# What are your favorite Elton John deep cuts? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 4, 2015, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-elton-john-deep-cuts/729868 "2015-09-04T00:23:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [September 4, 2015, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-elton-john-deep-cuts/729868/1 "2015-09-04T00:23:03Z")
For the purposes of this thread, let’s define a deep cut as a song that the casual fan is unlikely to know. The definition is certainly loose. Rolling Stone did a reader’s poll on this topic, which I will link to. I would prefer that you list your favorites before reading the RS results. I am still pondering my favorites and will post back soon. mmm [link to RS article](http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/readers-poll-the-10-best-elton-john-deep-cuts-20150902) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-elton-john-deep-cuts/729868/2 "2015-09-04T00:29:43Z")
It’s only a moderately deep cut, but I’ll go with “Funeral for a Friend.” ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-elton-john-deep-cuts/729868/3 "2015-09-04T00:34:47Z")
Love the topic and not a bad list. I’m no expert but love the deep quality of his first run of albums. I would go with stuff like **Your Sister Can’t Twist (but she can rock n’ roll)** and **Grey Seal** off Yellow Brick Road, something off Blue Moves and from Captain Fantastic. Damn good run of material. ---
**Author:** ![breezman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@breezman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breezman)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-elton-john-deep-cuts/729868/4 "2015-09-04T00:35:42Z")
I don’t know that I’d call it a favorite, but “Jack Rabbit” is a fun one. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-elton-john-deep-cuts/729868/5 "2015-09-04T00:40:06Z")
I think all but two of those songs get regular air play on my local classic rock station which (last I listened to it a few years ago) always had a very good selection. My out of town friends were always very surprised by what they heard when I turned it on. My first thought was that I really don’t know anything that’s not on the radio. Then I saw the second reply and figured if Funeral for a Friend is a deep cut, I’ll pick Philadelphia Freedom. Having said that, from the list, my favorite would be All The Girls Love Alice. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-elton-john-deep-cuts/729868/6 "2015-09-04T00:59:54Z")
“Where To Now St. Peter?” from **Tumbleweed Connection.** ---
**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:** [September 4, 2015, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-elton-john-deep-cuts/729868/7 "2015-09-04T01:01:19Z")
I might turn this into a poll at some point. Mine are all from relatively early Elton. So many hidden gems. More or less in order: **Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny)** – Jump Up! (this one’s not all that deep) **Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters** – Honky Chateau \*\*Sweet Painted Lady \*\*– Goodbye Yellow Brick Road **Bitter Fingers** – Captain Fantastic **The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909-34)** – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road **Ballad of a Well-Known Gun** - Tumbleweed Connection **Salvation** - Honky Chateau **Blues for Baby and Me** – Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player \*\*Harmony \*\*– Goodbye Yellow Brick Road \*\*Tower of Babel \*\*– Captain Fantastic mmm ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-elton-john-deep-cuts/729868/8 "2015-09-04T01:02:28Z")
There really isn’t a bad song on either Goodbye Yellowbrick Road or Captain Fantastic. Though I really can’t listen to either Candle in Wind or Bennie & the Jets much anymore. GYBR [ul] [li]The Ballad of Danny Bailey[/li][li]All the Young Girls Love Alice[/li][li]Harmony[/li][/ul] Captain Fantastic [ul] [li]We all fall in love sometime[/li][li]Curtains[/li][/ul] From Don’t Shoot Me [ul] [li]Texas Love Song[/li][/ul] Honky Chateau [ul] [li]I think I’m going to kill myself[/li][/ul] Eeek! been listening to that for more than 40 years now. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-elton-john-deep-cuts/729868/9 "2015-09-04T01:57:41Z")
“Burn Down The Mission” from Tumbleweed Connection ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-elton-john-deep-cuts/729868/10 "2015-09-04T02:14:01Z")
Many His epic live version of “Burn Down the Mission” from **11/17/70**. In fact, that entire album, which shows he could rock with the best of them. “Take Me to the Pilot,” the song that first showed me how good he was. “Hercules” “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters” “Love Lies Bleeding” “Funeral for a Friend” is only mediocre on the album, but it’s excellent when performed live. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-elton-john-deep-cuts/729868/11 "2015-09-04T02:55:48Z")
Elderberry wine was huge for me. And Teacher I need you. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-elton-john-deep-cuts/729868/12 "2015-09-04T03:37:52Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > My first thought was that I really don’t know anything that’s not on the radio. Then I saw the second reply and figured if Funeral for a Friend is a deep cut, I’ll pick Philadelphia Freedom. “Philadelphia Freedom” doesn’t qualify as a deep cut. It was released as a single and had huge airplay. It has never been on any Elton John album except on some greatest hits collections. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-elton-john-deep-cuts/729868/13 "2015-09-04T03:48:15Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > “Where To Now St. Peter?” from **Tumbleweed Connection.** That’s the one I was trying to remember. I was going to say “the blue canoe” song 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-elton-john-deep-cuts/729868/14 "2015-09-04T04:34:41Z")
> [@K364](#): > > “Burn Down The Mission” from Tumbleweed Connection Please check out this updated performance of _BDTM_ from a concert Elton performed ten or fifteen years ago to benefit the Royal Academy of Arts in London. I don’t even like to listen to the original anymore. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LJiy3P0vbU4/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AHOBYAC4AOKAgwIABABGH8gEygpMA8=&rs=AOn4CLCjQwHGvuUN1G0wFshDd65Bo0_1qw "Elton John Burn Down The Mission Live In Ephesus Solo") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJiy3P0vbU4) ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-elton-john-deep-cuts/729868/15 "2015-09-04T11:09:24Z")
I’ll second **Take me to the Pilot**. Stand out track. And another from that period was [Razorface](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlWkOL4Fuq4), which I’ve always liked. ---
**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:** [September 4, 2015, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-elton-john-deep-cuts/729868/16 "2015-09-04T11:37:03Z")
> [@Meurglys](#): > > I’ll second **Take me to the Pilot**. Stand out track. > And another from that period was [Razorface](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlWkOL4Fuq4), which I’ve always liked. I overlooked both of these on my list. Love the hard-hitting piano on Pilot and the vocals/lyrics on Razorface. > [@](#): > > Razor Face, oh amazing grace > Protects you like a glove mmm ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-elton-john-deep-cuts/729868/17 "2015-09-04T12:10:57Z")
“Song for Guy,” because it was used in the delightful movie _Oh Heavenly Dog_ with Benji, Chevy Chase, and Jane Seymour ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-elton-john-deep-cuts/729868/18 "2015-09-04T12:31:20Z")
‘Indian Sunset’, ‘Goodbye’ and the title track from **Madman Across the Water**. Actually that entire album, really. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-elton-john-deep-cuts/729868/19 "2015-09-04T14:00:22Z")
1. Anything off _Tumbleweed Connection_. 2. “Michelle’s Song” from _Friends_. 3. “Lady Samantha”. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-elton-john-deep-cuts/729868/20 "2015-09-04T14:06:29Z")
Tumbleweed Connection’s: **Where To Now St. Peter?** and **Love Song**. _Do you know what I mean? Have your eyes really seen?_ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-elton-john-deep-cuts/729868.md?page=2)