Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me

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Not to be confused with I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me.

"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"

One of side-A labels of the original UK vinyl single

Single by Elton John

from the album Caribou

B-side "Sick City"

Released 20 May 1974

 7"
Format
 CD

 cassette

Recorded Caribou Ranch, January 1974

Length 5:35

Label  MCA

 DJM

 Rocket
  Phonogram

Songwriter(s)  Elton John

 Bernie Taupin

Producer(s) Gus Dudgeon

Elton John singles chronology

"Candle in the "Don't Let the "The Bitch Is

Wind" Sun Go Down Back"
(1974) on Me" (1974)
(1974)

"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" is a song written by English singer Elton
John and his lyricist Bernie Taupin. It was originally recorded in 1974 by Elton John for
his studio album Caribou and was released as a single that peaked at number two on
the Billboard Hot 100 chart and reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart. The song
found further success in 1991 in a live cover version recorded as a duet between John
and George Michael, which reached number one in the UK and US.

Contents

 1Elton John version

o 1.1Background
o 1.2Reception
o 1.3Track listings
o 1.4Personnel
o 1.5Accolades
 1.5.1Grammy Awards
o 1.6Chart performance and certifications
 1.6.1Weekly charts
 1.6.2Year-end charts
 1.6.3Certifications
o 1.71986–87 live version
o 1.81990 MTV Unplugged
 2George Michael and Elton John version
o 2.1Background
o 2.2Reception
o 2.3Music video
o 2.4Track listings
o 2.5Charts and certifications
 2.5.1Weekly charts
 2.5.2Year-end charts
 2.5.3Certifications
 3Other versions
 4References
 5External links

Elton John version[edit]

Elton John in 1974

Background[edit]
"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" was co-written by Elton John and Bernie
Taupin during a ten-day period in January 1974 along with the other songs for
John's Caribou album. The song was released as the first single from the album in May
1974 in the United Kingdom, and on 10 June 1974 in the United States.
The chorus of the song is supported with a horn arrangement by Del Newman, and
features backing vocals by Carl Wilson and Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys and Toni
Tennille. The original backing vocalists were Cat Stevens, Danny Hutton, Gerry
Beckley, Dusty Springfield and Brian Wilson but according to Bruce "everyone was
afraid of one another and I couldn't get a performance out of anyone". [1] Also on the
song are percussion accents provided by Ray Cooper and a mellotron played by Dave
Hentschel.
Reception[edit]
"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" charted on 1 June 1974 in the UK, reaching
number 16 on the UK Singles Chart. The song reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot
100 chart after four weeks, peaking at number two for two weeks from 27 July
behind John Denver's "Annie's Song". In the US, the single was certified Gold on 6
September 1974 by the RIAA. In Canada, it reached number one, becoming his fifth
chart topper in that country.[2]
Track listings[edit]
 May 1974 US and UK 7" vinyl single
 1. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
2. "Sick City"

 February 1991 UK 7" vinyl single and cassette

1. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"

2. "Song for Guy"

 February 1991 UK 12" vinyl and CD single

1. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"

2. "Song for Guy"
3. "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"
Personnel[edit]
 Ray Cooper – tambourine, bells
 David Hentschel – mellotron[3]
 Billy Hinsche – backing vocals
 Elton John – piano, organ, vocals
 Bruce Johnston – backing vocals
 Davey Johnstone – electric guitar, acoustic guitar
 Dee Murray – bass
 Nigel Olsson – drums
 Toni Tennille – backing vocals
 Carl Wilson – backing vocals
 Vocals arranged by Bruce Johnston with help from The Captain
 Horns arranged by Del Newman
Accolades[edit]
Grammy Awards[edit]

Year Nominee / work Award Result

Record of the Year Nominated

1975 "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male[4] Nominated

Chart performance and certifications[edit]

Weekly charts[edit] Year-end charts[edit]
 Peak Chart (1974)
Chart (1974)
position

Canada[12]
Australia (KMR) 13

U.S. Billboard Hot 100[13]

Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [5]
1
Certifications[edit]

Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[6] 2

Region C

Netherlands (Single Top 100)[7] 30

United States (RIAA)[14] G

Ireland (IRMA)[8] 17 ^
shipments figu

UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[9] 16

US Billboard Hot 100[10] 2

US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[11] 3

1986–87 live version[edit]

Elton John recorded a live version on 14 December 1986 that appears on the Live in
Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra album. In his 2019 autobiography,
‘Me’, Elton claims that this performance is special because he thought it was the last
time he was ever going to sing. The singer was going in to dangerous throat surgery a
few days later. An edited version of this same recording was released as a single in
1987 and also appears in the To Be Continued... box set.
1990 MTV Unplugged[edit]
On May 17, 1990, Elton John recorded a performance on MTV Unplugged at the
Chelsea Studios in New York City.[15] An acoustic version of the song was include as a
track on The Unplugged Collection, Volume One.[16]

