Elton John is reaching deep into the vault with Jewel Box, a new, super-sized collection of rare and unreleased material.
The British pop legend will release the new eight-disc collection on November 13, providing the deepest dive yet into his expansive, five-decade-plus archive. Approximately 63 of the set's 148 songs are previously unreleased, and three dozen B-sides are being compiled here for the first time.
There are four themes across the discs, which will carry over to a trio of vinyl editions representing the set:
Deep Cuts: the box's first two discs provide Elton's curated favorite album tracks, with track-by-track commentary as well. These CDs will be separately available as a 4LP set.
Rarities: the arguable crown jewel of the set, three CDs of material recorded between 1965 and 1971 showcase the earliest of Elton's career, including singles with his band Bluesology, and crucial unheard demos - including "Scarecrow," the first song Elton ever wrote with his longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin, and preview track "Sing Me No Sad Songs," which you can hear below. Daryl Easlea provides notes for this portion of the box, featuring commentary from Elton and band members.
B-Sides: With 1992's Rare Masters doing a solid job of collecting Elton's non-LP material up to 1975, these two discs provide a comprehensive (if incomplete - there are many B-sides from this period) offering of 36 flipsides, with nearly half of them making their CD debuts. This marks the first time that John's studio B-sides have been compiled together in the digital domain. A vinyl set, Rarities & B-Sides, highlights the cream from the preceding five CDs in the box across three LPs.
And This Is Me...: a companion to the paperback of Elton's captivating 2019 memoir Me, due in bookstores October 27 with a new chapter, this set highlights 16 songs cited by him in the book as meaningful. While many of these are deep cuts, like the early solo single "Lady Samantha," a handful of these are well-known singles, including "Border Song" (a Top 40 hit for Aretha Franklin in 1970, the same year the song was released), the U.S. chart-topper "Philadelphia Freedom," and "I'm Gonna Love Me Again," written for 2019's Elton biopic Rocketman (and performed with its star, Taron Egerton), which earned John and Taupin some of their first awards together, including an Oscar and a Golden Globe. And This Is Me... will be available as a double LP.
Jewel Box will come in a deluxe, book-bound package with slipcase - not unlike his Diamonds hit collection in 2017 - that will total some 100 pages of liner notes and rare photographs. It's the ultimate collection for the biggest Elton John fan, and it's out November 13. Pre-order it below and check out the full tracklist!
Jewel Box (EMI/UMe, 2020)
8CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Deep Cuts 4LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Rarities & B-Sides 3LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
And This Is Me... 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Discs 1-2: Deep Cuts
- Monkey Suit (with Leon Russell)
- Where To Now St Peter?
- Mellow
- The Ballad Of Danny Bailey (1909-34)
- Chameleon
- Gone To Shiloh (with Leon Russell)
- We All Fall In Love Sometimes
- Too Low For Zero
- The Power (with Little Richard)
- All That I'm Allowed
- The Bridge
- The New Fever Waltz
- Stone's Throw From Hurtin'
- The North
- Hoop Of Fire
- Boogie Pilgrim
- Ticking
- Crystal
- All Quiet On The Western Front
- Tell Me When The Whistle Blows
- Freaks In Love
- Never Too Old (To Hold Somebody) (with Leon Russell)
- The Emperor's New Clothes
- House
- (Gotta Get a) Meal Ticket
- Understanding Women
- Shoot Down The Moon
