Rare Masters
Encyclopedia
Rare Masters is an album
by Elton John
that was released in 1992. This compilation album
featuring B-sides
and outtakes recorded between 1968 and 1975, it is the only place where one can find the soundtrack
to the 1971 movie Friends
on CD.
When the Elton John back catalogue from 1969-1975 was remastered and released in 1995, many of these songs were released those albums as well, also in remastered form.
All songs by Elton John and Bernie Taupin
, except where noted.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
that was released in 1992. This compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
featuring B-sides
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
and outtakes recorded between 1968 and 1975, it is the only place where one can find the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
to the 1971 movie Friends
Friends (1971 film)
Friends is a 1971 film directed by Lewis Gilbert and written by Gilbert, Vernon Harris and Jack Russell. The soundtrack by Elton John and Bernie Taupin was released as the Friends album. The film was nominated for Golden Globe Award for Best English-Language Foreign Film at the 1972 Golden Globe...
on CD.
When the Elton John back catalogue from 1969-1975 was remastered and released in 1995, many of these songs were released those albums as well, also in remastered form.
Track listing
The first track is credited as a John/Taupin-composition but is solely written by Elton John.Disc one
- "I've Been Loving YouI've Been Loving You"I've Been Loving You" is the 1968 debut single by Elton John with lyrics credited to Bernie Taupin . The B-side is "Here's to the Next Time", an Elton John composition...
" – 3:16 - "Here's to the Next Time" (Elton JohnElton JohnSir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
) – 2:58 - "Lady SamanthaLady Samantha"Lady Samantha" is a song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It was released on January 17, 1969, six months before his first album, Empty Sky came out...
" (also on Empty SkyEmpty SkyEmpty Sky is the debut album of British singer/songwriter Elton John, released on June 3, 1969. It was finally released in the United States in January 1975, with a different cover photograph, well after John's fame had been established internationally...
) – 3:02 - "All Across the HavensAll Across the HavensAll Across the Havens is a song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It was originally the b-side of his second single "Lady Samantha" and appeared as a bonus-track of the 1995 reissue of his first album "Empty Sky".-Musical structure:...
" (also on Empty SkyEmpty SkyEmpty Sky is the debut album of British singer/songwriter Elton John, released on June 3, 1969. It was finally released in the United States in January 1975, with a different cover photograph, well after John's fame had been established internationally...
) – 2:51 - "It's Me That You NeedIt's Me That You Need"It's Me That You Need" is a song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It was his third single, released five months after "Lady Samantha". As with his two previous singles, it failed to chart in the U.S. and the UK. However, the song became hit in Japan two years later, peaking at the #13...
" (also on Empty SkyEmpty SkyEmpty Sky is the debut album of British singer/songwriter Elton John, released on June 3, 1969. It was finally released in the United States in January 1975, with a different cover photograph, well after John's fame had been established internationally...
) – 4:00 - "Just Like Strange RainJust Like Strange Rain"Just Like Strange Rain" is a song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It was originally released as the B-side to his third single, "It's Me That You Need". It appeared as the last bonus track on the 1995 reissue of his first album Empty Sky....
" (also on Empty SkyEmpty SkyEmpty Sky is the debut album of British singer/songwriter Elton John, released on June 3, 1969. It was finally released in the United States in January 1975, with a different cover photograph, well after John's fame had been established internationally...
) – 3:44 - "Bad Side of the MoonBad Side of the Moon"Bad Side of the Moon" is a song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It is the B-side of his single "Border Song", and was originally released in 1970. It was included on the reissue of his self-titled album in 1995 and on his live album, 17-11-70...
" (also on Elton John)Elton John (album)Elton John is the eponymous second album by English singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1970. It was his first album, however, released in America, thus commonly assumed by many as his debut, as Empty Sky would not be released in the U.S. until 1975...
) – 3:12 - "Rock n' Roll MadonnaRock n' Roll Madonna"Rock and Roll Madonna" is a song by Elton John with lyrics written by Bernie Taupin. The song was released as a single in Britain in 1970, where it never charted. It appeared on several bootlegs and rarities compilations before it appeared on the 1995 remaster of his self-titled album. The song...
" (also on Elton John)Elton John (album)Elton John is the eponymous second album by English singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1970. It was his first album, however, released in America, thus commonly assumed by many as his debut, as Empty Sky would not be released in the U.S. until 1975...
)– 4:16 - "Grey Seal" [original version] (also on Elton John)Elton John (album)Elton John is the eponymous second album by English singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1970. It was his first album, however, released in America, thus commonly assumed by many as his debut, as Empty Sky would not be released in the U.S. until 1975...
) – 3:35- Friends (soundtrack)Friends (soundtrack)Friends is a project Elton John and Bernie Taupin took on before their breakout success in the United States. Recorded as the soundtrack to the film Friends, it was certified gold on its release on April 6, 1971 in the U.S...
- Friends (soundtrack)
- "Friends" – 2:23
- "Michelle's Song" – 4:20
- "Seasons" – 3:56
- "Variation on Michelle's Song (A Day in the Country)" – 2:47
- "Can I Put You On" – 5:57
- "Honey Roll" – 3:07
- "Variation on Friends" – 1:43
- "I Meant to Do My Work Today (A Day in the Country)" – 1:36
- "Four Moods" (Paul BuckmasterPaul BuckmasterPaul John Buckmaster is a Grammy Award-winning English artist, arranger and composer.He began learning the cello at the age of 4 and graduated from the Royal College of Music at age 16....