George Michael and Elton John version[edit]

"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
 Single by George Michael and Elton John

B-side "I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)"

(live)

Released 25 November 1991

 7"
Format
 12"

 CD

 cassette

Recorded Wembley Arena, London, 23 March 1991

Length 5:47

Label  Columbia

 Epic

 Elton John
Songwriter(s)
 Bernie Taupin

Producer(s) George Michael

George Michael singles chronology

"Cowboys and "Don't Let the "Too Funky"

Angels" Sun Go Down (1992)
(1991) on Me"
(1991)
 Elton John singles chronology

"Easier to Walk "Don't Let the "The One"

Away" Sun Go Down (1992)
(1990) on Me"
(1991)

Background[edit]
In 1991, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" was covered in a live version as a duet
by George Michael and Elton John. This version of the song had its greatest success.
The pair first performed the song at the Live Aid concert in 1985 (with Michael singing
and John playing). Six years later, George Michael's Cover to Cover tour regularly
included the song, and for the final show at Wembley Arena, London on 23 March 1991,
Michael brought out John as a surprise guest to sing it with him.
Reception[edit]
The live recording of this song, released as a single later that year, became a massive
hit on both sides of the Atlantic. It reached number one on the UK Singles Chart for two
weeks in December 1991 and for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1992.
The duet also spent two weeks at number one on the Adult Contemporary chart.[17]
This version of the song was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal
Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
It appears on John's Love Songs and Greatest Hits 1970–2002 compilations, as well as
his 1993 Duets album. The proceeds from the single were divided among 10 different
charities for children, AIDS and education.
Music video[edit]
The footage used for the single's music video (directed by Andy Morahan)[18] was taken
from a "live" concert in Chicago with 70,000 fans. "The video was actually shot over
several days," confirms Michael Pagnotta, George's publicist. "It was shot in an airline
hangar in Burbank, California where George had been rehearsing; Elton came in for a
night and they ran through the song a couple of times. Then the song was filmed in its
entirety live in Chicago in the middle of October as part of that Cover to Cover tour, and
when Elton came out from the wings, that place went crazy." [citation needed]
Track listings[edit]
 US and UK 7" vinyl and cassette single

1. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (duet with Elton John, live at Wembley Arena 23 Mar '91)
2. "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" (live '91 - edit)
 US and UK 12" vinyl single

1. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (duet with Elton John, live at Wembley Arena 23 Mar '91)
2. "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" (live '91)
3. "Last Christmas" (performed by Wham!)

 UK and Europe compact disc single (Epic 657656)[19]

1. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (duet with Elton John, live at Wembley Arena 23 Mar '91)
2. "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" (live '91)
3. "If You Were My Woman" (live at Wembley Stadium, 11 Jun '88)
4. "Fantasy"

 US compact disc single (Columbia 44K-74240)[20]

1. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (duet with Elton John, live at Wembley Arena 23 Mar '91)
2. "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" (live '91)
3. "Freedom" (Back to Reality Mix)
4. "If You Were My Woman" (live at Wembley Stadium, 11 Jun '88)
All b-sides and additional tracks were performed solo by George Michael, except Last
Christmas which is performed by Michael's duo Wham!
The live version of "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" had previously
been issued as the lead track on a free promotional cassette given away at Michael's
Wembley Arena gigs in March 1991. Therefore, it is likely to have been recorded at a
venue earlier in the tour.
Charts and certifications[edit]
Weekly charts[edit] Year-end charts[edit]

Peak Chart (1991) Position

Chart (1991–1992) positio
n
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[42] 15

Australia (ARIA)[21] 3
Chart (1992) Position

Austria (Ö3 Austria Top

2
40)[22]
Australia (ARIA)[43] 57

Belgium (Ultratop
1 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[44] 7
50 Flanders)[23]
Canada Top Singles Belgium (Ultratop)[45] 4
1
(RPM)[24]

Canada Top Singles (RPM)[46] 12

Canada Adult
1
Contemporary (RPM)[25]
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[47] 21

Denmark (IFPI)[26] 2
Germany (Official German Charts)[48] 29

Europe (Eurochart Hot

1
100)[27]
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[49] 5

France (SNEP)[28] 1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[50] 35

Germany (Official
4 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[51] 7
German Charts)[29]

