Elton John - Lady Samantha (1969) With Lyrics!

Actually recorded at the end of 1968 at Dick James Studios with Caleb Quaye on guitar, Roger Pope on drums & Tony Murray on bass. Produced by Steve Brown. Released as a single at the beginning of 1969. Although it didn't sell, it was an important single for Elton John. It brought him much more attention among the music industry, and got him a live performance on the BBC. Although it was actually a stand alone single, it has later been included on various compilation albums, and the remastered version of "Empty Sky" CD. The "Empty Sky" album was recorded and released later in 1969.
Words & Music by Elton John & Bernie Taupin.
©1968 Dick James Music Limited

[TheShowblox]

Underrated song, his early songs were so good

[SuperWinnieB]

Elton's memoir bought me here..First time hearing this song and I love it

[williamengland]

Wow! I betch ya this guy's gonna be a star.

[lauracannon]

My dad and I are Elton and Bernie fans to our bones. He has the Lady Samantha 45 I'll eventually inherit and it's the most prized possession either of us have.

[stewartnicol]

I caught this genius before the world embraced Reggie....

[doceparesgirl]

oh yes...old-school fandom here. have it on a 45 from back in the day. Love you, Reg! :-)

[MrColin]

I remember hearing this on Radio One back in 1969, I was still at school then. I was surprised this was not a hit at the time.

[MichaelRoccia-fblz]

Super cool tune with those eerily haunting chords. I could just see the girl gliding over the hilly cemetery with her black cloak blowing in the wind. CLASSIC!!

[walterferrario]

Don't know why but this song remembers me of some far and sad sights of UK...simply beautiful. So old, still new...makes me dream...

[MrCarlSir]

I looked it up while reading his memoir...loving this!

[Jakeyism]

First time I have heard this song. I have been listening to Elton for decades, not as a die hard fan, but like a person who loves music and therefore has a good few Elton LP's in his collection. Really good song, lovely hook in the chorus. You can see other songs by Elton which have used this as a template. Great find, thanks for sharing it mate.

[diddlytube]

Never really noticed it before, but this sounds like either Elton or whoever was running the session had been immersing themselves in Procol Harum's Whiter Shade Of Pale LP. The way the organ and piano blend, the drums coming up from behind, and the Trower-like riffs between verses. Throw Gary Brooker over the top in place of Elton, and... You can really hear what he was listening in his stuff a couple of years later, too -- The Band, and Leon Russell. Funny to think of someone as huge as EJ having to be influenced by anybody, but everybody comes from somewhere, and has their heroes.

[BethBlairCarmichael]

My friend had this 45 back when it came out. It turned me into a Gothophile.

[dazzlingdavedainty]

one of his best, love this . picked up in a charity shop for 25 p

[glamill]

I must have been one of the few that bought the 45 then! First heard it on John Peel's show.

[nealixd.]

Three Dog Night covered this on an LP that went gold quickly, and it helped put some exposure onto Elton John, then struggling in his early music days, per an interview I am listening to with singer Cory Wells of 3DN, back in 2011. Cory seemed pretty cool and the straight arrow in the group. Too sad he passed on at age 74. I am just catching up on their history, although I have loved their music a long time.

[lemurianchick]

Total earworm since I heard it last week. 🐛

[classiccarfanatic]

The beginning few seconds are the best!

[ubroberts]

I drew a picture of Lady Samantha in 1979. Her head is thrown back with her hands gliding through her hair, with a wicked smile on her face; confident, of course.

[sharonannen]

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One of the few Elton John songs I really like.
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