Beyond the Glitter: Essential Gifts & Collectibles for Elton John Fans

Christmas always feels special — but when you add a little Elton John magic, it shines even brighter. This year, we’re launching a brand-new Elton John Christmas Gift Guide, carefully curated to help you discover the perfect present for every type of fan: essential albums, collector’s box sets, official apparel, books, artwork, memorabilia, games, and unique treasures that celebrate Elton’s extraordinary world. Whether you’re shopping for a lifelong Rocket Man devotee or looking to treat yourself during the holidays, this guide is designed to inspire and delight. Let the festive sparkle of the Yellow Brick Road begin!

Perfect for both newcomers and lifelong fans.

Music – Studio Albums & Live Records

• 
  Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
  Classic double album featuring “Candle in the Wind,” “Bennie and the Jets,” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”
  Price: €40,99
  Link: Amazon UK

• 
  Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975)
  An autobiographical masterpiece chronicling the rise of Elton and Bernie Taupin.
  Price: €34,99
  Link: Elton John Store

• 
  Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (1987)
  Powerful live performances featuring orchestral arrangements of Elton’s classics.
  Price: €40,99
  Link: Elton John Store

• 
  Songs from the West Coast (2001)
  A stunning return to form with heartfelt tracks like “I Want Love.”
  Price: €90,00
  Link: Discogs

Box Sets & Compilations

For the superfans and completists — collections that tell Elton’s full musical story.

• 
  Jewel Box (2020)
  A treasure trove of deep cuts, rarities, and unreleased tracks curated by Elton himself.
  Price: €156,99 (9LP vinyl set)
  Link: Elton John Store

• 
  Diamonds (2017)
  The definitive greatest hits compilation, spanning Elton’s entire career.
  Price: £17.99 (3CD set)
  Link: Elton John Store

• 
  To Be Continued… (1990)
  A collector’s dream — 4 discs tracing Elton’s evolution through rare mixes and B-sides.
  Price: €62,02
  Link: Amazon UK

Apparel – Style with a Spark

Bring Elton’s flair into your wardrobe.

• 
  Elton 1970s Live T-Shirt
  Retro-inspired tee featuring live imagery from Elton’s golden decade.
  Price: £30
  Link: Elton John Store

• 
  Farewell Yellow Brick Road Flower Portrait T-Shirt (2023)
  A beautiful farewell-tour design featuring Elton’s signature look.
  Price: £35
  Link: Elton John Store

• 
  Troubadour Boot Black Hoodie
  Stylish, comfortable hoodie celebrating Elton’s legendary Troubadour debut.
  Price: £75
  Link: Elton John Store

• 
  Vintage Elton John 80s World Tour Piano 1986
  Pre-owned - Good: This item has been gently used but is in good condition.
  Price: $135
  Link: Ebay

Books – Stories, Love and photos

• 

  Me (Autobiography)
  Elton’s honest, funny, and deeply emotional memoir — one of the greatest rock autobiographies ever written.
  Price: €29
  Link: Elton John Store

  

  Love is the Cure
  A powerful and compassionate reflection on Elton’s activism, his fight against AIDS, and the humanity at the core of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
  Price: £10 approx.
  Link: Amazon

  

  Elton John by Terry O’Neill (Photography)
  A stunning visual collection featuring Terry O’Neill’s most iconic photographs of Elton — from spectacular stage moments to intimate behind-the-scenes portraits.
  Price: £30–£40 approx.
  Link: Amazon UK

• Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: The Making of an Epic Album
  
  
  Co-authored by Andrea Grasso and Luca Perasi, this richly detailed study explores Elton John’s legendary 1973 album. Combining historical research, musical and lyrical analysis, and rare interview insights from Andrea’s own archive, the book traces the album’s creation, artwork, recording process, and lasting influence in rock history.
  Price: approx. £16,90
  Link: Amazon UK

Limited Edition Prints / Artworks

For fans who want something unique on their walls.

• 
  Captain Fantastic 50th Anniversary Lithograph
  A stunning commemorative print celebrating one of Elton’s most loved albums.
  Price: £85
  Link: Elton John Store

• 
  Farewell Yellow Brick Road Commemorative World Tour Print
  Vibrant, collectible print capturing Elton’s final world tour.
  Price: £35
  Link: Elton John Store

• 
  Signed Memorabilia Items / Posters
  Occasionally available online — a true collector’s gem for dedicated fans.
  Price: varies
  Link: eBay UK

Collectibles & Memorabilia

Add a touch of magic to your shelves.

