In 1967, Elton John met one of the greatest songwriters. Together, they made an album with only one good song

Elton John’s early partnership with lyricist Bernie Taupin began after John was given a folder of Taupin’s lyrics while looking for songwriting work in the late 1960s. Their complementary talents helped create one of rock’s most enduring songwriting collaborations, though their first album, *Empty Sky*, was not yet a fully realised success.

John later said his debut had only one good song, identifying “Skyline Pigeon” as its standout. He contrasted it with Elvis Costello’s *My Aim Is True*, which he felt had two masterpieces, “Alison” and “Watching the Detectives”. The article presents *Empty Sky* as an uneven start before John and Taupin went on to write better-known songs such as “Your Song”.