Lady Samantha

Album: Empty Sky (1969)
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Songfacts®:

  • One of the earliest Elton John/Bernie Taupin collaborations, this one is a ghost story, telling the tale of the banshee-like Lady Samantha, who glides like a tiger in the night. Although instilling fear in everyone who hears her cry, she is tragic rather than evil. Shades of "Lady Jay"/"Kitty Jay" perhaps?
  • "Lady Samantha" was Elton John's first single in America and his second in the UK, following the short-lived "I've Been Loving You." He recorded it during sessions for his debut album, Empty Sky, but left it off the album until 1995 when it was included as a bonus track on the re-issue.
  • Elton didn't have a band when he recorded this, so he used session musicians, including Caleb Quaye on guitar and Roger Pope on drums. Pope played on several more Elton John albums, and Quaye joined his band in 1975.
  • On October 28, 1968, the song was performed with Caleb Quaye on guitar, in what was Elton's first ever live performance at the BBC.
  • In 1972, "Lady Samantha" was re-released as the B-side of "Honky Cat" in the UK, coupled with "It's Me That You Need."
  • Three Dog Night covered this in 1969 on their album Suitable for Framing. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for all above

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