US Billboard Hot 100[52] 26

Ireland (IRMA)[30] 2

Certifications[edit]
Italy (Musica e dischi) [31]
1
Region Certification Certified units/sales

Netherlands (Dutch Top

1
40)[32] Australia (ARIA)[53] Gold 35,000^

Netherlands (Single Top France (SNEP)[54] Silver 125,000*

1
100)[33]

United Kingdom (BPI)[55] Silver 200,000^

New Zealand (Recorded
4
Music NZ)[34]
United States (RIAA)[56] Gold 500,000^

Norway (VG-lista)[35] 1
*
sales figures based on certification alone
^
shipments figures based on certification alone

Poland (LP3)[36] 11
Sweden
2
(Sverigetopplistan)[37]

Switzerland (Schweizer
1
Hitparade)[38]

UK Singles (Official
1
Charts Company)[39]

US Billboard Hot 100[40] 1

US Adult
Contemporary (Billboard 1
)[41]

Other versions[edit]
 Roger Daltrey, the lead singer of the Who, recorded a version for the soundtrack of
the 1987 vampire film The Lost Boys.[57]
 Jazz singer Oleta Adams recorded it on the 1991 tribute album Two Rooms:
Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin. It was released as a single
and peaked at number 33 in the UK.[58]

References[edit]
1. ^ Elliott, Brad (1982). Surf's Up ! The Beach Boys On Record 1961-1981. Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA:
Pierian Press. p. 287.
2. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the
original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
3. ^ "Planet Mellotron Album Reviews: Elton John".
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5. ^ "Elton John Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
6. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 17 August 1974.
Retrieved 23 February 2019.
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8. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". Irish Singles Chart.
Retrieved 15 January 2009.
9. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
10. ^ "Elton John Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
11. ^ "Elton John Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
12. ^ Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly".
13. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1974/Top 100 Songs of 1974".
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Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single,
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16. ^ Sinclair, Tom (16 December 1994). "The Unplugged Collection, Volume One". Entertainment
Weekly. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
17. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 169.
18. ^ Garcia, Alex S. "mvdbase.com - George Michael - "Don't let the Sun go down on me"". Music Video
DataBase. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
19. ^ "George Michael / Elton John - Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me". Discogs.
20. ^ https://www.discogs.com/George-Michael-Elton-John-Dont-Let-The-Sun-Go-Down-On-
Me/release/1775434
21. ^ "Australian-charts.com – George Michael and Elton John – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on
Me". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
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German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
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Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
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2019.
26. ^ Danish Singles Chart 3 January 1992
27. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9 no. 7. 15 February 1992. p. 25.
Retrieved 23 November 2019.
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French). Les classement single. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
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Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
30. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". Irish Singles Chart.
Retrieved 15 January 2009.
31. ^ "_" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9 no. 3. 18 January 1992. p. 30. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
32. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 2, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 31 December 2017.
33. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – George Michael and Elton John – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"(in
Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
34. ^ "Charts.nz – George Michael and Elton John – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". Top 40 Singles.
Retrieved 15 January 2009.
35. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – George Michael and Elton John – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". VG-
lista. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
36. ^ "Notowanie nr518" (in Polish). LP3. 24 January 1992. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
37. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – George Michael and Elton John – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on
Me". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
38. ^ "Swisscharts.com – George Michael and Elton John – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". Swiss
Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
39. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
40. ^ "George Michael Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
41. ^ "George Michael Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
42. ^ "1991 Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications: 20. 11 January
1992.
43. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight
Publishing.
44. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1992" (in German). Retrieved 14 April 2019.
45. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1992" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
46. ^ "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1992" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 56 no. 25. 19 December 1992. p. 8.
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Retrieved 14 April 2019.
48. ^ "Top 100 Singles - Jahrescharts 1992" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
49. ^ "Jaaroverzichten - Single 1992" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
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51. ^ "1992 Swiss Singles Chart" (in German). Swisscharts. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
52. ^ "Billboard Top 100 - 1992". Archived from the original on 17 January 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
53. ^ "The ARIA Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 12 April 1992. Retrieved 14
January 2020.
54. ^ "French single certifications – George Michael and Elton John – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on
Me" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
55. ^ "British single certifications – George Michael and Elton John – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on
Me". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification
field. Type Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
56. ^ "American single certifications – George Michael and Elton John – Don't Let the Sun Go Down on
Me". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then
select Single, then click SEARCH.
57. ^ Parker, Lyndsey (23 October 2019). "MVPs of Horror: 'The Lost Boys' star Kiefer Sutherland talks
'violent and gross' deleted scene, channeling Billy Idol, and inventing the mullet". Yahoo!
Entertainment. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
58. ^ https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/26042/oleta-adams/