Elton John - Philadelphia Freedom (Captain Fantastic 13 of 13)

Philadelphia Freedom

1975

Elton John

‘OH I LIVE AND BREATHE THAT PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM!!!…’ Oh yeah…that’s definitely another one of those songs from The Seventies that everyone from that era remembers, and most everyone likes. You hear the strings start up with that repetitive two note, then the horns kick in with that classic four note intro, and you know exactly what song you're getting ready to hear... 

This is probably one of Elton John's best known hits, and as I recall he had some very well known and well loved hits. Elton John and Bernie Taupin wrote it (Taupin, in fact, wrote most of Elton John’s songs) and The Elton John Band recorded it in the Summer of ’74, and released it as a single in Feb ’75.   Elton John wrote it as a favor to Billie Jean King who was a close friend of his, and it was originally going to be  a homage to her tennis team, The Philadelphia Freedoms. Taupin said he couldn’t write a song about Tennis, and of course didn’t. Instead the homage to freedom's soon to be legendary lyrics, up-beat tempo, and strong instrumentals s meshed perfectly with the emotions and feelings leading to the US Bicentennial a year later.

Of course, as teens we probably didn’t give the patriotic leanings of the song a great deal of thought…we just knew we liked what we heard…a lot. This was the first song that Elton John and Bernie Taupin wrote specifically as a single, and Elton said he knew it was going to be a hit almost from the git-go. Guess what…he was right.  The song broke a 12 week streak of songs that held the top spot on The Hot 100 for only one week when It spent two weeks at # 1  almost exactly 38 years ago, spending two weeks at Number One in mid April, ’75. It was also certified platinum exactly 38 years ago when 4-23-13 rolls around. The last song that spent multiple weeks at #1, twelve weeks earlier? Elton John's cover of 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.

Philadelphia Freedom was a staple on WLEE, and every other Top 40 station, during my senior year in high school as well as a regularly covered song at dances. There was a reason that the song seemed to Last forever when you danced to it…at 5:38 Philadelphia Freedom was one of the longest dance hits on record, as well as one of the longest #1 songs on record. (BTW, DJs and program directors hated songs over about 4 minutes because they really screwed up playlists and promos such as ‘X’ hits an hour)

 You can still hear it on Oldies stations and classic Rock stations and I have a sneakin' suspicion our great great grand kids will still be hearing it there long after we're gone. This is Classic 70s Music at its best.



So Enjoy. Philadelphia Freedom by Elton John. (Ya sang along with at least the chorus...ya know ya did ;) :D )



And as a bonus...a Live performance at The Royal Opera House, backed by a full orchestra. This arrangement kicks butt and takes names!