Elton John - Live in Seattle (October 16th, 1975) - 2024 UPGRADE

Elton John
At Live in Seattle Center Coliseum
Seattle, Washington, USA
October 16th, 1975
Audience Recording
Sound Quality: A+
Attendance: 18,300

Thumbnail and Description inspired on @ryannewton1202, credits to him
Audio cortesy of @GregsynthWizard, credits to him

Elton John's performance in Seattle on October 16, 1975, was a continuation of his tour, following a concert in Portland just two days prior. This particular show, held at the Seattle Center Coliseum, was a highly anticipated event, as Elton John was set to deliver two back-to-back performances on consecutive nights. Among Elton John enthusiasts, this recording is widely regarded as a treasured gem, primarily due to the exceptional audio quality it offers. Initially circulated around 2010, likely sourced from a first or second-generation master copy, the recording boasted impressive sound quality. However, in 2024, JEMS released an enhanced version, claiming to originate from the master tapes of both nights, significantly elevating the audio experience. This new release showcased a more balanced and less boomy sound, swiftly becoming the definitive audio reference for this iconic show.

On this particular night, Elton John's vocal performance was somewhat compromised, a phenomenon not uncommon during this tour. While some speculate that he might have been battling an upper respiratory infection or a chest cold, it is widely believed that the effects of alcohol played a significant role in his vocals sounding less than optimal. Notably, the setlist for this show excluded "Have Mercy On The Criminal", "Street Kids" and "Better Off Dead," further deviating from the standard lineup.

The concert commenced with the iconic "Your Song," where Elton's vocals exhibited pitch inconsistencies and a hoarse quality, particularly in the latter half. Songs like "I Need You To Turn To," "Border Song," and "Take Me To The Pilot" were marred by similar pitch issues and a distinctly raspy voice, though Elton managed to hit surprisingly high notes during "Take Me To The Pilot." Despite these challenges, tracks like "Dan Dare (Pilot of the Future)," "Country Comfort," and "Levon" still managed to captivate the audience, albeit with persistent pitch problems and occasional vocal breaks. As the show progressed, Elton's vocal struggles became more pronounced. During "Rocket Man," his pitch wavered, and his attempts to sustain long notes resembled a duck's quack. However, fan favorites like "Hercules" and "Empty Sky" provided moments of respite, with excellent guitar work by Davey and Caleb and a decent, albeit energy-lacking, vocal performance from Elton.

After a brief intermission, the second set commenced with "Love Lies Bleeding," where Elton's pitch issues and vocal pauses were offset by his impressive handling of the final note and the backing vocalists' decent contributions. "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" saw Elton struggling to control the falsetto sections, at times sounding disengaged, lazy, and tired, while "Bennie and The Jets" was plagued by terrible pitch issues. Despite the challenges, tracks like "Harmony," "Dixie Lily," "Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy," and "Bitter Fingers" remained fan favorites, though not without their share of pitch problems and vocal fatigue. Songs like "Someone Saved My Life Tonight," "The Bitch Is Back," and "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" showcased Elton's declining vocal stamina, with his voice cracking and his pitch faltering. Surprisingly, calmer numbers like "We All Fall In Love Sometimes" and "Curtains" allowed Elton to regain some vocal footing, albeit with the recurring issues of pitch and fatigue, cementing their status as fan favorites. Regrettably, the recording cuts off after "Curtains," omitting "Pinball Wizard" due to tape capacity limitations.

0. Introduction - 0:00
1. Your Song - 0:33
2. I Need You To Turn To - 5:06
3. Border Song - 8:36
4. Take Me To The Pilot - 12:27
5. Dan Dare (Pilot Of The Future) - 18:30
6. Country Comfort - 22:46
7. Levon - 28:52
8. Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long Long Time) - 37:37
9. Hercules - 43:38
10. Empty Sky - 54:05
11. Funeral For A Friend/ Love Lies Bleeding - 58:29
12. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - 1:11:01
13. Bennie And The Jets - 1:14:58
14. Harmony - 1:21:51
15. Dixie Lily - 1:25:55
16. Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy - 1:30:36
17. Bitter Fingers - 1:37:01
18. Someone Saved My Life Tonight - 1:42:59
19. The Bitch Is Back - 1:51:10
20. Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me - 1:56:37
21. [Gotta Get A] Meal Ticket - 2:02:58
22. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds - 2:15:42
23. I Saw Her Standing There - 2:21:52
24. Island Girl - 2:25:57
25. Philadelphia Freedom - 2:29:38
26. We All Fall In Love Sometimes - 2:36:34
27. Curtains - 2:40:42

[Psychodermia]

This was the first concert I ever attended without an adult chaperone. My Mom won tickets on a call-in contest on KJR. They were for the show that night, so as a single mom, she had to scramble to find a ride from Kent to Seattle to pickup the tickets and get to the show.
Thankfully, my neighbor friend's Dad volunteered. Since there were two tickets, she said I could go with my friend, Mark. So, in Mark's Dad's pickup, we drove through the rain and got to the show about 30 minutes late. I remember hearing the very end of Rocket Man, "And I think it's gonna be a long, long time", as we got to the Seattle Center Arena.

As 6th-graders, Mark & I never did find our proper seats. We just wandered around the arena, getting as close to the stage as we could. Strange...no one ever questioned a couple kids wandering unescorted around a rock show. Whatever! We had a great time. Saw some crazy stuff. Not going to talk more about it, but I hope they named the baby Elton. 😳😂😂

[Dixie_Lily]

This version of Bitter Fingers is my favorite! It's so powerful!

[russelljdj]

Empty Sky was a poor choice on both the 75 &76 tours. He should have played more Rock of The Westies like Feed Me, Billy Bones, and Feel Like A Bullet. The San Diego show is the best from this tour in my humble view. Saw him many times 74. 76 4th of July, 79. 80, 82, 84. 86, 87, & 90.

[Alexfoxxrox]

Ya he definitely sounds like he was having a hard time with drugs. Sounds like he just got out of the emergency room lol. Right around the time he did a bunch of sleeping pills and jumped in the pool. His upper range is all messed up too.

[kvanolst]

This is awesome! Any change for a mp3 download? If not no worries:)