Radio Elton John

We celebrate Elton John’s most successful album, as Goodbye Yellow Brick Road marks 50 years this month. We speak with the artist who brought the album vividly alive with his creative cover for the gatefold, London-based Ian Beck. We learn how the album was influenced by a work for Irish singer-songwriter Jonathan Kelly. Ian also worked on the artwork for the final Elton tour, Farewell Yellow Brick Road. See a favourite through new...

We celebrate International Podcast Day today with a very special and timeless artist. Elton has often broken from convention musically, and never more so than having a tap dancer from the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band on the Honky Chateau album in 1972. “Legs” Larry Smith tells us how he became Elton’s mentor and went on to reassure him on tour. Find out how Larry and Elton met Groucho Marx and Mae West. The comic-cum-musician tells us ho...

This month, Radio Elton John celebrates its first birthday. Launched on 19 August 2022 with a trailer we now come full circle with this short-ish episode where George reflects on some of the interviews he’s hosted, as well as shares some enhancements to elton john.world, the Elton fans’ favourite fan website. And of course play some less-aired Elton music!

Recorded 19 August 2023. First aired 26 August 2023.

In a first, Radio Elton John hosts a multiple guest debate on the end of the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, and rediscovers veteran Elton fans. Joining us are: Stephan Heimbecher, founder of Rocket Fan, latterly Hercules Fan Club, Wayne Martin, Elton author Claude Bernardin, Paul Smith, founder of Facebook group Elton John Online. and identical twins who perform on stage with John Jorgenson, Sandra and Tania Differding! All of o...

We go Epic, or make that Shweppic, with our latest Shwepisode. Not enough of a hint? This man has worked with a long list of top musical artists in the UK and USA. He’s been a long-time friend of eltonjohn.world too. In our latest Radio Elton John podcast the man nicknamed Schwepps talks about working with Elton as his sound engineer when both of them were starting out, and how Stuart Epps is now giving back by producing leading ed...

The man who plays Elton when he doesn’t is our guest this month. Adam Chester has been Elton’s stand-in for gig rehearsals since 2005 and it all started with a Rock of the Westies album in a record store and with Davey Johnstone humbly remarking the album was “alright”. Adam is a hoot. So join him on the tree branch tonight!

Recorded 11 May 2023. First aired 27 May 2023.

Elton John All The Songs was published earlier in April. We catch up with its authors, Rolling Stone journalists Romuald Ollivier and Olivier Roubin in Nantes, France, to tell us how they approached the ambitious task of documenting the story of every Elton John song. To coincide with the book’s launch the authors and publisher Hachette are offering one English-language copy of this bible of Elton songs signed by the authors. Head ...

As we mark Sir Elton’s 76th birthday today our special guest is lyricist Gary Anthony Osborne, who wrote the words to Blue Eyes, Shine On Through and Little Jeannie. But what word did Elton want cut out from one of Gary’s lyrics? We showcase Gary’s musical story and find out how Elton chose to change his music writing to lead with the music, a 180 degrees on how he writes with Bernie Taupin.

Recorded 8 March 2023. First aired 25 Ma...

Episode aka “The Man who Turned Down Elton John’s Job offer”, tells the story from road manager Phil Greenfield. Phil handled logistics and sounds for Hookfoot, Caleb Quaye’s band which also featured Roger Pope and Ian Duck. Phil has no chip on his shoulder as he tells us how Elton forgave him for snubbing a job and came back for a stint at Elton’s Wembley Stadium gig in 1975. He captures the mood of the audience stunned that Elton...

One recording artist who has been part of the Elton John story throughout 50 years is Kiki Dee. Elton helped produce her 1973 album Loving & Free, and the duo have recorded chart-topping songs together. Hear Kiki’s story on Radio Elton John. The results of our recent podcast survey will be revealed in our February edition.

Recorded 11 January 2023. First aired 28 January 2023

George Matlock offers a quick retrospective of 2022 and what’s in store in 2023. Plus we want your votes on which artists Elton should record with next as well as what songs were composed by others but could have been “made” for Elton. Be sure to email us at radio@eltonjohn.world We will tell you the results in the next episode.

Recorded and first aired 31 December 2022.

Dodger Stadium is where Elton John bid farewell to his north American concert audience for the last time a week ago. It is also where landmark twin concerts were staged in the summer of 1975 and rock immortality was born. On stage with him was a guitarist who insisted he would only do it if Elton personally phoned him. Elton did just that. And the rest, Kenny Passarelli, is huge history. Hear Kenny’s story in this hour-long special...

We first met our guest a few months after eltonjohnworld launched in 2002, at the official opening of the Gus Dudgeon Foundation. Twenty years on, we introduce you to an Elton fan and singer-songwriter whose work has been arranged or mixed by Elton luminaries such as Paul Buckmaster and David Hentschel. Meet David Scott Crawford whose brand new album contains some of Paul’s last-ever works and is released on 1 November 2022.

Record...

Elton John drummer Charlie Morgan opens the Radio Elton series Saturday Night's Alright for podcasting. Charlie discusses his illustrious drum kit, home life as well as his latest recording projects, working with an Elton John tribute act and battling Covid-19. Charlie also reveals that he will be back in the UK in October with the Woman To Woman gigs featuring Beverley Craven, Judie Tzuke, Julia Fordham and Rumor.

Recorded 2 S...