Elton John: Greatest Hits Album (1974)
- Elton John
- Nov 7, 1974
- 4 min read
A Piano Man's Platinum Parade
Elton John’s Greatest Hits LP, was released in the UK on November 8, 1974, on DJM Records (catalogue: DJLPH 442). This 10-track compilation, produced and compiled by Gus Dudgeon, featured early classics like “Your Song” and “Rocket Man.” Pressed by Tranco Limited and printed by Shorewood Packaging Co. Ltd., it peaked at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart for 84 weeks across multiple runs, including 11 weeks at the top. Issued in vinyl LP, cassette, and 8-track formats, with a regular cover sleeve, it’s a definitive snapshot of Elton’s early dominance.
Album Overview
Release Details:
Label: DJM Records (UK).
Formats: Vinyl LP, cassette, 8-track; later CD reissues.
℗ & ©: 1974 This Record Co. Ltd. Distributed by Pye Records (Sales) Ltd.
Notes: Published by Dick James Music Ltd. / Big Pig Music Ltd. Sleeve design by David Costa/David Larkham. Cover photography by Terry O'Neill.
Inner sleeve photography by David Larkham.
UK Release Formats and Track Listings
Greatest Hits was released in the UK in 1974 in multiple formats, all with the same 10-track sequence:
Vinyl LP (Catalogue: DJLPH 442):
Side A:
Your Song (4:00, Elton John & Bernie Taupin)
Acoustic Guitar – Frank Clark – Arranged By [Orchestral] – Paul Buckmaster – Bass – Dave Richmond – Guitar – Colin Green – Twelve-String Guitar – Clive Hicks – Piano – Elton
Daniel (3:53, Elton John & Bernie Taupin)
Banjo, Acoustic Guitar – Davey – Bass – Dee – Drums, Maracas – Nigel – Electric Piano, Mellotron – Elton – Synthesizer [A.R.P.] – Ken Scott
Honky Cat (5:12, Elton John & Bernie Taupin)
Arranged By [Brass] – Gus Dudgeon – Banjo – Davey – Bass – Dee – Drums – Nigel – Electric Piano, Piano [Acoustic] – Elton – Saxophone – Alain Hatot, Jean-Louis Chautemps – Trombone – Jacques Bolognesi – Trumpet – Ivan J. Julien
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (3:15, Elton John & Bernie Taupin)
Arranged By [Orchestral] – Del Newman – Bass, Backing Vocals – Dee – Drums, Backing Vocals – Nigel – Guitar [Leslie], Backing Vocals – Davey – Piano – Elton
Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting (4:55, Elton John & Bernie Taupin)Bass – Dee – Drums – Nigel – Electric Guitar – Davey – Piano – Elton
Side B:
Rocket Man (4:42, Elton John & Bernie Taupin)
Bass, Backing Vocals – Dee – Drums, Backing Vocals – Nigel – Guitar [Leslie], Backing Vocals – Davey – Piano – Elton – Synthesizer [A.R.P.] – David Hentschel
Candle In The Wind (3:48, Elton John & Bernie Taupin)
Bass, Backing Vocals – Dee – Drums, Backing Vocals – Nigel – Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals – Davey – Piano – Elton
Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (5:35, Elton John & Bernie Taupin)
Arranged By [Assistance With Backing Vocals] – The Captain – Arranged By [Backing Vocals] – Bruce Johnston – Arranged By [Horns] – Del Newman – Backing Vocals – Billy Hinsche, Bruce Johnston, Carl Wilson, Toni Tennille – Bass – Dee – Drums – Nigel –Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Davey – Mellotron – David Hentschel – Piano – Elton Tambourine, Bells – Ray
Border Song (3:56, Elton John & Bernie Taupin)
Arranged By [Orchestral] – Paul Buckmaster – Bass – Dave Richmond – Choir [Backing Vocals] – Kay Garner, Leslie Duncan, Madeline Bell, Roger Cook, Tony Burrows, Tony Hazzard – Chorus Master [Choir Led By] – Barbara Moore – Guitar – Clive Hicks, Colin Green – Organ – Brian Dee – Piano – Elton
Crocodile Rock (3:56, Elton John & Bernie Taupin)
Bass – Dee – Drums – Nigel – Electric Guitar – Davey – Piano, Organ [Farfisa] – Elton
Packaging: Regular cover sleeve.
Cassette Album (Catalogue: ZCDJL 442):
Same 10-track sequence.
Packaging: Standard cassette case.
8-Track Cartridge Album (Catalogue: DJH 80442):
Program 1: Your Song / Daniel / Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Program 2: Crocodile Rock / The Border Song / Candle In The Wind
Program 3: Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time) / Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
Program 4: Honky Cat / Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)
Packaging: Standard 8-track cartridge.
Country Variations
The album was released worldwide, all featuring the same front cover with minor variations.
Album Chart Performance
Greatest Hits charted across multiple runs:
UK: Peak: No. 1 (11 weeks at top).
Total Weeks on Chart: 84.
54 weeks (November 23, 1974 – November 29, 1975).
01 week (December 13, 1975).
05 weeks (January 10, 1976 – February 7, 1976).
01 week (February 21, 1976).
02 weeks (March 13, 1976 – March 20, 1976).
01 week (May 1, 1976).
01 week (May 29, 1976).
01 week (June 12, 1976).
01 week (June 26, 1976).
01 week (July 10, 1976).
01 week (July 24, 1976).
11 weeks (August 7, 1976 – October 16, 1976).
01 week (November 6, 1976).
01 week (January 28, 1978).
01 week (February 11, 1978).
01 week (February 25, 1978).
Certification: Multi-Platinum (BPI).
Legacy and Collectibility
Greatest Hits is Elton’s definitive early compilation, with “Your Song” and “Rocket Man” timeless. Verify catalogue DJLPH 442.
Streams on Spotify are not available for this particular release, reissues preserve the analog pop. This LP is a must-have for Elton fans and ‘70s pop collectors.
Do you have Greatest Hits in your vinyl stack? Which hit tops your chart? Share in the comments!
Sources
Information is drawn from my personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, including, Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts Company, Billboard Chart History and YouTube
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