Greatest Hits 1970–2002

For other Elton John compilations that followed the format of this album, see Rocket Man: The Definitive Hits and Diamonds (Elton John album).

Greatest Hits 1970–2002
Greatest hits album by
Elton John
Released11 November 2002
Recorded1970–2002
GenreRock
Length156:46 (Europe)
157:40 (North America)
LabelUTV
Elton John chronology
Songs from the West Coast
(2001) 		Greatest Hits 1970–2002
(2002) 		Remixed
(2003)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[2]

Greatest Hits 1970–2002 is a career-spanning compilation album of popular songs by British musician Elton John, released on UTV Records in 2002. It debuted on the Billboard 200 chart at number 12 on 30 November 2002, for a total run of 67 weeks. It was certified gold and platinum in December 2002, double platinum in March 2003, triple platinum in August 2004, four- and five-times platinum simultaneously in February 2011, and 6× platinum in April 2016 by the RIAA.[3]

This was the first Elton John compilation released since PolyGram, which had controlled his pre-1976 catalogue, was sold to Universal Music Group, which controlled the post-1976 recordings. Before 1992, rights to John's music had been complicated as they shifted between various companies. UMG now owns worldwide distribution rights to all of John's music, while sharing overall ownership with John himself. It was configured differently for the American and European markets, and also available in a three-compact disc version in addition to the standard two-disc version. It contains every song released on the first two greatest hits packages released respectively in 1974 and 1977, with the exceptions of "Border Song" on Greatest Hits; "Grow Some Funk of Your Own", "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", and "Pinball Wizard" from Greatest Hits Vol. II, as well as "Levon" on the European version. All of those excepting for "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" are available on the bonus disc to the European edition.

In 2004, the album was reissued with the 2003 UK singles chart number one hit "Are You Ready for Love" as the final track on the second disc, replacing "Song for Guy". "Kiss the Bride" was also omitted to make room for the remake of "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" featuring the boy band Blue. The two newer hits are appended at the end of the third disc for the expanded editions, leaving the second disc tracklisting intact.

Track listing

All songs written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin unless otherwise noted.

European release

Disc one
No.TitleAlbumLength
1."Your Song"Elton John, 19704:03
2."Tiny Dancer"Madman Across the Water, 19716:17
3."Honky Cat"Honky Château, 19725:14
4."Rocket Man"Honky Château4:43
5."Crocodile Rock"Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player, 19733:56
6."Daniel"Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player3:54
7."Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, 19734:54
8."Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road3:15
9."Candle in the Wind"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road3:50
10."Bennie and the Jets"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road5:23
11."Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"Caribou, 19745:38
12."The Bitch Is Back"Caribou3:45
13."Philadelphia Freedom" (edited version)Non-album single, 19755:21
14."Someone Saved My Life Tonight"Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, 19756:45
15."Island Girl"Rock of the Westies, 19753:43
16."Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (with Kiki Dee)Non-album single, 19764:35
17."Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"Blue Moves, 19763:53
Disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Blue Eyes"Elton John, Gary OsborneJump Up!, 19823:29
2."I'm Still Standing" Too Low for Zero, 19833:03
3."I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues"Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Davey JohnstoneToo Low for Zero4:44
4."Sad Songs (Say So Much)" (7" edit) Breaking Hearts, 19844:10
5."Nikita" Ice on Fire, 19855:45
6."Sacrifice" Sleeping with the Past, 19895:06
7."The One" The One, 19925:53
8."Kiss the Bride" Too Low for Zero4:23
9."Can You Feel the Love Tonight"Tim Rice, Elton JohnThe Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, 19944:03
10."Circle of Life"Tim Rice, Elton JohnThe Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack4:52
11."Believe" Made in England, 19954:48
12."Made in England" Made in England4:51
13."Something About the Way You Look Tonight" (single edit) The Big Picture, 19974:01
14."Written in the Stars" (with LeAnn Rimes)Tim Rice, Elton JohnElton John and Tim Rice's Aida, 19994:17
15."I Want Love" Songs from the West Coast, 20014:37
16."This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" Songs from the West Coast4:40
17."Song for Guy" (single edit) A Single Man, 19785:10
Disc three
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Levon" Madman Across the Water5:24
2."Border Song" Elton John3:24
3."Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (7" edit)John Lennon, Paul McCartneyNon-album single, 19745:57
4."Pinball Wizard"Pete TownshendTommy soundtrack, 19755:17
5."True Love" (featuring Kiki Dee)Cole PorterDuets, 19933:35
6."Live Like Horses" (featuring Luciano Pavarotti) (single version) The Big Picture5:08
7."I Don't Wanna Go on with You Like That" Reg Strikes Back, 19884:32
8."Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (featuring George Michael) (live) Duets5:49
9."Your Song" (featuring Alessandro Safina) Previously unissued, 20024:24
Greatest Hits 1970–2002 – European Special Edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
10."Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" 3:38
11."Are You Ready for Love"Casey James, Thom Bell, LeRoy Bell3:29

