Elton John - Live in London (December 15th, 1982) - 2024 UPGRADE

Elton John
At Live in Hammersmith Odeon
London, England
December 15th, 1982
Audience Recording
Sound Quality: B
Attendance: 5,000

Thumbnail and Description inspired on @ryannewton1202, credits to him
Audio cortesy of @GregsynthWizard, credits to him

This marks the seventh night of Elton John’s Jump Up! UK tour at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, a date that turned out to be one of the most unusual and challenging of the run. Just moments before the show was set to begin, Elton and his band—guitarist Davey Johnstone and bassist Dee Murray—received unexpected news: drummer Nigel Olsson would not be performing due to a severe hangover (Gastric flu). The announcement came so last-minute that Elton had to break the news himself onstage, offering the audience a refund at the end of the show, while still committing to deliver a performance for those who chose to stay.

The result was an intimate and raw experience: Elton at the piano, Davey on guitar, and Dee on bass—no drums, no percussion. This lineup created a unique dynamic, with Dee Murray stepping up and driving the rhythm with more forceful and intricate bass lines to fill in the sonic gap. Despite the awkward start, the band adapted quickly and managed to deliver a compelling performance under the circumstances.

One of the most notorious moments of the night came during “Bennie and the Jets,” when Elton, frustrated or caught up in the emotion of the moment, hurled his piano bench toward what he believed was an open orchestra pit. Unbeknownst to him, the pit was closed, and the bench bounced back, hitting a woman in the front rows on the shoulder. Clearly shaken, Elton attempted to explain the mishap with irritation, saying, “Listen, I’m very sorry I threw the piano stool. If you’re that hurt, go and see an RSPCA man.” He then added, “I didn’t throw it at you—I meant to throw it there. If you’re that hurt and keeping up such a fuss, get a St. John’s Ambulance man!” The performance of the song was cut short after an extended piano improvisation, as Elton ensured the fan received proper medical attention.

Backstage, Elton reportedly found a lighthearted atmosphere, which only deepened his frustration. He stormed out in his limousine, taking a 10–15-minute drive before traffic forced him to return and finish the show. To make amends, the injured fan was later gifted a leather jacket, a bottle of champagne, and treated to a shopping spree. The setlist was also shortened due to the delay—“Chloe” and “All Quiet on the Western Front” were removed, and “Daniel” was moved earlier in the set, no longer appearing during the encore.

Musically, the night had its ups and downs but was filled with standout moments. “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” opened the show a bit rough around the edges, with Elton’s voice sounding raspy, and the missing harmonies from Nigel noticeable. “All the Girls Love Alice” was full of energy, with Dee’s bass dominating the mix. “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” was vocally solid, and “Better Off Dead,” cheekily dedicated to Nigel, was tight and reminiscent of its 1979 live renditions. “Empty Garden” stood out for its emotional vocal delivery, and both “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and “The Bitch Is Back” were energetic despite the stripped-down sound, with improvised arrangements compensating for the lack of drums. “Elton’s Song” was a beautiful moment, delivered with delicate falsetto and supported by the Yamaha CP-80’s signature tone. “Daniel,” now played mid-set, maintained its warmth through the Rhodes keyboard, while “Where To Now St. Peter?” featured rich musical textures and vocal depth. “Blue Eyes” and “Rocket Man” were strong, with the latter particularly shining through its falsetto-laden climax, evoking the 1979 era once again. Bennie And The Jets is solid, but is overshadowed by the incident explained above. After returning to the stage post-incident, Elton quickly moved through “Your Song” and “Crocodile Rock,” both performed with slightly hurried tempos. The night closed with a lively medley of rock ’n’ roll covers: “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On,” “I Saw Her Standing There,” and “Twist and Shout”.

Credits to GregSynthWizard, Ethan and TheEltonBootlegs for the information!

0. "Our Drummer Can't Play" - 0:00
1. Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding - 0:45
2. All The Girls Love Alice - 11:36
3. Someone Saved My Life Tonight - 16:24
4. Better Off Dead - 23:54
5. Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny) - 26:41
6. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - 31:51
7. The Bitch Is Back - 35:00
8. Pinball Wizard - 38:52
9. Song For Guy - 44:01
10. Elton's Song - 51:05
11. Daniel - 54:01
12. Where To Now St. Peter? - 58:14
13. Blue Eyes - 1:04:36
14. Where Have All The Good Times Gone - 1:07:54
15. Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long Long Time) - 1:12:00
16. Bennie And The Jets - 1:21:07
17. Your Song - 1:29:04
18. Crocodile Rock - 1:32:51
19. Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On / I Saw Her Standing There / Twist And Shout - 1:36:40