Arguably the biggest pop star of the '70s, Elton John's star might not have fallen by the time the '80s arrived, but it had definitely dimmed. Much of the downturn could be attributed to his split with longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin, so it's not surprising that their reunion with the song "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" would result in one of his bigger hits of the early '80s and one of his best songs of the period.

The song was a tribute to the late John Lennon, a close friend of Lennon's and a collaborator on Lennon's 1975 hit "Whatever Gets You Through The Night." Taken from John's 1982 album Jump Up!, "Empty Garden" was released as the record's first single and was an immediate smash. The mournful ballad was an aching lament to the slain Beatle and also a stirring celebration of his life. Graceful organ and John's impassioned, heartfelt vocal made it a fitting elegy.

Debuting in the US Top 40 in April, the song quickly climbed the charts, finding airplay on several radio formats. Although it failed to make the Top Ten, peaking at #13, it was one of John's strongest efforts and became a fan favorite. John, though, would rarely perform the song live for more than a decade because of the painful memories surrounding the song.

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