Sets are in-depth exploration of his extensive catalog

Elton John has announced the forthcoming release of Elton: Jewel Box. Released on November 13th via UMe/EMI, Elton: Jewel Box is an unrivaled collection containing 148 songs spanning 1965 to 2019 on 8 CD, 4 LP, 3 LP, 2 LP, digital download, and streaming formats.

The ultimate exploration into John’s extensive back catalog, Elton: Jewel Box covers deep cuts, rarities from the earliest stages of his and Bernie Taupin’s musical journey, B-side spanning 30 years, and songs discussed in his best-selling, critically acclaimed 2019 memoir Me. The 8 CD box set of buried treasures comes in a beautiful hardcover book with the discs housed in the back, all wrapped in an outer slipcase. Each section comes accompanied by extensive notes, including a track-by-track commentary by John for Deep Cuts. A 4 LP gatefold black vinyl set of Deep Cuts that was curated by John himself, a 3 LP gatefold black vinyl set of rarities and B-side highlights, and a 2 LP gatefold black vinyl set And This Is Me…. All audio was mastered at Abbey Road Studios by GRAMMY-winning mastering engineer Sean Magee. With an unprecedented number of previously unheard and unreleased tracks painstakingly excavated from deep within the UMG archives, this is the ultimate treasure trove for Elton John fans.

As a first taster of some of the many gems gathered within Elton: Jewel Box, “Sing Me No Sad Songs” is available for the very first time. Previously unreleased, the track was written and recorded as a band demo in 1969. “Sing Me No Sad Songs” is a fascinating first taste of what was to come from John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, and one that mentions not one, but two, future smashes in its lyrics – “Sad Songs (Say So Much)” from 1984’s Breaking Hearts album and John’s first UK chart-topping single “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” from 1976.

“To delve back through every period of my career in such detail for Jewel Box has been an absolute pleasure. Hearing these long lost tracks again, I find it hard to comprehend just how prolific Bernie and I were during the early days,” John says of the package. “The songs just poured out of us, and the band were just unbelievable in the studio. I always want to push forward with everything I do and look to the future, but having time during lockdown to take stock and pull these moments from my memory from each era has been a joy. As a devout record collector myself, this project has really excited me, and I couldn’t be happier with the level of craft involved in such a carefully curated, lovingly constructed box set. I’m sure my fans will enjoy it as much as I have.”

Discs one and two feature Deep Cuts, a selection of personal favorites, curated by John. The box set book includes a track-by-track commentary by John.

Discs three through five are called Rarities 1965 -1971, featuring John’s much sought-after 1960s and early 1970s demos and music that cemented the foundations of the iconic Elton John/Bernie Taupin writing partnership. The compelling, previously unreleased, missing piece in his illustrious career. Daryl Easlea narrates this fascinating story with contributions from those who were there at the time. These discs encompass 65 songs, all but a few of which have been stored in the vaults for more than 50 years. Most of these demos were recorded during sessions before John was signed to a recording contract or released his first album. Also included are the first song ever written by John and his debut appearance on a record (both “Come Back Baby” – 1965), John and Taupin’s first composition (“Scarecrow” – 1967), and newly-unearthed piano/vocal demos of some of John’s most acclaimed songs from his early albums. The packaging appropriately contains rare archival artwork and select original lyric sheets.

Discs six and seven contain B-Sides 1976-2005, non LP tracks and flip sides, never before compiled together. Thirty-six gems that are now given another chance to sparkle feature 17 previously only available on vinyl, resulting in all of John’s studio B-sides now being offered digitally for the first time in his career.

Disc eight is called And This Is Me… that coincides with the release of the updated paperback edition of Me. The final collection celebrates the songs mentioned by name by John in his acclaimed autobiography, closing Jewel Box with the 2020 Academy Award-winning duet with Taron Egerton, “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again.”

8 CD | 4 LP | 3 LP | 2 LP

CD 1: Deep Cuts

  1. Monkey Suit Elton John and Leon Russell
  2. Where To Now St Peter?
  3. Mellow
  4. The Ballad Of Danny Bailey (1909-34)
  5. Chameleon
  6. Gone To Shiloh Elton John and Leon Russell
  7. We All Fall In Love Sometimes
  8. Too Low For Zero
  9. The Power with Little Richard
  10. All That I’m Allowed
  11. The Bridge
  12. The New Fever Waltz
  13. Stone’s Throw From Hurtin’
  14. The North
  15. Hoop Of Fire
  16. Boogie Pilgrim

CD 2: Deep Cuts

  1. Ticking
  2. Crystal
  3. All Quiet On The Western Front
  4. Tell Me When The Whistle Blows
  5. Freaks In Love
  6. Never Too Old (To Hold Somebody) Elton John and Leon Russell
  7. The Emperor’s New Clothes
  8. House
  9. (Gotta Get A) Meal Ticket
  10. Understanding Women
  11. Shoot Down The Moon
  12. Have Mercy On The Criminal
  13. Blues For Baby And Me
  14. My Quicksand
  15. Street Kids

