Elton John - Elsewhere (1977)

 By the start of the second half of the 70s, Elton John's long and painful decline had begun: his albums were getting less overall good, and he was less productive overall, falling extremely deep into drug addiction, eating disorders, and proably severe burnout. That all being said, he was still putting out bangers, if even at a less consistent rate. 

This album covers the period between 1975 and very early 1977, with "The Goaldigger's Song" being the newest song on here, recorded in April of '77. I decided to call the album Elsewhere becuase after this, Elton would start looking elsewhere for songwriting partnership, musicianship, production, etc. Even on this album, three of the songs are covers (Pinball Wizard, One Day at a Time, and Sugar on the Floor), and two of them are collaborations with Kiki Dee.

For the album art I used a picture of Elton looking whistfully out of a window.

Side One

1. Don't Go Breaking My Heart
2. House of Cards
3. Planes
4. One Day at a Time
5. The Goaldigger's Song
   

Side Two

1. Sugar on the Floor
2. Snow Queen
3. Pinball Wizard
   
4. Philadelphia Freedom
   

Elton John - Young Man's Blues (1974)

 By 1974, Elton John was on top of the world. He'd put out Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player, Honky Chateau, Madman Across The Water, Friends, Tumbleweed Connection, and his self titled sophomore album all in the matter of three years. That's a lot of grinding. I picked up his scraps from the starts of his career, but he left enough breadcrumbs to make a full album out of his tunes from 1973 to 1974 (Yes, I'm including the christmas songs, becuase even disconected from christmas Step Into Christmas slaps). These include outtakes, B-sides, non album singles, and whatnot.

 I got the cover from this blog, which has a similar premise.

 

Side One

1. Screw You (Young Man's Blues)
2. Cold Highway
3. Sick City
4. Step Into Christmas

Side Two

1. Ho! Ho! Ho! (Who'd be a Turkey at Chrstimas?)
   
2. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
3. Whenever you're Ready (We'll Go Steady Again)
4. Jack Rabbit
5. Let Me Be Your Car

Elton John - Rock N Roll Madonna (1971)

 Elton John was a goddamn maniac. He put out so many albums back in the day, usually two a year, which was common in the early to mid 60s, but fell out of favour by 1970 or so. Elton just kept on chooglin', though. Maybe it was the cocaine, who knows? Anyway, you'd think that that wouldn't leave much room for outtakes or non album singles, but shockingly, he was churning those out left and right, too! A real workhorse.

The tracks on this range from 1969 to 1970, with one track from 1971 to fill out the rest, since there's a bit of a gap between that one and the next ones. Anyways. The cover is from 1970, IIRC

Side One

1. Rock N Roll Madonna
2. All Across The Havens
3. In The Morning
4. It's Me That You Need
5. Sing Me No Sad Songs
6. From Denver to L.A.

Side Two

1. One Time, Sometime, or Never
2. Into the Old Man's Shoes
3. Just like Strange Rain
4. Rock Me When He's Gone
5. Lady Samantha
6. Bad Side of the Moon
   

Elton John - Two of a Kind (1968)

 Elton John's debut album Empty Sky came out in 1969 to little fanfare, but in 1968, he recorded a whole different album with a whole different vibe called Regemental Sgt. Zippo, which would've been a kind of summer of love type deal, but a year late, like Odessey and Oracle by The Zombies. Zippo finally came out this year, but maybe like two years ago or something, Elton John released a career and rarities retrospectve called Jewel Box which included a fat stack of early demos and previously unreleased tracks.
If one only uses the Arranged Band tracks and Band Demos, then you see that Elton could've put out two full lenth LPs in 1968!

The cover I use is a colourised photo of Elton John from 1968

These are songs that were recorded with a full band, sourced from the Jewel Box.

Side One

1. If I Asked You
2. Cry, Willow, Cry
3. Two of a Kind
4. I've Been Loving You
5. The Girl on Angel Pavement
6. Smokestack Children
7. 71-75 New Oxford Street

Side Two

1. Here's to the Next Time
2. Taking the Sun From My Eyes
3. There is Still a Little Love
4. Baby I Miss You
5. I Can't Go On Living Without You
6. When The First Tear Shows
7. Thank You For All Your Loving