Rare footage of his first live performance of “The Bitch is Back” is available now
Elton John is celebrating the 50th anniversary of his eighth studio album Caribou with rare footage of his first live performance of the iconic hit “The Bitch Is Back.” The incredible video shows the rocker on stage on May 5, 1974, in front of over 40,000 fans at Vicarage Road at his legendary Watford FC Benefit Concert, playing the song two months before its release on Caribou. The track would be the album’s second single and hit No. 4 in the US and No. 15 on the UK charts. Elton had recently been appointed as director of Watford Football Club and put on the benefit concert to give the club a financial boost – tickets started from £1 and it included guests such as Rod Stewart and Nazareth. The concert was not filmed for official release, making the video a rare gem.
The resurfacing of this special footage comes just before Record Store Day on April 20th, which will see UMe release a special 50th Anniversary Edition of Caribou. The reissue will be released as a 2 LP set on 180-gram limited edition sky blue vinyl. The package includes the original album which features favorites “The Bitch Is Back” and “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me,” plus a newly compiled LP of bonus tracks, including the previously unreleased “Ducktail Jiver,” which is the only true out-take from the Caribou sessions in January 1974. The set will be available at independent record stores globally.