CD 3: Rarities Part One – 1965-1968

  1. Come Back Baby Bluesology
  2. Mr. Frantic Bluesology
  3. Scarecrow Piano/Tambourine Demo
  4. A Dandelion Dies In The Wind Piano Demo
  5. Velvet Fountain Piano Demo
  6. A Little Love Goes A Long Way Piano Demo
  7. If You Could See Me Now Piano Demo
  8. Mr. Lightning Strikerman Piano Demo
  9. Countryside Love Affair Piano Demo
  10. I Could Never Fall In Love With Anybody Else Piano Demo
  11. I Get A Little Bit Lonely Piano Demo
  12. The Witch’s House Piano Demo
  13. Get Out Of This Town Piano/Tambourine Demo
  14. Year Of The Teddy Bear Piano Demo
  15. Where It’s At Piano/Percussion Demo
  16. Who’s Gonna Love You Piano/Percussion Demo
  17. Nina Band Version
  18. Angel Tree Piano/Guitar/Tambourine Demo
  19. Here’s To The Next Time Piano/Tambourine Demo
  20. Thank You For All Your Loving Band Version
  21. Watching The Planes Go By Band Version
  22. When The First Tear Shows Arranged Band Version
  23. Tartan Coloured Lady Arranged Band Version

CD 4: Rarities Part Two – 1968

  1. Hourglass Band Version
  2. 71-75 New Oxford Street Band Demo
  3. Turn To Me Arranged Band Version
  4. Reminds Me Of You Piano Demo
  5. I Can’t Go On Living Without You Arranged Band Version
  6. And The Clock Goes Round Piano Demo
  7. When I Was Tealby Abbey Piano Demo
  8. I’ll Stop Living When You Stop Loving Me Piano Demo
  9. Trying To Hold On To A Love That’s Dying Piano Demo
  10. Sitting Doing Nothing Band Version
  11. Regimental Sgt. Zippo Band Version
  12. Cry Willow Cry Band Demo
  13. There Is Still A Little Love Band Demo
  14. If I Asked You Band Demo
  15. Skyline Pigeon Piano Demo
  16. Two Of A Kind Arranged Band Version
  17. The Girl On Angel Pavement Arranged Band Version
  18. Smokestack Children Arranged Band Version
  19. Baby I Miss You Band Demo
  20. All Across The Havens Piano/Guitar Demo
  21. Bonnie’s Gone Away Piano/Guitar Demo
  22. Just An Ordinary Man Piano Demo
  23. There’s Still Time For Me Piano/Guitar/Tambourine Demo

CD 5: Rarities Part Three – 1968-1971

  1. The Tide Will Turn For Rebecca Piano Demo
  2. Dick Barton Theme (Devil’s Gallop) Bread And Beer Band
  3. Breakdown Blues Bread And Beer Band
  4. Taking The Sun From My Eyes Arranged Band Version
  5. It’s Me That You Need Band Demo
  6. Sing Me No Sad Songs Band Demo
  7. The Flowers Will Never Die Piano Demo
  8. In The Morning Band Demo
  9. Open Your Eyes To The Sun Piano/Tambourine Demo
  10. One Time, Sometime or Never Band Demo
  11. Slow Fade To Blue Piano/Guitar Demo
  12. Rolling Western Union Piano Demo
  13. My Father’s Gun Piano Demo
  14. Amoreena Piano Demo
  15. Burn Down The Mission Piano Demo
  16. Razor Face Piano Demo
  17. Madman Across The Water Piano Demo
  18. Holiday Inn Piano Demo
  19. All The Nasties Piano Demo

CD 6: B-Sides Part One – 1976-1984

  1. Snow Queen Elton John and Kiki Dee
  2. Conquer The Sun
  3. Cartier
  4. White Man Danger
  5. Tactics
  6. Steal Away Child
  7. Love So Cold
  8. Les Aveux Elton John and France Gall
  9. Donner Pour Donner Elton John and France Gall
  10. J’veux D’la Tendresse
  11. Fools In Fashion
  12. Can’t Get Over Getting Over Losing You
  13. Tortured
  14. Hey Papa Legba
  15. Take Me Down To The Ocean
  16. Where Have All The Good Times Gone? Alternate Mix
  17. The Retreat
  18. Choc Ice Goes Mental
  19. A Simple Man

CD 7: B-Sides Part One – 1984-2005

  1. Lonely Boy
  2. Highlander
  3. Billy And The Kids
  4. Lord Of The Flies
  5. Rope Around A Fool
  6. Medicine Man
  7. I Know Why I’m In Love
  8. Big Man In A Little Suit
  9. God Never Came Here
  10. The North Star
  11. Did Anybody Sleep With Joan Of Arc
  12. So Sad The Renegade
  13. A Little Peace
  14. Keep It A Mystery
  15. How’s Tomorrow
  16. Peter’s Song
  17. Things Only Get Better With Love

CD 8: And This Is Me…

  1. Empty Sky
  2. Lady Samantha
  3. Border Song
  4. My Father’s Gun
  5. All The Nasties
  6. I Think I’m Going To Kill Myself
  7. Philadelphia Freedom
  8. Song For Guy
  9. Sartorial Eloquence
  10. Elton’s Song
  11. Cold As Christmas (In The Middle Of The Year)
  12. I Fall Apart
  13. Amazes Me
  14. The Last Song
  15. American Triangle
  16. (I’m Gonna) Love Me Again – Elton John and Taron Egerton