Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - Elton John

A group of workmates get together at 3 o'clock every afternoon to do the Capital Day quiz from the Dompost. One of today's questions was about a #1 Beatles song released by Elton John in 1974. Easy: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. "No way!" someone said. "Yes way!" I replied. "It can't be," they retorted. "Why not?" I asked. They gave up, accepted my answer and we got it right.

This is an excellent cover version of an already excellent song. Elton John not only does it justice but his arrangement adds both strength and originality. It naturally features a dominant piano underlined by some pretty decisive drumming and flavoured with distinctive guitar riffs. The verses, chorus and bridge provide a range of dynamics and variation that beautifully exploits the original song's structure and phrasing.

Rumour has it that when John Lennon was playing on this recording, he had to ask Elton John's guitarist what some of the chords were, even though he wrote the song himself. (And you still think the song was about a girl in a little boy's painting?)