Roy Everett Sings Empty Sky – Before Elton John

In May 1969, singer Roy Everett released a single featuring Empty Sky, a song written by the then-unknown duo Elton John and Bernie Taupin. What makes this release extraordinary is that it came before Elton John himself recorded and released the track on his debut album of the same name.

Issued as the B-side to Everett’s single Happy Birthday Blues (Parlophone R 5781) on May 23, 1969, this version of Empty Sky stands as the first commercial recording of the song. Elton John’s debut album Empty Sky would only appear on June 6, 1969, making Everett’s version a rare yet significant milestone in Elton’s early career.

The single was produced by Jonathan Peel, arranged by Joe Moretti, and released in association with Tony Hall Enterprises. The publishing credits — Essex Music and Dick James Music (DJM) — reveal how the song reached Everett: through the publisher’s catalog, rather than a direct personal connection with Elton. This was common practice at the time, with young songwriters often offering their work to other performers.

Roy Everett’s recording is therefore more than a forgotten B-side; it is a glimpse into the moment when Elton John was still primarily seen as a songwriter for others, before the world discovered him as a performer. Everett’s Empty Sky remains a fascinating prelude to Elton’s rise, underscoring the underground pathways through which great songs often travel before reaching their definitive form.

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