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At the time Rare Masters was released in 1992, most of the selections on this 37-track double-disc compilation were indeed rare. They were issued on non-LP singles, B-sides, the Friends soundtrack, one-offs; some were buried on album tracks, and some even stayed in the vault. Since then, Elton John's catalog has been remastered and reissued, with much of the best of this material appearing as bonus tracks, but the album still was worthwhile, since it not only has some songs that never appeared elsewhere on disc (such as "Step Into Christmas"' B-side, "(Ho Ho Ho) Who'd Be a Turkey at Christmas"), but it also is a hell of a listen in its own right, showcasing great songs and forgotten gems from John's prime period. There aren't too many hits here, but the quality is startlingly high and consistent, showcasing John and Taupin's partnership at its peak -- though they might not have hit the charts, "Bad Side of the Moon," "Rock & Roll Madonna," "Into the Old Man's Shoes," "Whenever You're Ready (We'll Go Steady Again)," "Screw You (Young Man's Blues)," and the radio staple "Madman Across the Water," plus "Grey Seal" (later re-recorded for Goodbye Yellow Brick Road) are among the finest songs of the era, and they're the linchpins on a rarities collection, not a proper album. It doesn't quite keep that same high level throughout, largely due to the pleasant but forgettable instrumentals from Friends, but it's still an essential part of any Elton John collection.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, MainArtist - Caleb Quaye, Producer
℗ 1968 This Record Company Ltd.
Elton John, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Caleb Quaye, Producer
℗ 1968 This Record Company Ltd.
Frank Owen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Brown, Producer - Caleb Quaye, Guitar, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Pope, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Clive Franks, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Murray, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Graham Vickery, Harmonica, AssociatedPerformer - Don Fay, Flute, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1969 This Record Company Ltd.
Frank Owen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Brown, Producer - Caleb Quaye, Guitar, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Pope, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Clive Franks, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Murray, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Graham Vickery, Harmonica, AssociatedPerformer - Don Fay, Flute, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1969 This Record Company Ltd.
Frank Owen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Brown, Producer - Caleb Quaye, Guitar, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Pope, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Clive Franks, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Murray, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Graham Vickery, Harmonica, AssociatedPerformer - Don Fay, Flute, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1969 This Record Company Ltd.
Frank Owen, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Brown, Producer - Caleb Quaye, Guitar, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Pope, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Clive Franks, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Murray, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Graham Vickery, Harmonica, AssociatedPerformer - Don Fay, Flute, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1969 This Record Company Ltd.
Paul Buckmaster, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1970 This Record Company Ltd.
Paul Buckmaster, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1970 This Record Company Ltd.
Paul Buckmaster, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - David Hentschel, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ray Cooper, Tambourine, AssociatedPerformer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Steve James, Producer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1970 This Record Company Ltd.
Paul Buckmaster, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, MainArtist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1971 This Record Company Ltd.
Paul Buckmaster, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, MainArtist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1971 This Record Company Ltd.
Paul Buckmaster, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, MainArtist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1971 This Record Company Ltd.
Paul Buckmaster, Composer, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, MainArtist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1971 This Record Company Ltd.
Paul Buckmaster, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1971 This Record Company Ltd.
Paul Buckmaster, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, MainArtist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1971 This Record Company Ltd.
Paul Buckmaster, Composer, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, MainArtist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1971 This Record Company Ltd.
Paul Buckmaster, Composer, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, MainArtist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1971 This Record Company Ltd.
Paul Buckmaster, Composer, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Elton John, MainArtist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1971 This Record Company Ltd.
Paul Buckmaster, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, MainArtist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1971 This Record Company Ltd.
DISC 2
Mick Ronson, FeaturedArtist - Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, MainArtist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1992 This Record Company Ltd.
Paul Buckmaster, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, MainArtist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1971 This Record Company Ltd.
Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, MainArtist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1992 This Record Company Ltd.
Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Banjo, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Scott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1992 This Record Company Ltd.
Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1972 This Record Company Ltd.
Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1973 This Record Company Ltd.
Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1973 This Record Company Ltd.
Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, MainArtist
℗ 1992 This Record Company Ltd.
Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1972 This Record Company Ltd.
Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, Piano, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1973 This Record Company Ltd.
Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1973 This Record Company Ltd.
Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, MainArtist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1974 This Record Company Ltd.
Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, MainArtist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1974 This Record Company Ltd.
John Lennon, Participant, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Ray Cooper, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1974 Mercury Records Limited
John Lennon, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Paul Mccartney, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, MainArtist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1975 This Record Company Ltd.
Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, MainArtist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1975 This Record Company Ltd.
Bernie Taupin, Author - Elton John, Composer, MainArtist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer
℗ 1992 This Record Company Ltd.
Elton John, MainArtist - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Kiki Dee, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1975 This Record Company Ltd.
Album review
At the time Rare Masters was released in 1992, most of the selections on this 37-track double-disc compilation were indeed rare. They were issued on non-LP singles, B-sides, the Friends soundtrack, one-offs; some were buried on album tracks, and some even stayed in the vault. Since then, Elton John's catalog has been remastered and reissued, with much of the best of this material appearing as bonus tracks, but the album still was worthwhile, since it not only has some songs that never appeared elsewhere on disc (such as "Step Into Christmas"' B-side, "(Ho Ho Ho) Who'd Be a Turkey at Christmas"), but it also is a hell of a listen in its own right, showcasing great songs and forgotten gems from John's prime period. There aren't too many hits here, but the quality is startlingly high and consistent, showcasing John and Taupin's partnership at its peak -- though they might not have hit the charts, "Bad Side of the Moon," "Rock & Roll Madonna," "Into the Old Man's Shoes," "Whenever You're Ready (We'll Go Steady Again)," "Screw You (Young Man's Blues)," and the radio staple "Madman Across the Water," plus "Grey Seal" (later re-recorded for Goodbye Yellow Brick Road) are among the finest songs of the era, and they're the linchpins on a rarities collection, not a proper album. It doesn't quite keep that same high level throughout, largely due to the pleasant but forgettable instrumentals from Friends, but it's still an essential part of any Elton John collection.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 37 track(s)
- Total length: 02:24:52
- Main artists: Elton John
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 1992 Mercury Records Limited This Compilation ℗ 1992 Mercury Records Limited
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