# Elton John -did anyone buy and listen to the albums? Recommendations? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [June 22, 2026, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102 "2026-06-22T13:09:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/1 "2026-06-22T13:09:44Z")
I only know Sir Elton from his hit singles. Should I consider buying an album? Which ones? I looked at his Discography… He often had one or two hits on an album. _Elton John_ - Your Song _Tumbleweed_ - none _Friends_ - Friends ?? I don’t remember this song _Madman_ - Levon, Tiny Dancer _Honky Château_ - Rocket Man, Honky Cat _Goodbye Yellow Brick Road_ - Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting" “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” “Bennie and the Jets” “Candle in the Wind” _Lady Samantha_ - none _Caribou_ - Don’t Let the Sun Go Down, Bitch is Back _Greatest Hits_ - that’s what I wore out on 8-track, cassette and I currently have the CD Skipping down _Blue Moves_ - “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word” “Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)” “Crazy Water” _Greatest Hits 2_ ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/2 "2026-06-22T13:25:48Z")
Honestly, while I haven’t listened to every album (there are a lot)… I think that a lot of his/Taupin’s songs are hit or miss, and I haven’t found an album that I want to go back to as a complete album. I’d stick with greatest hits 1, 2, and 3, and maybe a live album or two (I’m partial to Live in Australia, and it has a lot of great songs that are not on any of the greatest hits collections). ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/3 "2026-06-22T13:29:09Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Goodbye Yellow Brick Road That’s kind of a no-brainer. It’s the only Elton John album I ever owned. I don’t consider myself one of his fans, but I could listen to that album anytime during my life and enjoy it. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/4 "2026-06-22T13:31:14Z")
I bought this double CD a few years ago. I’ll check out his Live in Australia. I remember Elton’s HBO?? special in the late 90’s. It was good. (It may be Showtime I don’t remember) [![](https://images.genius.com/956c7380884ec38d295f45752a28bc34.1000x1000x1.jpg) ](https://images.genius.com/956c7380884ec38d295f45752a28bc34.1000x1000x1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/5 "2026-06-22T13:49:40Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > I think that a lot of his/Taupin’s songs are hit or miss, I’d agree with that. There are an awful lot of good songs, obviously, but there’s an awful lot of ‘meh’, too. Which I guess is inevitable given how long he’s been around. > [@aceplace57](#): > > Should I consider buying an album? I’m guessing you don’t have a streaming subscription? You could get one just for a month and try ALLLLL of them (there are a lot!). That would be my recommendation, rather than forking out for something you might find disappointing. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/6 "2026-06-22T14:00:04Z")
I would second (third) suggestions about getting the greatest hits albums. While I own several of his albums, I’ve never found any of them to have a theme or track sequence that made them essential as “whole albums.” GBYBR probably comes closest. For some bands’ albums, I really think the sequence, structure, style, and production make them essential in the original album form. For example, I’m not at all interested in a Best of Led Zeppelin album. But this doesn’t apply to Elton John. BTW, my own personal favorite song by EJ is “Someone Saved My Life Tonight.” ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/7 "2026-06-22T14:08:26Z")
I have all his albums, and Goodbye Yellow Road is the best IMO. There days I mostly listen to his older albums, but you really can’t go wrong with any of them. You can listen to most of them for free on YouTube if you want to try before you buy. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/8 "2026-06-22T14:12:13Z")
I think ‘Island Girl’ is a peculiar song (not the music, but the subject), but when it comes on the radio, I am transported directly back to a certain time and place in my life…And same with ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ with that Kiki Dee. What was that collaboration about, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/9 "2026-06-22T14:15:18Z")
> [@salinqmind1](#): > > And same with ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ with that Kiki Dee. What was that collaboration about, anyway? It was originally written by Elton and Bernie with Dusty Springfield in mind for the duet. I think they just wanted to make a Motown style record as a nostalgic novelty. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/10 "2026-06-22T14:23:55Z")
