In terms of sales and lasting popularity, Elton John was the biggest pop superstar of the early 70s. Initially marketed as a singer/songwriter, John soon revealed he could craft Beatlesque pop and pound out rockers with equal aplomb. He could dip into soul, disco, and country, as well as classic pop balladry and even progressive rock. His versatility, combined with his effortless melodic skills, dynamic charisma, and flamboyant stage shows, made him the most popular recording artist of the 70s. Unlike many pop stars, John was able to sustain his popularity, charting a Top 40 single every single year from 1970 to 1996. During that time, he had temporary slumps in creativity and sales, as he fell out of favor with critics, had fights with his lyricist, Bernie Taupin, and battled various addictions and public scandals. But through it all, John remained a remarkably popular artist, and many of his songs -- including "Your Song," "Rocket Man," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," and "Dont Let the Sun Go Down on Me" -- became contemporary pop standards.

Interms of sales and lasting popularity, Elton John was the biggest popsuperstar of the early 70s. Initially marketed as a singer/songwriter,John soon revealed he could craft Beatlesque pop and pound out rockerswith equal aplomb. He could dip into soul, disco, and country, as wellas classic pop balladry and even progressive rock. His versatility,combined with his effortless melodic skills, dynamic charisma, andflamboyant stage shows, made him the most popular recording artist ofthe 70s. Unlike many pop stars, John was able to sustain hispopularity, charting a Top 40 single every single year from 1970 to1996. During that time, he had temporary slumps in creativity andsales, as he fell out of favor with critics, had fights with hislyricist, Bernie Taupin, and battled various addictions and publicscandals. But through it all, John remained a remarkably popularartist, and many of his songs -- including Your Song, Rocket Man,Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and Dont Let the Sun Go Down on Me --became contemporary pop standards.

In terms of sales and lasting popularity, Elton John was the biggest pop superstar of the early 70s. Initially marketed as a singer/songwriter, John soon revealed he could craft Beatlesque pop and pound out rockers with equal aplomb. He could dip into soul, disco, and country, as well as classic pop balladry and even progressive rock. His versatility, combined with his effortless melodic skills, dynamic charisma, and flamboyant stage shows, made him the most popular recording artist of the 70s. Unlike many pop stars, John was able to sustain his popularity, charting a Top 40 single every single year from 1970 to 1996. During that time, he had temporary slumps in creativity and sales, as he fell out of favor with critics, had fights with his lyricist, Bernie Taupin, and battled various addictions and public scandals. But through it all, John remained a remarkably popular artist, and many of his songs -- including "Your Song," "Rocket Man," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," and "Dont Let the Sun Go Down on Me" -- became contemporary pop standards.