Philadelphia Freedom (song)

Last updated

"Philadelphia Freedom"
Philly freedom.JPG
Single by the Elton John Band
B-side "I Saw Her Standing There" (live with John Lennon)
Released28 February 1975 (1975-02-28)
RecordedAugust 1974
Studio Sound Factory (Hollywood)
Genre
Length5:38
5:20 (edited version)
Label MCA (US)
DJM (UK)
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Gus Dudgeon
Elton John singles chronology
"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"
(1974)		"Philadelphia Freedom"
(1975)		"Someone Saved My Life Tonight"
(1975)
Official audio
"Philadelphia Freedom" on YouTube

"Philadelphia Freedom" is a song by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin. It was released as a single on 28 February 1975, [2] credited to the Elton John Band. The song was the fourth of John's six number-one singles in the US during the early and mid-1970s, which saw his recordings dominating the charts. In Canada it was his eighth single to hit the top of the RPM national singles chart.

Contents

The song was written by John and Taupin as a favour to John's friend, tennis star Billie Jean King, who was part of the Philadelphia Freedoms professional tennis team. The song features an orchestral arrangement by Gene Page that includes flutes, horns and strings.

The song made its album debut on 1977's Elton John's Greatest Hits Volume II .

Background

Recorded in the summer of 1974, during breaks between sessions for Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy , the song was at the time the only song Elton John and Bernie Taupin had ever consciously written as a single, as John told journalist Paul Gambaccini. John was looking to honour Billie Jean King, and so asked Taupin to write a song called "Philadelphia Freedom" as a homage to her tennis team, the Philadelphia Freedoms.

In His Song: The Musical History of Elton John, Elizabeth Rosenthal recounts that Taupin said, "I can't write a song about tennis", and did not. Taupin maintains that the lyrics bear no relation to tennis, Philadelphia soul, or even flag-waving patriotism. Nonetheless, the lyrics have been interpreted as patriotic and uplifting, and even though it was released in 1975, the song's sentiment, intentionally or not, meshed perfectly with an American music audience gearing up for the country's bicentennial celebration in July 1976. In the US, the song was certified Gold in 1975 and Platinum in 1995 by the Recording Industry Association of America. [3] Billboard ranked it as the number three song for 1975.

The song was dedicated in part to "the Philadelphia sound", which included the soul music of the Delfonics and the Spinners and the talents of writer-producers Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Thom Bell; John would work with Bell two years later on an EP that came to be known as The Thom Bell Sessions . "Philadelphia Freedom" plays in Philadelphia's Franklin Institute IMAX Theater before every show as a tribute to the city's love for freedom and its impact on the country. The lyrics are also printed on the walls of the Hard Rock Cafe in Philadelphia.

The B-side, "I Saw Her Standing There", is a live recording of the Elton John Band with John Lennon at Madison Square Garden on 28 November 1974. It was the last of three songs John and Lennon performed together that night; the performance would be Lennon's last concert appearance. Three songs from that collaboration were featured on the 1975 12" EP Elton John Band featuring John Lennon and the Muscle Shoals Horns (DJM). [4] These recordings can also be found on the Lennon box set and the remastered edition of John's Here and There album.

Billie Jean King

Elton John met Billie Jean King in 1973 and, according to reporters for CNN, they have since built a "powerful partnership in philanthropy, raising hundreds of millions of dollars...for equal rights and for HIV/AIDS causes". [5] Upon admiring and meeting King, John asked his long-term writing partner Bernie Taupin to write the lyrics to what became "Philadelphia Freedom" and dedicate it to his friend, King, who was a member of the Philadelphia Freedoms tennis team. The label on the vinyl for this record reads "with Love to B.J.K. and the sound of Philadelphia." [6] At the time, King had just been ranked the "World Number 1 women's player" for the fifth time in the previous seven years. Additionally, one reporter argued that she had "alter[ed] the gender perception of professional tennis with her victory against Bobby Riggs in a highly-publicized 'Battle of the Sexes' exhibition match." [6]

