Elton John's Greatest Hits Vol. 3

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Elton John's Greatest Hits Volume III
Greatest hits album by
Released12 November 1987
Recorded1977–1986
Genre
Length56:50
LabelGeffen
Producer
Elton John chronology
Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
(1987)
Elton John's Greatest Hits Volume III
(1987)
Reg Strikes Back
(1988)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Tom Hull – on the WebB[2]

Elton John's Greatest Hits Volume III is the twenty-seventh album released by English musician Elton John. Released in 1987, 10 years after Elton John's Greatest Hits Volume II, the compilation album features his greatest hits from 1979 to 1986 and was made available only in the United States and Canada. All of the songs featured had previously been released on a previous album.

History[edit]

The album was initially released under Geffen Records after John returned to his US label. Geffen was later bought out by MCA Records in 1990. John had just left MCA after the label released Greatest Hits Volume II.

One-third of the album is composed of songs from Too Low for Zero, John's 1983 album that received the most critical and commercial acclaim for the early 1980s, including the songs "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" and "I'm Still Standing". Some of the John's less successful songs were also included on the tracking because they had been released in the past year. The album received a gold certification in February 1989, platinum in November 1991, and achieved 2× platinum in October 1995 by the RIAA.

In 1992, two years after MCA purchased Geffen, Greatest Hits Volume III was removed from the artist's repertoire and replaced with the famed Greatest Hits 1976–1986 album, and due to copyright issues, two tracks from Greatest Hits Volume II, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" and "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" were moved to Greatest Hits 1976–1986 and replaced with "Tiny Dancer" and "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)".

Track listing[edit]

All songs are written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues"John/Taupin/Davey JohnstoneToo Low for Zero (1983)4:42
2."Mama Can't Buy You Love"LeRoy Bell/Casey JamesThe Thom Bell Sessions (1979)4:02
3."Little Jeannie"John/Gary Osborne21 at 33 (1980)4:46
4."Sad Songs (Say So Much)" Breaking Hearts (1984)4:48
5."I'm Still Standing" Too Low for Zero3:03
6."Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" Jump Up! (1982)5:05
7."Heartache All Over the World" Leather Jackets (1986)4:01
8."Too Low for Zero" Too Low for Zero5:44
9."Kiss the Bride" Too Low for Zero4:20
10."Blue Eyes"John/OsborneJump Up!3:27
11."Nikita" Ice on Fire (1985)4:54
12."Wrap Her Up"John/Taupin/Charlie Morgan/Paul Westwood/Johnstone/Fred MandalIce on Fire6:04

Credits[edit]

  • Album coordinators – John David Kalodner & Robin Rothman
  • Originally mastering – Greg Fulginiti
  • Art direction/Design – Laura Lipuma
  • Management – John Reid

Charts[edit]

Chart (1987–1988) Peak
position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[3] 33
US Billboard 200[4] 84

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[5] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Greatest Hits, Vol. 3 (1979–1987) – Elton John". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  2. ^ Hull, Tom (22 June 2021). "Music Week". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0901". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Elton John Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  5. ^ "American album certifications – Elton John – Greatest Hits Vol. III 1979-1987". Recording Industry Association of America.

Sources[edit]