• 
  Limited Edition Commemorative Snow Globe
  Elton figure in a pink jacket on the Yellow Brick Road base — charming and festive.
  Price: £75
  Link: Elton John Store

• 
  Elton John Monopoly Board Game
  Play your way through Elton’s extraordinary career. Buy, Sell, and Trade memorable moments from Elton John’s over fifty-year career including his Hollywood Walk of Fame Star (1975), Knighthood (1998), and Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour (2023). The game includes six collectible tokens featuring his iconic headgear. Stage and Studio cards feature titles of memorable songs sure to keep you singing. In the end, you will need to bankrupt all the other players to claim, “I’m Still Standing” and win
  Price: £45
  Link: Elton John Store

• 
  Elton John Playing Cards by Bicycle
  Featuring iconic artwork of Elton John on the court cards and golden holographic piano keys on the tuck, take a stylish journey down the Yellow Brick Road with every hand. Stylish card deck featuring Elton’s imagery and logos.
  Price: £10
  Link: Elton John Store

• 
  Captain Fantastic Puzzle (1000 pieces)
  Celebrate the 1975 classic with this colourful jigsaw. The album's original cover art available as a 500 piece jigsaw puzzle printed on high quality board. 500 pieces. 
  Price: £20
  Link: Amazon UK

• 
  Barbie Elton John Doll
  Limited edition Barbie honouring Elton’s flamboyant style and career. It shines bright in a glittery top and flared denim embellished with Elton's sparkling initials. Her "Elton"-embossed bomber jacket features star-printed sleeves and a rainbow-striped hem

  Price: £50
  Link: Amazon UK

• 

  Elton John Radko Grand Slam Ornement

  This dazzling ornament features the iconic musician in a full-on baseball getup, blending the glamour of rock 'n' roll with the excitement of America’s favorite pastime. It’s a grand slam for any fan of music and sports!
  Price: €115
  Link: Elton John Store

Dance in the Kitchen While Embers Glow: Elton’s Christmas Moments

Some say Christmas is a state of mind. If that’s true, few artists have captured it with as much joy, irony, and emotion as Elton John. From his very first holiday single, Step Into Christmas (23 November 1973), to his special concerts and recent collaborations, Elton has delivered songs that feel like postcards full of light and memory.

In December 1973, Elton recorded Step Into Christmas as a thank you to his fans after an incredible year of record sales and the release of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Reflecting years later, he said:

“Let’s do a Christmas record! we thought … Bernie absolutely loves Christmas songs, so he was all for it.”

The result was a holiday anthem that still shines today. The B-side, Ho, Ho, Ho (Who’d Be a Turkey at Christmas), added a dose of festive sarcasm, gently satirizing holiday excesses. As he recalled:

“The Christmas single is a real loon about and something we’d like to do a lot more of.”

Elton’s holiday spirit continued over the years through songs that blend fun, melancholy, and special collaborations. These include Cold As Christmas (In the Middle of the Year), a wintery reflection; the political satire Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher (2005); and classic covers such as White Christmas with Rosie O’Donnell or Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1973). All Quiet on the Western Front remains a more introspective track on the Step Into Christmas EP.

Collaborations have also played an important role. Highlights include Calling It Christmas with Joss Stone (2005), Joseph, Better You Than Me with The Killers and Neil Tennant (2008), and the 2021 songs with Ed Sheeran: Merry Christmas and Sausage Rolls for Everyone with LadBaby. Each track shows Elton’s ability to connect with other artists and generations while keeping his holiday essence intact.

During his early appearances and holiday concerts, Elton revealed how Christmas gradually entered his life. While performing Step Into Christmas live, he reflected,

“I’m beginning to get into the Christmas spirit. It’s creeping nearer and nearer.”

He also shared his thoughts on the power of music:

“Music has healing power. It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a few hours.”

And with his usual warmth, he added:

“I love the idea of people gathering together for a song — that’s what Christmas should be about.”

Every concert and performance became a true celebration shared with fans. Elton’s holiday concerts were magical: On 22 December 1973 he appeared on the Gilbert O’Sullivan Show in London performing Step Into Christmas, and from 21–23 December he played at the Hammersmith Odeon. From 20–24 December 1974, the Hammersmith “Christmas shows” were a huge success, with 24 December considered a special Christmas performance. On 24 December 1982, he performed another holiday show at Hammersmith Odeon during his December tour. Elton’s holiday concerts continued to captivate audiences throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including these memorable performances at Hammersmith Odeon.

