Two Rooms: A Tribute to Elton John & Bernie Taupin

Two rooms of course refers to the way music making partnership between Bernie Taupin and Elton John works. They never worked in one room to make music together.

The story is about how Ray Williams of Liberty Records had an idea to connect Elton John who was looking for a lyricist, to Bernie Taupin who was looking for a song writer, and what ensued after that.

In Elton's own words, "...start of quite an amazing relationship that's lasted 20 years, and never having written a song in a same room together."

The program is unique in that Bernie Taupin, Elton John, and people surrounding them has equal part in describing the early stages of their partnership. They got $275 from Dick James to go to Los Angeles, and play at the Trubador that launched their career.

This is an important documentary because it's described by the principles themselves, and there's no other documentary in existence that describes the music of Elton John, and Bernie Taupin quite in this manner.

Just a FYI: Daryl Hall, The Beach Boys & Bruce Hornsby are not in this Documentary; even though, IMDb says they appear. Unless I watched an edited version I believe they only appear on the audio recording of the same name.

I'm a fan of Elton John's music not a fanatic so the film was very enlightening and entertaining for me. Discussed from the mouths of Elton & Bernie are how they started, how they collaborated and how their relationship grew musically. The film is interspersed with intriguing archival footage of concerts and past interviews.

A few notable people make appearances such as Neil Young, Sting, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins - the last 4 artists sing. Also appearing are Elton's & Bernie's mother's as well as Ray Williams courtesy Liberty Records.

The contract that the Production Company entered into with US TV Distribution enabled them to make a made-for-USTV version, which included the Beach Boys and other notables not seen in the Blu Ray/DVD version. IMHO the director on this USTV cut must have had the ego the size of a removal lory and a lack of empathy for the excellent UK/Rest-of-The-World cut seen on Blu Ray/DVD/Home Video. The US TV cut was quite frankly a piece of puff pastry whereas the UK TV version is one of the finest documentaries ever made on Elton!

This asides Two Rooms is without a doubt the greatest Tribute Album ever recorded on behalf of any artiste ever. Look at the roster! Incredible. The producer Claudia Rosencrantz did an amazing job as did the booker Candace Strickland.

Henry Scott-Irvine Archive Producer