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Elton: Jewel Box

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Elton: Jewel Box
Compilation album by
Elton John
Released13 November 2020
Recorded1965–2020
GenrePop
Label
  • EMI
  • Universal Music Catalogue
Elton John chronology
Rocketman: Music from the Motion Picture
(2019) 		Elton: Jewel Box
(2020) 		Regimental Sgt. Zippo
(2021)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Elton: Jewel Box is an eight-disc compilation album by Elton John, released in 2020. It features rare songs from his catalogue including deep cuts, non-album B-sides and 60 previously unreleased songs and demos.[2][3] John selected the songs for the compilation,[4] which contains a total of 148 songs, organised in four parts: Deep Cuts, Rarities, B-sides, and And This Is Me..,[5] ending with the song "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" featuring Taron Egerton from John's 2019 biopic film Rocketman.[6]

Reception

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David Browne, in a review for Rolling Stone, notes that the box set is "the most exhaustive and personal retrospective release Elton has ever put together."[7] Chris Roberts, writing for Classic Rock, feels it is "every bit the treasure trove for fans that it aims to be."[8]

Track listing

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Discs 1 and 2: Deep Cuts

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Discs 1 and 2 consist of lesser known songs, handpicked by Elton John from previously released albums.[2]

All tracks are written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin (except where noted)

CD 1: Deep Cuts
No.TitleAlbumLength
1."Monkey Suit" (Elton John & Leon Russell)The Union (2010)4:44
2."Where to Now St. Peter?"Tumbleweed Connection (1970)4:13
3."Mellow"Honky Château (1972)5:31
4."The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909–34)"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)4:22
5."Chameleon"Blue Moves (1976)5:29
6."Gone to Shiloh" (Elton John & Leon Russell)The Union (2010)4:49
7."We All Fall in Love Sometimes"Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975)4:17
8."Too Low for Zero"Too Low for Zero (1983)5:46
9."The Power" (with Little Richard)Duets (1993)6:26
10."All That I'm Allowed"Peachtree Road (2004)4:53
11."The Bridge"The Captain & the Kid (2006)3:35
12."The New Fever Waltz"The Diving Board (2013)4:40
13."Stone's Throw from Hurtin'"Sleeping with the Past (1989)4:58
14."The North"The One (1992)5:16
15."Hoop of Fire"Leather Jackets (1986)4:17
16."Boogie Pilgrim"Blue Moves (1976)6:07
Total length:79:23
CD 2: Deep Cuts
No.TitleAlbumLength
1."Ticking"Caribou (1974)7:37
2."Crystal"Too Low for Zero (1983)5:08
3."All Quiet on the Western Front"Jump Up! (1982)6:03
4."Tell Me When the Whistle Blows"Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975)4:21
5."Freaks in Love"Peachtree Road (2004)4:35
6."Never Too Old (To Hold Somebody)" (Elton John & Leon Russell)The Union (2010)4:55
7."The Emperor's New Clothes"Songs from the West Coast (2001)4:27
8."House"Made in England (1995)4:28
9."(Gotta Get a) Meal Ticket"Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975)4:02
10."Understanding Women"The One (1992)5:05
11."Shoot Down the Moon"Ice on Fire (1985)4:55
12."Have Mercy on the Criminal"Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player (1973)5:56
13."Blues for My Baby and Me"Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player (1973)5:40
14."My Quicksand"The Diving Board (2013)4:47
15."Street Kids"Rock of the Westies (1975)6:25
Total length:79:14

Discs 3, 4 and 5: Rarities (1965–1971)

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Discs 3–5 contain early demos of previously unreleased material as well as original piano demos of songs from his earlier albums. On 17 September 2020, two months prior to the album's release date, a 1969 demo recording of "Sing Me No Sad Songs" was released for the very first time. This song, described as "a fascinating early taste of what was to come from Elton and Bernie", was used to promote the album.[2]

John describes the early demos as nostalgic and said that "it was so beautiful to listen to the naiveties of some of the songs."[9] He also talked about these songs in the context of representing his humble beginnings and how they helped shape and define him as an artist as well as show the unique relationship John and Taupin had, not only as songwriters but also as friends.

