Greatest Hits 1976-1986
	Previously released material
	Released on November 10, 1992
	2x PLATINUM RECORD
	Find it at GEMM
MCAD-10693 cover [high resolution scan]

K ronomyth 32.0: SAD SONGS (PAY SO MUCH). This is a slight rethink of Volume 3, which was now dialed back a few years to include the latter-day MCA titles and repackaged with the care and quality synonymous with (poisonous to?) the MCA brand. Really, they might as well have put a ring through his nose and slapped a tail on him, had Elton not beaten them to the punch by becoming his own cash cow years ago. Despite a couple of good albums during the decade (e.g., Too Low For Zero and pick another one if it makes you feel better), Elton reached a nadir on 1979’s Victim of Love from which he never really recovered, at least in my jaded opinion of the man. There were, of course, the big hits from nearly every album, often accompanied by clever videos: “I’m Still Standing,” “Kiss The Bride,” “Nikita.” And there were some genuine gems from the decade, such as “Little Jeannie” and “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues.” But the pre-Victim tracks have a spontaneity since lacking. Listen to “Mama Can’t Buy You Love,” “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” or even the mopey “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word,” and you hear a singer/songwriter who still sounds emotionally connected to the music. “Blue Eyes,” by contrast (and as good as it is), is Elton making music for an audience rather than himself, which is the very definition of product. Greatest Hits 1976-1986 contains some very good product, so I’m not saying you shouldn’t own it, especially if you’re interested in a solid sampler from a notoriously uneven decade. MCA, however, should have to work harder for your money, so if you can find a used copy I’d start there.

TRACK LISTING

1. I'M STILL STANDING    (Elton John/Bernie Taupin)
2. MAMA CAN'T BUY YOU LOVE    (Leroy Bell/Casey James)
3. SORRY SEEMS TO BE THE HARDEST WORD    (Elton John/Bernie Taupin)
4. LITTLE JEANNIE    (Elton John/Gary Osborne)
5. BLUE EYES    (Elton John/Gary Osborne)
6. DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART    (Ann Orson/Carte Blanche)
7. EMPTY GARDEN (HEY, HEY JOHNNY)    (Elton John/Bernie Taupin)
8. KISS THE BRIDE    (Elton John/Bernie Taupin)
9. I GUESS THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT THE BLUES    (Elton John/Bernie Taupin/Davey Johnstone)
10. WHO WEARS THESE SHOES?    (Elton John/Bernie Taupin)
11. SAD SONGS (SAY SO MUCH)    (Elton John/Bernie Taupin)
12. WRAP HER UP    (Elton John/Bernie Taupin/Charlie Morgan/Paul Westwood/Davey Johnstone/Fred Mandel)
13. NIKITA    (Elton John/Bernie Taupin)

CREDITS

Andy McKaie -- compilation and coordination
Vartan -- art direction
John Coulter -- design

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