"Honky Cat" - Elton John

Steve, you are correct in that the early 1976 long/short promo 45 for
"Love Song" (MCA 1938) was never commercially released. It was one of
the first "perks" I ever received from the owner of my local mom-and-
pop record shop, during my first year of college.

The store owner seemed to have some pretty detailed background info
as to MCA's thinking here, for being just a retailer. He told me that MCA
didn't think that the new live LP that "Love Song" came from (Here And
There) had a song on it that was strong enough to be released as an
official single. And since "Grow Some Funk Of Your Own" had just
snapped EJ's streak of 8 Top 10 BB singles in a row, MCA didn't want to
have a second consecutive EJ "non-smash 45 release".     

So he was told that MCA's "Spring '76 EJ Plan" was to publicize the live
set's release mainly through print/media ads and in-store play. (That's
probably why the store owner was so "in the know" on this situation.)
And while MCA did send "Love Song" promo 45 copies to selected radio
stations, they weren't going for any "official radio adds". (Despite this,
at least 6 Top 40 stations added it anyway, with KRIZ/Phoenix peaking
it as high as #3.) Besides, the retailer said, he was told that a new, non-
LP single, also a duet, would be coming out from EJ in a few weeks
(which turned out to be "Don't Go Breaking My Heart"), since Elton's
next studio album/45 wasn't expected until late in the year (right again,
with "Blue Moves" and "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word".)

I remember being especially inquisitive about the "Love Song" 45
release situation at the time. I was not yet well versed in such unusual
stock/promo 45 release patterns. I was also a big EJ fan at the time,
and I was still upset that I had to buy the entire "Tommy" LP the year
before, just to get "Pinball Wizard" (which I did later manage to acquire
the Polydor promo-only 45 for, but far too late to prevent my high
school years, nearly budget-busting purchase.) And I sure didn't want
to see this no-stock-45s thing become any sort of trend for Elton John.

I always appreciated Wayne (the owner) clearing that "Love Song"
situation up for me. And also him giving me *two* copies of it. I kept
buying stock 45s from him, for many years after, even after I starting
working in Top 40 radio. And the tables got turned. He would ask me
how certain songs were doing for us, whether I thought he should re-
order/not re-order an iffy 45 title or not, or ask what I'd heard from the
labels as to what the next single might be an album, or certain concert
info rumors, etc. I know a lot of us had our own "Wayne-eqivalent", in
our local areas. I miss those mom-and-pop days...