Elton John's "Hard Luck Story" - Kiki Dee 1974 video free download
The original 1974 version, released as a single on Rocket Records. Elton John & Bernie Taupin wrote this song for Kiki Dee and then Elton produced the record, along with Clive Franks. Not a hit, the song then disappeared without a trace! Later that same year Kiki had a big hit (with Elton and Clive producing) with the song "I've Got the Music in Me".
"Hard Luck Story" appeared again on Elton John's own "Rock of the Westies" album in 1975, with Kiki Dee singing back-up vocals. For Elton's version the lyrics were altered, so they could be sung by the "husband" in the story - which really didn't work so well. It's quite interesting to hear the original lyrics, which were meant to be from the unhappy wife's perspective!
Incidentally the songwriting credits are given to "Ann Orson - Carte Blanche" which were aliases for Elton John & Bernie Taupin. They also published "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" under the same names! (The names are a joke about "horse and cart" ....)
Comments
9 years ago
hamtrak
Too bad the TOTP tv show version of this was removed,it was really cool.10 years ago
alex brown
like both Kiki version and Elton10 years ago
theesbband
Is that Mike Wedgwood on bass?? Very good!!11 years ago
TheEJproject
Yes, its interesting if any pre-Blue Moves material was initiated by Elton. I am aware of "Sorry..." and im sure there are others but it certainly worked more that way with Osborne. Incidentally, Cher's lyrics for "Dont trust that woman" was sent out to other composers as well as Elton. A guitarist called Les Dudek wrote and recorded music for it too. With Elton's version, Cher insisted her name be credited first and so, with typical mischief, Elton refused and went by the name Lady Choc Ice!11 years ago
TheEJproject
From GYBR onwards you can detect more bite, cynicism and world-weariness from Taupin, so i don't think this is out of kilter. If it is a song written specifically for Kiki, then it would be the first time in say, 5 years that they have written for a female vocal (eg Lulu) and I just don't think Elton would have done it alone and not with such lyrics. Some people have suggested that the song would have been better as a duet....infact the song's nasty sentiment is very similar to Act of War.11 years ago
TheEJproject
Ive heard about the lone-Elton theory but i do think this is Taupin. Its another of those blood, sweat and tears of the working man lyrics, written during the time of Caribou which fits lyrically, especially on the rock songs. The joke pseudonyms started on GYBR (jamaica jerk-off) and from thereon they started to poke fun at their own success... 'an horse n cart' indeed. They also used "Tripe and onions" as a credit too. Could it be Elton? Dont go breaking my heart kinda was, then BT took over.11 years ago
RonnieFriend
BTW when Elton wrote songs with Gary Osborne (Blue Eyes, Single Man album, etc) he usually (maybe always?) wrote music first, usually making up the title, first lines, sometimes much of the song. Once when he wrote a song to lyrics by Cher he called himself Lady Choc Ice!11 years ago
RonnieFriend
Interesting. Elton has often told the story of "Don't Go Breaking": he phoned Bernie, gave him the title & asked him to write the lyrics. He rejected the first attempt, phoned Bernie back and got him to write the words he recorded. Maybe a similar thng happened with this song (Hard Luck), that Elton wrote words first? Maybe the joke names was a nod to that. According to Elton "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" was also started by him on piano, he made up the first line, Bernie finished it.11 years ago
sbcruiser2
Kiki is GREAT!!!12 years ago
Strawberry7Lynn
It's the first time I've heard of this. Her releases that preceded and proceeded this one got plenty of radioplay. This one didn't get any. Strange13 years ago
oldnewbie47
Great version, better even than Elton's but it simply isn't mixed all that well. Her voice is not upfront as it should be. The music itself, with the exception of the drums, sounds muffled and too compressed. Well then in the second half it gets brighter and more radio ready but turns to mud again shortly into the repeat chorus... sigh... poor Kiki just didn't have the production team she needed (Elton obviously is not a producer. Where was Gus??).13 years ago
dlshiloh
The driving funk and her sultry voice does it - and I agree with everyone how the lyric makes more sense.14 years ago
intrepidsinger
Ronnie, you have done it again! To paraphrase another EJ/BT classic: You've been mining gold - again! Wherever do you find these gems? Amazing! Kiki's version is a bit swampy/Philly soul and her voice is, as always, spot-on. It's like a completely different song. I do love Elton's version, but this one is more proof of the fact that outside of England, Kiki is one of the most underrated female vocalists of the past 50 years. GREAT POST - again!!!14 years ago
the13corinne
kiki dee's version is the best!! i love the remasters!! kiki is queen of brit pop!!14 years ago
strangefruit42
I like Elton's 'ooheeooheeooh' better, but apart from that... Kiki did one hell of a job. And the lyrics make more sense this way indeed.14 years ago
motoGPrider1
Great audio. thanx !15 years ago
gallery606
Very interesting to hear this version - I liked Elton's version just fine, but this lyric makes more sense . . .Related Videos
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