Island Girl – Elton John | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#1 for 3 weeks); 1975
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
Elton John’s Rock Of The Westies album entered Billboard‘s album chart at #1, repeating the feat of his previous LP less than six months before. That made it seven straight new releases to hit the peak for a total of 39 weeks at the top. Rock Of The Westies had a difficult time following the standard set by Captain Fantastic and The Brown Dirt Cowboy. Drummer Nigel Olsson and bassist Dee Murray, who’d played with Elton for his entire solo career, were gone, and the song selection on Westies was designed, in part, to help break in the new musicians. The result was an album of more lightweight uptempo cuts vs. the more complex arrangements on Captain Fantastic. Still, Island Girl laid down an infectious dance groove and LaBelle’s background vocals leant a it a classic R&B feel. It was also Elton’s last solo #1 for 22 years, until 1997’s Candle In The Wind. And, although Elton’s album sales remained strong through the remainder of the century, Rock Of The Westies marked his final appearance at #1.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Gus Dudgeon
Lyrics Written by:
- Elton John
- Bernie Taupin
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).