Elton John - Greatest Hits 1970-2002

Like the import CD "The Very Best Of Elton John," the second disc starts off with Elton's number one song with Kiki Dee, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart." Whereas that previous collection only went up to 1990, this disc goes up to 2001. It's great to have "Can You Feel The Love Tonight?" and "Circle Of Life" from the Lion King, as well as "Written In The Stars" from Aida, on an Elton John compilation. However, I would have included them on the bonus disc to make room for other worthy songs from his regular albums, such as "Nobody Wins," "Blue Eyes," "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" and "Healing Hands," to name a few. The second disc closes out on a strong note with the two best songs from Elton's last album, namely the Lennonesque "I Want Love" and the autobiographical "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore."

The limited edition, bonus disc is another reason for buying this collection. It has Elton's live version of "Candle In The Wind," which peaked at number 6, and his duet with George Michael on "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," which hit number one. "Live Like Horses" is an interesting curiosity, being a duet with Luciano Pavarotti. The last song on the bonus disc was recorded in 2002. It is Elton's duet with Alessandro Safina on "Your Song." Thus, Elton's greatest hits comes full circle, including an incredible selection of fantastic songs in-between the two versions of "Your Song."


Some notable omissions but a darn fine collection anyway   June 16, 2004
 44 out of 46 found this review helpful

Yes I realize there is always considerable consternation among collectors about the plethora of "Best of" and "Greatest Hits" packages that are put on the market every year. Some artists simply don't warrant a "Greatest Hits" collection while the music of more important and prolific performers is constantly being repackaged. But if you are someone like me "Elton John Greatest Hits 1970-2002" is a fine value. This collection replaces 3 previous vinyl "Greatest Hits" albums I now own. I will be keeping those vinyl LP's for the tunes that were not included in this particular package.
I must say that Universal has done an outstanding job with the series of anthologies they have released in the past couple of years. This collection offers up 34 of Elton Johns' biggest and best. There is no doubt that everyone will probably quibble about a few of the tracks that were included as well as those that failed to make the cut. But overall, I am quite pleased with this one. Just about all the big ones you would expect to find are included. Among the hits that did not make it are 1979's soulful "Mama Can't Buy You Love" and 2 hits from 1982 "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" and the wonderful "Blue Eyes". The collection comes in a very attractive package that includes a nicely done 40 page booklet. One of the unique features of the booklet is a fold-out section showing all 41 album covers from Elton Johns' fabulous career. The remastering on these tracks is also first rate. Again, if the price of this collection was $29.99 I would be much more critical. But the price is quite reasonable for a collection you are sure to enjoy for years to come. Highly recommended.


Stunningly Comprehensive   February 8, 2003
 29 out of 30 found this review helpful

There's not many artists that have as much as success or that have lasted as long as Elton John has. While not perfect, this album, Greatest Hits 1970-2002, isn't far from it.

The thick booklet contains many pictures of the artist himself and a nice biography of Elton John's music career. Included in this biography are such things as what many of the songs mean and how he and his songwriter, Bernie Taupin, met and bonded through the years musically.

As good as the booklet is, it's not half as great as the music that is encaptured on the two discs in this collection. From the first song of disc one to the last song of disc two, the songs are all in chronological order, all the way from the beginning of the 70's to the ones from recent times. The first disc is as classic as classic can be. From the love songs such as "Your Song", "Tiny Dancer", and "Candle In The Wind", to upbeat rockers like "Crocodile Rock" and "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting", to just plain timeless hits with the likes of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Philadelphia Freedom", the first disc covers six years (1970-1976) of musical greatness.

The second disc may not be quite as strong, but it's almost as great and just as essential. With it you have great more great songs from the late seventies ("Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (With Kiki Dee) and "Little Jeannie"), the eighties ("Sad Songs (Say So Much)", "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues", etc.), and more recent, more underrated pop hits such as "Blessed" and "This Train Don't Stop Here Anymore." Of course, everything in-between such as "The One", "Sacrifice", and the two major Lion King hits are also here to be heard at anytime you please.

With a two-disc compilation that includes not only the great hits that almost any classic rock and adult contemporary radio listener can still hear played these days, but also the more hard to find essentials ("Levon", "Island Girl", "Believe", etc.), how can you go wrong with purchasing this compilation called Elton John Greatest Hits 1970-2002 that barely costs more than a normal single-disc album? The answer is that you can't! There's also an extra compact disc that has the songs, "Candle In The Wind (Live)", "Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Me" (With George Michael), "Live Like Horses" (With Luciano Pavarotti), and "Your Song" (With Alessandro Safina) to make it even more worthy of your purchase.