CD 3: Rarities Part One: 1965–1968
No.TitleLength
1."Come Back Baby" (Bluesology)2:47
2."Mr. Frantic" (Bluesology)2:23
3."Scarecrow" (Piano/tambourine Demo)3:12
4."A Dandelion Dies in the Wind" (Piano Demo)2:38
5."Velvet Fountain" (Piano Demo)2:55
6."A Little Love Goes a Long Way" (Piano Demo)3:00
7."If You Could See Me Now" (Piano Demo)3:37
8."Mr. Lightning Strikerman" (Piano Demo)3:06
9."Countryside Love Affair" (Piano Demo)2:51
10."I Could Never Fall in Love with Anybody Else" (Piano Demo)2:03
11."I Get a Little Bit Lonely" (Piano Demo)2:20
12."The Witch's House" (Piano Demo)2:05
13."Get Out of This Town" (Piano/tambourine Demo)2:34
14."Year of the Teddy Bear" (Piano Demo)3:39
15."Where It's At" (Piano/percussion Demo)2:02
16."Who's Gonna Love You" (Piano/percussion Demo)2:39
17."Nina" (Band Version)3:42
18."Angel Tree" (Piano/guitar/tambourine Demo)2:11
19."Here's to the Next Time" (Piano/tambourine Demo)3:22
20."Thank You for All Your Loving" (Band Version)3:27
21."Watching the Planes Go By" (Band Version)4:10
22."When the First Tear Shows" (Arranged Band Version)3:03
23."Tartan Coloured Lady" (Arranged Band Version)4:12
Total length:67:58
CD 4: Rarities Part Two: 1968
No.TitleLength
1."Hourglass" (Arranged Band Version)2:47
2."71-75 New Oxford Street" (Band Demo)3:09
3."Turn to Me" (Arranged Band Version)3:20
4."Reminds Me of You" (Piano Demo)2:50
5."I Can't Go On Living Without You" (Arranged Band Demo)2:57
6."And the Clock Goes Round" (Piano Demo)2:37
7."When I Was Tealby Abbey" (Piano Demo)2:23
8."I'll Stop Living When You Stop Loving Me" (Piano Demo)2:23
9."Trying to Hold On to a Love That's Dying" (Piano Demo)2:31
10."Sitting Doing Nothing" (Band Version)2:42
11."Regimental Sgt. Zippo" (Band Version)4:01
12."Cry Willow Cry" (Band Demo)3:41
13."There Is Still a Little Love" (Band Demo)3:57
14."If I Asked You" (Band Demo)2:51
15."Skyline Pigeon" (Piano Demo)3:26
16."Two of a Kind" (Arranged Band Demo)2:24
17."The Girl on Angel Pavement" (Arranged Band Demo)2:26
18."Smokestack Children" (Arranged Band Demo)2:31
19."Baby I Miss You" (Band Demo)2:39
20."All Across the Havens" (Piano/Guitar Demo)3:15
21."Bonnie's Gone Away" (Piano/Guitar Demo)3:37
22."Just an Ordinary Man" (Piano Demo)4:01
23."There's Still Time for Me" (Piano/Guitar/Tambourine Demo)2:45
Total length:69:13
CD 5: Rarities Part Three: 1968–1971
No.TitleLength
1."The Tide Will Turn for Rebecca" (Piano Demo)3:01
2."Dick Barton Theme (Devil's Gallop)" (Bread and Beer Band)2:16
3."Breakdown Blues" (Bread and Beer Band)5:05
4."Taking the Sun from My Eyes" (Arranged Band Version)2:47
5."It's Me That You Need" (Band Demo)4:03
6."Sing Me No Sad Songs" (Band Demo)2:39
7."The Flowers Will Never Die" (Piano Demo)2:50
8."In the Morning" (Band Demo)2:47
9."Open Your Eyes to the Sun" (Band Demo)2:37
10."One Time, Sometime or Never" (Band Demo)3:51
11."Slow Fade to Blue" (Piano/Guitar Demo)4:58
12."Rolling Western Union" (Piano Demo)3:54
13."My Father's Gun" (Piano Demo)4:17
14."Amoreena" (Piano Demo)3:48
15."Burn Down the Mission" (Piano Demo)7:06
16."Razor Face" (Piano Demo)3:44
17."Madman Across the Water" (Piano Demo)5:07
18."Holiday Inn" (Piano Demo)4:34
19."All the Nasties" (Piano Demo)4:51
Total length:74:15

Discs 6 and 7: B-sides (1976–2005)

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Discs 6 and 7 contain rare B-sides, many of which have been digitalized for the first time. These discs contain 17 songs that were previously only available on vinyl.[2][10] These tracks, together with the non-album singles released between 1968 and 1975 included on Rare Masters, make all of John's non-album singles available digitally.

In 1980, Elton John sang two duets with French singer France Gall on her single "Les Aveux" / "Donner Pour Donner". Another French song featured on the album is "J'veux D'la Tendresse", a song which was the basis for "Nobody Wins" from The Fox.

