Elton John reveals the independent Sydney record store where he ‘spent hours’ buying albums from local artists while in Australia – and it’s right in the middle of the CBD
Sir Elton John is a man who loves to discover local artists, and he made sure to get his fill of homegrown talent during this three month stay in Australia.
The 72-year-old, who has been Down Under on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, has revealed his favourite record store in Sydney, where he ‘spent hours’ trawling through the racks looking for vinyl copies of albums from Aussie performers.
Red Eye Records – which lies in the heart of Sydney’s central business district on York Street, a stone’s throw from Pitt Street Mall – is where the iconic singer did his music shopping, as reported by Sunday’s The Daily Telegraph.
Shopping on tour: Sir Elton John, 72, revealed the independent Sydney record store where he ‘spent hours’ buying albums from local artists while in Australia – and it’s right in the middle of the CBD. Pictured in Melbourne on December 10
However, the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road hitmaker didn’t always find what he was looking for.
Elton revealed on his Rocket Hour show on Apple Music this week, that he sought out a vinyl copy of the album Apple Crumble, from Manly-based funk act, Winston Surfshirt.
He also wanted Better in Blak, from acclaimed Indigenous Australian singer-songwriter Thelma Plum.
However, he’d been out of luck during his frequent visits to the iconic record store.
Location: As reported by The Daily Telegraph, Red Eye Records (pictured) – which lies in the heart of Sydney’s central business district on York Street – is where the iconic singer did his music shopping
Prized goods: However, the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road hitmaker didn’t always find what he was looking for
On the hunt: Elton revealed on his Rocket Hour show on Apple Music this week that he was after Better in Blak, from acclaimed Indigenous Australian singer-songwriter Thelma Plum (pictured)
‘I have been trying to buy it from Red Eye Records in Sydney and they keep saying it’s not out.
‘Like Thelma Plum and she’s not out [on vinyl]. It p***es me off!’ he complained of not being able to obtain the album.
Elton recorded his Rocket Hour show in Sydney in February, and invited Tones and I, Amy Shark and Surfshirt to be guests.
‘I get to meet new artists like yourselves and I become friends with them and it’s just been one of the greatest things of doing this show,’ he said.
Local talent: Elton recorded his Rocket Hour show in Sydney in February, and invited Tones and I (far left), Amy Shark (centre) and Winston Surfshirt (far right) to be guests
Elton wrapped the Australian leg of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in Sydney on Saturday. He was forced to cut his New Zealand concert in Auckland short last month due to a recent diagnosis of walking pneumonia.
Elton himself penned a remorseful open letter dedicated to the 47,000 fans who attended the Auckland concert.
‘I want to thank everyone who attended tonight’s gig in Auckland. I was diagnosed with walking pneumonia earlier today, but I was determined to give you the best show humanly possible,’ he wrote on Instagram.
‘I’m disappointed, deeply upset and sorry. I gave it all I had. Thank you so much for your extraordinary support and all the love you showed me during tonight’s performance. I am eternally grateful. Love, Elton.’
Meeting other artists: ‘I get to meet new artists like yourselves and I become friends with them and it’s just been one of the greatest things of doing this show,’ the hit-maker said