Elton John - Rocket Man: Number Ones

No matter what your musical taste prefers, chances are you’ve heard of Elton John. A multiple Grammy winner, humanitarian, and flamboyant superstar, Elton John has been a huge success on the music scene since 1970. His first release was Empty Sky in 1969 with his most recent being Rocket Man: Number Ones, a collection of 17 of his biggest hits. Wisely, the CD isn’t a compilation of only his Number One Singles, but also includes several of his more well known songs that didn’t quite make it into that number one spot ("Rocket Man" only made it to sixth spot on US pop charts). Instead, Rocket Man adds those few songs that most people have heard and think of when Elton John is mentioned; the CD just wouldn’t feel complete without them. And it certainly wouldn’t be fitting for the eccentric 60-year-old to leave his audience wanting. But of course, 17 songs fall short of being able to be truly comprehensive of Elton John’s great songs of the past 40 years.

Is it worth buying another album of greatest hits from Elton John? He has already released such collections on Greatest Hits (1974), Greatest Hits Vol. 2(1986), The Very Best of Elton John (1990), One Night Only (2000), Greatest Hits 1970-2002 (2002), with many having a separate release in other countries and other compilation albums such as Love Songs and Duets. If you don’t own any of those, then the question is most assuredly you should purchase it. While Greatest Hits 1970-2002 is probably the most in depth greatest hits release, sometimes having a single disc with music spanning his career really is better than two discs. In that instance, Rocket Man is also worth purchasing. Then, you could be like me and simply be obsessed with Elton John when there is no question in your mind on if you will buy it. It is also a great collection of songs for someone unsure of which Elton John to purchase.

I honestly only have two complaints about Rocket Man: Number Ones. The first is my favorite song, "I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues", isn’t included. The real complaint is the version of "Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me". It is a live recording, which is never my personal preference unless I am actually watching it live. Not only is it live, but George Michael sings most of it and not Elton John.

I do enjoy the cover art a great deal and it is truly representative of Elton’s career. Perhaps it is an homage to the Sgt Pepper cover, but it shows Elton John throughout the four decades of his musical career. The liner notes also give you information about the songs, which albums they were first a part of and when they reached their hit status.

Track Listing:
1.Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (3:14) - Cash Box Pop, 1973
2.Bennie & The Jets (5:23) - Billboard Pop, 1973
3.Daniel (3:54) - Billboard A/C*, 1973
4.Crocodile Rock (3:55) - Billboard Pop, 1973
5.Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (5:56) - Billboard, 1974
6.Philadelphia Freedom (5:20) - Billboard Pop, 1975
7.Island Girl (3:43) - Billboard Pop, 1975
8.Don’t Go Breaking My Heart (w/Kiki Dee) (4:35) - Billboard Pop & A/C, 1976
9.Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word (3:50) - Billboard A/C, 1976
10.Sacrifice (5:06) - U.K. Pop, 1990
11.Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me (w/George Michael) (5:38) - Billboard Pop & A/C, 1992
12.Can You Feel The Love Tonight (4:01) - Billboard, 1994
13.Your Song (4:05)
14.Tiny Dancer (6:18)
15.Rocket Man (4:41)
16.Candle In the Wind (3:50)
17.Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting (4:54)

*A/C is the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.