The Very Best of Elton John is a compilation album by the British singer‑songwriter Elton John. It was issued in 1994 by MCA Records (for the United States market) and by Polydor Records (for the United Kingdom and other territories).
The album assembles a selection of Elton John’s commercially successful singles and well‑known album tracks recorded between the early 1970s and the early 1990s. Its track listing includes such chart‑topping songs as “Your Song,” “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long Long Time),” “Candle in the Wind,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “Bennie and the Jets,” “I’m Still Standing,” and “Sacrifice,” among others.
The compilation was marketed as part of a series of “Very Best” anthology releases issued by the record companies for various artists. It has been reissued in different formats (CD, cassette, digital download) and has appeared on various budget‑price and “greatest‑hits” collections in subsequent years.
Release details
- Artist: Elton John
- Album type: Compilation (greatest‑hits)
- Release year: 1994
- Labels: MCA Records (U.S.), Polydor Records (U.K./international)
Context
The album was compiled to provide a concise overview of Elton John’s most popular and enduring songs for casual listeners and new fans, complementing earlier and later comprehensive retrospectives such as Greatest Hits (1974) and Greatest Hits – The Ultimate Collection (2004).
Reception and chart performance
The compilation entered the album charts in several countries and achieved notable sales, though specific peak positions and certification levels vary by region.
Subsequent releases
Later compilations—most prominently Greatest Hits – The Ultimate Collection (2004) and Rocket Man: The Definitive Elton John (2020)—superseded The Very Best of Elton John as the primary anthologies in many markets, but the 1994 release remains a referenced entry in Elton John’s discography.
