Song of the Day 8/3: Elton John, “Slave”

Warning: It is illegal to play this song for students in Florida.

This seems like an odd topic for a British pop singer to tackle, but it fit with lyricist Bernie Taupin’s early fascination with 19th-century Americana. It was included on “Honky Chateau,” the 1972 LP that sealed John’s stardom.

You might notice that there are no keyboards on the song. John did record a version with piano – but at the breakneck tempo Jerry Lee Lewis might have used. It was released on the 1995 remastered edition of the original album.