The lyrics of "Philadelphia Freedom" are not explicitly about the match or King, but stem from a love of King and her cause. Prior to their match, Riggs claimed that even as a 55-year-old man, he could still beat a woman (King was 29 at the time) in a tennis match because it was a man's game. The match was held on 20 September 1973 at the Astrodome in Houston, and was telecast worldwide. [7] Though usually cheering from the sidelines at every match, John lost his voice cheering King on from a Los Angeles hotel. [5] The year before the "Battle of the Sexes" match, Congress adopted the Equal Rights Amendment [note 1] and 1973 saw the decision of Roe v. Wade give women the right to choose to have an abortion. [8] King made other steps in feminism in 1973 when she founded the Women's Tennis Association and "convinced the U.S. Open to award female champions the same prize money as men". [5] This set the scene for King's match and victory against Riggs.

The win ignited even more advocacy efforts for sexual equality, shattered the stereotype Riggs had presented and, as feminist Gloria Steinem put it, "provided...a morale change". [7] King is now known as a "champion for social change and equal rights". [9]

Despite her success in the match and its historical importance, King told eltonjohn.com that they (she and Elton) did not want the song to be about tennis. [10] "It's a feeling", she said. [6] King and John also co-founded the World Team Tennis Smash Hits, a charity function benefitting AIDS charities. [6] King spoke of her work with Elton, saying "We're out there every single day with our energy and we're going to make this world a better place, no matter if it's through tennis, through music, whatever, to try to help the LGBT community, just help humanity." [11] [5]

On 18 October 2023, King competed in the tenth season of The Masked Singer as Royal Hen, singing "Philadelphia Freedom" in an episode that was a tribute to Elton John. [12]

Reception

Cash Box said that it has "a thumping heartbeat", "big production", "soaring strings and bleating horns". [13] Record World said that "Gene Page charts provide local color for EJ's latest not-available-on-lp smash." [14]

The single reached No 2 in New Zealand, [15] No 4 in Australia [16] and No 12 in the UK. [17]

Chart performance

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [29] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

The song was covered by Hall & Oates on the 1991 multi-artist tribute album Two Rooms . [30]

Personnel

Notes

Related Research Articles

<i>Honky Château</i> 1972 studio album by Elton John

Honky Château is the fifth studio album by English musician Elton John. It was released on 19 May 1972, and was titled after the 18th century French chateau where it was recorded, Château d'Hérouville. The album reached number one on the US Billboard 200, the first of John's seven consecutive US number one albums.

<i>Caribou</i> (album) 1974 studio album by Elton John

Caribou is the eighth studio album by English musician Elton John, released on 24 June 1974 by MCA Records in the US and on 28 June by DJM Records in the UK. It was his fourth chart-topping album in the United States and his third in the United Kingdom. The album contains the singles "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me", which reached number 16 in the UK Singles Chart and number two in the US, and "The Bitch Is Back", which reached number 15 in the UK and number four in the US. Both singles reached number one in Canada on the RPM 100 national Top Singles Chart, as did the album itself.

<i>Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy</i> 1975 studio album by Elton John

Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy is the ninth studio album by English musician Elton John, released on 23 May 1975 by DJM Records in the UK and MCA Records in the US. The album is an autobiographical account of the early musical careers of Elton John and his long-term lyricist Bernie Taupin. An instant commercial success, the album was certified gold before its release, and reached No. 1 in its first week of release on the US Billboard 200, the first album to achieve both honours. It sold 1.4 million copies within four days of release, and stayed in the top position in the chart for seven weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel (Elton John song)</span> 1973 single by Elton John

"Daniel" is a song written by English musician Elton John and his long-time songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was first released on John's 1973 album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player as its opening track. The original single release was also notable for a re-recorded version of 'Skyline Pigeon" on its B-side, which went on to be a popular track in its own right.

"Candle in the Wind" is a threnody style ballad written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was originally written in 1973, in honour of Marilyn Monroe, who had died 11 years earlier.

