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Empty Sky by  Released6 June 1969 (UK)
13 January 1975 (US)RecordedNovember 1968 – April 1969Studio, London, , , Length41:00 (original release)
54:56 (1995 reissue)  (UK)  (US) Steve Brown chronologyEmpty Sky
(1969)
(1970)Alternative cover U.S. album cover

Empty Sky is the debut studio album by British singer-songwriter , released on 6 June 1969. It would not be released in the United States until January 1975 (on MCA), with different cover art, well after John's fame had been established internationally.

Background

Recorded during the winter of 1968 and spring of 1969 in a  , Empty Sky is the only album in the early part of Elton John's career not produced by , instead helmed by friend and DJM staffer Steve Brown. The album was released in the UK in both stereo and mono with the latter now being a rare collector's item.

John plays  on several tracks, including "", which John has described as being "the first song  and I ever got excited about that we ever wrote."

John used musicians who were either his or Brown's friends. Guitarist  and drummer Roger Pope, both members of the band Hookfoot at the time, played on many of the tracks. (Quaye and Pope would rejoin John a few years later as part of his studio and touring band behind  in 1975 and  in 1976.) Tony Murray from  played bass. Empty Sky is the first appearance with John of then  and  member , who played drums on "Lady What's Tomorrow?" (Olsson and fellow Spencer Davis bandmate, bassist , would soon join John as his early '70s touring band.) Also listed in the production credits is Clive Franks, who would later produce John's live sound in concert for a tremendous amount of his touring career, as well as occasionally co-produce with John on albums such as  and . The original sleeve design was done by David Larkham (billed as "Dave"), who would go on to create designs for John and other artists.

"" is the most popular and best known song on the album, and is the only one which John, albeit infrequently, performs as part of his live shows. The more definitive version of "Skyline Pigeon" featuring an orchestra and piano backing in place of harpsichord was recorded for 1973's , and initially appeared as the B-side of "" in 1973. Another appearance of the song was in 1974, when a version recorded in London was featured as the opening track on the  live LP and CD reissue. A version of the title track, "Empty Sky," was also included at various stops on John's 1975 tour.

Although John has since called the album naive, he does have fond memories of making the record. These include walking home from recording at 4 a.m. and lodging at the Salvation Army HQ in Oxford Street, which was run by Steve Brown's father. "I remember when we finished work on the title track - it just floored me. I thought it was the best thing I'd ever heard in my life," John recalled. He later recalled that he was "unsure what style I was going to be ... [maybe what]  sounds like."

Reception Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRating

's retrospective review showed a subdued reaction to the material, concluding "There aren't any forgotten gems on Empty Sky, but it does suggest John's potential."

Track listing

All tracks are written by  and .

Side oneNo.TitleLength1."Empty Sky"8:292."Val-Hala"4:113."Western Ford Gateway"3:154."Hymn 2000"4:29Side twoNo.TitleLength1."Lady What's Tomorrow"3:092."Sails"3:453."The Scaffold"3:184.""3:375."Gulliver / Hay Chewed / Reprise"6:58