All tracks are written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin (except where noted)

CD 6: B-sides Part One: 1976–1984
No.TitleLength
1."Snow Queen" (Elton John and Kiki Dee)5:54
2."Conquer the Sun"4:21
3."Cartier"0:58
4."White Man Danger"5:26
5."Tactics" (Instrumental)2:48
6."Steal Away Child"3:06
7."Love So Cold"5:04
8."Les Aveux" (Elton John and France Gall)4:14
9."Donner Pour Donner" (Elton John and France Gall)4:28
10."J'veux D'la Tendresse" (Jean-Paul Dreau, Osborne)3:39
11."Fools in Fashion"4:18
12."Can't Get Over Getting Over Losing You"4:16
13."Tortured"4:44
14."Hey Papa Legba"5:17
15."Take Me Down to the Ocean"4:08
16."Where Have All The Good Times Gone?" (Alternate Mix)4:07
17."The Retreat"4:47
18."Choc Ice Goes Mental" (Instrumental)2:04
19."A Simple Man"3:52
Total length:77:31
CD 7: B-sides Part Two: 1984–2005
No.TitleLength
1."Lonely Boy"4:50
2."Highlander" (Instrumental)3:40
3."Billy and the Kids"4:25
4."Lord of the Flies"4:40
5."Rope Around a Fool"3:50
6."Medicine Man"4:36
7."I Know Why I'm in Love"4:32
8."Big Man in a Little Suit"4:26
9."God Never Came Here"3:53
10."The North Star"5:34
11."Did Anybody Sleep with Joan of Arc"4:19
12."So Sad the Renegade"5:06
13."A Little Peace"3:59
14."Keep It a Mystery"4:17
15."How's Tomorrow"5:22
16."Peter's Song"3:41
17."Things Only Get Better with Love"5:18
Total length:76:28

Disc 8: And This Is Me...

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The eighth and final disc features songs mentioned in John's autobiography Me which John says played an important part in his life.[9] The song "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again", a duet with Taron Egerton who portrayed John in his film Rocketman, is also included.[2]

All tracks are written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin (except where noted)

CD 8: And This Is Me...
No.TitleAlbumLength
1."Empty Sky"Empty Sky8:29
2."Lady Samantha"non-album single3:05
3."Border Song"Elton John (album)3:21
4."My Father's Gun"Tumbleweed Connection6:21
5."All the Nasties"Madman Across the Water5:09
6."I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself"Honky Château3:33
7."Philadelphia Freedom"non-album single5:33
8."Song for Guy" (Elton John)A Single Man5:02
9."Sartorial Eloquence" (Elton John, Tom Robinson)21 at 334:45
10."Elton's Song" (Elton John, Tom Robinson)The Fox3:03
11."Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)"Too Low For Zero4:20
12."I Fall Apart"Leather Jackets4:03
13."Amazes Me"Sleeping with the Past4:40
14."The Last Song"The One3:23
15."American Triangle"Songs from the West Coast4:52
16."(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" (duet with Taron Egerton)Rocketman: Music from the Motion Picture4:13
Total length:73:52

Charts

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Chart (2020) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[11] 64
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[12] 80
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[13] 24
Scottish Albums (OCC)[14] 28
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[15] 89
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[16] 35
UK Albums (OCC)[17] 68

References

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  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Elton John – Jewel Box". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Elton: Jewel Box".
  3. ^ "Elton: Jewel Box - Out Now!".
  4. ^ Andy Greene (17 September 2020). "Elton John Announces Massive Career-Spanning Box Set 'Elton: Jewel Box". Rolling Stone.
  5. ^ Tom Skinner (17 September 2020). "Elton John announces extensive 50th anniversary boxset 'Jewel Box'". NME.
  6. ^ "Apple Music - Elton: Jewel Box". Apple. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  7. ^ David Browne (12 November 2020). "Elton John's Eight-Disc 'Jewel Box' Rewrites the Story of His Epic Career". Rolling Stone.
  8. ^ Chris Roberts (13 November 2020). "Elton John goes crate digging in his own vaults on Jewel Box and strikes gold". Classic Rock.
  9. ^ a b "Elton John - Unboxing the Jewel Box - YouTube". YouTube.
  10. ^ "Elton: Jewel Box - The B-Sides".
  11. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Elton John – Jewel Box" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  12. ^ "Ultratop.be – Elton John – Jewel Box" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  13. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Elton John – Jewel Box" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  14. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  15. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Elton John – Jewel Box". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  16. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Elton John – Jewel Box". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  17. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
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