Rare Masters

Rare Masters
Compilation album by
Elton John
ReleasedOctober 20, 1992 (US)
December 31, 1993 (UK)
RecordedDecember 1967–July 1975
GenreRock
Length105:04
LabelPolydor (US/Canada), DJM
ProducerGus Dudgeon, Caleb Quaye, Steve Brown
Elton John chronology
Greatest Hits 1976–1986
(1992) 		Rare Masters
(1992) 		Duets
(1993)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[2]

Rare Masters is a compilation album by Elton John that was released in 1992.[3] It includes all A-side and B-sides released by John between 1968 and 1975 that were not included on original studio albums or on Elton John's Greatest Hits Volume II. However, some of the tracks here previously appeared on the To Be Continued... box set released in 1990.

The album also includes five outtakes, recorded in the same time period, that had previously been unreleased. It is also the only place where the soundtrack to the 1971 movie Friends has been made available on CD.

When the Elton John back catalog from 1969 to 1975 was remastered and released in 1995, many of these songs were released on those albums as well, also in remastered form.

Track listing

All songs written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, except where noted.

Disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)NotesLength
1."I've Been Loving You"JohnRecorded December 1967, released March 19683:16
2."Here's to the Next Time"JohnRecorded December 1967, released March 19682:58
3."Lady Samantha" Recorded December 1968, released January 19693:02
4."All Across the Havens" B-side of "Lady Samantha", recorded December 1968, released January 19692:51
5."It's Me That You Need" Recorded April 1969, released May 19694:00
6."Just Like Strange Rain" B-side of "It's Me That You Need", recorded April 1969, released May 19693:44
7."Bad Side of the Moon" Recorded January 1970, released March 19703:12
8."Rock and Roll Madonna" Recorded September 1969, released June 19704:16
9."Grey Seal" Recorded January 1970, released June 19703:35
10."Friends"  2:33
11."Michelle's Song"  4:20
12."Seasons" Instrumental3:56
13."Variation on Michelle's Song (A Day in the Country)"John, Taupin, Paul BuckmasterInstrumental2:47
14."Can I Put You On"  5:57
15."Honey Roll" B-side of "Friends"3:07
16."Variations on 'Friends'"John, Taupin, BuckmasterInstrumental1:43
17."I Meant to Do My Work Today (A Day in the Country)"John, Taupin, BuckmasterRecitation with accompaniment1:36
18."Four Moods"BuckmasterInstrumental11:01
19."Seasons Reprise" Instrumental1:39
Total length:69:33
Disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)NotesLength
1."Madman Across the Water" Tumbleweed Connection outtake with Mick Ronson on guitar8:50
2."Into the Old Man's Shoes" Tumbleweed Connection outtake released as the B-side of "Your Song" in the UK4:01
3."Rock Me When He's Gone" Madman Across the Water outtake, written for Long John Baldry5:01
4."Slave" Honky Château outtake, recorded January 19722:48
5."Skyline Pigeon" Re-recording of Empty Sky song, recorded June 1972, released January 1973 as the B-side of "Daniel"3:51
6."Jack Rabbit" Recorded May 1973, released June 19731:51
7."Whenever You're Ready (We'll Go Steady Again)" Recorded May 1973, released June 19732:51
8."Let Me Be Your Car" Previously unreleased demo, written for Rod Stewart, recorded early 19734:52
9."Screw You" Title changed to "Young Man's Blues" for US release, recorded May 1973, released September 19734:41
10."Step into Christmas" Recorded and released November 19734:30
11."Ho! Ho! Ho! (Who'd Be a Turkey at Christmas)" B-side of "Step Into Christmas", recorded and released November 19734:03
12."Sick City" Recorded January 1974, released May 19745:23
13."Cold Highway" Recorded January 1974, released August 19743:26
14."One Day (At a Time)"John LennonRecorded July 1974, released November 19743:47
15."I Saw Her Standing There"Lennon–McCartneyRecorded live with Lennon at Madison Square Garden, Lennon's last concert appearance3:51
16."House of Cards" Recorded July 1974, released May 19753:09
17."Planes" Previously unreleased, recorded July 19754:14
18."Sugar on the Floor"Kiki DeeRecorded July 1975, released September 19754:33

References

  1. ^ "Elton John - Rare Masters". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  2. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). "John, Elton". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). London: Omnibus Press. p. 2,003. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
  3. ^ Bernardin, Claude; Stanton, Tom (1996). Rocket Man: Elton John From A - Z (Paperback ed.). Praeger. pp. 145. ISBN 978-0-275-95698-1. rocket man: elton john from a-z for collectors of obscure Elton John recordings,.