Song For Guy

A Life Is Fragile Instrumental Elegy

Released as a 7-inch vinyl single in the UK on November 28, 1978, on The Rocket Record Company (catalogue: XPRES 5), Elton John’s “Song For Guy” — subtitled “Life Is Fragile” — was a haunting piano-led instrumental tribute to Guy Burchett, a Rocket messenger killed in a motorcycle accident. Backed with “Lovesick,” written by Elton/ Bernie Taupin, produced by Clive Franks & Elton John for Frank N. Stein Productions Ltd. Peaked at No. 4 on the Official Singles Chart for 10 weeks. Issued in silver injection moulded labels, paper labels, styrene, solid/large hole centre, and promo variants, with worldwide releases. A poignant ‘70s Elton masterpiece.

Single Overview

Release Details

Label: The Rocket Record Company.

Formats: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single (silver injection/paper labels, solid/large hole centre, styrene, promo).

Full Track Listing

Side A

Song For Guy (6:53 album edit) – Written-By: John

Side B

Lovesick (3:55) – Written-By: John/Taupin

Global Variants

- 7", 45 RPM, Single, Silver Injection Moulded Labels, Solid Centre – Rocket XPRES 5 – UK – 1978

- 7", Single, Styrene – Rocket XPRES 5 – UK – 1978

- 7", Single – Rocket XPRES 5 – UK – 1978

- 7", 45 RPM, Single, Paper Labels – Rocket XPRES 5 – UK – 1978

- 7", Single, Solid Center – Rocket XPRES 5 – UK – 1978

- 7", 45 RPM, Single, Injection Moulded Labels – Rocket XPRES 5 – UK – 1978

- 7", 45 RPM, Single, Large Hole – Rocket XPRES 5 – UK – 1978

- 7", 45 RPM, Single – Rocket – France – 1978

- 7", 45 RPM, Single – Rocket – Ireland – 1978

- 7", 45 RPM, Single – Rocket – Netherlands – 1978

- 7", 45 RPM, Single – Rocket – USA – 1978

Production and Context

Produced by Clive Franks & Elton John for Frank N. Stein Productions Ltd. From *A Single Man* (1978). “Song For Guy” an instrumental tribute to Guy Burchett (Rocket messenger killed in accident). Lacquer cut at Utopia Studios.

Official Singles Chart Data

Peak position: 4

10 weeks – 16/12/1978 to 17/02/1979

22 → 10 → 10 → 5 → 4 → 8 → 14 → 26 → 48 → 66

Legacy and Collectibility

“Song For Guy” is Elton John’s poignant instrumental classic. Original UK Rocket pressings (silver injection/paper labels). Verify catalogue XPRES 5.

Streams on Spotify preserve the fragile life. This single is a must-have for Elton collectors.

Do you have Song For Guy in your vinyl stack? Is life still fragile? Share in the comments!

Sources

Information is drawn from my personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, including Prince Vault, Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts Company, Billboard Chart History and YouTube