Elton John pretty much ruled radio in the mid ‘70s. He released an unbroken string of six No. 1 albums, starting with his first classic, 1972’s ‘Honky Chateau,’ and including his 1973 masterpiece, the two-record set ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,’ and the 1975 autobiographical concept album ‘Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy,’ which he wrote with his longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin. His 1974 ‘Greatest Hits’ collection remains one of the bestselling albums ever released, and for good reason: The 10-song set contains some of the best songs to grace the airwaves during the first half of the ‘70s. John has stayed busy over the years, releasing chart-topping soundtrack records, duet projects and occasionally ambitious albums that combine nostalgia with a sharp sense of mortality. On top of all this, he’s a consummate showman, a piano player with style, elegance and the good sense to wear a duck costume onstage from time to time.