Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - 11/10/73

[Mark Kerridge]

Just a query about the Elton John performance of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" from the 11/10/73 edition which is on "The Very Best of Elton John" video.

According to the TOTP Database, its a "promo video" presumably done by the Record Company in the style of a TOTP performance. However, it looks pretty authentic to me. Also, at the end of the video, the credit is "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - from UK TV show 'Top of The Pops' 1973 courtesy of BBC Television" which would lead me to believe its a genuine performance rather than a record company promo.

Any ideas? Maybe someone who has seen the full studio tape can shed some light on this - Simon Mclean, if you are there, can you help with this one?

Cheers,

Mark

[Des]

i'd stick my neck out and say maybe it was shot on the totp set for the record company to use as a promo, and they also let zdf use it? do'nt know if there is a precedent for this. maybe it was not used in the show? maybe we will never know for sure.

[A.S.M Smith]

Dear Folks
In the 70's, ZDF arranged with the BBC to have `some` TOTP performances shot for them during and as part of a particular TOTP show. Now this is why the trouble the BBC are having with ZDF; Because, as far as I know ZDF paid the copywrite. Apologies if my info is not %100 hopefully Mr Russell can "YEAY or NAY" it. ASM

[Simon Mclean]

Just noticed this - sorry for the delay!

The 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' isn't an actual performance - it's just film of Elton walking around an American town, and doing a bit of shopping, with the record playing over the top.

I don't know whether it was a BBC film, or one done by the record company.

Hope this is of some use!

[Mark Kerridge]

The 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' isn't an actual performance - it's just film of Elton walking around an American town, and doing a bit of shopping, with the record playing over the top.

Interesting, so we've been wrongly assuming that the studio performance comes from this edition, when in fact, it now looks like its an isolated performance from the 1/11/73 edition.