- Have Mercy On The Criminal
- Blues For Baby and Me
- My Quicksand
- Street Kids
Disc 3: Rarities 1965-1968 (previously unreleased except *)
- Come Back Baby - Bluesology *
- Mr. Frantic - Bluesology *
- Scarecrow (Piano/Tambourine Demo}
- A Dandelion Dies In The Wind (Piano Demo)
- Velvet Fountain (Piano Demo)
- A Little Love Goes a Long Way (Piano Demo)
- If You Could See Me Now (Piano Demo)
- Mr. Lightning Strikerman (Piano Demo)
- Countryside Love Affair (Piano Demo)
- I Could Never Fall In Love With Anybody Else (Piano Demo)
- I Get a Little Bit Lonely (Piano Demo)
- The Witch's House (Piano Demo)
- Get Out Of This Town (Piano/Tambourine Demo)
- Year Of The Teddy Bear (Piano Demo)
- Where It's At (Piano/Percussion Demo)
- Who's Gonna Love You (Piano/Percussion Demo)
- Nina (Band Version)
- Angel Tree (Piano/Guitar/Tambourine Demo)
- Here's To The Next Time )Piano/Tambourine Demo)
- Thank You For All Your Loving (Band Version)
- Watching The Planes Go By (Band Version)
- When The First Tear Shows (Arranged Band Version)
- Tartan Coloured Lady (Arranged Band Version)
Disc 4: Rarities 1968 (previously unreleased)
- Hourglass (Band Version)
- 71-75 New Oxford Street Band (Demo)
- Turn To Me (Arranged Band Version)
- Reminds Me Of You (Piano Demo)
- I Can't Go On Living Without You (Arranged Band Version)
- And The Clock Goes Round (Piano Demo)
- When I Was Tealby Abbey (Piano Demo)
- I'll Stop Living When You Stop Loving Me (Piano Demo)
- Trying To Hold On To a Love That's Dying (Piano Demo)
- Sitting Doing Nothing (Band Version)
- Regimental Sgt. Zippo (Band Version)
- Cry Willow Cry (Band Demo)
- There Is Still a Little Love (Band Demo)
- If I Asked You (Band Demo)
- Skyline Pigeon (Piano Demo)
- Two Of a Kind (Arranged Band Version)
- The Girl On Angel Pavement (Arranged Band Version)
- Smokestack Children (Arranged Band Version)
- Baby I Miss You Band (Demo)
- All Across The Havens (Piano/Guitar Demo)
- Bonnie's Gone Away (Piano/Guitar Demo)
- Just An Ordinary Man (Piano Demo)
- There's Still Time For Me (Piano/Guitar/Tambourine Demo)
Disc 5: Rarities 1969-1971 (previously unreleased except *)
- The Tide Will Turn For Rebecca (Piano Demo)
- Dick Barton Theme (Devil's Gallop) - Bread and Beer Band *
- Breakdown Blues - Bread and Beer Band *
- Taking The Sun From My Eyes (Arranged Band Version)
- It's Me That You Need (Band Demo)
- Sing Me No Sad Songs (Band Demo)
- The Flowers Will Never Die (Piano Demo)
- In The Morning (Band Demo)
- Open Your Eyes To The Sun (Piano/Tambourine Demo)
- One Time, Sometime or Never (Band Demo)
- Slow Fade To Blue (Piano/Guitar Demo)
- Rolling Western Union (Piano Demo)
- My Father's Gun (Piano Demo)
- Amoreena (Piano Demo)
- Burn Down The Mission (Piano Demo)
- Razor Face (Piano Demo)
- Madman Across The Water (Piano Demo)
- Holiday Inn (Piano Demo)
- All The Nasties (Piano Demo)
Disc 6: B-Sides 1976-1984
- Snow Queen (with Kiki Dee)
- Conquer The Sun
- Cartier
- White Man Danger
- Tactics
- Steal Away Child
- Love So Cold
- Les Aveux (with France Gall)
- Donner Pour Donner (with France Gall)
- J'veux D'la Tendresse
- Fools In Fashion
- Can't Get Over Getting Over Losing You
- Tortured
- Hey Papa Legba
- Take Me Down To The Ocean
- Where Have All The Good Times Gone? (Alternate Mix)
- The Retreat
- Choc Ice Goes Mental
- A Simple Man
Disc 7: B-Sides 1984-2005
- Lonely Boy
- Highlander
- Billy and The Kids
- Lord Of The Flies
- Rope Around a Fool
- Medicine Man
- I Know Why I'm In Love
- Big Man In a Little Suit
- God Never Came Here
- The North Star
- Did Anybody Sleep With Joan Of Arc
- So Sad The Renegade
- A Little Peace
- Keep It a Mystery
- How's Tomorrow
- Peter's Song
- Things Only Get Better With Love
Disc 8: And This Is Me...
