Elton John: 10 Best Classic Rock Songs
9. Take Me To The Pilot
An early Elton John piano rocker, Take Me To The Pilot sees Elton John spitting out lyrics unburdened by such pedestrian constraints as meaning or coherence.
Even Bernie Taupin has admitted he doesn’t know what his own words are about but that didn’t stop Elton finding the emotion in them. His vocal is filled with defiance and scorn.
This track was originally the a-side of a single backed by Your Song before the b-side’s popularity overshadowed Pilot becoming John’s first hit in both the UK and the US.
Forget the studio version though, the best way to experience Take Me To The Pilot is on the live album 17-11-70, taken from a live radio broadcast. Dave Herman, the radio DJ heard introducing Elton on the album, claims John cut his hand during the broadcast, resulting in a rather gory blood covered keyboard.