Mo' Elton -- Greatest Hits, 1976-1986 (for Greatest Hits, Vol. 3)

I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues

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"Don'tchoo go breaking my heart!"
"I want go breaking your heart!!"

Lots of good songs. "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" best of all.

it's by far the best sentimental tribute to John, superior to "All Those Years Ago" or that Paul Simon collab with Philip Glass.

"Empty Garden" is ace, but not better than "Here Today" or "The Late Great Johnny Ace".

I love the mix on "I'm Still Standing." It has a certain energy to it.

"I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" is great, but it annoys me greatly that because there is nothing in the song that explains the etymology of the phrase "The Blues," the title refrain is completely nonsensical. Seriously, Mr. Taupin- wtf?

im still standing!!!!

I non-dislike a lot of these, surprisingly enough! The Kiki Dee duet might deservigly win, but I voted for "Sad Songs (Say So Much)," which is a song about sad songs without actually being one, a neat trick (if nobody already pointed that out up above.)

I strongly suspect "Mama Can't Buy You Love" ...might be worse

I agree with the other unmemorable nonentities that Michaelangelo named, but this was toward the tail end of Elton's Philly-disco-wannabe phase (from the Thom Bell Sessions EP, right? Which, now that I think of it, may or may not be up there with the Honeydrippers and David Lee Roth as one of the biggest-selling EPs ever.) And it's not so bad.

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Lots of "Nikita" votes!

"I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" is great, but it annoys me greatly that because there is nothing in the song that explains the etymology of the phrase "The Blues," the title refrain is completely nonsensical. Seriously, Mr. Taupin- wtf?

OTM, thank you!

You mean, Elton John was part of the lost weekend bunch? I thought that was Lennon, Nilsson and Keith Moon.

no idea if elton was boozing/coking it up with john and harry, but all of elton and lennon's collaborations -- "whatever gets you through the night," "lucy in the sky," madison sq garden -- came during the lost weekend period. for whatever that's worth.

Lots of "Nikita" votes!

i've got a soft spot for that song, too (though it didn't get my vote).

i am only sad that "sorry seems to be the hardest word" didn't get more votes. though i am glad that "empty garden" only got 2 votes -- such sloppy treacle, since elton (and even bernie!) could do sadness and remorse so much better.

has anyone ever tried rifling through the mid period 80s elton stuff for his 'temorary secretary' or same? i mean of that era he's said 'it sounds like a dead man in there' but really that only adds to the unloved-tune-with-electro-dancefloor-potential! it's all on SPOTIFY which might make this easier.

UUUUUUUUUUUGH "Little Jeannie." I just heard you at Target a little while ago.

"Don't Go Breaking My Heart" has some of the best anonymous studio musician drumming I've ever heard (the hi-hat kicks!). WHO IS THAT???

I'm pretty sure the drummer was Roger Pope, who was the regular sticksman in the Elton John Band at the time. Ah yes, here we go:

ROCKET ROKN 512 (UK: #1; 14 weeks)

A. Don't Go Breaking My Heart (with Kiki Dee) (4:23)
B. Snow Queen (with Kiki Dee) (5:54)

A-side writing credit is shown as Ann Orson & Carte Blanche, actually Elton John & Bernie Taupin.
Produced by Gus Dudgeon. Other musicians are: Davey Johnstone - guitar; Kenny Passarelli - bass guitar and Roger Pope - drums. A-side strings arranged by James Newton-Howard

whoa "Empty Garden" is pretty great! The electronic touches are nice and push the maudlin toward creepy, which I suspect was the intended effect.

Hai consensus -- "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" is fuckin' great.

I feel "I'm Still Standing" really got undue short shrift here.

Benny Hill cost it all of its UK votes i suspect

has anyone ever tried rifling through the mid period 80s elton stuff for his 'temorary secretary' or same? i mean of that era he's said 'it sounds like a dead man in there' but really that only adds to the unloved-tune-with-electro-dancefloor-potential! it's all on SPOTIFY which might make this easier.

"Too Low For Zero"?

"Passengers", as mentioned above..

yeah Crystal off Too Low For Zero is pretty much a buried electroclash treasure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSIkFqffgzo