Greatest Hits 1970–2002

2002 greatest hits album by Elton John
Greatest Hits 1970–2002
Greatest hits album by
Elton John
Released11 November 2002
Recorded1970–2002
GenreRock
Length156:46
LabelUTV
Elton John chronology
Songs from the West Coast
(2001) 		Greatest Hits 1970–2002
(2002) 		Remixed
(2003)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Greatest Hits 1970–2002 is a career-spanning compilation album of popular songs by English 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.[2]

It was the first Elton John compilation released since PolyGram, which had controlled the pre-1976 Elton John catalog, 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 number 1 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 John 
2."Levon"Madman Across the Water 
3."Tiny Dancer"Madman Across the Water 
4."Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)"Honky Château 
5."Honky Cat"Honky Château 
6."Crocodile Rock"Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player 
7."Daniel"Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player 
8."Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 
9."Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 
10."Candle in the Wind"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 
11."Bennie and the Jets"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 
12."Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"Caribou 
13."The Bitch Is Back"Caribou 
14."Philadelphia Freedom" (edited version)Non-album single 
15."Someone Saved My Life Tonight"Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy 
16."Island Girl"Rock of the Westies 
17."Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"Blue Moves 
Disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (with Kiki Dee) Non-album single 
2."Little Jeannie"Elton John, Gary Osborne21 at 33 
3."I'm Still Standing" Too Low for Zero 
4."I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues"Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Davey JohnstoneToo Low for Zero 
5."Sad Songs (Say So Much)" Breaking Hearts 
6."I Don't Wanna Go on with You Like That" Reg Strikes Back 
7."Nikita" Ice on Fire 
8."Sacrifice" Sleeping with the Past 
9."The One" The One 
10."Can You Feel the Love Tonight"Tim Rice, Elton JohnThe Lion King soundtrack 
11."Circle of Life"Tim Rice, Elton JohnThe Lion King soundtrack 
12."Believe" Made in England 
13."Blessed" Made in England 
14."Something About the Way You Look Tonight" (single edit) The Big Picture 
15."Written in the Stars" (with LeAnn Rimes)Tim Rice, Elton JohnElton John and Tim Rice's Aida 
16."I Want Love" Songs from the West Coast 
17."This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" Songs from the West Coast 
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

Weekly charts

Chart (2002–2017) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[3] 6
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[4] 19
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[5] 8
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[6] 30
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[7] 68
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[8] 2
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[9] 14
French Albums (SNEP)[10] 74
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[11] 19
Irish Albums (IRMA)[12] 8
Italian Albums (FIMI)[13] 13
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[14] 45
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[15] 8
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[16] 6
Scottish Albums (OCC)[17] 2
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[18] 80
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[19] 12
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 12
UK Albums (OCC)[21] 3
US Billboard 200[22] 12
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[23] 7

Year-end charts

Chart (2002) Position
UK Albums (OCC)[24] 17
Chart (2003) Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[25] 43
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[26] 67
UK Albums (OCC)[27] 33
US Billboard 200[28] 62
Chart (2016) Position
US Billboard 200[29] 184
Chart (2017) Position
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[30] 55

Certifications

‹See Tfd›‹See Tfd›
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[31] Platinum 70,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[32] Gold 15,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[33] Gold 50,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[34] 4× Platinum 400,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[35] Platinum 50,000^
France (SNEP)[36] Gold 100,000*
Germany (BVMI)[37] Platinum 300,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[38] 2× Platinum 30,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[39] Platinum 40,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[40]
certified in 2002 		Gold 20,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[40]
certified in 2003 		Gold 20,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[41] 5× Platinum 1,500,000*
United States (RIAA)[42] 6× Platinum 6,000,000‡
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[43] 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. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum web page retrieved 28 August 2020
  3. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  4. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Ultratop.be – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Ultratop.be – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Elton John Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Lescharts.com – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  11. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  12. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Elton John". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  13. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Artist Ranking CD Album". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  15. ^ "Charts.nz – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  16. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  17. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  18. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  19. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  20. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  21. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  22. ^ "Elton John Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  23. ^ "Elton John Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  24. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2002". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  25. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2003". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  26. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2003". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  27. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2003". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  28. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2003". Billboard. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  29. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  30. ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  31. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2003 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  32. ^ "Austrian album certifications – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  33. ^ "Brazilian album certifications – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  34. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002". Music Canada. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  35. ^ "Danish album certifications – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  36. ^ "French album certifications – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1979 -2002" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  37. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Elton John; 'Greatest Hits')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  38. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  39. ^ "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  40. ^ a b "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Greatest Hits 1970-2002')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  41. ^ "British album certifications – Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  42. ^ "American album certifications – Elton John – The Greatest Hits 1970-2002". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  43. ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2003". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
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