Radio Elton John

An orchestral arranger and conductor who worked on Blue Moves, A Single Man, and Jump Up! as well as the Tommy soundtrack. He had his own orchestra in college which debuted at Royal Albert Hall just months after he graduated. A personal friend of Paul Backmaster we will discover his story from the days of Royal Academy of Music until the present day conducting the City of Prague Orchestra, where this photo was captured.

Billy Trudel was part of the band at some of the most iconic performances Elton gave in the Millennium era. But did you know Billy was in a movie with Robert de Nero, Dustin Hoffman and Kirsten Dunst? Or that Billy Joel is sneaked into the song Radio Nights? Hear the stories you don't hear anywhere else as Billy also gives Elton fans a world premiere of his songs "City Full of Angels" and "Miserable". But we're elated, not miserable. Join us in the party!

Fellow Elton podcaster Neil Barrett joins us for this fun edition. Did you know that Neil spends up to 60 hours to produce a one-hour podcast episode? He's dedicated and as a speech therapist he offers insights on some of Elton's singing style. Has Elton the diction that singer Matt Munro had?

Changes at Radio Elton John explained. Hot news of a new podcaster joining us. Special deal on subscription at REJ.World

In July 2024 we commemorate 22 years since the loss of respected music producer Gus Dudgeon. We celebrate his life and remember a dear friend to all of Elton's fans in this tribute. His brother Murray Dudgeon and Chris Hook who founded the Gus Dudgeon Foundation join the show. Expect an emotional edition.

Recorded 27 June 2024.

First broadcast 27 July 2024

Presenter: George Matlock

Executive producer: Hezikor Kadouri

Now available in full at rej.world

Sunday night's alright for fighting

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Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, that's alright

Candy! Candy! Can you hear me?

Real Elton fans tune into Radio Elton John. Visit radioeltonjohn.world to subscribe. You’re missing out!

Elton's musical direction was decided after a recording at Olympic Studios in London. We speak to Olympic's music historian Roger Miles, Elton fan Paul Lewis and someone who was with Elton for that fateful recording in 1969, Stuart Epps. We also discover what's in store for Olympic in 2024. And yes Peter Thomas makes a cameo appearance.

Recorded 23 May 2024.

First broadcast 29 June 2024

Hosted by George Matlock

Now available in full at rej.world

Our guest is perhaps the ultimate Elton John fan - at least as a collector. A former BBC engineer, he is an Elton archivist who also manufactures speakers - which were used to play back The Union album to Elton! He has acetates galore, helped track down bonus material for various 50th anniversary Elton album releases, boasts a plethora of Elton music never released and specialises in the rare 1960s repertoire that fans often get confused by - and end up out of pocket buying the same thing twice. So Peter is something of an ex officio consumer warrior! In this episode he shares his passion for everything Elton John but also gives fans handy tips on how to protect their treasure trove of Elton collectables.

Recorded 5 April 2024.

First Broadcast 27 April 2024

Hosted by George Matlock

Now available in full at rej.world

Our guest was studio manager of the Caribou Ranch studio in Colorado where Elton recorded several albums including 1974 classic Caribou. John Carsello talks about the making of the album, ahead of the release of an extended vinyl version on UK Record Store Day, 20 April. Find out how Elton was evicted by the Rolling Stones, and how Elton swapped roles to deliver burgers to his band.

Recorded 13 March 2024.

First broadcast 30 March 2024

Hosted by George Matlock

Now available in full at rej.world

CORRECTION: The guest would like to outpoint that "If You Leave Me Now", was written by Peter Cetera of Chicago. Jim Guercio wrote "Tell Me" which was sung by Terry Kath of the group Chicago.

Our guest is more than a blank filler. He's worked with Elton and also with Bernie Taupin on his first spoken word album, with Plastic Penny, and Hookfoot. He confesses that when he recorded one Hookfoot track – a cover of Rolling Stones’ folk song Gimme Shelter – he missed the first note from Caleb Quaye, and he reveals what Elton was like before he was famous. Terry Carty added "more audience" to Elton's first-ever live album 17-11-70.

Recorded 15 February 2024.

First Broadcast 24 February 2024

Hosted by George Matlock

Now available in full at rej.world

Elton has always surrounded himself with a talented team, and our special guest is someone whom Eric Clapton once described as the best guitarist - ever. Caleb Quaye tells us about how he worked with Elton since the early 1960s and his own numerous achievements. Look out for the Robin Hood singalong!

Recorded 05 January 2024.

