A Look Back at Elton’s U.S. Debut

Despite his record label’s attempts to hype Elton John’s first U.S. concert, the young singer was unknown in America before he stepped onstage at the Troubadour the night of Aug. 25, 1970. Following are excerpts from Robert Hilburn’s Calendar review that ran on Aug. 27:

Rejoice. Rock music, which has been going through a rather uneventful period lately, has a new star. He’s Elton John, a 23-year-old Englishman whose United States debut Tuesday night at the Troubadour was, in almost every way, magnificent. . . .

John proved to be a multidirectional talent of the highest order.

His music is so staggeringly original that it is obvious he is not operating within a given musical field (such as country or blues or rock), but, like Randy Newman and Laura Nyro, among others, creating his own field.

He has, to be sure, borrowed from country, rock, blues, folk and other influences, but he has mixed them in his own way. . . .

John’s songs are co-written by lyricist Bernie Taupin, whose lyrics often capture the same timeless, objective spirit of the Band’s Robbie Robertson. . . .

Beyond his vocals, melodies and arrangements, there is a certain sense of the absurd about John as a performer that is reminiscent of the American rock stars of the mid-1950s.

Only someone with that wild, uninhibited view of his music would dare ask the audience to sing along--something that is almost never done anymore--or drop to his knees, like Jerry Lee Lewis used to do, in a rousing piano finale on “Burn Down the Mission.” It worked wonderfully well.

The audience, which included one of the largest local gatherings of rock writers in months, roared its approval, bringing John back for an encore.

By the end of the evening, there was no question about John’s talent and potential. Tuesday night at the Troubadour was just the beginning. He’s going to be one of rock’s biggest and most important stars.