Club at the End of the Street

Cover for Club at the End of the Street

In Their Own Words

Elton John: 

“It’s a very much a Drifters-type, summer sort of song. On the whole album, it was nostalgia-type songs that we wrote, and “Club at the End of the Street” just screamed “Drifters” as soon as I saw the lyric. It’s kind of like the Drifters “At The Club” or “Up On The Roof”. Melody wise, it was similar to them; it’s got all those clichés in it. I think we achieved our goal when we finished that particular song”.  – 1990 (Billboard)

“It was the last album before rehab, but it was a good album, and I love “Club at the End of the Street.” We wanted to write a song like the Drifters would record, one of those Goffin-King, Brill Building songs. It’s the closest we ever got to one.” – 2013 (Rolling Stone)

Bernie Taupin: 

“Of all the songs on the album, I think that’s the one that really, if you play itm you’ll know that’s  the Drifters. With the others it be may be a little more hidden. But the feel of that is pure, honest to gosh Drifters.” – 1989

“But I think again that, it’s a song that really sums up the feeling of the times. I mean you can smell the tenements and feel the heat of the street. When you can do that in a song, you’ve got something to be proud of. ” – 1989

Trivia

• Inspired by “The Drifters” and songs like “At the Club” & “Under the Boardwalk”
• An unreleased video starring Elton was said to have been made but was rejected after Elton didn’t like it
•  The animated music video was done by Animation City.

Technical Notes

• Fred played the Organ solo.
• Davey and Fred played small acoustic Martin guitars.
• The single edit was slightly sped up.

Credits

Keyboards & Vocals – Elton John
Bass – Romeo Williams
Drums –  Jonathan Moffett
Guitar – Davey Johnstone
Guitar & Organ – Fred Mandel
Keyboards – Guy Babylon
Backing vocals – Davey Johnstone
Saxophone – Vince Denham