Skyline Pigeon
Encyclopedia
"Skyline Pigeon" is a song by Elton John
with lyrics by Bernie Taupin
. It is the eighth track off his first album, Empty Sky
. John performed the song at the funeral of AIDS
victim and friend Ryan White
in 1990 on a grand piano although he played Roland Piano on tour and in the studio at the time. It was originally released in August 1968 as a single on the Pye label by Guy Darrell and simultaneously by Roger James Cooke on Columbia Records. It was also recorded by Deep Feeling, a short lived band formed by Jim Capaldi
and Luther Grosvenor, in 1970.
and organ
. It's the only song on the album to feature only John without other musicians. He wrote the song in the style of a hymn
.
Apart from its earlier appearances on record, a live, solo piano version recorded at London's Royal Festival Hall during the summer of 1974 was also included as the opening number on the "Here" side of the "Here and There" album in 1976, a place it retained in the 1995 2-CD expanded version remixed by the album's original producer Gus Dudgeon. It was also released on Volume 1 of two EltonJohn.com limited edition CDs recorded live in Madison Square Garden, as part of a series of solo performances John gave in October 1999. The song received a brief revival during a UK tour in 2009.
The song was a tremendous hit in Brazil
. A live performance from January 17, 2009, was broadcast on TV along with the rest of an entire concert John performed in Sao Paulo
, Brazil. Again in Brazil in 2011, he played the song during a concert at Rock in Rio
in front of 150.000 people in Rio de Janeiro
, on 23 September.
", it first appeared on CD in 1988 as part of the DJM issue of the "Lady Samantha" compilation album, then just a few years later in the U.S. and abroad on the 1992 Mercury release Rare Masters
, and finally as a bonus track on the 1995 reissue of Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player
.
1972 version:
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
with lyrics by Bernie Taupin
Bernie Taupin
Bernard John "Bernie" Taupin is an English lyricist, poet, and singer, best known for his long-term collaboration with Elton John, writing the lyrics for the majority of the star's songs, making his lyrics some of the best known in pop-rock's history.In 1967, Taupin answered an advertisement in...
. It is the eighth track off his first album, Empty Sky
Empty Sky
Empty Sky is the debut album of British singer/songwriter Elton John, released on June 3, 1969. It was finally released in the United States in January 1975, with a different cover photograph, well after John's fame had been established internationally...
. John performed the song at the funeral of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
victim and friend Ryan White
Ryan White
Ryan Wayne White was an American teenager from Kokomo, Indiana, who became a national poster child for HIV/AIDS in the United States, after being expelled from middle school because of his infection. A hemophiliac, he became infected with HIV from a contaminated blood treatment and, when diagnosed...
in 1990 on a grand piano although he played Roland Piano on tour and in the studio at the time. It was originally released in August 1968 as a single on the Pye label by Guy Darrell and simultaneously by Roger James Cooke on Columbia Records. It was also recorded by Deep Feeling, a short lived band formed by Jim Capaldi
Jim Capaldi
Nicola James "Jim" Capaldi was an English musician and songwriter. His musical career lasted more than four decades. He co-founded Traffic in Birmingham with Steve Winwood, and the band's psychedelic rock was influential in Britain and the United States...
and Luther Grosvenor, in 1970.
Musical structure
The original recording from the "Empty Sky" album features Elton John on harpsichordHarpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
and organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
. It's the only song on the album to feature only John without other musicians. He wrote the song in the style of a hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
.
Performances
It was played on the radio as early as 1968. It was the most popular song during the very early period of John's musical career, however it was not released as a single. It was performed live in various eras and venues throughout John's career, mainly in Britain, and frequently during his solo shows and pairings with percussionist Ray Cooper. John has always said he regards "Skyline Pigeon" as one of the first "great" songs that he and Bernie wrote.Apart from its earlier appearances on record, a live, solo piano version recorded at London's Royal Festival Hall during the summer of 1974 was also included as the opening number on the "Here" side of the "Here and There" album in 1976, a place it retained in the 1995 2-CD expanded version remixed by the album's original producer Gus Dudgeon. It was also released on Volume 1 of two EltonJohn.com limited edition CDs recorded live in Madison Square Garden, as part of a series of solo performances John gave in October 1999. The song received a brief revival during a UK tour in 2009.
The song was a tremendous hit in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. A live performance from January 17, 2009, was broadcast on TV along with the rest of an entire concert John performed in Sao Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Brazil. Again in Brazil in 2011, he played the song during a concert at Rock in Rio
Rock in Rio
Rock in Rio is a series of music festivals held in three cities: Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Lisbon in Portugal and Madrid in Spain.Four incarnations of the festival were in Rio de Janeiro, in 1985, 1991, 2001 and 2011, four in Lisbon, in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010, and two in Madrid in 2008 and 2010....
in front of 150.000 people in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, on 23 September.
1972 version
In 1972, John re-recorded the song with his band (Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson and Davey Johnstone) during the sessions for "Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player." The new recording featured piano instead of harpsichord, and strings and oboe arranged by Paul Buckmaster. Originally issued as the B-side of the hit-single "DanielDaniel (song)
"Daniel" was a major hit song by Elton John. It appeared on the 1973 album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player. It was written by John and his lyricist Bernie Taupin. In the United States the song reached #2 on the pop charts and #1 on the adult contemporary charts for two weeks in the spring...
", it first appeared on CD in 1988 as part of the DJM issue of the "Lady Samantha" compilation album, then just a few years later in the U.S. and abroad on the 1992 Mercury release Rare Masters
Rare Masters
Rare Masters is an album by Elton John that was released in 1992. This compilation album featuring B-sides and outtakes recorded between 1968 and 1975, it is the only place where one can find the soundtrack to the 1971 movie Friends on CD....
, and finally as a bonus track on the 1995 reissue of Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player
Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player
Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player is the sixth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John. It was released by DJM Records....
.
Personnel
Original version:- Elton John - harpsichordHarpsichordA harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
, organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, vocals
1972 version:
- Elton John: piano, vocals
- Davey JohnstoneDavey JohnstoneDavey Johnstone , is a Scottish rock guitarist and vocalist, best known for his work with Elton John.-Career:...
: acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound... - Dee MurrayDee MurrayDee Murray was an English bassist, best known as a member of Elton John's original rock band.-Biography:Murray was born David Murray Oates in Southgate, London in 1946...
: bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Nigel OlssonNigel OlssonNigel Olsson is an English rock drummer, who is best known for his work with Elton John. Olsson helped establish the Elton John sound as one of the first members of John's band, on drums, percussion and backing vocals. When not working with Elton, Olsson has taken up the role of a session musician...
: drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Paul BuckmasterPaul BuckmasterPaul John Buckmaster is a Grammy Award-winning English artist, arranger and composer.He began learning the cello at the age of 4 and graduated from the Royal College of Music at age 16....
: orchestral arrangements