In fact, the duet was also John's first No.1 hit in the UK and his sixth No.1 in the US. So how did Pauline Matthews from Yorkshire, get to sing not one but two duets with the glitter-glasses wearing John?

Matthews had earned her first record deal with Fontana at age 16, on the proviso she changed her name. Record producer Mitch Murray came up with Kiki Dee.

At 21, she went to the US for a few months, and was the first white UK artist signed to US label Tamla Motown. On her return to London, she called the label's local rep John Reid for advice.

Reid was John's partner and about to become his manager. He signed her to John's record label Rocket Records. Her first major solo hit was the haunting ballad Amoureuse in 1973. That was followed by rock hit I've Got the Music in Me.

She also sang back-up for Dusty Springfield and occasionally on some of John's recordings. When Springfield fell ill, Dee was asked to step in to record the famous duet.

"I saw Rocket Man. I'm in it for a couple of minutes. They play Don't Go Breaking My Heart at the end and show a picture of Elton and me. It made me think of us growing up.

"We're two weeks apart in age," says the 72-year-old. "And we lived 150 miles away from each other. He's been a big, part of my life. We don't hang out ... I see him a couple of times a year, everybody lives different lives these days. I don't have the burden of fame. I can get on public transport - his life is so extraordinary."

Dee says she has had many phases in her career, joining up with acclaimed guitarist and producer Carmelo Luggeri in the early '90s. She hadn't been aware of his music. Luggeri had worked with Bill Wyman, Julian Lennon, Andy Willams, Ray Cooper and Chris Rea. A respected friend, Steve Brown, suggested she join with Luggeri acoustically.

"We don't put a lot out of music, four or five albums. We write together, he produces, it's the usual Kiki thing of trying things out, we have fun with it."

This is the diminutive singer's first headline tour to Australia, having only ever visited here in 1970 as a back-up singer for The Bachelors.

"I think it's just the way life goes," she says in explanation as to why it is has taken until now to return.

"I was never been invited to go over. I tend to work mostly in the UK. I don't do the pop star thing so much.

It takes a lot of stamina to travel from the UK to Australia and perform 19 shows in five weeks across three states. Dee says she goes to the gym, eats well and doesn't drink too much, but had some second thoughts about the logistics involved.

"It will be a great adventure for us. A huge challenge, people won't know what to expect."

Of course the show features all her hits, including True Love, the other hit duet she sang with John, and songs from her albums with Luggeri. "We haven't quite put our sets together yet, but there will also be her favourite covers. "I love Running Up That Hill (Kate Bush), Leonard Cohen, Dusty Springfield.

"It's an eclectic mix with an intimate quality. I like the connection with the audience."