Grey Seal (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Grey Seal (Original version)


Artist = Elton John
Released = June 19, 1970
Format = 7-inch
Recorded = January 1970
A-side = "Rock n' Roll Madonna"
Genre = Rock, Pop
Length = 3:35
Label = DJM
Writer = Elton John, Bernie Taupin
Producer = Gus Dudgeon
Last single = "Border Song"
(1970)
This single = "Rock n' Roll Madonna"
(1970)
Next single = "From Denver to L.A."
(1970)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Elton John
(1995 reissue)
Type = studio
prev_track = "Bad Side of the Moon"
prev_no = 11
this_track = "Grey Seal (Original version)"
track_no = 12
next_track = "Rock n' Roll Madonna"
next_no = 13

Infobox Song
Name = Grey Seal
Type = Song
Artist = Elton John
Album = Goodbye Yellow Brick Road


track_no = 6
Released = October 5, 1973
Recorded = Château d'Hérouville, Pontoise, France, May 1973
Genre = Rock, Pop
Length = 4:01
Label = DJM (UK/world)
Uni (US/Canada)
Writer = Elton John, Bernie Taupin
Producer = Gus Dudgeon
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Type = studio
Tracks = ;Side One
#"Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding"
#"Candle in the Wind"
#"Bennie and the Jets";Side Two
#"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"
#"This Song Has No Title"
#"Grey Seal"
#"Jamaica Jerk-Off"
#"I've Seen That Movie Too" ;Side Three
#"Sweet Painted Lady"
#"The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1903-34)"
#"Dirty Little Girl"
#"All the Girls Love Alice" ;Side Four
#"Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'n' Roll)"
#"Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"
#"Roy Rogers"
#"Social Disease"
#"Harmony"

Grey Seal is a song by Elton John with lyrics written by Bernie Taupin. The song is one of Elton's earliest, though its most known version appears as the sixth track on his 1973 double-album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

The song's musical style is typical for the album, using wah-effects and a variousity of keyboards and synthesizers. A grand piano is also played, with a riff that could remind of Elton's version of Pinball Wizard. A count-in is also audible on the track.

1970 version

Grey Seal was written in 1969, along with many of Elton's early songs. Its original version appeared as the b-side of his 1970 UK single, Rock n' Roll Madonna. The version was available on several bootlegs until its release on "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road". This version is musically different. It's played on electric piano and is heavily orchestrated. It also has an ending which isn't found on the 1973 version.

This version appeared on several rarities compilations, but was one of the three bonus track on the 1995 remaster of his self-titled album.