Denmark Street

London's Tin Pan Alley;
Inspiration for the 1975 album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy

Denmark Street As pictured in the 1975 Captain Fantastic album sleeve. Click to enlarge. Copyright 1975 This Record Co. Ltd. Denmark Street today Click to enlarge. Copyright 2001 OnThisVerySpot.com.

Denmark Street
Camden
London WC2H
England

On This Very Spot in the 1960s was the epicenter of the popular music industry in England.

On This Very Spot a 15-year-old Reg Dwight (the future Elton John) worked as a tea boy at Mills Music. Across the street was the Giaconda restaurant, frequented by the top musicians of the day—Donovan, The Kinks, The Who, and The Rolling Stones. Around the corner was Dick James Music, where Elton was destined to get his start.

Elton and Bernie Taupin referred to this spot when chronicling their early struggles as songwriters in the 1975 song "Bitter Fingers" on their autobiographical album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy:

It's hard to write a song with bitter fingers,
So much to prove, so few to tell you why.
Those old diehards on Denmark Street start laughing
At the keyboard player's hollow, haunted eyes.

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Condition: This sight looks essentially the same as it did at the time.

Public Access: This is a public street. Public parking is available along the street.

Location: Denmark Street is off Charing Cross Road in the Soho area of London, directly north of Trafalgar Square and northwest of historic London.

Nearest Major Airport: London Heathrow or London Gatwick

Nearest Rail: Charing Cross

Nearest Subway: Tottenham Court Road

Directions: Go north on Charing Cross Road and turn right onto Denmark Street.