Elton John

I saw Elton John two times back in the 1970s. What an era to see the amazing Elton John and his band. Dee Murray on Bass, Nigel Olsen on Drums, Davey Johnstone on Guitar and the amazing Ray Cooper with percussion. Elton played at the Cow Palace on October 9, 1974 deemed the 1974 tour with Kiki Dee! I can so remember getting to the parking lot artound 9am to get in line for a concert when the doors would open for general admission at 6:00 pm. I was studying for finals at UC Berkeley and spent quality time with my sister and a girl friend for those long hours. Baracades surrounded the parking lot to help control the crowds that grew longer by the minute. 20 minutes before the doors were to open, I remember a group of fans attempting to jump the barricades only to have collective voices expressing our dissatisfaction! Needless to say, they did not succeed.

Elton John started the show in darkness that slowly gleaned to blue playing the opening chords to Funeral for a Friend causing the crowd to road on their feet singing  Love Lies Bleeding…. This was Elton’s night! I was lucky top have a tall fan offer to put me on his shoulders to take some photos too! It’s tough being vetically challenged sometimes.

The next time I saw Elton was the Rock of the Westies tour at the Oakland Colesium Arena on October 20, 1975. Though initially I was disappointed to have tickets behind the stage, it turned out that  the view was amazing. 

SetList
Your Song
I Need You To Turn To
Border Song
Take Me To The Pilot
Dan Dare (Pilot Of The Furture)
Country Comfort
Levon
Rocket Man
Hercules
Empty Sky
Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Bennie And The Jets
Harmony
Dixie Lily
Captain fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy
Bitter Fingers
Someone Saved My Life Tonight
The Bitch Is Back
Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me
(Gotta Get A) Meal Ticket
Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds
I Saw Her Standing There
Island Girl
Philadelphia Freedom
We All Fall In Love Sometimes/Curtains