He wasn’t the earliest of signings to Rocket Records, but, at 13 years of age, he was certainly one of the youngest.
Maldwyn Pope went on to record with David Costa in 1973 and later with Gus Dudgeon for Rocket. The tapes were never released. Two years ago, Mal contacted Elton to ask if he might return the masters. These became The Gus Dudgeon Sessions 1975-2025, released this year.
On the recording are Davey Johnstone on guitars, Roger Pope on drums and Mike Moran, the producer who wrote the theme to BBC crime-comic series New Tricks as sung by Dennis Waterman.
For this festive episode we are also re-joined by Phil “Phlop” Greenfield, who was manager of Hookfoot, who tells us how he delivered the Tommy master tapes from Caribou to London – wrapped in kitchen foil!
Pinner also deliver two amazing holiday songs, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (Elton style) and “Elton’s Gifts of the Season.”
You can hear Mal Pope’s EP release here:
Here is a gallery of photos from this monumental episode.
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- Artwork for The Gus Dudgeon Session 1975-2025
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- During recording on 16 December 2025. Top: George Middle: Mal Pope Bottom: Phlop Greenfield
The episode is released to Gold buyers and Platinum subscribers at 1800 GMT on 24 December 2025 and is also available extra early for FREE on Silver at 1800 GMT on 27 December 2025.
Merry Christmas everyone!
