Rocketman movie, has anyone else seen it?

[pianotuner steveo]

I went to see Rocketman, the other day, and although it did have some good bits, a lot of it was made up B.S., and it is NOT a biopic like Bohemian Rhapsody.

No major spoilers, but I do want to say the way they have Elton come up with his last name is FALSE.

He took Elton from Elton Dean, the sax player, and John from "Long John" Baldrey, the lead singer of the band Elton was in. They got 1/2 right in the movie. There is no mention of John Baldrey, probably for legal reasons.

Elton and Bernie met at least 1 year if not 2 years before shown in the movie. 1969 is incorrect.

The Elton John album was NOT his first album. It was the first to get popular, but he recorded and released Empty Sky before that, plus several sessions when he recorded songs like Lady Samantha, It's Me That you Need, Just like Strange Rain, Rock and Roll Madonna, and believe it or not, MANY cover songs. This stuff was eventually released, but the cover songs are hard to find. At least they did briefly show the Empty Sky LP cover in the movie. This album had 2 different covers, I don't remember which was the original UK cover, but they show the more common one of Elton sitting at a piano (drawing)

There is no mention of Davey, Dee, Nigel, Caleb Quaye, Roger Pope, Ray Cooper or any other band members. There are 3 guys in the background that slightly resemble Davey, Dee and Nigel in a few scenes.

There are other things I have issues with, but don't want to give away too much.

I would appreciate anyone else's take if you've seen this movie too. (Pun intended)

[pianotuner steveo]

I have learned that the second Empty Sky album cover, with the Sphinx like drawing was done for the USA MCA LP release in the '70's. I remember having the choice when I bought the LP, but I chose the original cover, so my LP was an import.

[Student Rhodes]

Any Rhodes sightings in the movie?  Elton playing one while recording "Daniel", perhaps?
Probably not...

The other night I watched "Bad Times at the El Royale" and spotted a very interesting Seventy-Three Suitcase in the background of a scene in a recording studio.  I tried doing some freeze-frame analysis, but it was difficult to get a frame that had clear focus.  It looked like one of the Sparkle Top era pianos with a black harp cover.  I have one from '69, however, it almost looked like one of the really early ones that had tubular legs (64/65?), rather than the flat aluminum supports. The film is set in '69 or so, but it's hard to believe someone would have gotten that specific with the piano

[pianotuner steveo]

Not in the movie, but Elton did use ep's a lot in life. Even Honky Cat features a Rhodes.They only showed him playing a little bit of Daniel on an acoustic piano to demo for Dick James. Elton used Hohners, and at least one Wurli on early recordings. First version of Grey Seal, Lady Samantha, songs from Empty Sky. And of course Don't go Breaking my Heart starts with a Wurli. The re-recorded version for the movie soundtrack uses a poor digital Wurli.
Boo hiss, Giles Martin!