First broadcast 27 January 2024

Hosted by George Matlock

Now available in full at rej.world

The final episode of Season 2 is a festive treat. A pedal steel guitarist BJ Cole has worked with Davey Johnstone, Kiki Dee, Nigel Olsson's Plastic Penny, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dave Edmunds, Johnny Halliday, Roger Daltry, T Rex, Sting, Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, Robert Plant, Bjork, David Gilmour, R E M, Liam Gallagher and The Goodies! Plus many more. He looms large on Tiny Dancer and performed on Georgiaon Elton's A Single Man album. Hear how Bluesology led him to Dick James Music and onto Elton.

Recorded 24 November 2023. First aired 30 December 2023.

Now available in full at rej.world

Elton fan Wayne Martin joins from Boston, USA to tell us about his puppet show, Elton costumes and hats, his recollections of working with The Muppet Show creator Jim Henson and how he came to perform his puppet show for The First Lady as well as show Elton his Elton puppet. Find out what happened.

This episode includes visuals, so head over to the episode on our website www.eltonjohn.world where we share more photos of Wayne and his creations. Enjoy!

Recorded 16 August 2023. First aired 25 November 2023.

Now available in full at rej.world

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 eyes.

Recorded 13 October 2023. First aired 28 October 2023.

Now available in full at rej.world

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 how he satirises unsavoury characters and how he had a passion for Holiday Inn….towels. Expect a zany edition of treasured memories.

Recorded 19 September 2023. First aired 30 September 2023.

Now available in full at rej.world

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 our guests attended Elton’s final gig in Stockholm on 8 July. We apologise for technical glitches which resulted in some feedback, and for the loss during the broadcast of Claude. We hope to welcome him back another time.

Recorded 16 July 2023. First aired 29 July 2023.

Now available in full at rej.world

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 edge tracks for the latest generation of budding artists. Find out how Stu once torched Elton – clearly not knowing where to light the fuse on our Rocketman! For more about Epps Records, visit stuartepps.co.uk

Recorded 13 June 2023. First aired 24 June 2023.

Now available in full at rej.world

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.

Now available in full at rej.world

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 over to eltonjohn.world and read the competition terms to be in with a chance to win it!

Recorded 25 April 2023. First aired 29 April 2023.

Now available in full at rej.world

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 March 2023.

Now available in full at rej.world

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 chose to take the stage and premiere his entire new autobiographical album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy.

Recorded 21 February 2023. First aired 25 February 2023.

Now available in full at rej.world

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.

Now available in full at rej.world

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.

Now available in full at rej.world

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.

Recorded 24 November 2022. First aired 26 November 2022.

Now available in full at rej.world

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.

Recorded 21 October 2022. First aired 29 October 2022.

Now available in full at rej.world

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 September 2022. First aired 24 September 2022.

Now available in full at rej.world

Here's a snippet of what to expect on May 25.

Saturday Night's Alright (for Podcasting) is released every last Saturday of the month, at 18:00 hours London time.

Check it out on the eltonjohn.world launchpad!

Catch-up with all Radio Elton John episodes from the eltonjohn.world launchpad online!

Here's a snippet of what to expect on March 30.

Saturday Night's Alright (for Podcasting) is released every last Saturday of the month, at 18:00 hours London time.

Check it out on the eltonjohn.world launchpad!

Catch-up with all Radio Elton John episodes from the eltonjohn.world launchpad online!

First-ever news bulletin devoted to Elton John and his world. Read by George Matlock.

First-ever news bulletin devoted to Elton John and his world. Read by Charles Watt.

First-ever news bulletin devoted to Elton John and his world. Airs from Luxembourg on 12 Feb 2024. Read by George Matlock.

First-ever news bulletin devoted to Elton John and his world. Airs from London on 05 Feb 2024. Read by George Matlock.

First-ever news bulletin devoted to Elton John and his world. Airs from Luxembourg on 22 January 2024. Read by George Matlock.

First-ever news bulletin devoted to Elton John and his world. Airs from London on 15 January 2024. Read by George Matlock.

First-ever news bulletin devoted to Elton John and his world. Airs from London on 18 January 2024. Read by George Matlock.

First-ever news bulletin devoted to Elton John and his world. Airs from London on 18 December 2023. Read by George Matlock. Next bulletin 8 January 2024.

First-ever news bulletin devoted to Elton John and his world. First bulletin airs from Luxembourg on 11 December 2023. Read by George Matlock

It's super easy to listen to Radio Elton John via a smart speaker or smart wristwatch. George shows you how on Alexa device for Amazon Music. But you can also do it on Apple Podcasts. Be sure to pair your Alexa account with Amazon or Apple. You can command your Alexa device by saying "Alexa play podcast Radio Elton John on Amazon Music". Or you can say "Echo" as George has programmed his device. Enjoy all episodes today!

The trailer was originally released on 19 August 2022.