Although many people probably won't know this particular record exists, it's actually quite surprising this never made number one let alone only just making the Top 40.
John Lennon had topped the charts with "(Just Like) Starting Over" following his death in December 1980. In 1981 the first two number ones also came from John Lennon with "Imagine" and "Woman". Then in March Roxy Music topped the charts with their cover of the John Lennon song "Jealous Guy".
What we have here is a big name in Elton John doing a Beatles cover with John Lennon himself which peaked at 40 the week Roxy Music fell from the top of the charts.
It was a live performance at Madison Square Garden from 1974 where John Lennon joined Elton John on stage. It was the last time John Lennon appeared in concert. Originally this was the B-side to "Philadelphia Freedom".
It was the first time "I Saw Her Standing There" charted as the Beatles version was never a single. It was also the first Lennon/McCartney composition to peak at 40, but wasn't the last. Paul McCartney is way out in the lead with most Top 40 hits as songwriter and the only position one of his compositions hasn't peaked at is 38.
Despite being a big name with lots of hits, Elton John's Top 40 record isn't as impressive as you'd think it would be. Most of his hits failed to make the Top 10. His albums fared better, but at this point in time even they weren't selling as well as previous efforts. His previous single "Sartorial Eloquence" failed to make the Top 40 as did the follow up to this "Nobody Wins".
Interestingly the song that this replaced at number 40 was "Walking On Thin Ice" by Yoko Ono.
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