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With the exception of some very early work with Long John Baldry, the music is exclusively focused on the songs Elton wrote in conjunction with lyricist Bernie Taupin. Their unique songwriting method, whereby Taupin first submits lyrics to which John then gives musical shape, is discussed at length in an insightful interview with the two men. This method has produced a truly astonishing number of hit records, particularly throughout the 70s. Discs 2 and 3 contain all the monster hits--"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "Daniel", "Benny and the Jets", "Crocodile Rock", as well as many others. The combination of John's pliable and emotive voice, Taupin's well-wrought words and strong production values led to mega-stardom.
The 1980s were a period of transition and growth for Elton John. Disc 4 has a number of hits from that period--"Sad Songs", "Sacrifice" and "You Gotta Love Someone"--as well as featuring several live performances before a full orchestra, including "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me". His voice and stage persona both reflected a maturing Elton John.
This box set, compiled by Taupin and John themselves, was completed in 1990 and summed up Elton John's career to that point. Its title, To Be Continued, has proven to be more than wishful thinking as he continues to maintain his vitality in popular music to this day. --Wally Shoup
Disc 1 contains mostly rarities and album tracks along with a few hits singles. The rarest track here, a song Elton recorded in 1965 while he was a member of Bluesology. He also wrote the song, and despite his own criticism, his lyrics aren't that bad (I'm beginning write my own songs, and you should see how bad mine are), but the melody is better (and proof that Elton can write music in his sleep). There are more rarities here: "Lady Samantha", "It's Me That You Need", the demo of "Your Song", the first version of "Your Song", "Friends", "Bad Side Of The Moon" and "Rock And Roll Madonna". The album tracks here are also very good: "Border Song" (actually a single), "Take Me To The Pilot", "Sixty Years On", "Country Comfort" (surprisingly, the only representatice of "Tumbleweed Collection" here), and "Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters". As for the hits, they're the usual: "Your Song", "Levon", "Tiny Dancer", "Rocket Man" and "Honky Cat". Despite the fact we've heard these songs thousands of times, they're still great. I did find it a little bothersome that "Burn Down The Mission" wasn't included.
Disc 2 and the first part of disc 3 contain all of Elton's biggest 1970s' hits: "Crocodile Rock", "Daniel", "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting", "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "Bennie And The Jets", "The Bitch Is Back", "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds", "Philadelphia Freedom", "Someone Saved My Life Tonight", "Island Girl", "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (with Kiki Dee) and "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word". Disc 2 also contains some excellent rarities like the piano version of "Skyline Pigeon", "Jack Rabbit", and the seasonal "Step Into Christmas". Two essential songs are missing, though: the studio versions of "Candle In The Wind" and "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me".
The second half of disc 3 contains Elton's most obscure works, such as "Ego", a bonechilling live version of "I Feel Like A Bullet (In The Gun Of Robert Ford)", "Song For Guy", "Donner Pour Donner" (with France Gall) and "Chloe" are great songs yet to be discovered. Also, a few big late 1970s' and early 1980s' hits are included: the soulful "Mama Can't Buy You Love" (this song, a collaboration with "Philly soul" producer Thom Bell, was a surprise top 10 hit in August, 1979, peaking at number 9), the whimsical and wondeful "Little Jeannie" and the lush "Blue Eyes".
Disc 4 begins with the haunting John Lennon tribute "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)". This disc documents his 1980s' comeback, when he scored a huge string of classic hits: "I'm Still Standing", "I Guess That's Why Call It The Blues", "Sad Songs (Say So Much)", "Nikita", a chilling live version of "Candle In The Wind" and "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That" (represented in a exhillerating 12" dance remix). As usual, there are great rarities here: a novelty version of "Give Peace A Chance", "Act Of War" (with Millie Jackson) and a pretty live version of "Carla Etude".
The bonus tracks are an excellent touch. "Made For Me" is a great rocker sing with gusto by Elton. "You Gotta Love Someone" is an uplifting gospel number used in the movie "Days Of Thunder". The chorus at the end is thrilling. "I Swear I Heard The Night Talkin'" is good if not all that memorable". The closer (of the disc and the set) is the best of the four. "Easier To Walk Away" is a soulful, Motown - style number with a great beat and equaly soulful vocals.
