Chartbusters Go Pop (subtitled 20 Legendary Covers from 1969/70 as sung by Elton John) is a compilation album of cover versions by Elton John.

Chartbusters Go Pop
Compilation album by
Released1994
Recorded1969–1970
GenrePop
Length56:48
LabelRPM
Purple Pyramid
ProducerVarious
Elton John chronology
The Lion King
(1994)
Chartbusters Go Pop
(1994)
Made in England
(1995)
Alternative cover
Reissue cover.
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[2]

These recordings are from the days prior to Elton John's success as a solo performer. They are taken from a variety of periodically issued budget-priced compilations of hit songs, under brand names including Top of the Pops, Chartbusters and Hot Hits. These were issued by budget labels including Music for Pleasure and featured current or recent hits re-recorded, with varying degrees of note-for-note accuracy, by nameless "soundalike" performers. Like many other jobbing session singers of the time, John worked as a vocalist on these albums.

These covers compilations were cheaply recorded, cheaply priced, and sold in large quantities until, in 1972, compilations featuring the original artists were introduced by such labels as K-Tel. The public preferred the original recordings and the market for cheap cover compilations rapidly declined. This album collects together John's contributions to a variety of covers albums issued during 1969 and 1970. This collection was released by minor labels in the UK and US in 1994 and was re-issued many times afterwards.[3]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Original artistLength
1."My Baby Loves Lovin'"Roger Cook, Roger GreenawayWhite Plains2:44
2."Cotton Fields"Lead BellyLead Belly (cover version based on version by The Beach Boys)2:47
3."Lady D'Arbanville"Cat StevensCat Stevens3:41
4."Natural Sinner"Andy Fairweather LowFair Weather2:50
5."United We Stand""Tony Hiller, John GoodisonBrotherhood of Man2:48
6."Spirit in the Sky"Norman GreenbaumNorman Greenbaum3:37
7."Travelin' Band"John FogertyCreedence Clearwater Revival2:16
8."I Can't Tell the Bottom from the Top"Guy Fletcher, Doug FlettThe Hollies3:42
9."Good Morning Freedom"Albert Hammond, Michael Hazlewood, Roger Cook, Roger GreenawayBlue Mink3:07
10."To Be Young, Gifted and Black"Nina Simone, Weldon IrvineNina Simone3:04
11."In the Summertime"Ray DorsetMungo Jerry2:51
12."Up Around the Bend"John FogertyCreedence Clearwater Revival2:38
13."Snake in the Grass"Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & TichDave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich3:02
14."Neanderthal Man"Kevin Godley, Lol Creme, Eric StewartHotlegs3:35
15."She Sold Me Magic"Lou Christie, Twyla HerbertLou Christie1:56
16."Come and Get It"Paul McCartneyBadfinger2:14
17."Love of the Common People"John Hurley, Ronnie WilkinsThe Four Preps (cover version based on version by The Winstons)2:33
18."Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"Stevie Wonder, Lee Garrett, Syreeta Wright, Lula Mae HardawayStevie Wonder2:32
19."It's All in the Game"Carl Sigman, Charles G. DawesTommy Edwards (cover version based on version by The Four Tops)2:23
20."Yellow River"Jeff ChristieChristie2:35

References

edit
  1. ^ Allmusic review
  2. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). "John, Elton". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). London: Omnibus Press. p. 2,003. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
  3. ^ Discogs – Various versions