Chronological Listing

Bootleg CDs are collections of music, usually of live or unreleased tracks, that find their way into the hands of collectors without the direct approval of the artist or the artist's record label. Although manufacture and distribution of these CDs is prohibited or discouraged in most countries, certain record labels still find the channels to sell this material to distributors and fans, who often pay the premium prices that are associated with them. The sound quality is usually but not always inferior to offically released album, but they are still very collectible, if only for the novelty.

There is no means by which to determine if this is a complete list, especially if you consider privately-pressed discs which are starting to invade the underground market. At this point, only record-labeled releases of mass pressings are included in this list, except where noted. To determine if a CD is either mass-produced or privately pressed, check the underside of the disc (non-printed side). If it is blue-gold or green, the CD was privately pressed. If it is silver, then it is probably an original. Another way to check is if the printed side of the disc is silk-screened (original) or labeled with an adhesive sticker (copy). Unfortunately, as CD recorders become more popular, it will be easier for people to make copies of original CDs and sell them as "bootlegs". This activity forces collectors to carefully inspect discs when they find them. Only originally pressed CDs are worth their value.

The author wishes to thank everyone who has contributed content to this collection. I know there are some titles out there that I do not have details for. If you have an Elton John "bootleg" CD that is not mentioned here, please drop me a line, and we'll try to add it.

I do not have any information regarding the availability or purchase of any of these CDs. This site is provided as a reference resource only!

• May 22 1970, BBC Television
  The Greatest Discovery (7 tracks)
  My Songs (7 tracks)
  Then And Now (6 tracks)
  
  
• November 13 1970, Fillmore West, San Francisco
  A Truly Great Rocker (9 tracks)
  
  
• November 17 1970, New York
  Early Session (7 tracks)
  Indian Sunset (7 tracks)
  Rocket Man Volume 2 (7 tracks)
  
  
• 1971, BBC Television
  The Greatest Discovery (7 tracks)
  My Songs (2 tracks)
  
  
• October 11 1971, Tokyo, Japan
  First Visit 1971 (20 tracks)
  Madman Shakes Tokyo (20 tracks)
  Tumbleweed Collection (1 tracks)
  
  
• December 07 1971, BBC Old Grey Whistle Test
  Tumbleweed Collection (2 tracks)
  
  
• February 05 1972, Royal Festival Hall
  Concertstück (10 tracks)
  
  
• February 05 1972, Royal Festival Hall, London
  Philharmonica Freedom (10 tracks)
  
  
• March 1972, Frankfurt, Germany
  Honky Chateau Tour 1972 (14 tracks)
  
  
• December 22 1973, Hammersmith Odeon, London
  BBC 1973 (12 tracks)
  Christmas Concert (17 tracks)
  Daniel (12 tracks)
  Elton John Live (15 tracks)
  Greatest Live 1973 (10 tracks)
  Honkey Cat (10 tracks)
  Live Volume 1 (11 tracks)
  Red Spectacles (2 tracks)
  Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (17 tracks)
  Saturday Night's Alright (12 tracks)
  Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting (19 tracks)
  21 Years Of Fun (21 tracks)
  Your Song (I Miti Del Rock) (9 tracks)
  Your Song (Rock Music) (9 tracks)
  
  
• February 01 1974, Budokan, Tokyo Japan
  Only Seventy Minutes (12 tracks)
  
  
• December 24 1974, Hammersmith Odeon, London
  Highflying (22 tracks)
  Lucy In The Sky (9 tracks)
  Rocket Man Volume 1 (11 tracks)
  
  
• October 14 1975, Portland Memorial Coliseum, Oregon
  West Of The Rockies (28 tracks)
  
  
• May 13 1977, Rainbow Theatre, London
  Rainbow Rock (26 tracks)
  Rocket Man Over The Rainbow (26 tracks)
  
  
• November 03 1977, Wembley Pool, London
  Fine China (9 tracks)
  
  
• October 14 1978, Century Plaza, Los Angeles
  Return To The Century (13 tracks)
  
  
• October 20 1978, RTL Grande Studios, France
  A Single Man In France (10 tracks)
  
  
• May 28 1979, Rossya Hall, Moscow
  Russian Bullet (27 tracks)
  A Single Man In Moscow (27 tracks)
  
  
• September 26 1979, Universal Amphiteatre, Los Angeles
  Saturday Sun Sessions (7 tracks)
  
  
• September 13 1980, Central Park, New York
  Elton John Goes Quackers (10 tracks)
  
  
• 1982, Saratoga, New York
  Red Spectacles (3 tracks)
  
