Elton John - Tell Me When the Whistle Blows (1974) 🎶

Track 4 from the 1975 album "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy," recorded in the summer of 1974 at Caribou Ranch in Colorado, USA. Gus Dudgeon, producer. It is an autobiographical album, the songs telling the story of Elton John and Bernie Taupin's struggling years as songwriters, leading to their success in 1970. This song deals particularly with Bernie Taupin's adjustment to city life in London, after coming from the country to live and work with Reg Dwight (Elton John). The strings were arranged by Gene Page, the Philadelphia arranger who worked with so many in the Gamble & Huff Philly Soul World, such as Barry White, Billy Paul and the Spinners. Page also arranged "Philadelphia Freedom." Elton played both electric piano and clavinet on this track, creating both a soulful mood and an effective mimic of a train on the tracks.

The album debuted at #1 on the US Pop Albums chart, the first album ever to do so, and stayed there for seven weeks. Unlike Elton's previous albums, which were usually written and recorded rather quickly, "Captain Fantastic" was well-planned and labored over for several months. After receiving the lyrics from Taupin, Elton wrote the music alone on a cruise ship sailing from England to New York. Great attention and detail was given to the recording process over several weeks at Caribou Ranch. The cover art was designed by Alan Aldridge.

Tell Me When the Whistle Blows
Words & Music by Elton John & Bernie Taupin
©1975 Big Pig Music Limited

Elton John: Vocals, Electric Piano & Clavinet
Dee Murray: Bass Guitar
Nigel Olsson: Drums
Davey Johnstone: Guitar
Ray Cooper: Tambourine & Congas
Gene Page: Orchestral Arrangement