Elton Says He's Done Recording

Elton John shocked a Manchester, New Hampshire audience Friday night when he declared that his new album, Songs From the West Coast, will be his final one.

"It's the last record I'll ever make," John announced after performing "Philadelphia Freedom." "I'm fed up with it. I like playing to you guys, but I hate the record industry. I've made forty albums, and it's about time for me to get out."

The announcement was strangely timed, because critics and fans alike have praised Songs From the West Coast and John's recent energetic live performances as a return to form for the Rocket Man.

John closed Friday's concert by dedicating "Your Song" to the late George Harrison, who died of cancer Thursday in Los Angeles. "Wherever you are, George, be happy," John said after the song. "God bless you."

John will appear on A&E's Live by Request tonight at 9 p.m. EST.

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Song Stories

“Tonight's the Night”

The Shirelles | 1960

The lead cut and title track from this girl group's debut album, "Tonight's the Night" was written by 19-year-old bandmember Shirley Owens, who sings lead, and producer Luther Dixon. The band from Passaic, New Jersey met in high school, first calling themselves the Pequellos. The song's frank thoughts about sexual and emotional surrender was racy for the time, but that didn't stop the Chiffons from cutting a similar version immediately after the original came out. "We were the first female group to write some of our own material," band member Beverly Lee recalls. "We did have some say-so in our writing."

More Song Stories entries »

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