Beyond his historic shows and songs, Elton’s festive influence extends even into the world of advertising. In 2018, he starred in John Lewis’ Christmas advert, The Boy and the Piano, a touching journey through his life set to Your Song. The story follows a young Elton receiving a piano at Christmas, symbolizing the start of his musical journey and connecting viewers to the magic, nostalgia, and joy of the festive season. Revisit the commercial here.

More recently, in 2024, he released a video with Carla Lavigne that brings a modern, playful twist to Step Into Christmas. The video features festive scenes with bright lights, whimsical choreography, and a joyful energy that reflects Elton’s enduring holiday spirit, showing how his music continues to connect generations and bring people together. Watch the video here.

What makes Elton John’s holiday music so special is this combination of fun, melancholy, and human warmth: a universe where each song is a shared memory, each concert a celebration, and every note a chance to gather together—even for just a few minutes—in the true spirit of Christmas. Truly, Elton John proves that Christmas is more than a season—it’s a state of mind, and his music embodies it perfectly. From 1973 to today, his holiday songs continue to be cherished and celebrated worldwide.

Threads of Brilliance: Liz Rosenthal Re-weaves the Story of Elton’s Most Explosive Era

Elizabeth J. Rosenthal is an American writer and historian. Her alma maters include Syracuse University (1982, journalism) and Rutgers University (1985, Juris Doctor). She spent 28 years as legal liaison for the New Jersey Civil Service Commission and is now a Trustee of the Historical Society of Moorestown in New Jersey. Rosenthal’s first book, His Song: The Musical Journey of Elton John (Billboard Books, 2001), remains one of the most comprehensive studies of Elton’s life and work. Her next biography, Birdwatcher: The Life of Roger Tory Peterson (Lyons Press, 2008), told the story of the groundbreaking 20^th-century naturalist, writer, and artist. Her newest book is The Master of Drums: Gene Krupa and the Music He Gave the World (Citadel Press, 2025), the definitive biography of the Swing Era drummer who became the most influential jazz drummer of his time and the chief inspiration for nearly every rock drummer from the 1950s onward. See https://www.elizabethjrosenthal.com for more information. Rosenthal has also written about the Swing Era for The Wall Street Journal and is the author of a piece about Roger Tory Peterson in the commemorative Art Students League volume, 150 Stories: Lives of the Artists at the League.

Today we celebrate one of the most pivotal moments in Elton John’s career: the extraordinary creative stretch of 1975, the year that gave us two albums as different as they are essential — Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy and Rock of the Westies. To help us explore this fascinating moment in Elton’s musical journey, we are truly honored to welcome Liz Rosenthal.

Hello Liz, welcome to the 50th anniversary of these two majestic albums, let's start: Captain Fantastic is often seen as Elton and Bernie’s most autobiographical work. What do you think made it so cohesive and personal compared to their previous albums? 

It was cohesive and personal because Elton and Bernie set out to make an autobiographical album. They wanted their fans to know what it was like for them before they achieved fame and fortune. As Bernie wrote in “Curtains”: “Just like us, you must have had a once upon a time.”

What do you think motivated Elton and Bernie to tell their story with Captain Fantastic at that particular moment in their lives? 

The summer of 1974 saw EJ and BT seemingly at the top of the world. They didn’t realize that they had not actually reached the summit yet. Nevertheless, it was the perfect time to reflect on the period of their lives when they were stuck trying to get somewhere in a late 1960s industry that embraced the status quo.

How has the critical and public perception of this album evolved over the years (between 1975 and now)? Are there aspects that were once undervalued but are now seen as more relevant or influential? 

Reviews were mixed at the time the album was released. Even Robert Hilburn, Elton’s biggest booster, wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. Over the years, the album’s artistic reputation grew to the point where it’s now considered possibly the high point of the EJ/BT phenomenon. In the 1980s and 90s, critics were especially fond of praising its near-perfection while derogating whatever album Elton had just released. Elton’s 21^st century albums have been mostly celebrated by rock writers and it’s been suggested that some of them come close to, or match, the quality of Captain Fantastic.

Captain Fantastic marked the end of Elton’s classic band era, and just months later he completely changed his lineup for Rock of the Westies. What do you think motivated that shift, and how did it impact the sound and chemistry of his music during that transition? 

Elton has often said that he fired Nigel and Dee because he wanted a different-sounding band, one that he thought would rock more. I’m not sure he got the result he wanted (see more about that below). His new band, with Caleb Quaye dominating the guitar sound, was dramatically different, but whether it was better is another story.