Buy Greatest Hits 1 and 2. and you’ll have 90%. There’s other good stuff, but I agree that there really isn’t an album I ever need to play all the way through. I have three others. But the longer pieces (Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding, for example) aren’t on the GH albums. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/11 "2026-06-22T14:29:48Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > > [@aceplace57](#): > > > > Goodbye Yellow Brick Road > > That’s kind of a no-brainer. It’s the only Elton John album I ever owned. I don’t consider myself one of his fans, but I could listen to that album anytime during my life and enjoy it. I never bought it but an older sibling did so it was in the house. I’ve always been a fan enough to listen on the radio but not buy the album. This would be the one that I bought out of any. And if I hadn’t dumped all my physical media long ago. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/12 "2026-06-22T14:52:25Z")
Strongly disagree that Elton John was a singles guy with weak albums. _Honky Chateau, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only the Piano Player, Tumbleweed Connection, Captain Fantastic,_ these are all classic albums with barely a single weak track, if any. Elton’s early albums were absolutely Beatlesque in their quality. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/13 "2026-06-22T14:55:13Z")
I’m not a big Elton John fan but I love Honky Chateau. Rocket Man was a big AM hit in the summer of '72 – I bought the album because of that and the rest of the songs just clicked for me. The SACD sounds great and has one of my favorite 5.1 surround mixes. The album’s namesake, [Château d’Hérouville](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_d%27H%C3%A9rouville) has an interesting history and more than a few great albums have been recorded there. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/14 "2026-06-22T14:56:07Z")
The irony of Elton and Dusty singing that song, if they had done it, would have been similar as Dick Sargent and Fannie Flagg as (eh, “significant others?”) on the old TV game show “Tattletales,” (which they did) and would have been lost on people at the time. But maybe the same applies to Kiki, as she is still un-nuptialated (to the extent that is publicly known). ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/15 "2026-06-22T15:00:51Z")
I take it that “_… did anyone buy …?_” in the thread title is asking of present company versus asking of anyone anywhere. Nevertheless, in the spirit of pedantry, it’s worth noting that all of Elton John’s first 11 studio albums\*\* (including a six-year-delayed release of his UK debut album _Empty Sky_) made it to the top ten of the US Hot 200 Albums chart, with six of them hitting number one between 1972-1975. During that period, John’s albums sold well in the UK, but not quite _as_ well as in the US (per capita). Eventually, Elton John morphed from a strong album _and_ singles artist to a dedicated singles artist in the US. Broadly, the reverse ended up being true in the UK – many of John’s 1980s-90s album releases in the UK hit their top 10 (several top-threes and one number one, 1989’s _Sleeping With the Past_). \*\* _excepting his 1971 soundtrack to the feature film_ Friends. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/16 "2026-06-22T15:31:55Z")
Back in the day, I bought the first 2 greatest hits albums. Today… I got the 1970-2002 album already mentioned. I made a playlist from that and listen to the playlist on a regular basis. For awhile I would play other albums, but I haven’t listened for a while (since March 19th, 2025 - I was listening in order and kept track of when I listened). If I had to pick one I would pick Don’t Shoot Me. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/17 "2026-06-22T20:08:44Z")
I have always thought of Elton as a very competent but not especially brilliant writer. He put out a LOT of material: occasional good hits, but an awful lot of ‘filler’… ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/18 "2026-06-22T20:16:10Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Strongly disagree that Elton John was a singles guy with weak albums. _Honky Chateau, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only the Piano Player, Tumbleweed Connection, Captain Fantastic,_ these are all classic albums with barely a single weak track, if any. I’ll second those remarks and add that IMO you shouldn’t ponder the Taupin lyrics too deeply. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/19 "2026-06-22T20:27:26Z")
I am here to also object to the notion that Elton did not have any great, cohesive albums. Yellow Brick Road goes without saying, but my absolute favorite is Captain Fantastic. I would also mention Tumbleweed Connection, Madman Across the Water, and Honky Chateau. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102/20 "2026-06-22T20:56:07Z")
_Tumbleweed Connection_ is a fascinating outlier, a quasi-concept album built around Barnie Taupin’s love of American western mythology. It hangs together with a series of strong songs even though there’s no standout single. _Madman Across the Water_ has one of the great side one’s ever: Tiny Dancer, Levon, Razor Face and the title song. I don’t remember side two so I can’t recommend it as an album, but he couldn’t do anything wrong at that point so it’s probably worth a listen. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elton-john-did-anyone-buy-and-listen-to-the-albums-recommendations/1031102.md?page=2)