  
• May 09 1982, Vorste National Centre, Brussels
  Green As A Sprout (14 tracks)
  
  
• December 24 1982, Hammersmith Odeon, London
  Blue Eyes (13 tracks)
  Elton John Live (15 tracks)
  Leather Jacket Demos (8 tracks)
  Live In London (12 tracks)
  Rocket Man Volume 3 (14 tracks)
  
  
• 1984, Worcester, Massachusetts
  Live USA (13 tracks)
  Rocket Man (13 tracks)
  Rocket Man (13 tracks)
  Rocket Man (13 tracks)
  
  
• June 30 1984, Wembley Stadium, London
  The Live Experience (10 tracks)
  One More Arrow (14 tracks)
  A Unique Double Bill (10 tracks)
  
  
• December 14 1985, Wembley Stadium, London
  Lord Choc Ice Goes Mental (22 tracks)
  
  
• October 12 1986, Los Angeles, California
  Don't Dream It's Over... (10 tracks)
  It's Starting Again (9 tracks)
  Los Angeles 1986 (14 tracks)
  Welcome On Brick Road (19 tracks)
  
  
• December 14 1986, Sydney, Australia
  The Live Experience (4 tracks)
  A Unique Double Bill (4 tracks)
  
  
• 1987, Los Angeles
  Live At The Hollywood Bowl (10 tracks)
  Red Spectacles (10 tracks)
  
  
• September 18 1988, Poplar Creek, Illinois
  Poplar Creek Chicago (14 tracks)
  Standing In The City (7 tracks)
  
  
• 1989, Verona, Italy
  Superstar Concert Series (12 tracks)
  
  
• May 17 1990, MTV Unplugged
  Flowers For The One (7 tracks)
  
  
• April 20 1992, Freddie Mercury Concert
  The Bitch Is Back (2 tracks)
  
  
• June 03 1992, Lausanne, Switzerland
  The Only One (15 tracks)
  
  
• July 21 1992, Barcelona, Spain
  Barcelona 1992 (20 tracks)
  Concert Series Live (10 tracks)
  Elton John Live Volume 2 (8 tracks)
  Elton John Live Volume 3 (13 tracks)
  Europe 1992 (12 tracks)
  Heat Wave (22 tracks)
  
  
• 1993, Knebworth
  Sacrifice (2 tracks)
  
  
• 1993, Paris, France
  Flowers For The One (6 tracks)
  
  
• May 13 1993, Earl's Court, London
  Charity In Court (25 tracks)
  Europe 1993 (19 tracks)
  Live In Concert (15 tracks)
  Live In USA 1994 (14 tracks)
  Rocket Man (13 tracks)
  Where Are My Eyeglasses? (18 tracks)
  World Class (19 tracks)
  
  
• September 06 1993, Foxboro Stadium, Massachusetts
  The Bitch Is Back (10 tracks)
  The Last Song (10 tracks)
  Sacrifice (10 tracks)
  
  
• October 01 1993, Sunrise Theater, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  Lord Nobby And Dr. A. Cula (27 tracks)
  
  
• 1994, Pittsbugh
  Face Of Kings (26 tracks)
  
  
• 1995, VH1 Fashion Awards Show
  Elton For Gianni (2 tracks)
  
  
• November 25 1995, Flamengo Stadium, Rio De Janeiro
  Return Of The Wig (25 tracks)
  Rio (25 tracks)
  
  
• 1997, BBC Television
  Then And Now (7 tracks)
  
  
• September 19 1997, House of Blues, New Orleans
  Simple Is Pianoman (12 tracks)
  Story Teller (12 tracks)
  
  
• January 15 1998, The Ritz, Paris
  Live At The Ritz Volume 2 (13 tracks)
  
  
• March 30 1998, Tokyo Dome, Japan
  Face To Face (26 tracks)
  Face To Face (Live in Japan 1998) (26 tracks)
  Face To Face (Great Pianomans) (34 tracks)
  
  
• February 1999, Miami
  Then And Now (1 tracks)
  
  
• March 1999, Rosie O'Donnell Show
  Then And Now (3 tracks)
  
  
• May 27 2000, Woburn Abbey, UK
  Final Melodist In Millenium (10 tracks)
  Magic, Sheer Magic (10 tracks)
  
  
• October 20 2000, Madison Square Garden, New York
  Tribute To Lennon (11 tracks)
  
  
• September 22 2001, BBC Radio
  Knight In White Satin (16 tracks)
  
  
• September 26 2001, BBC Television
  Knight In White Satin (8 tracks)
  
  
• February 04 2002, Hartford Civic Center, Connecticut
  Face To Face 2002 (36 tracks)