The Elton John CD Review

Greatest Hits Volume 3 1979-1987 (1987)


1.I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues
2.Mama Can't Buy You Love
3.Little Jeannie
4.Sad Songs (Say So Much)
5.I'm Still Standing
6.Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)
7.Heartache all over the World
8.Too Low For Zero
9.Kiss the Bride
10.Blue Eyes
11.Nikita
12.Wrap Her Up

 

The third collection of greatest hits material doesn't compare with the first two. In the nine years in which this material is comprised of, there were many ups as well as downs and some tracks are chosen from the latter period bringing down the overall quality. It did seem the right thing to do under the circumstances. Elton had just finished his record contract with Geffen Records, so it's only natural that such a record would be released. For whatever reason, this release was re-released under another name (Elton John's Greatest Hits 1976-1985) under another record label with some tracks changed. Record litigation at it's finest.


This compilation consisted of only one song not on any album. Mama Can't Buy You Love was a minor single hit in 1978. All other songs are included on a previous release. From 21 at 33 Little Jeanie is included. Jump Up featured Empty Garden and Blue Eyes and not surprisingly Too Low For Zero had four tracks, I'm Still Standing, I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues, Kiss The Bride and the title track. Ironically, the wonderful Breaking Hearts had only one representation, Sad Songs, while the horrific Ice On Fire had two (Wrap It Up and the less offensive Nikita). The only single from Leather Jackets, Heartache All Over The World, which never did anything, is also included.

The replacement compilation made some improvements: Don't Go Breaking My Heart and Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word were taken off Greatest Hits Volume 2 and added here was Who Wears These Shoes from Breaking Hearts. Taken off the record was the awful Heartache All Over The World and the song Too Low For Zero. So fortunately, the package with the monicker 1976-1985 was actually a big improvement over this one.


Go back to the main page
Go To Next Review