Customer Reviews

The Ultimate Elton John Collection Boxed Set

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For those of us who are both fans of Elton John and his music as well as aspiring piano players, this collection is a dream come true. Virtually all of his catalog is present and some which have never been published before. Well worth having both as a collectible and for its content.

The publisher Hal Leonard calls this the "Deluxe Collector's Edition" and that's exactly what it is: It's very pretty, great-looking gift, looks great on the shelf. But the first hint that this might not be as ultimate as you'd like comes the moment you open it: it doesn't stay open nearly as well as you'd hope.

This collection's best feature is that there are more songs here than you will find anywhere else at the price. There are over 100-songs here, including rarities you won't find printed in other books. Still, it's something of a quantity-over-quality approach: "Someone Saved my Life Tonight", "Something About the Way You Look Tonight", and "Sacrifice" aren't in the right key. But if you want "Skyline Pigeon," you'll only find it here.

It's also important to note that These Are Not Transcriptions. Meaning that this is not what Elton John plays exactly (for that, look to the Elton John Keyboard Book). The melody-line is built-in to the right-hand, and it's somebody else's interpretation. This is terrific for folks who don't sing, don't want to sing, but still want to hear the melody. This is irritating for folks who want to sing along with the music without the melody echoed in the piano.

It is what it is. Decent interpretations, incredible selection, at the expense of something more detailed and accurate, for 3x the price of other books. I'd suggest getting it only if you must have every song of Elton's you can possibly get, as you can find his biggest hits at the same or better quality in a different collection for cheaper.

Well, Like everyone else said, the rarities make this a hit. An example is the live version of 'Candle in the Wind' From the album "Live in Australia". If you want an Elton john book, GET THIS!!

Exuse me, I speak to English very little.
I am from Russia. I was Elton Live Concert in Moskow and I buying
this book. It's great book of great performer. 100 very beautiful
songs. Amazon like me and I will be glad if it mini review help to you. Thank you.

HI Everybody! I have received The Ultimate Elton John Collection Just today! What can I say About it? It is simply perfect! There are songs from all over the Elton's discography and some rarities too! Elton wrote a piece of the Pop Music History! He is the Best like this great Antology! If you are a fan as I am or a pianist who like play wonderful songs, buy it!

Giorgio Onorato Aquilani

if you are reading this review i imagine you love elton john's music as much as i do. when i saw this collection i was quite excited, but puzzled that no listing for the contents was available. there are several lesser-known songs he did earlier in his career that i was hoping would be included, and until i received the books i just didn't know what would be included (it turns out only one i had been hoping for was present). it was a bit frustrating, as most of the music i already have in other elton collections.

most of the arrangements were decent, but as is a gripe with nearly every other piano sheet music book, the music you end up with is made to sound like the song being SUNG and not what the artist actually plays. The same applies here for most songs, but some are delightfully closer to what sir elton actually plays.

i am including the song listing here in hopes that it helps someone else make an informed decision when contemplating these books:

book one:

all the girls love alice
amazes me
bad side of the moon
ball and chain
believe
bennie and the jets
the bitch is back
bite your lip (get up and dance)
blessed
blue eyes
blues for my baby and me
border song
burn down the mission
can you feel the love tonight
candle in the wind
candle in the wind (1997)
captain fantastic and the brown dirt cowboy
carla etude
chloe
circle of life
club at the end of the street
cold
come down in time
country comfort
crocodile rock
curtains
daniel
don't go breaking my heart
don't let the sun go down on me
duets for one
ego
empty garden (hey hey johnny)
fanfare
friends
funeral for a friend
goodbye yellow brick road
grey seal
grow some funk of your own
harmony
have mercy on the criminal
healing hands
heartache all over the world
high flying bird
honkey cat
i don't wanna go on with you like that
i feel like a bullet (in the gun of robert ford)
i guess that's why they call it the blues
i need you to turn to
i'm still standing
in neon
indian sunset
island girl
kiss the bride
the last song
legal boys
lies
little jeannie
levon

book two:

love lies bleeding
lucy in the sky with diamonds
made in england
madman across the water
madness
mama can't buy you love
memory of love
michelle's song
mona lisas and mad hatters
nikita
no valentines
nobody wins
the one
one horse town
pain
part-time love
philadelphia freedom
pinball wizard
princess
recover your soul
rocket man (i think it's gonna be a long long time)
runaway train
sacrifice
sad songs (say so much)
sartorial eloquence
saturday night's alright (for fighting)
shoot down the moon
simple life
sixty years on
skyline pigeon
sleeping with the past
someone saved my life tonight
something about the way you look tonight
song for guy
sorry seems to be the hardest word
step into christmas
sweet painted lady
take me to the pilot
teacher i need you
tiny dancer
tonight
true love
we all fall in love sometimes
whipping boy
whispers
who wears these shoes?
a word in spanish
wrap her up
you can make history (young again)
you gotta love someone
you're so static
your sister can't twist (but she can rock 'n' roll)
your song

i know this is quite the long list, but hopefully the information is helpful!

THis collection contains all his best songs! The arrangements are original and not dumbed down for the begining player.
I have done internet searches and not found a more complete collection any where near this price. It was just what I was searching for!

If you only like Elton John's songs a little bit, this is the book to own. The book includes all of the songs you need. My biggest problem is to find all of the songs on CD. This is a complication to grow with.

If you look back at the career of Sir Reginald, you realize what
an influence he's been for the Decades! I got hooked in early'71
& will continue to stand by EJ the DJ.Going on 40 yrs.in the biz!
He's a Legend! Sure he had his share of lows, but great artists
always do! If they have the will to continue,they go on & that's
VERY fortunate for fans like myself who's been there thruout his
ups & downs.Him & Taupin are 2 of the most influential songwriting duos in the History of Pop/Rock/Opera!/Disney Soundtracks...Not too many Rock stars can boast the achievements
of Mr.Dwights!He's pulled me thru numerous crises & I'm eternally greatful for that! I wish I could talk to him-1 on 1-
& THANK him in person! Lots of memories. He's "The One"!

What can I say? If you like Elton John, you don't know what you are missing. It's simply the best buy I have ever made at Amazon.com !