Elton John- Philadelphia Freedom- Foxborough Stadium 9-6-93

Elton John himself confirms here that indeed he and lyricist Bernie Taupin did compose “Philadelphia Freedom” not in 1975 for the US bicentennial the following year, as has been erroneously mythologized for decades, but in fact 1973, twenty years before this spectacular live performance outside Boston during the Walden Woods Benefit at Foxborough Stadium Labor Day weekend 1993. The two year earlier gestation is highly significant.  In 1973, Elton John and Bernie Taupin were on a creative tear the likes of which the world had not seen since John Lennon and Paul McCartney. That was the year in which the John-Taupin team wrote, recorded, and released the double album masterpiece Goodbye Yellow Brick Road  containing no less than eighteen songs… and “Philadelphia Freedom” isn’t even one of those! Tee this note perfect live version up and play loudly for an indicator of what went down on the massive “Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour” which wrapped in early July. –Redbeard