<i>Elton Johns Greatest Hits Volume II</i> 1977 greatest hits album by Elton John

Elton John's Greatest Hits Volume II is the sixteenth official album release for English musician Elton John, and the second compilation. The original 1977 US version features one song from 1971 and two songs from 1974 that were not on the first greatest hits album. It also features several hit songs from 1975 and two hit singles from John's past year of performing in 1976. The cover photograph was taken by Gered Mankowitz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Your Song</span> 1970 single by Elton John

"Your Song" is a song written by musician Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was John's first international Top 10 chart single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crocodile Rock</span> 1972 single by Elton John

"Crocodile Rock" is a song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, and recorded in summer 1972 at the Château d'Hérouville studio in France, where John and his team had previously recorded the Honky Château album. It was released on 27 October 1972 in the UK and 20 November 1972 in the U.S., as a pre-release single from his forthcoming 1973 album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player, and became his first U.S. number-one single, reaching the top spot on 3 February 1973, and staying there for three consecutive weeks. In the U.S., it was certified Gold on 5 February 1973 and Platinum on 13 September 1995 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whatever Gets You thru the Night</span> 1974 single by John Lennon

"Whatever Gets You thru the Night" is a song written by John Lennon, released as a single in 1974 on Apple Records, catalogue number Apple 1874 in the United States and Apple R5998 in the United Kingdom. In the U.S. it peaked at No. 1 on all three record charts: Billboard Hot 100, Cashbox, and Record World, and at No. 36 in the UK. It was the lead single for Lennon's album Walls and Bridges; in the UK the single was released on the same day as the album. "Whatever Gets You thru the Night" was Lennon's only solo No. 1 single in the United States during his lifetime, making him the last member of the Beatles to finally reach the top of the charts. In Canada, the single spent two weeks at No. 2, and became the 30th biggest hit of 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Levon (song)</span> 1971 song by Elton John and Bernie Taupin

"Levon" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was recorded on 27 February 1971, and was released on John's 1971 album, Madman Across the Water. Backing vocals are provided by Tony Burrows. Paul Buckmaster wrote the orchestral arrangements and conducted the orchestra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Someone Saved My Life Tonight</span> 1975 single by Elton John

"Someone Saved My Life Tonight" is a song with music by British musician Elton John and lyrics by Bernie Taupin, from John's 1975 album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. It was released as a single on 20 June 1975, the only single released from the album. Like the rest of the album, the song is autobiographical, and addresses an attempted suicide by John.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (song)</span> 1973 single by Elton John

"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" is a ballad written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It is the title track on John's album of the same name. The titular road is a reference to L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz film and book series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting</span> 1973 single by Elton John

"Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" (sometimes written "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)") is a song originally recorded by English musician Elton John. John composed it with his long-time songwriting partner Bernie Taupin. It was released on John's best-selling album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) and as the first single. It has been covered by many artists and featured on motion picture, video game, and television soundtracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bennie and the Jets</span> 1974 single by Elton John

"Bennie and the Jets" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. The song first appeared on the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album in 1973. "Bennie and the Jets" has been one of John's most popular songs and was performed during his appearance at Live Aid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues</span> 1983 song by Elton John

"I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" is a song by English musician Elton John, with music by John and Davey Johnstone and lyrics by Bernie Taupin, released as the first single from John's 17th studio album Too Low for Zero. It was the first single since 1975's "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" to feature the classic lineup of the Elton John Band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Last Song (Elton John song)</span> 1992 single by Elton John

"The Last Song" is a song by English musician Elton John, released as the third single from his 23rd studio album, The One (1992). It was composed by John, with lyrics provided by Bernie Taupin. The song marked the first of John's American singles to benefit his AIDS foundation. It reached No. 7 in Canada and No. 21 in the United Kingdom while peaking within the top 40 in several countries worldwide, including Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Bitch Is Back</span> 1974 single by Elton John

"The Bitch Is Back" is a rock song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It was the second single released from John's 1974 album Caribou, and reached number 1 in Canada, number 4 in the United States and number 15 in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">This Train Don't Stop There Anymore</span> 2001 single by Elton John

