The Very Best of Elton John
Compilation album by
Elton John
Released1 October 1990
Recorded1970–1990
GenreRock, pop
Length137:56
LabelPolygram
ProducerGus Dudgeon, Clive Franks, Chris Thomas, Don Was
Elton John chronology
Sleeping with the Past
(1989) 		The Very Best of Elton John
(1990) 		To Be Continued...
(1990)
Singles from The Very Best of Elton John
  1. "You Gotta Love Someone"
    Released: 8 October 1990
  2. "Easier to Walk Away"
    Released: November 1990
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

The Very Best of Elton John is a greatest hits compilation album by English musician Elton John, released in October 1990. His first career-retrospective compilation album, and fourth official greatest-hits album overall, it was released in the United Kingdom and throughout Europe, and in other countries such as Japan and Australia, but not in the United States, where the box set To Be Continued... was released the following month instead.

The compilation spans his second album Elton John in 1970 to Sleeping with the Past in 1989. After the double A-sided "Sacrifice/Healing Hands" single became a hit and the third best-selling single of 1990 in the United Kingdom, the album became an instant smash in that country. It spent its first two weeks at #1 followed by nine weeks at #2, kept there by Madonna's Immaculate Collection. In all, the compilation spent 145 weeks inside the UK top 200 album chart, making a total of 11 re-entries, and it was certified 9× Platinum by the BPI on 1 March 1995.[2]

It includes a total of 28 hit singles plus the new songs "Easier to Walk Away" and "You Gotta Love Someone", both of which also made the charts between 1990 and 1991. The release also spawned a music video compilation, which was originally released on both laserdisc and VHS, and reissued on DVD.

Track listing

Disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Your Song"Elton John, Bernie TaupinElton John, 19704:03
2."Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be a Long, Long Time)"John, TaupinHonky Château, 19724:42
3."Honky Cat"John, TaupinHonky Château5:15
4."Crocodile Rock"John, TaupinDon't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player, 19733:58
5."Daniel"John, TaupinDon't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player3:56
6."Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"John, TaupinGoodbye Yellow Brick Road, 19733:17
7."Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"John, TaupinGoodbye Yellow Brick Road4:57
8."Candle in the Wind"John, TaupinGoodbye Yellow Brick Road3:51
9."Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"John, TaupinCaribou, 19745:38
10."Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"Lennon–McCartneyNon-album single, 19746:17
11."Philadelphia Freedom" (Edited version)John, TaupinNon-album single, 19755:19
12."Someone Saved My Life Tonight"John, TaupinCaptain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, 19756:47
13."Pinball Wizard"Pete TownshendTommy soundtrack, 19755:16
14."The Bitch Is Back"John, TaupinCaribou3:46
Disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
15."Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (with Kiki Dee)John, Taupin (but credited to Ann Orson/Carte Blanche, respectively)Non-album single, 19764:32
16."Bennie and the Jets"John, TaupinGoodbye Yellow Brick Road5:21
17."Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"John, TaupinBlue Moves, 19763:51
18."Song for Guy"JohnA Single Man, 19786:41
19."Part-Time Love"John, Gary OsborneA Single Man3:16
20."Blue Eyes"John, OsborneJump Up!, 19823:28
21."I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues"John, Taupin, Davey JohnstoneToo Low for Zero, 19834:46
22."I'm Still Standing"John, TaupinToo Low for Zero3:04
23."Kiss the Bride"John, TaupinToo Low for Zero3:56
24."Sad Songs (Say So Much) (Single Version)"John, TaupinBreaking Hearts, 19844:11
25."Passengers"John, Taupin, Johnstone, Phineas MkhizeBreaking Hearts3:24
26."Nikita"John, TaupinIce on Fire, 19855:45
27."I Don't Wanna Go on with You Like That"John, TaupinReg Strikes Back, 19884:00
28."Sacrifice"John, TaupinSleeping with the Past, 19895:08
29."Easier to Walk Away"John, TaupinSoon to be released on To Be Continued..., 19904:25
30."You Gotta Love Someone"John, TaupinDays of Thunder soundtrack, 19905:01