- Empty Sky
- Lady Samantha
- Border Song
- My Father's Gun
- All The Nasties
- I Think I'm Going To Kill Myself
- Philadelphia Freedom
- Song For Guy
- Sartorial Eloquence
- Elton's Song
- Cold As Christmas (In The Middle Of The Year)
- I Fall Apart
- Amazes Me
- The Last Song
- American Triangle
- (I'm Gonna) Love Me Again (with Taron Egerton)
Disc 1, Tracks 1 and 6 and Disc 2, Track 6 from The Union - Mercury (U.K.)/Decca (U.S.), 2010
Disc 1, Track 2 and Disc 8, Track 4 from Tumbleweed Connection - DJM (U.K.)/Uni (U.S.), 1970
Disc 1, Track 3 and Disc 8, Track 6 from Honky Château - DJM (U.K.)/Uni (U.S.), 1972
Disc 1, Track 4 from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - DJM (U.K.)/MCA (U.S.), 1973
Disc 1, Tracks 5 and 15 from Blue Moves - Rocket (U.K.)/MCA (U.S.), 1976
Disc 1, Track 7 and Disc 2, Tracks 4 and 9 from Captain Fantastic and The Brown Dirt Cowboy - DJM (U.K.)/MCA (U.S.), 1975
Disc 1, Track 8; Disc 2, Track 2 and Disc 8, Track 11 from Too Low For Zero - Rocket (U.K.)/Geffen (U.S.), 1983
Disc 1, Track 9 from Duets - Rocket (U.K.)/MCA (U.S.), 1993
Disc 1, Track 10 and Disc 2, Track 5 from Peachtree Road - Rocket (U.K.)/Universal (U.S.), 2004
Disc 1, Track 11 from The Captain & The Kid - Mercury (U.K.)/Interscope (U.S.), 2006
Disc 1, Track 12 and Disc 2, Track 14 from The Diving Board - Mercury (U.K.)/Capitol (U.S.), 2013
Disc 1, Track 13 and Disc 8, Track 13 from Sleeping With The Past - Rocket (U.K.)/MCA (U.S.), 1989
Disc 1, Track 14 and Disc 8, Track 14 from The One - Rocket (U.K.)/MCA (U.S.), 1992
Disc 2, Track 1 from Caribou - DJM (U.K.)/MCA (U.S.), 1974
Disc 2, Track 3 from Jump Up! - Rocket (U.K.)/Geffen (U.S.), 1982
Disc 2, Track 7 and Disc 8, Track 15 from Songs From The West Coast - Rocket/Mercury (U.K.)/Universal (U.S.), 2001
Disc 2, Track 8 from Made In England - Rocket (U.K.)/Island (U.S.), 1995
Disc 2, Track 10 from U.K. edition of To Be Continued... - Rocket, 1990
Disc 2, Track 11 from Ice On Fire - Rocket (U.K.)/Geffen (U.S.), 1985
Disc 2, Tracks 12-13 from Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player - DJM (U.K.)/MCA (U.S.), 1973
Disc 2, Track 15 from Rock Of The Westies - DJM (U.K.)/MCA (U.S.), 1975
Disc 3, Track 1 from Fontana U.K. single TF 594, 1965
Disc 3, Track 2 from Fontana U.K. single TF 668, 1966
Disc 5, Tracks 2-3 from Decca U.K. single F 12891, 1969
Disc 6, Track 1 from "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart" single - Rocket, 1976
Disc 6, Track 2 from "Little Jeannie" single - Rocket, 1980
Disc 6, Tracks 3-4 from "Sartorial Eloquence" single - Rocket, 1980
