina and Earth, Wind & Fire. New Orleans will additionally be represented by the Neville Brothers, the Original Meters and the Dirty Dozen and Rebirth Brass Bands.In addition to underwriting the show, Madison Square Garden will donate $1 million to Katrina-related fundraising efforts. All proceeds from the event will benefit like-minded causes. Tickets go on sale September 13.Reuters/Billboard

"Captain Fantastic" Deluxe Edition sound samples

"Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" Deluxe Edition comes out Tuesday 9/13/05. You can hear sound samples of the June 1975 Wembley Stadium concert at the Tower Records site.

Elton John performs for 200,000 in Rome

Elton performed a free concert before a crowd of 200,000 people in Rome on Saturday night 9/3.

Associated Press

ROME — Elton John played the piano and delighted hundreds of thousands of fans with old hits such as "Daniel" at a concert outside the Colosseum on Saturday night.

People of all ages clapped and danced at the free concert on the Via dei Fori Imperiali, the large boulevard that leads to the Colosseum and is lined with ancient Roman relics.

Fans included families with babies, and security officials estimated the crowd at 200,000. Some had been there since dawn to grab good spots.

"We like him very much, he's a great one, there's nothing else to say," said Sara Stanghetti, 18, who came with four friends.

Francesca Savina, 23, who said she started listening to John because her parents did, left home at early in the afternoon to make sure she could get a good view of the singer.

Some took a more modest view of the event. "I would not have paid a lot of money to see Elton John," said Daniele Casale, 29.

John performed in Italy for the first time in 1973, according to a release from the Rome municipality.

"I love places that have an incredible history," John said in taped remarks that were released to news organizations before the concert. "I love the Italian way of life, I love the food, I love the people, I love the attitudes of Italians."

Last year, a Simon and Garfunkel concert on the same stage drew hundreds of thousands of fans. In 2003, Paul McCartney also performed on the Via dei Fori Imperiali.

The setlist courtesy Elton's Dark Diamond;

Pinball Wizard
Bennie and the Jets
Daniel
Turn the Lights Out When You Leave
Take Me To The Pilot
Rocket Man
I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
Sacrifice
Candle In The Wind (solo)
Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
Are You Ready For Love
Philadelphia Freedom
They Call Her The Cat
Sad Songs (Say So Much)
Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
I'm Still Standing
The Bitch is Back
Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)
Crocodile Rock
Your Song

Hard-Fi ? Oh, Hard-Fi !

In an article on the alleged music news site Contact Music, some group called Hard-Fi has criticised Elton for his recent duet's with 2Pac and Pete Doherty. Someone should explain to these good people that if any one is to blame for "Ghetto Gospel" it is Eminem who sampled Elton's 1971 song "Indian Sunset" and that Elton had little, if anything, to do with it. And as for the Pete Doherty duet at Live 8, well the performance speaks for itself.

Elton talks with Billboard about his future

An interview with Elton John appears in Billboard magazine in which Elton talks about his future projects. Among the highlights are;

"Captain Fantastic and The Kid"
Elton and Bernie are writing a sequel to "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" called "Captain Fantastic and the Kid" which will pick up where "Captain Fantastic" left off. It will be released on March 20, 2007, five days before Elton's 60th birthday. Recording starts this January.

"Elton's Christmas Party"
A collection of Elton's favorite Christmas music by other artists, plus a new duet with Elton and Joss Stone available only at Starbucks. This is due in two months on November 8.

Broadway production of "Billy Elliott" is due in 2006

Lestat debuts in December in San Francisco and on Broadway in Spring.

Elton has written nine songs with Scissors Sisters marking the first time he has written songs in the same room with his collaborator.

Elton helps out an old friend

Elton John plays piano on the title track of old friend Cindy Bullens new album Dream #29. Cindy got her first real break when she crashed a studio party and met Elton John, who was impressed enough to hire Cindy as a backup singer on his US tour. Cindy sang with Elton on three major tours, as well as the multi-platinum album Blue Moves, and on his 1976 No. 1 Pop single "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart."

It all started today in 1970.

On August 25th, 1970, Elton John made his U.S. debut at the Troubadour Club in Los Angeles. The performance kicked off a brief tour and led to a recording contract with MCA.

Some interesting facts and quotes from that night courtesy of Paul Mclauchlan's Cornflakes and Classics;

Elton was wearing a beard, bell-bottom jeans and a red shirt with "Rock And Roll" spelt in white letters. Elton was co-headliner with David Ackles. The set lasted about an hour. Leon Russell was in the audience. Elton played nightly through August 30.

The photo used for the Honky Chateau album cover was taken backstage on this night.

Robert Hilburn wrote in the August 27th Los Angeles Times:

Rejoice. Rock music which has been going through a rather uneventful period recently, has a new star. He's Elton John, a 23-year-old Englishman,whose debut Tuesday night at the Troubadour was, in almost every way, magnificent.
... His music is so staggeringly original that it is obvious he is not merely operating within a given field (such as country or blues or rock) but, like Randy Newman and Laura Nyro among others, creating his own field... He has, to be sure, borrowed from country, rock, blues, folk and other influences, but he has mixed them in his own way. The resulting songs are so varied in texture that his work defies classificatlon . . .
While his voice most often resembles Jose Feliciano, there are at times touches of Leon Russell and Mick Jagger...
John's songs are co-written by lyricist Bernie Taupin, whose lyrics often capture the same timeless, objective spirit of the Band's Robbie Robertson . . .
Beyond his vocals, melodies and arrangements there is a certain sense of the absurd . . . that is reminiscent of the American rock stars of the mid-1950s . . .
By the end of the evening, there was no question about John's talent and potential.
Tuesday night at The Troubadour was just the beginning. He's going to be one of rock's biggest and most important stars.

Kathy Orloff, Chicago Sun Times:

"He was a major star before the end of his first set."
"The future seems incredibly bright for John."

John L. Wasserman, San Fransisco Chronicle

"He had hardly opened his mouth when it was apparent that he is going to be a very, very big star."

John Gibson, Holywood Reporter

"It's not often that someone gets a standing ovation at the Troubadour, but Elton John did - twice."

In 1990 Rolling Stone Magazine rated this show as amoung the twenty concerts that changed rock and roll.