Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me

"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 – who performed the song together for the first time at Live Aid in Wembley Stadium in July 1985[1] – which reached number one in the UK and US.

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"
Released20 May 1974
RecordedJanuary 1974
StudioCaribou Ranch
Length5:35
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Gus Dudgeon
Elton John singles chronology
"Candle in the Wind"
(1974)		 "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
(1974)		 "The Bitch Is Back"
(1974)

Elton John version
Elton John in 1974

Background

"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".[2] Also on the song are percussion accents provided by Ray Cooper and a mellotron played by Dave Hentschel.

Reception

"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.[3]

Track listings
  • 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

Grammy Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1975"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"Record of the YearNominated
Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male[5]Nominated

Chart performance and certifications

1986–87 live version

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

On May 17, 1990, Elton John recorded a performance on MTV Unplugged at the Chelsea Studios in New York City.[16] An acoustic version of the song was included as a track on The Unplugged Collection, Volume One.[17]

George Michael and Elton John version
"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)
Released25 November 1991
Recorded23 March 1991
VenueWembley Arena, London
Length5:47
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)George Michael
George Michael singles chronology
"Cowboys and Angels"
(1991)		 "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
(1991)		 "Too Funky"
(1992)
Elton John singles chronology
"Easier to Walk Away"
(1990)		 "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
(1991)		 "The One"
(1992)

Background

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, featuring backup vocals by Wham! partner Andrew Ridgeley and Kiki Dee). 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

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.[18]

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

The footage used for the single's music video (directed by Andy Morahan)[19] 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."

Track listings
  • 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)[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. "If You Were My Woman" (live at Wembley Stadium, 11 Jun '88)
  4. "Fantasy"
  • US compact disc single (Columbia 44K-74240)[21]
  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

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[57] Gold 35,000^
France (SNEP)[58] Silver 125,000*
Netherlands (NVPI)[59] Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[60] Gold 400,000
United States (RIAA)[61] Gold 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Other versions

References
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  2. Elliott, Brad (1982). Surf's Up ! The Beach Boys On Record 1961-1981. Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA: Pierian Press. p. 287.
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