There are few complaints I must make about this set. First, there are several albums tracks I would have liked to have seen included: the previously mentioned "Burn Down The Mission", "Where To Now, St. Peter", "Amoreena", "Talking Old Soldiers", "This Song Has No Title", the "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" version of Grey Seal", "Solar Prestige A Gammon", "Cage The Songbird", "White Lady, White Powder", "Hoop Of Fire", "Paris", "I Fall Apart", "Amazes Me" and "Blue Avenue". And as one reviewer, several lesser singles are missing. They are:
"Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" (studio version) (number 2)
"Grow Some Funk Of Your Own" (number 14)
"Bite Your Lip (Get Up And Dance)" (number 28)
"Part Time Love" (number 22)
"Vicitm Of Love" (not needed since it's the title track to his disco album) (number 31)
"Sartorial Eloquence (Don't You Wanna Play This Game No More)" (number 39)
"Nobody Wins" (number 21)
"Kiss The Bride" (number 25)
"Who Wears These Shoes" (number 16)
"In Neon" (number 38)
"Wrap Her Up" (number 20)
"Heartache All Over The World" (not needed since it's from "Leather Jackets") (number 55)
"Flames Of Paradise" (with Jennifer Rush) (number 36)
"I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That" (studio version, thogh dance version should still be kept) (number 2)
"A Word In Spanish" (number 19)
"Through The Storm" (with Aretha Franklin) (number 16)
"Healing Hands" (number 13)
"Club At The End Of The Street" (number 28)
Still, you can't have everything. Get this boxed set. It's a must - have collection for all music fans. Let's hope another Elton boxed set (maybe a live one) is released soon and spans up to today.
Disc 1 starts with 1965's "Come Back Baby", a song Elton wrote and recorded as a member of Bluesology. To this day, Elton says its one of the worst things he's ever written. After that comes some of his most obscure works - "Lady Samantha", "It's Me That You Need", "Rock And Roll Madonna", plus the demo version of "Your Somg". A few selections from his first album are included like the hit version of "Your Song", "Take Me To The Pilot" and the stirring "Sixty Years On". It's followed by "Country Comfort", the lone track frm "Tumbleweed Connection" included here (surprisingly, "Burn Down The Mission" is omitted). "Honky Cat" and Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters" close out the first disc.
Discs 2 and part of disc 3 contain all the smash hits -"Crocodile Rock", "Daniel", "Philadelphia Freedom", "Bennie And The Jets" and many others are all here. The only hits missing are the studio versions of "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" and "Candle In The Wind". Also featured are rare numbers like "Jack Rabbit", "Whenever You're Ready (We'll Go Steady Again)" and "Skyline Pigeon", plus a moving solo live rendition of "I Feel Like A Bullet (In The Gun Of Robert Ford)". The latter half of disc 3 contains some of his obscure works like "Donner Pour Donner", "Chloe" and "Cartier" as well as the hits like "Mama Can't Buy You Love" and "Blue Eyes".
Disc 4 contains his hits from 1982 up to 1990. These include "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)", "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" and "Sad Songs (Say So Much)", plus the live top 10 hit live version of "Candle In the Wind". Als included is 12" mix of "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That" plus four then - new tracks: "Made For Me", "You Gotta Love Someone", "I Swear I Heard The Night Talkin'" and "Easier To Walk Away".
My only complaint is that there a few songs missing plus they should've added a fifth disc with later hits like "The One", "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" and "I Want Love". Still it's a great collection of Elton's best song.
Disc 1 of this 4 - disc set chronicles Elton's early years, and includes several extremely rare recordings such as "Come Back Baby", "Lady Samantha" and the demo of "Your Song". Also included are such familiar tracks like the stirring "Sixty Years On", "Mona Lisa And Mad Hatters", "Take Me To The Pilot", "Border Song" and the swaying "Country Comfort".
Discs 2 and 3 cover the years when Elton was tearing up the chartswith countless hit singles and several hit albums. Included here are "Philadelphia Freedom", "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "Bennie And The Jets", "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting", "Honky Cat" and many others all including on one set (though for some disturbing reason, the classic studio versions of "Candle In The Wind" and "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" have been omitted from this collection). Also included are several key album tracks like "Funeral For A Friend"/"Love Lies Bleeding", B - sides like "Jack Rabbit", and a moving live version of "I Feel Like A Bullet (In The Gun Of Robert Ford)".
The set starts to get a little obscure halfway through, including relatively unknown tracks like "The Retreat", "Ego" and the somber British hit "Song For Guy", a beautiful instrumental (save for Elton's "life isn't everything" tag) that closed out the '70s' on a high note, although perhaps the best thing about the second half of disc 3 is that nothing from 1979's horrendous disco foray "Victim Of Love" is included. Other key tracks are the lovely "Chloe" and the eloquent "Little Jeannie".
Disc 4 is a look back at Elton's '80s' comeback, where he once again began storming up the charts. Here is where you'll find the hits "Empty Garden", "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues", "Sad Songs (Say So Much)", "Nikita", "I'm Still Standing", and "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That" (which is featured in a remix by Shep Pettibone, who produced many of Madonna's biggest hits). Also included is a novelty recording of John Lennon's "Give Peace A Chance". There are also 4 new recordings that close out the album.
There's even a nice 68 - page bookelt with interviews by Elton and Bernie that you could read along with as you listen to the set. The only boxed set I know of that is better than this is "Good Vibrations: Thirty Years Of The Beach Boys", which I aslo recommend. But "To Be Continued" is definitely a must - have.
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