) – 11:01 - "Seasons Reprise" – 1:39
Disc two
- "Madman Across the Water" (Original version) (also on Tumbleweed ConnectionTumbleweed ConnectionTumbleweed Connection is the third album by English international recording artist Elton John. It is a concept album based on the Country and Western/Americana themes. All songs are written by Bernie Taupin and Elton John with the exception of "Love Song" by Lesley Duncan. It was recorded at...
) – 8:50 - "Into the Old Man's Shoes" (also on Tumbleweed ConnectionTumbleweed ConnectionTumbleweed Connection is the third album by English international recording artist Elton John. It is a concept album based on the Country and Western/Americana themes. All songs are written by Bernie Taupin and Elton John with the exception of "Love Song" by Lesley Duncan. It was recorded at...
) – 4:01 - "Rock Me When He's Gone" – 5:01
- "Slave" [Alternate version] (also on Honky ChateauHonky ChâteauHonky Château is the fifth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1972. In 2003, the album was ranked number 357 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. It was certified Gold on 7/24/1972 and Platinum on 10/11/1995 by the R.I.A.A...
) – 2:48 - "Skyline PigeonSkyline Pigeon"Skyline Pigeon" is a song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It is the eighth track off his first album, Empty Sky. John performed the song at the funeral of AIDS victim and friend Ryan White in 1990 on a grand piano although he played Roland Piano on tour and in the studio at the time...
" [Piano version] (also on Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano PlayerDon't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano PlayerDon't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player is the sixth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John. It was released by DJM Records....
) – 3:51 - "Jack Rabbit" (also on Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano PlayerDon't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano PlayerDon't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player is the sixth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John. It was released by DJM Records....
) – 1:51 - "Whenever You're Ready (We'll Go Steady Again)" (also on Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano PlayerDon't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano PlayerDon't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player is the sixth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John. It was released by DJM Records....
) – 2:51 - "Let Me Be Your Car" (also on Rod StewartRod StewartRoderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
album SmilerSmiler (album)Smiler is Rod Stewart's fifth album, and final album for Mercury Records, released in 1974 . It became the first album by Rod Stewart as a solo artist to become critically panned. Although it reached number 1 in the UK album chart, it stalled at number 13 in the US...
) – 4:52 - "Screw You (Young Man's Blues)" (also on Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano PlayerDon't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano PlayerDon't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player is the sixth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John. It was released by DJM Records....
) – 4:41 - "Step into ChristmasStep Into Christmas"Step into Christmas" is a Christmas song by Elton John released in 1973. It was originally released as a stand-alone single in 1973 with the B-Side "Ho! Ho! Ho! ", peaking at #23 in the UK. Due to Billboard magazine's editorial policy it was held off the Hot 100...
" (also on CaribouCaribou (album)Caribou is the 8th studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1974 . It was John's 4th chart-topping album in the U.S. and his 3rd in the U.K. The album contains the singles, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me", which reached # 16 in the UK Singles Chart and # 2 in the U.S.,...
)– 4:30 - "Ho! Ho! Ho! (Who'd Be a Turkey at Christmas)" – 4:03
- "Sick CitySick City (song)"Sick City" is a song by Elton John with lyrics written by Bernie Taupin. It is the B-side of the single release of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me", released in 1974. It later appeared on the 1995 remaster of the album Caribou. The song is about a groupie, and the life in 1970's New York which...
" (also on CaribouCaribou (album)Caribou is the 8th studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1974 . It was John's 4th chart-topping album in the U.S. and his 3rd in the U.K. The album contains the singles, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me", which reached # 16 in the UK Singles Chart and # 2 in the U.S.,...
)– 5:23 - "Cold Highway" (also on CaribouCaribou (album)Caribou is the 8th studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1974 . It was John's 4th chart-topping album in the U.S. and his 3rd in the U.K. The album contains the singles, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me", which reached # 16 in the UK Singles Chart and # 2 in the U.S.,...
)– 3:26 - "One Day (At a Time)" (John LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
) (also on Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt CowboyCaptain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt CowboyCaptain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy is the ninth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1975. It debuted at number 1 on the U.S. Pop Albums chart, the first album ever to do so, and stayed there for seven weeks. It was certified Gold on 5/21/1975 and was...
)– 3:47 - "I Saw Her Standing ThereI Saw Her Standing There"I Saw Her Standing There" is a song written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, and is the opening track on The Beatles' debut album, Please Please Me, released in the United Kingdom by Parlophone on 22 March 1963....
" [live] (Duet with John Lennon) (John LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
, Paul McCartneyPaul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
) (also on Here and There)– 3:51 - "House of Cards" (also on Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt CowboyCaptain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt CowboyCaptain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy is the ninth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1975. It debuted at number 1 on the U.S. Pop Albums chart, the first album ever to do so, and stayed there for seven weeks. It was certified Gold on 5/21/1975 and was...
)– 3:09 - "Planes" – 4:14
- "Sugar on the Floor" (Kiki DeeKiki DeeKiki Dee is an English singer with a career spanning more than 40 years....
) (also on Rock of the WestiesRock of the WestiesRock of the Westies is the tenth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1975 .Like Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, Rock of the Westies also debuted on the United States Billboard charts at # 1, the only two albums at that time to have done so...
) – 4:33
All songs by Elton John and Bernie Taupin
Bernie Taupin
Bernard John "Bernie" Taupin is an English lyricist, poet, and singer, best known for his long-term collaboration with Elton John, writing the lyrics for the majority of the star's songs, making his lyrics some of the best known in pop-rock's history.In 1967, Taupin answered an advertisement in...
, except where noted.