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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.

These recordings are from the days prior to 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

No.TitleWriter(s)Original artistLength
1.My Baby Loves Lovin'White Plains2:44
2.Cotton FieldsLead BellyLead Belly (based on the version by The Beach Boys)2:47
3.Lady D’ArbanvilleCat StevensCat Stevens3:41
4.Natural SinnerAndy Fairweather LowFair Weather2:50
5.United We StandBrotherhood of Man2:48
6.Spirit in the SkyNorman GreenbaumNorman Greenbaum3:37
7.Travelin’ BandJohn FogertyCreedence Clearwater Revival2:16
8.I Can’t Tell the Bottom from the Top
The Hollies3:42
9.Good Morning Freedom
Blue Mink3:07
10.To Be Young, Gifted and Black
Nina Simone3:04
11.In the SummertimeRay DorsetMungo Jerry2:51
12.Up Around the BendFogertyCreedence Clearwater Revival2:38
13.Snake in the GrassDave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich3:02
14.Neanderthal ManHotlegs3:35
15.“She Sold Me Magic”
Lou Christie1:56
16.Come and Get ItPaul McCartneyBadfinger2:14
17.Love of the Common PeopleJohn Hurley and Ronnie WilkinsThe Four Preps (based on the version by The Winstons)2:33
18.Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m YoursStevie Wonder2:32
19.It’s All in the GameCarl Sigman, Charles G. DawesTommy Edwards (based on the version by the Four Tops)2:23
20.Yellow RiverJeff ChristieChristie2:35

References

  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