Disc 6, Tracks 5-7 from "Dear God" single - Rocket, 1980
Disc 6, Tracks 8-9 from Atlantic French single 11635, 1980
Disc 6, Track 10 from "Nobody Wins" 12" single - Rocket, 1981
Disc 6, Track 11 from "Nobody Wins" single - Rocket, 1981
Disc 6, Track 12 from "Just Like Belgium" single - Rocket, 1981
Disc 6, Track 13 from "Chloe" single - Rocket, 1981
Disc 6, Track 14 from "Blue Eyes" single - Rocket, 1982
Disc 6, Track 15 from "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" single - Rocket, 1982
Disc 6, Track 16 from "Ball and Chain" single - Rocket, 1982
Disc 6, Track 17 from "Princess" single - Rocket, 1982
Disc 6, Track 18 from "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" single - Rocket, 1983
Disc 6, Track 19 from "Sad Songs Say So Much" single - Rocket, 1984
Disc 7, Track 1 from "Too Low For Zero" single - Rocket, 1984
Disc 7, Track 2 from "Heartache All Over The World" single - Rocket, 1986
Disc 7, Tracks 3-4 from "Slow Rivers" 12" single - Rocket, 1986
Disc 7, Track 5 from "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That" single - Rocket, 1988
Disc 7, Track 6 from "You Gotta Love Someone" single - Rocket, 1990
Disc 7, Track 7 from "Something About The Way You Look Tonight" single - Rocket, 1997
Disc 7, Track 8 from "Recover Your Soul" single - Rocket, 1998
Disc 7, Tracks 9-10 from "I Want Love" single - Rocket, 2001
Disc 7, Track 11 from "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" - Rocket, 2002
Disc 7, Tracks 12-14 from "All That I'm Allowed" - Rocket, 2004
Disc 7, Tracks 15-17 from "Turn The Lights Out When You Leave" single - Rocket, 2005
Disc 8, Track 1 from Empty Sky - DJM (U.K.)/MCA (U.S.), 1969
Disc 8, Track 2 from Philips (U.K.)/DJM (U.S.) single, 1969
Disc 8, Track 3 from Elton John - DJM (U.K.)/Uni (U.S.), 1970
Disc 8, Track 5 from Madman Across The Water - DJM (U.K.)/Uni (U.S.), 1971
Disc 8, Track 7 from DJM (U.K.)/MCA (U.S.) single, 1975
Disc 8, Track 8 from A Single Man - Rocket (U.K.)/MCA (U.S.), 1978
Disc 8, Track 9 from 21 At 33 - Rocket (U.K.)/MCA (U.S.), 1980
Disc 8, Track 10 from The Fox - Rocket (U.K.)/Geffen (U.S.), 1981
Disc 8, Track 12 from Leather Jackets - Rocket (U.K.)/Geffen (U.S.), 1986
Disc 8, Track 16 from Rocketman: Music From The Motion Picture - Virgin EMI, 2019
Stefano says
I really don't get it. Where are his 12 inch mixes? He didn't produce a lot of extended mixes, but those from the 80s and 90s could have easily been added to this box set. Apart from this nice box set, the lack of his 12 inches on every compilation and album reissues is very frustrating.
Lance says
next Christmas?