"This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" is the final track on Elton John's 2001 album Songs from the West Coast. Written by John and Bernie Taupin, the song's lyrics detail John's fame being over and his coming to terms with getting older but still keep touring and giving great performances around the world. It was released as the second single from the album and reached No. 24 in the UK Singles chart and was a Top 10 Adult Contemporary chart hit in the US. The song was less successful in the Netherlands, reaching No. 83.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)</span> 1982 single by Elton John

"Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" is a song by English musician Elton John, written by John and Bernie Taupin, which first appeared on his sixteenth album Jump Up! released in 1982. It was the second single of the said album in the UK, and the lead single in the United States. The song is a tribute to John Lennon, who had been murdered 15 months earlier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocket Man (song)</span> 1972 single by Elton John

"Rocket Man(I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin and performed by John. It was originally released on 17 April 1972 in the US, as the lead single to John's album Honky Château. The song first charted in the UK on 22 April, rising to No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 6 in the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming a major hit single for John.

References

  1. ↑ Breihan, Tom (10 July 2019). "The Number Ones: Elton John's "Philadelphia Freedom"" . Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  2. ↑ "Elton and Lennon". Melody Maker . 8 February 1975. p. 5.
  3. ↑ "American certifications – Philadelphia Freedom". Recording Industry Association of America.
  4. ↑ Henkelmann, Carsten (28 November 1974). "Elton John Band Feat. John Lennon And The Muscle Shoals Horns: Featuring John Lennon And The Muscle Shoals Horns – LP, 1975, Erstauflage". Musik-sammler.de. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Olshansky, Ken; Krever, Mick. "Elton John and Billie Jean King: 40 years of friendship, philanthropy, activism". CNN. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Billie Jean King Talks About Philadelphia Freedom". Elton John. 10 September 2018. Archived from the original on 29 June 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  7. 1 2 Spencer, Nancy E. (2000). "Reading Between the Lines: A Discursive Analysis of the Billie Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs "Battle of the Sexes"". Sociology of Sport Journal. 17 (4): 386. doi:10.1123/ssj.17.4.386.
  8. ↑ Kaminski, Theresa (2012). "Game, Set, Match: Billie Jean King and the Revolution in Women's Sports". The Historian. 74 (2): 378. doi:10.1111/j.1540-6563.2012.00322_36.x. S2CID   146717170.
  9. ↑ Steele, Erika (2007). "Reflections on Billie Jean King, Title IX, and making the most of gifts that have been given". Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal. 16 (2): 93–95. doi:10.1123/wspaj.16.2.93.
  10. ↑ "Billie Jean King Talks About 'Philadelphia Freedom'". Elton John.
  11. ↑ "Elton John and Billie Jean King: 40 years of friendship, philanthropy, activism". Archived from the original on 20 November 2013.
  12. ↑ Richardson, Kalia (18 October 2023). "The Masked Singer Unmasks a Trailblazing LGBT Icon and Sports Legend". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  13. ↑ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 8 March 1975. p. 33. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  14. ↑ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 8 March 1975. p. 1. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  15. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 5 May 1975. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  16. 1 2 3 "National Top 100 Singles for 1975". Kent Music Report. 29 December 1975. Retrieved 15 January 2022– via Imgur.
  17. ↑ "officialcharts.com". Official Charts Company. 23 January 1971. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  18. ↑ "The Elton John Band – Philadelphia Freedom" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  19. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3957a." RPM . Library and Archives Canada.
  20. ↑ "The Elton John Band – Philadelphia Freedom". Top 40 Singles.
  21. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  22. ↑ "Elton John Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  23. ↑ "Elton John Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  24. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Elton John Band – Philadelphia Freedom" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  25. ↑ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca.
  26. ↑ "Top Selling Singles of 1975 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 31 December 1975. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  27. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1975/Top 100 Songs of 1975". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  28. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  29. ↑ "American single certifications – Elton John – Philadelphia Freedom". Recording Industry Association of America.
  30. ↑ Arnold, Gina (29 November 1991). "Two Rooms Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved 17 September 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.