Elton John: The Classic Years (known in North America as Elton John: The Remasters) was a remastering series of English musician Elton John's albums, covering most (but not all) of the studio and live albums he released between 1969 and 1992. Many of the remastered studio albums included bonus tracks, some of which had previously appeared on compilations such as Rare Masters and the box set To Be Continued..., while the live album Here and There was greatly expanded from its original running time.
The first batch of albums (which were also released in a limited-edition velvet box, bearing John's signature[1]) was released in 1995 and included:
- Empty Sky
- Elton John
- Tumbleweed Connection
- 17-11-70
- Madman Across the Water
- Honky Château
- Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
- Caribou
- Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
- Rock of the Westies
- Here and There
The second batch of albums was released in 1998, and included:
- Blue Moves
- A Single Man
- Too Low for Zero
- Ice on Fire
- Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
- Reg Strikes Back
- Sleeping with the Past
- The One
Of the album not included in the series, Victim of Love, 21 at 33, The Fox, Jump Up! and Breaking Hearts were eventually remastered and re-released of their own accord in 2003. Leather Jackets, long touted by John as his least favorite of his albums, has to date never been remastered, and last appeared on CD in 1992. It was, however, released digitally in 2007.[2]
