| Love Songs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compilation album by Elton John | ||||
| Released | 6 November 1995[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1970-1996 | |||
| Genre | Rock, pop | |||
| Length | 70:50 | |||
| Label | Rocket | |||
| Producer | Gus Dudgeon, Chris Thomas | |||
| Elton John chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | [2] |
Love Songs is a compilation album by British singer-songwriter Elton John. The album was first released on 6 November 1995 on the Rocket Records label, in conjunction with Mercury Records.[1] The album was released in North America by MCA Records almost a year after the European release, on 24 September 1996. In the U.S. it was certified Gold on 12/1/1996. It was certified Platinum on 3/28/1997. On 12/11/1998 is was certified 2x Platinum and 3x Platinum on 8/24/2000 by the R.I.A.A.
The album was a major success upon its release, topping the albums charts in three countries, was certified platinum in 10 countries and multi-platinum in 6.
The release also spawned a music video compilation, which was originally released on laserdisc, VHS, and VCD. The VCD version did not include the videos for "True Love", "Please", or the live version of "Someone Saved My Life Tonight".
Contents |
In a sense, it may be considered an unofficial Greatest Hits Volume 4. On the US version, ten of the fifteen tracks had been released in the period since the "Volume 3" collection, including the artist's second tenure on MCA and two songs from the then-recent Made in England. (Two of these tracks, however, were live versions of old songs, namely "Candle in the Wind" and "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me".) "You Can Make History (Young Again)" and "No Valentines" were made specifically for this release. The former was about John and Taupin each finding love and idealism in their new life partners. Unfortunately, Taupin's relationship would eventually end and is covered in the lyrics of "Mansfield" on the 2001 release, Songs from the West Coast.
The UK version saw an alternate track order with the inclusion of such songs as "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues", "Nikita", "True Love" (a duet with Kiki Dee), "Please", "Song for Guy", and the original version of "Candle in the Wind". "You Can Make History (Young Again)" and "No Valentines" do not appear on this version since they were recorded after its release. Interestingly enough, the US cassette's lyrics sleeve provide lyrics for "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" directly after "Candle in the Wind".
All songs written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, except where noted.
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Top 50 Albums[3] | 7 |
| Austrian Top 75 Albums[4] | 4 |
| Belgium (Wallonia) 100 Albums[5] | 4 |
| Chile (APF)[6] | 1 |
| French Compilations[7] | 1 |
| German Albums[8] | 7 |
| New Zealand Top 40 Albums[9] | 1 |
| Norwegian Top 40 Albums[10] | 1 |
| Swedish Top 60 Albums[11] | 2 |
| Swiss Top 100 Albums[12] | 2 |
| UK Albums Chart[13] | 4 |
| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Flanders) 100 Albums[14] | 5 |
| Canadian Top Albums[15] | 11 |
| Finnish Top 50 Albums[16] | 2 |
| Hungarian Top 40 Albums[17] | 8 |
| Netherlands Top 100 Albums[18] | 3 |
| US Billboard 200[19] | 24 |
| Chart (1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Catalog Albums[19] | 17 |
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Spanish Top 100 Albums[20] | 42 |
| Country | Provider | Certification (sales thresholds) |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina[21] | CAPIF | 2x Platinum |
| Australia[22] | ARIA | 3x Platinum |
| Austria[23] | IFPI | Platinum |
| Canada[24] | Music Canada | 2x Platinum |
| Finland[25] | IFPI | Platinum |
| France[26] | SNEP | 2x Platinum |
| Germany[27] | BVMI | Platinum |
| Hungary[28] | MAHASZ | Gold |
| Sweden[29] | IFPI | Platinum |
| Switzerland[30] | IFPI | 2x Platinum |
| United Kingdom[1] | BPI | 3x Platinum |
| United States[31] | RIAA | 3x Platinum |
| Summaries | ||
| Europe[32] | IFPI | 5x Platinum |
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | 6 November 1995 | Rocket/Mercury Records | CD | 528 788-2 |
| North America | 24 September 1996 | MCA Records | Cassette | MCAC-11481 |
| CD | MCAD-11481 | |||
| United States | 2001 | Island Records | CD | 314 548 841-2 |
| Preceded by Made in Heaven by Queen |
RIANZ number-one album 24 December 1995 |
Succeeded by Once Bitten, Twice Bitten by the Exponents |
| Preceded by Stripped by the Rolling Stones |
VG-lista number-one album 48 1995 |
Succeeded by Christmas in Vienna III by Plácido Domingo / Sissel Kyrkjebø / Charles Aznavour |