If you were wandering through a record store in November 1990, you probably saw a massive, LP-sized box with Elton’s face tiled across the front. It was heavy. It was expensive. And honestly, it was a bit of a gamble. At the time, Elton John wasn't the "elder statesman" he is today. He was a guy just emerging from a decade of frantic, drug-fueled output and personal chaos. Elton John To Be Continued wasn't just another greatest hits collection; it was a career-saving document.
It was the first time Elton and Bernie Taupin really sat down to look back. For years, they’d just been moving forward, churning out hits like a factory. But this set, spanning four discs and five hours, forced them to reckon with their own legacy. It starts with "Come Back Baby" from 1965—back when he was still Reg Dwight playing in Bluesology—and ends with four brand-new tracks recorded specifically for the release. It basically told the world: "I’m not done yet."
What’s Actually Inside the Box?
You’ve got 67 tracks. Most of them are the hits you know by heart, obviously. But the real value for diehards lies in the cracks between the "Rocket Mans" and "Bennie and the Jets."
The set includes the 1969 demo of "Your Song." If you haven't heard it, it’s remarkably skeletal compared to the lush version that made him a superstar. It’s just a kid at a piano trying to find his voice. Then you have the deep cuts like "Lady Samantha" and "It’s Me That You Need." These were the early singles that failed to chart but showed the weird, psychedelic pop DNA he was building.
The "New" Tracks of 1990
To sell a big box set to people who already owned the albums, they had to include "carrots." Four new songs were added to Disc 4.
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- "Made for Me"
- "You Gotta Love Someone" (This actually became a decent hit)
- "I Swear I Heard the Night Talkin'"
- "Easier to Walk Away"
These songs are interesting because they represent the "newly sober" Elton. They’re polished. Maybe a little too polished for some fans of the raw 70s sound, but they showed he still had that melodic instinct. Interestingly, when the set was released in the UK a year later, the tracklist changed slightly. The UK version swapped out "You Gotta Love Someone" (which was already on a separate hits collection there) for other tracks. Collectors still argue about which version is superior.
The Cover Art Controversy
You might notice there are two versions of the box art. The original US release features a colorful, tiled mosaic of Elton's face. Elton famously hated it later. He said it reminded him of his "excessive" years. When the UK release came out in 1991, they used a much more understated, classy black-and-white photo of him in a hat.
It’s a small detail, but it speaks to where he was mentally. He was cleaning up his life. He didn't want to be the guy in the ostrich feathers anymore. He wanted to be the songwriter.
Why It Ranks Above Modern Compilations
In 2026, we have streaming services that can generate an Elton John playlist in two seconds. So why does a 36-year-old box set still matter?
Because it was curated by the men who wrote the songs.
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Modern "Best Of" albums like Diamonds are great for the car, but they lack narrative. Elton John To Be Continued tells a story. It tracks the evolution from a shy session player to a glam rock god, through the cocaine-fueled burnout of the late 70s, to the weirdly synthesized 80s comeback.
It’s also one of the few places you can find "Cartier"—a 54-second jingle he wrote for the jewelry brand—sitting right next to a massive live version of "I Saw Her Standing There" with John Lennon. That Lennon performance was his last ever on stage. Hearing it in the context of Elton's career timeline is pretty emotional.
Finding a Copy Today
If you’re looking for this on vinyl, you’re mostly out of luck. It was a CD and cassette era beast. You can find used copies on eBay or Discogs for anywhere from $20 to $80 depending on the condition of the 40-page booklet.
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- Check the Booklet: The booklet is half the reason to buy this. It has a long-form interview where Elton and Bernie actually talk about why certain songs failed or succeeded.
- Verify the Discs: There was a 1999 reissue by Universal that is easier to find but some say the 1990 MCA original has a warmer "mastering" sound.
- The Promo Versions: There are rare 1-CD promo samplers out there that collectors pay hundreds for, but for the music, just stick to the 4-CD set.
The set was eventually certified double platinum, which is insane for a box set that cost about $60 in 1990 money. It proved that Elton wasn't a nostalgia act. He was a continuing saga.
If you want to understand the architecture of his career, stop shuffling his hits on Spotify. Find a physical copy of this box, sit down with the booklet, and listen to the discs in order. It’s the closest thing to a musical autobiography we’ve ever been given.
Your next move: Dig through your local used media shop or check eBay for the "To Be Continued" set specifically looking for the 1990 MCA version to get the original mastering and that massive booklet.