Three Incredible Nights

It was mid November, 1974 – There was not a hotter ticket than Elton John … A year following stupendous Goodbye Yellow Brick Road lp and fresh off the release of Caribou (June 1974) – Elton John was coming back to  Detroit!  Three nights!  Olympia Stadium!  This was exciting!

I bought tickets for and attended all three nights!  An three incredible nights they were.

 

 

I had been a fan of Elton since my senior year in high school.  Madman Across The Water was a staple on my turntable.  I listened to Madman hundreds of times with my headphones on and the volume high.  I saw Elton at Ford Auditorium, Cobo Hall (Honky Chateau Tour) and I couldn’t wait to see him now.

Of course, Elton was true showman.  Each night the songs were the same – the costumes were not.  One night he entered the stage with feather boas… the next night with his illuminating glasses (That spelled ELTON) and the last night he came out in leather with multi-colored balls extended wires — Shear craziness.

And the music – incredible – Elton Rocks – His band – Nigel Olsson, Dee Murray and Davey Johnstone were joined for this show with percussionist, Ray Cooper.  Nineteen songs – Three hours of incredible rock and excitement.

I still own two of the ticket stubbs (I have no idea what happened to the stuff from the 1st show)

Here is the setlist –  (As I remember it!)

 

  1. Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
  2. Candle in the Wind
  3. Grimsby
  4. Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time)
  5. Take Me to the Pilot
  6. Bennie and the Jets
  7. Daniel
  8. Grey Seal
  9. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
  10. Burn Down the Mission
  11. You’re So Static
  12. Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
  13. Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me
  14. Honky Cat
  15. All the Girls Love Alice
  16. Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting

    Encore:

  17. Crocodile Rock
  18. Your Song
  19. The Bitch Is Back

And how about those prices?  $8.50!  Three Elton John Concerts for $25.50!