Jeff says
The remix of I don’t wanna is on To Be Continued. I can’t think of any others, except for perhaps Rocket Man
Stefano says
Jeff, most of these 12 inch versions are unavailable on CD, and some very difficult to find on CD:
Bite Your Lip (Get Up And Dance!) (A Tom Moulton Mix)
Thom Bell Sessions (1979 Remixes)
Thunder In The Night (Extended Version)
Born Bad (First Pressing Version)
Nobody Wins (Extended Version)
J'veux D'la Tendresse (Nobody Wins French Version)
I'm Still Standing (Extended Version)
Act of War (Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
Who Wears These Shoes? (New Edited Version)
Who Wears These Shoes (Extended Remix)
Passengers (Extended Re-mix)
Passengers (Single Remix)
Wrap Her Up (Extended Remix)
Heartache All Over The World (12'' Mix)
Flames Of Paradise (Extended Version)
Flames Of Paradise (Instrumental Remix)
Take Me To The Pilot (Remixed 7" Version)
I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That (Extended Pettibone Mix)
I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That (Just Elton And His Piano Mix)
I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That (The Pub Dub)
I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That (12" Radio Edit)
I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That (Just For Radio)
Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters (Part Two) (The Renaissance Mix)
Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters (Part Two) (The Da Vinci Version)
Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters (Part Two) (The Self Portrait Instrumental)
Healing Hands (Extended Re-mix)
Medicine Man (With Adamski)
The Man Who Never Died (Bruce Forest Remix)
Song For Guy (Bruce Forest Remix)
Understanding Women (Bruce Forest Remix)
Simple Life (Remix Edit)
Simple Life (Hot Mix)
Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing (Troopa Mood Mix)
Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing (Kenny Dope Extended Mix)
Don't Go Breaking My Heart with RuPaul (Giorgio Moroder, Serious Rope, Marc Kinchen, Roger Sanchez Mixes)
Can You Feel The Love Tonight (Remix)
Made In England (Junior Vasquez Mixes)
Believe (Hardkiss Mix)
Believe (Urban Turban Version)
Blessed (Radio Edit A - Vocal Ending)
Blessed (Radio Edit B - Piano Ending)
You Can Make History Young Again (Without Sitar)
Recover Your Soul (Single Remix)
Recover Your Soul (Radio Mix W/O Vocal Intro)
If The River Can Bend (Remix Edit)
Written In The Stars (Alternate Version LeAnn Singing First Verse)
Written In The Stars (Calderone Radio Mix)
Written In The Stars (Calderone Club Mix)
Friends Never Say Goodbye (Remix Edit)
I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues with Mary J Blige (Studio Version)
Original Sin (Radio Mix)
Original Sin (Junior Vasquez Remixes)
Your Song (Instrumental)
Your Song (Almighty Mix)
Your Song (Junior's Earth Anthem)
Your Song (Elliot-Smith/Hammond Mix)
Your Song (Serious Pretty In Pink Mix)
Your Song (ENS Mix)
Your Song (Pretty In Pink Mix)
Rocket Man 03
Rocket Man (Royal Garden's Radio Mix)
Rocket Man (KDME Remix)
Are You Ready For Love (Mylo's Road Map To Peace Remix)
Are You Ready For Love (Freeform Reform)
Are You Ready For Love (Freeform Reform Instrumental)
Are You Ready For Love (Linus Loves Strobelight Mix)
Are You Ready For Love (Linus Loves Strobelight Dub)
Are You Ready For Love (Ashley Beedle Love And Protection Mono Re Edit)
Are You Ready For Love (Radio Slave Remix)
Are You Ready For Love (Serge Santiago Re-Edit)
Are You Ready For Love (Peter Rauhofer Remix)
Electricity (Orchestral Version)
(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again (Purple Disco Machine Remix)
(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again (Purple Disco Machine Extended Remix)
Stefano says
Little mistake: J’veux D’la Tendresse (Nobody Wins French Version) is included on this box set.
Jeff says
Wow, that was some list. I do recall a few of them, and here’s some trivia, my ex remixed I don’t wanna, and an ex friend (Junior) remixed All the ones you listed. I usually don’t care for adding beats and synth to ballads, to make a dance record, but I can still enjoy the efforts. I think I just met a bigger fan than I am ;).
Stefano says
Well, a lot of the 80s extended versions are really good actually. Some are downright club mixes, and some are more pop oriented remixes. But in general I think his mixes need a decent reissue campaign. If necessary digital only if a physical release turns out to be too expensive to produce. I just don't understand that UMe is constantly leaving them aside.
roberto says
What about "Hero"/"Flinstone boy"?
