His Songs: Elton John “Classic Album Collection,” Mash-Up Set Coming in July

Do you remember when rock was young?  Many do remember the early days of the former Reginald Dwight, whose first major splash on the American charts was 1970’s Elton John.  Although that album was John’s second, his 1969 debut Empty Sky wouldn’t see U.S. release until 1975, at which point John was one of the biggest superstars on the planet.  More than forty years after the release of Elton John, the now-Sir Elton’s star still shines brightly, with 2010’s The Union having earned him a Grammy nomination and his highest chart placement in the U.S. since 1976.  On July 2, however, John will look both forward and backward, issuing a box set containing his first five albums as well as a new mash-up collection that bears his personal stamp of approval.

Classic Album Selection appears to be Universal U.K.’s answer to the similar, budget-priced boxes already offered by the Sony and Warner/Rhino family of labels.  It will contain Elton John, Tumbleweed Connection, Madman Across the Water, Honky Château and Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only The Piano Player, five consecutive albums released between 1970 and 1973.  Each title will be housed in an LP replica sleeve.  Unlike past CD editions, however, all albums will be restored to their original sequences, with no bonus tracks.  Every one of these albums went Top 10 in America, with Honky Château and Don’t Shoot Me both reaching pole position.  Some of John’s most beloved songs can be found on these albums: “Your Song” and “Take Me to the Pilot” (Elton John); “Tiny Dancer” and “Levon” (Madman); “Rocket Man” and “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters” (Honky); “Daniel” and “Crocodile Rock” (Don’t Shoot Me).  No singles were released from the sublime country-influenced Tumbleweed, but “Come Down in Time” and “Country Comfort” both remain fan favorites.

The release of Classic Album Selection is coinciding with another project close to John’s heart.  Good Morning to the Night takes its title from Bernie Taupin’s lyric to “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters,” and is a production of Australian dance-pop duo Pnau.  John gave the team full access to his multi-track recordings to create this “mash-up” collection.  Hit the jump for more on this unusual new collaboration, including a full list of the album’s tracks including their source songs!

Nick Littlemore and Peter Mayes (or Pnau, pronounced “pah-now”) have been recording sample-based, electronic dance music since 1999.  Though the duo has only released four albums since then, with 2011’s Soft Universe the most recent, Pnau hasn’t been idle, making live appearances and taking on side projects such as 2008’s acclaimed Walking on a Dream released under the Empire of the Sun name.  That album alone picked up seven of Australia’s ARIA Awards out of eleven nominations, including Album of the Year.   Rumors of Pnau’s collaboration with Elton John first circulated in 2009, and now their first full-blown effort together is set for release on July 2, with Classic Album Selection as its companion.

Good Morning to the Night has been created around Elton John compositions recorded between 1970 and 1977.  Pnau have created eight new songs, some drawing from as many as six different original Elton John recordings, to which the duo added loops, samples and original material.  The source material ranges from hit singles (“Philadelphia Freedom,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”) to deep cuts (“Solar Prestige a Gammon,” “Cage the Songbird”) including a few songs from John’s sessions with Philadelphia soul legend Thom Bell.  Here’s just one sample of what to expect:

Both Classic Album Selection and Good Morning to the Night will be in stores in the U.K. on July 2!  You can pre-order below!  Thanks to EltonJohn.com for the listing below!

Elton John, Classic Album Selection (Universal, 2012)

Contains:

• Elton John (1970)
• Tumbleweed Connection (1970)
• Madman Across the Water (1971)
• Honky Château (1972)
• Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only the Piano Player (1973)

Elton John vs. Pnau, Good Morning to the Night  (Universal, 2012)

1. Good Morning To The Night
   Includes elements from the following recordings:
   Philadelphia Freedom
   Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters
   Funeral for a Friend
   Tonight
   Gulliver/It’s Hay Chewed
   Sixty Years On (Live in Australia)
   Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
   Someone Saved my Life Tonight
2.  Sad
   Includes elements from the following recordings:
   Nice and Slow
   Crazy Water
   Curtains
   Sorry Seems To Be the Hardest Word
   Friends
3. Black Icy Stare
   Includes elements from the following recordings:
   Cold Highway
   You’re So Static
   Solar Prestige a Gammon
4. Foreign Fields
   Includes elements from the following recordings:
   Pinky
   Someone Saved My Life Tonight
   High Flying Bird
   Sweet Painted Lady
   Cage the Songbird
   Chameleon
5. Telegraph to the Afterlife
   Includes elements from the following recordings:
   Harmony
   We All Fall in Love Sometimes
   Funeral for a Friend
   Sweet Painted Lady
   I’ve Seen That Movie Too
   Love Song
   Indian Sunset
6. Phoenix
   Includes elements from the following recordings:
   Grey Seal
   Are You Ready for Love
   Bennie and the Jets
   Someone Saved My Life Tonight
   Where to Now St Peter?
   Love Lies Bleeding
   Border Song
   Country Love Song
   Three Way Love Affair
7. Karmatron
   Includes elements from the following recordings:
   Madman Across The Water
   Funeral for a Friend
   Stinker
   The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909-1934)
   Tonight
   One Horse Town
   Screw You
8. Sixty
   Includes elements from the following recordings:
   Sixty Years On
   Sixty Years On (Live in Australia)
   Sixty Years On (Live 17-11-70)
   Indian Sunset