Yeah, of course there are a few great songs that didn't find their way onto this compilation, such as "Blue Eyes", "Healing Hands", and more. One I would've really liked to have on the album is "Club At The End of The Street". Nonetheless, this is by far the best Elton John compilation that has ever been made so far. It's surprisingly comprehensive and it's cheap, making it a worthwhile sampler for any casual fan. Get it now, while you can!


Unbeatable, Unmatchable Run of Hits   November 15, 2002
 11 out of 12 found this review helpful

Ok...I admit it. I have every one of these songs on other CDs and yes, even other compilations...but I bought it anyway. And I am happy, but not surprised to say, that this collection of hits still comprises the best "new" CD out there...no competition. What a great experience to listen to these songs one right after the other. It really is a stunning achievement for Elton and Bernie. Unlike so many of his contemporaries, Elton's hits just sound so fresh...the poetic, timeless lyrics paired with one of the greatest voices in rock and roll, not to mention astounding piano player.

I also confess that I reflect on the song selection much like the selection played at an Elton John concert. I love what he plays, but am always convinced that he could have executed an equally powerful and satisfying performance if he played all the songs he chose not to play at the concert. So there are, in my opinion, many greatest hits not included in this 2 disc set: "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," "Healing Hands," "Club at the End of the Street," "The Last Song," "Simple Life," "Empty Garden," "Blue Eyes," "Pinball Wizard," "Wrap Her Up" (with George Michael),"Candle in the Wind 1997," "Take Me to the Pilot," "Amoorena," "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters"...and the list goes on and on...but then again, if all of these were included, you'd be putting a box-set together, which already exists.

Truth is, Elton John's 32 year catalogue is inexhaustible. That being said, this collection is stellar. What is striking is that the second CD, taken mainly from the 80's through present day, is as strong as the first, which contains all the 70's hits. Unfortunaltey, it is rarely ever said that Elton's later works are just as important as his earlier works. Side by side, song by song, this CD makes that point crystal clear. The beauty of "Daniel" is equally matched by the sweetness of "Nikita"; we can hop and bop to the "Crocodile Rock" and snap our fingers and mean it to "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That"; we soar into outer space with "Rocket Man," and glory in the orchestral intensity of "Believe".

There's no talent equal to Elton John. Listen for yourself!


A welcome comeuppance for this '80s brat   November 23, 2003
 7 out of 7 found this review helpful

I was one of those teenagers who grew up on New Wave and Metal. To me, Elton John was a Top 40 artist made famous by hits like "I'm Still Standing" and "Sad Songs (say so much)". I didn't know much about his earlier works and, like so many of my generation, heaped scorn upon anything that smacked of the `70s.

Well, fast forward to 2003 and I'd lost touch with Elton for more than 10 years. I popped Disc 2 into the player and listened to the hit tracks from my youth first. Sure, I could recognize his singles from a few Disney movies; but other than that, about two thirds of the tracks on Elton John: Greatest Hits 1970 - 2002 sounded only vaguely familiar. Shame on me! After listening to the rest of the album, reading the liner notes and talking to other music fans I have found a true appreciation of this artist who managed to create memorable hits spanning three decades - without becoming a trend clone like so many other long-lived pop stars. Elton sings insightfully about universal ups and downs, in life and in love. His music is heavy on the piano, had hints of big band style a times, synthesizer at others, but was always recognizable as rock'n'roll. Perhaps it takes time for the real artists to show up against the backdrop of forgettable stylings; but EJ stayed a class act all around and deserved every bit of his commercial successes and more.

Most of what I know now about EJ's remarkable career came from the pull-out booklet tucked inside the 2 disc album. Paul Gambaccini wrote an interesting mini biography on Elton and his writer, Bernie Taupin. Apparently a lot of credit for EJ's consistency over the years goes to Bernie's talent for writing lyrics that reflect the inner workings of his personal life. The two are a magical combination of geniuses, the results of which are many much-loved ballads and anthems. It was a pleasure to look over the selection of photos from each decade and the gallery of album covers. I made a mental note to put a few of them in my shopping cart later.

Of course 34 songs can't definitively represent the body of work that Elton and Bernie have produced for a total of 41 albums. I can only wonder at the overblown expectations that some true fans must have had prior to the release of this album; realize, fellow music lovers, that this offering of greatest hits was never meant to appeal to those knowledgeable disciples of EJ, but to be a short survey for the ignorant such as myself. It worked! I have been successfully lured into finding more music by this sensational artist. If some of the tracks have been slightly altered (i.e. fade outs at the end of some tracks), I wouldn't know to be disappointed, but I will find out later when I hear the originals. If better selections are missing here, I will discover them on my personal musical journey. In this way, many converts are won to good music.

This is a collection well worth its price to music fans like me who so badly need to expand their musical horizons. Go ahead - you will enjoy yourself. You may even learn a thing or two.
-Andrea, aka Merribelle