Phil Cohen says
And "Flinstone Boy" features one of only 5 lyrics that Elton has ever written.
Gerbrand says
I guess you mean "Ego"/"Flinstone boy", the non-album single from 1978. That's included in the 1998 remaster of "A Single Man".
None of the b-sides (or non-album singles) previously released on Rare Masters or the 1998 remasters is included in this set. Which is a good decision, imo.
Jeff says
Makes sense on Ego, not hero. I agree about there not being duplicates from rare masters, now I need to look at that track list. I always thought diamonds was missing deep cuts.
Jeff says
I agree on Flintstone Boy, I have it on a pirated CD from years ago with other B Sides Good catch that this is missing. I don’t know hero.
Steven Evanich says
Where’s “Across The River Thames,” the download-only bonus track from THE CAPTAIN & THE KID????
Gerbrand says
“Just Like Noah’s Ark” on The Captain & The Kid is basically the same song with different lyrics.
Instead be happy that 36 B-sides ARE included with 19 of them for the first time on cd, and a couple more from very rare cd-singles.
Jeff says
The only song (a 48 year fan here) I feel is missing, is Pinky from Caribou, that could’ve been included in the deep cuts CDs, and maybe “Feed Me”, since it’s so raw and different than most of his catalog. Still, a good compilation.
Greg T. says
Both great songs! Would have also liked to have seen official releases of “Ducktail Jiver” from the Caribou sessions and the haunting demo version of “Feed Me”.
Jeff says
Wow, I didn’t know about a demo of Feed Me, I absolutely love the grit and darkness of that song. There is a version of just him and electric piano from James Newton Howard I believe, but it’s just stripped down. I love other Elton fans who appreciate deep cuts. Also, Cage the Songbird or One Horse Town, or Tonight instead of Boogie Pilgrim from Blue Moves.
Jim B. says
Great call on “Ducktail Jiver”! Supposedly that would’ve been on the 5.1 disc of Caribou (I doubt we’ll ever see that). The demo version of “Feed Me”?? I’ve heard Elton’s piano and vocals only tracks from Rock of the Westies, but that sounds fascinating!
Greg T. says
Nice collection with a lot of songs I never thought would see an official release, but where are all the album outtakes? The original version of "Live Like Horses" and the excellent "Hell" from the Made In England sessions; "Crimes of Passion" from Reg Strikes Back; "Past Imperfect" and the alternate version of "Recover Your Soul" from The Big Picture; demos from his Broadway shows (I know, probably different rights holders for those)...the list goes on. Then there are the missing B-sides, as somebody else pointed out. "Suit of Wolves" and "Fat Boys and Ugly Girls" from The One immediately come to mind. An 8-disc set is only going to appeal to hardcore fans who already own umpteen copies of the songs on 3 of the discs in this collection. As much as I'd prefer physical media, at least offer a digital companion piece like Ben Folds did with the "Fifty-Five Vault" when he released his greatest hits set in 2011.
Jeff says
I agree with all you wrote and almost wrote about the Aida Demos, they’re better than the actual show. I didn’t know about many of the songs you mentioned. It seems every compilation isn’t perfect, and true, I own all of the deep cuts, but commentary is cool.
Howard Cogswell says
Fat Boys and Suits are both on the One as bonus tracks. Not needed here.
Phil Cohen says
While the tracks by "The Bread and Beer Band" are technically released, reportedly only one copy of the group's self-titled British Decca L.P. is known to exist. Fortunately the entire album can be downloaded at bootleg sites. Yeah, I downloaded it, but I never got around to actually listening to it.
Gunnar R. says
I'm just wondering why the Diet Coke commercial jingles he performed in 1990 with Paula Abdul and in 1991 solo aren't included in this rarities collection.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMdXQxJmj7c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0lkSBNfYCQ