North American release

Disc one
No.TitleAlbumLength
1."Your Song"Elton John4:05
2."Levon"Madman Across the Water5:25
3."Tiny Dancer"Madman Across the Water6:18
4."Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)"Honky Château4:45
5."Honky Cat"Honky Château5:09
6."Crocodile Rock"Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player3:57
7."Daniel"Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player3:52
8."Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road4:08
9."Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road3:16
10."Candle in the Wind"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road3:51
11."Bennie and the Jets"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road5:09
12."Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"Caribou5:38
13."The Bitch Is Back"Caribou3:44
14."Philadelphia Freedom" (edited version)Non-album single5:22
15."Someone Saved My Life Tonight"Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy6:47
16."Island Girl"Rock of the Westies3:45
17."Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"Blue Moves3:50
Disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (with Kiki Dee) Non-album single4:28
2."Little Jeannie"Elton John, Gary Osborne21 at 335:05
3."I'm Still Standing" Too Low for Zero3:04
4."I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues"Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Davey JohnstoneToo Low for Zero4:44
5."Sad Songs (Say So Much)" Breaking Hearts4:11
6."I Don't Wanna Go on with You Like That" Reg Strikes Back4:33
7."Nikita" Ice on Fire5:46
8."Sacrifice" Sleeping with the Past5:07
9."The One" The One5:53
10."Can You Feel the Love Tonight"Tim Rice, Elton JohnThe Lion King soundtrack4:03
11."Circle of Life"Tim Rice, Elton JohnThe Lion King soundtrack4:53
12."Believe" Made in England4:52
13."Blessed" Made in England4:23
14."Something About the Way You Look Tonight" (single edit) The Big Picture4:02
15."Written in the Stars" (with LeAnn Rimes)Tim Rice, Elton JohnElton John and Tim Rice's Aida4:17
16."I Want Love" Songs from the West Coast4:38
17."This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" Songs from the West Coast4:41
Disc three
No.TitleLength
1."Candle in the Wind" (live)4:02
2."Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (with George Michael) (live)5:49
3."Live Like Horses" (with Luciano Pavarotti) (single version)5:08
4."Your Song" (with Alessandro Safina)4:19

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[32] Platinum 70,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[33] Gold 15,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[34] Gold 50,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[35] 4× Platinum 400,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[36] Platinum 50,000^
France (SNEP)[37] Gold 100,000*
Germany (BVMI)[38] Platinum 300,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[39] 2× Platinum 30,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[40] Platinum 40,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[41]
certified in 2002 		Gold 20,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[41]
certified in 2003 		Gold 20,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[42] 5× Platinum 1,500,000*
United States (RIAA)[43] 6× Platinum 6,000,000‡
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[44] 2× Platinum 2,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Phares, Heather. "Elton John – The Greatest Hits 1970–2002". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 February 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. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum web page retrieved 28 August 2020
  4. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Ultratop.be – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
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  9. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
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  14. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
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  20. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
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  30. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  31. ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
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  34. ^ "Brazilian album certifications – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
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  43. ^ "American album certifications – Elton John – The Greatest Hits 1970-2002". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  44. ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2003". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
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