True! How do you think the album artwork and visual imagery of Captain Fantastic complement the music and the overall message of the record? 

The booklets are a treasure trove for fans. “Scraps” must have been a special thrill in 1975, with bits of Elton’s diaries and so many never-before-seen pictures of EJ and BT from when they lived like ordinary blokes. Since then, fans have been deluged (for better or worse) with books, documentaries, musical compilations, and memorabilia that make Captain Fantastic’s evocation of EJ and BT’s early days a bit less exciting. The Captain Fantastic album cover is effective in depicting the dejected feelings of our favorite duo during their travails and the nightmarish situations in which they often found themselves. But the cover is maybe too in-your-face for me. My favorite EJ album cover remains the one for Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. It speaks to Elton’s spirit and musicality in a way no other album cover has.

How did Elton and Bernie’s collaboration evolve between Captain Fantastic and Rock of the Westies? 

Their collaborative efforts didn’t so much evolve from Captain to Westies as make a radical shift in the wrong direction. Thank goodness they didn’t stick with the Westies approach.

So the contrast between the two albums is striking — one introspective and refined, the other raw, funky, and full of energy. Focusing specifically on sound and overall musical energy, was this shift a deliberate artistic move or a natural reaction to success and pressure, distinct from the band lineup changes? 

The album is full of energy, but is mostly the polar opposite of Captain Fantastic. Captain Fantastic is full of gorgeous melodies evoking the most personal emotions, as well as some of Taupin’s greatest lyrics. By contrast, Rock of the Westies, with some exceptions, falls down badly on the melodic front and Bernie’s lyrics are often juvenile and/or incomprehensible.

How did the recording location at Caribou Ranch influence the energy, sound, or creative process compared to previous studios like Honky Château? 

I don’t think the Caribou Ranch affected the album’s sound one way or the other. Elton also recorded Caribou and Captain Fantastic there, and the LPs couldn’t be more different.

Rock of the Westies was commercially successful, entering the Billboard 200 at number one. How do you interpret this achievement in relation to its more experimental or raw sound? 

I don’t think that Rock of the Westies debuting at number one in the U.S. had anything to do with whether it was “experimental” or featured a “raw sound.” It debuted at number one because Elton was on a roll. He was the most popular rock musician in America; kids were falling all over themselves to obtain tickets to his concerts and buy anything else that had his face or name on it.

Critics at the time were divided — some dismissed it as “synthetic boogie”, while others praised Bernie Taupin’s lyrics and the band’s energy. How do you interpret this split today? 

During Elton’s commercial heyday, critics were always split on the quality of his albums. Sometimes the critics themselves were split between a desire to praise him and condemn him.

Certain tracks have been compared to the Rolling Stones’ style, but critics felt Elton’s performances lacked subtlety. How do you see the role of influence versus originality in Rock of the Westies? 

A Stones influence is audible on Westies, especially because of the guitar-dominant sound and Elton’s raw vocals. But I don’t think the album lacks originality; it just (mostly) lacks what his albums are known for – melodies, melodies, melodies!

Although critics noted the lyrics weren’t always strong, Elton’s piano and vocals provide a through-line across the album. How do you evaluate the balance between his musical performance, vocal interpretation, and songwriting, focusing on their role in shaping the album’s character rather than comparisons to other artists? 

If it’s one thing Westies has going for it is the musicianship. All of the band members brought their respective strengths to the record. Elton’s vocals continued to develop technically, and his piano playing was, as always, topnotch and sometimes spine-tingling. His vocal interpretations were as gripping as one would have expected from him despite the album’s melodic and lyrical deficiencies.

Are there particular tracks on Rock of the Westies that you think best capture the album’s spirit or Elton’s musical intent, and why? 

I’d rather refer to the better parts of the album than speculate about which songs best represent Elton and Bernie’s artistic intent. “I Feel Like a Bullet (in the Gun of Robert Ford)” is an obvious example of a typical Elton John ballad which would be at home on any good EJ album. “Feed Me,” in which Elton sings but doesn’t play, is a jazzy hint at what was to come on Blue Moves. “Island Girl,” which maybe hasn’t aged well given its racial overtones, is the catchiest tune on the whole album. No one should be surprised that the song went to Number One on Billboard’s Hot 100.

Thank you so much, Liz, for sharing your insight, depth, and passion with us. Your reflections bring new light to two albums that continue to captivate listeners fifty years later — one for its emotional truth, the other for its wild energy and fearless experimentation.