71-75 New Oxford Street - Mr. Bloe feat. Elton John
It's Elton John with Hookfoot! Mr. Bloe was a group of musicians around the Dick James Music company in the late 1960s and the beginning of the 1970s. Dick James was of course the music publisher for the Beatles. The group "Mr. Bloe" had also gone by the name Hookfoot, and played together with a new singer-songwriter at Dick James called Elton John. They played on several of Elton John's early recordings. In 1970 the group Mr. Bloe had a successful single (without the help of Mr. John) called "Grooving with Mr. Bloe". So in 1971 Dick James attempted to follow up that success with a follow-up single - this recording "71-75 New Oxford Street". This song was written by Elton John and features heavily his piano and organ playing. Elton also wrote and performed on the B-side "Get Out (of This Town)". Although this single was released in 1971 it was probably something that had sat in the cans at Dick James Music for a while, and probably dates a year or two earlier. But that isn't known for sure. What is known is that it's a wonderful recording of some of Elton John's early piano and organ playing! But alas, this single was NOT a success! By the way - 71-75 New Oxford Street was the address of the Dick James Music offices where the young Elton John was trying to make a living - and also where he first met a young lyricist named Bernie Taupin!
