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Sean Callaghan
Bio
Neurodivergent, Writer, Drummer, Singer, Percussionist, Star Wars and Disney Devotee.
Stories (94/0)
'Honky Chateau'
Honky Chateau was an album of many firsts for Elton John. Most notably it was the first of his albums not to be recorded in London. Inspired by the Rolling Stones, Elton opted to record in France at the Chateau D'Hierouville, which gives the album its title. An old chateau featuring lodging for the band, a swimming pool, and various recreations in addition to a fully-functional recording studio, which had been previously used by the Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd for their soundtrack for the French Film "La Valle" (also known as "Obscured by Clouds"). It would also be the first Elton John album to primarily feature Elton's touring band of Davey Johnstone on guitar, banjo, mandolin, and vocals, Dee Murray on bass and vocals, and Nigel Olsson on drums and vocals performing on all the tracks. It was also his first album to top the US Charts.
By Sean Callaghan6 years ago in Beat
'Madman Across the Water'
After a highly successful first tour of the United States in the fall and winter of 1970-71, Elton John and producer Gus Dudgeon returned to Trident Studios in London to record Madman Across the Water. The tour was immensely successful, and if fans were anxious for the next LP to hit the shops they still had plenty of available product to ring the registers, not only with the previous two hit albums but also a songtrack for the movie Friends on which Elton worked with orchestrator Paul Buckmaster and a live album taken from a live radio concert in New York, titled 11-17-70 in the US (17-11-70 in the UK). UK fans could also still pick up Elton's actual debut, Empty Sky.
By Sean Callaghan6 years ago in Beat
'Tumbleweed Connection'
Elton John's third album was released later in 1970 after his career-making second album was released earlier in the year. The Tumbleweed Connection album immediately sets a western mood with the photograph of the old-time train station on the cover while the illustrations in the booklet depict various pieces of Americana such as trains, steamboats, farms and guns. The Americana themes of the album were heavily influenced by Robbie Robertson’s songwriting for The Band, the former backing band of Bob Dylan, which went on to record great albums such as Music From Big Pink and their self-titled second album known for such classic songs as "Up on Cripple Creek" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," which have become classics of Americana. Taupin would not actually see America until later that year when Elton’s first tour of the States went underway.
By Sean Callaghan6 years ago in Beat
Elton John
For all intents and purposes, the eponymous Elton John album released in 1970 was an overnight smash debut that propelled the future "rocket man" to the top of the charts, and for the first half of the decade to the top of both the concert attendance and Top 40 lists.
By Sean Callaghan6 years ago in Beat
Our Empty Sky Was Filled With Laughter
In December 1968, Elton John and Producer Steve Brown went to Dick James Studios in London to record Elton’s first album Empty Sky. Sessions for the album lasted until April of 1969. The album was released in the United Kingdom in June 1969 where it performed modestly but was not a huge success. It was not released in the United States until 1975, thus explaining why many American record-buyers have no memory of it.
By Sean Callaghan6 years ago in Beat
My Guitar Couldn't Hold You So I Split the Band
When Elton John was sent to the United States by Dick James Music in 1970 to perform. He was accompanied by a touring band comprised of Dee Murray on Bass and Nigel Olsson on drums. Though Dee and Nigel would appear sparingly on Tumbleweed Connection and Madman Across the Water, the early albums relied almost exclusively on Session Musicians, that changed in 1972 with the addition of Davey Johnstone on Guitar after which the touring band would also be used on Studio Recordings for the bulk of the rest of Elton's recorded work. His band saw many (Often controversial) changes throughout the years including firing his core rhythm section of Olsson and Murray, twice.
By Sean Callaghan6 years ago in Beat
Pirates of the Caribbean
Original "Pooped Pirate" scene from the first 30 years. On first glance, the premise of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction might seem to be one of the most morally objectionable premises for a family-friendly attraction. A group of pirates invade, loot, and burn to the ground a colonial Caribbean seaport. Along the way, they torture city officials, drink rum like there's no tomorrow, and drunkenly sing about the joys of piracy as the city burns around them.
By Sean Callaghan6 years ago in Wander
Disney's Hollywood Studios
For 90 years now, Mickey Mouse has been Mickey Mouse. The major branding element of the original Walt Disney Productions and everything that has followed: animated films, movie features, television shows hosted by Walt himself that ran the gamut from cartoons to backstage specials to nature documentaries; television shows with cute young stars going from the Annette Funicello era right through to Hannah Montana, Mickey is the key to all Disney theme parks, and the strongest and most recognizable branding element in the world.
By Sean Callaghan6 years ago in Wander
Disney California Adventure
Failure Disney's California Adventure might not be the worst entertainment idea ever to come out of the Golden State—after all, someone thought it was a good idea to make a feature film about emojis, but it very well could be the worst that ever came out of the house that Walt built.
By Sean Callaghan7 years ago in Wander
Decline of a Dream
A Founder's Dream In October 1966, two months before his death, Walt Disney outlined his dream for a Living Community of the future as the centerpiece of his planned "Disney World" project in the swamps of Central Florida. Walt referred to this dream project as EPCOT, for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. It would be an idealized city of the future with innovative transportation systems and all sorts of facilities designed with the public's needs in mind.
By Sean Callaghan7 years ago in Wander
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