B-sides

Song Format
"Medicine Man" "You Gotta Love Someone" 7"/12"/CD (UK)
"Medicine Man" (with Adamski) "You Gotta Love Someone" 12"/CD (UK)
"Made for Me" "Easier to Walk Away" 12"/CD (UK)
"I Swear I Heard the Night Talkin'" "Easier to Walk Away" 7"/12"/CD (UK)
"You Gotta Love Someone" 7" (France)

Music video compilation

  1. "Your Song" (Top of the Pops 1971 live version)
  2. "Daniel" (Top of the Pops 1973 live version)
  3. "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (Top of the Pops 1973 live version)
  4. "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (with Kiki Dee)
  5. "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (BBC Live Christmas Show version)
  6. "Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long Long Time)" (live Wembley 1977 version)
  7. "Blue Eyes"
  8. "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues"
  9. "I'm Still Standing"
  10. "Kiss the Bride"
  11. "Sad Songs (Say So Much)"
  12. "Passengers"
  13. "Nikita"
  14. "Wrap Her Up"
  15. "Candle in the Wind" (live in Australia 1986 version)
  16. "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" (live in Prince's Trust 1987 version)
  17. "I Don't Wanna Go on with You Like That"
  18. "Philadelphia Freedom" (live in Verona 1989 version)
  19. "Sacrifice"
  20. "You Gotta Love Someone"

Charts

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[28] 6× Platinum 420,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[29] 3× Platinum 150,000*
Belgium (BEA)[30] 3× Platinum 150,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[31] Gold 100,000*
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[32] Gold 25,000[32]
France (SNEP)[34] Diamond 2,300,000[33]
Germany (BVMI)[35] 2× Platinum 1,000,000^
Italy (FIMI)[36] Platinum 450,000[36]
Netherlands (NVPI)[37] 2× Platinum 200,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[38] Platinum 15,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[39] Platinum 100,000[39]
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[40] 3× Platinum 300,000^
Sweden (GLF)[41] Platinum 100,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[42] 4× Platinum 200,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[43] 9× Platinum 2,700,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r471536
  2. ^ "British album certifications – Elton John – The Very Best of Elton John". British Phonographic Industry.Select albums in the Format field. Type The Very Best of Elton John in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  3. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Elton John – The Very Best of Elton John". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  4. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Elton John – The Very Best of Elton John" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  5. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Elton John – The Very Best of Elton John" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  6. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  7. ^ "Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste – J". Infodisc.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2012. Select Elton John from the menu, then press OK.
  8. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Elton John – The Very Best of Elton John" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  9. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 12 March 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Elton John".
  10. ^ "Charts.nz – Elton John – The Very Best of Elton John". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  11. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Elton John – The Very Best of Elton John". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  12. ^ Music & Media, vol. 7, issue 51; December 22, 1990.
  13. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  14. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Elton John – The Very Best of Elton John". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  15. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Elton John – The Very Best of Elton John". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  16. ^ "Elton John | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  17. ^ "Ultratop.be – Elton John – The Very Best Of Elton John" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Ultratop.be – Elton John – The Very Best Of Elton John" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  19. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 1996. 7. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  20. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1991". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
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  22. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1991". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  23. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  24. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1991". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  25. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1991". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  26. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1995". Ultratop. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  27. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1995". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  28. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  29. ^ "Austrian album certifications – Elton John – Very Best of" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  30. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 1995". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  31. ^ "Brazilian album certifications – Elton John – The Very Best of Elton John" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil.
  32. ^ a b "Elton John" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  33. ^ "Elton John - 30 Years of Music". Billboard. 4 October 1997. p. EJ-34.
  34. ^ "French album certifications – Elton John – The Very Best of" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  35. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Elton John; 'The Very Best of Elton John')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  36. ^ a b "Elton Racks 'Em Up" (PDF). Music & Media. 23 March 1991. p. 10. Retrieved 4 January 2020 – via American Radio History.
  37. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Elton John – The Very Best of Elton John" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter The Very Best of Elton John in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1995 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  38. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Elton John – The Very Best of Elton John". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  39. ^ a b "Bernie Taupin Elton John The Very Best of Elton John Norwegian "Platinum" Record Award". 27 February 2023.
  40. ^ Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. p. 931. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  41. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011.
  42. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Very Best of Elton John')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  43. ^ "British album certifications – Elton John – The Very Best of Elton John". British Phonographic Industry.Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type The Very Best of Elton John in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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