Albums I'd Like to See Elton John Record

As an Elton John fan, I decided to write a list of albums I’d like to see Elton John record. These are types of albums he hasn’t recorded yet. However, he has recorded at least one song in the style of my proposed album. I embed the audio of an Elton John song to display the kind of musical sound this proposed album could have. Let’s start.

Jazz Rock Album

Elton has done some songs over the years in jazz and jazz rock styles. My idea for this album would be dominated by jazz rock songs of different tempos with the remainder being plain jazz songs. It would be a creative challenge for Elton to write rock that’s merged with jazz. He’d be able to bring something new to jazz rock through his songwriting skills. Toto would be an influence for this album. I understand they were one of Elton’s favourite bands during their peak. He’s worked with Toto members David Paich (keyboards), Steve Lukather (guitar), Steve Porcaro (keyboards), Jeff Porcaro (drums) and Greg Phillinganes (keyboards). Jeff played all the drums on Elton’s 1982 “Jump Up” album which was the same year of Toto’s massive success with “Toto IV”.

Other influences I envision are Steely Dan and Chicago, specifically the “Chicago X” album. In my article “Ten Great Rock Songs Opening Albums”, I included the song “Once or Twice” from “Chicago X”. I said “I like Robert Lamm’s rock and roll piano. It’s creative to feature that kind of piano playing in a jazz rock song.” Elton similarly would bring his signature rock & roll piano sound in a jazz rock setting on some songs. The Elton John song I’m featuring below is “Out of the Blue”, an instrumental jazz rock song that came out 50 years ago. Elton does great improvisational piano soloing near the end.

Out of the Blue (1976)

Southern Rock Album

Southern rock is similar to rock & roll which is a part of Elton’s music where he has played rock & roll piano on some songs. A southern rock album would give Elton an opportunity to play more rock & roll piano on an album which is something I’d love to see. This album would be influenced by the southern rock band Little Feat who are an influence of Elton’s. A Little Feat style southern rock album would be both musically adjacent to Elton’s music and so different to what he normally does. Elton considers their keyboardist Bill Payne to be one of the best keyboardists he ever heard. Elton would bring in elements of Bill Payne’s piano playing while keeping it focused on Elton’s signature style.

This album would parallel Elton John’s early album “Tumbleweed Connection” (1970). On that album, Elton John and his lyricist Bernie Taupin were influenced by The Band. This album would be influenced by Little Feat in the same fashion. Little Feat’s music is tied to americana, which Elton often goes into on his albums, making a musical continuation of Elton’s work he can use for this album. Elton can also feature traditional Elton John ballads with epic Little Feat style arrangements. I like Little Feat’s latest album “Strike Up the Band” (2025). That would be a good album for Elton to look to for inspiration. It features uptempo songs about enjoying life which is what Elton’s interested in writing at this stage of his career. I’m featuring Elton’s Little Feat sounding song “In the Name of You” below.

In the Name of You (2016)

Heartland Rock Album

This is an Elton John heartland rock album influenced by Bob Seger, Jackson Browne and Michael Stanley. Heartland rock is the most different style of music to Elton’s I’ve featured so far. I’d say he’s done only one heartland rock song in his career. Elton would be creatively challenging himself making a heartland rock album while also taking the genre into new territory by bringing his songwriting, piano and singing brilliance. I’m also a big fan of Bob Seger. It would be epic to imagine Elton doing a song like Bob Seger’s “The Fire Inside”. That song features incredible piano by Roy Bittan including two solos. Bob’s albums do include Elton style ballads and rock & roll songs alongside the fully fledged heartland rock songs, so Elton would have an opportunity to include his traditional ballads and rock & roll songs. Interestingly, Bob has a piano ballad “Love’s the Last to Know” featuring Little Feat keyboardist Bill Payne on piano and Elton’s guitarist Davey Johnstone on acoustic guitar.

My understanding is Jackson Browne is an influence of Elton’s. Elton played piano on Jackson’s song “Red Neck Friend”. It would be incredible hearing an Elton John song in the vein of Jackson Browne’s “The Pretender”. Michael Stanley is an American singer from Cleveland who failed to make it big outside of his state. He is a brilliant rock singer-songwriter who the World needs to hear. He features piano in a lot of his work. Before he went into heartland rock, his folk rock album “Friends & Legends” (1973) reminds me of the early Elton albums “Tumbleweed Connection” (1970) and “Honky Château” (1972). The album’s bassist Kenny Passarelli would join Elton’s band in a few years. An Elton heartland rock album would be similar to how Elton approached his album “Peachtree Road” (2004). That album goes in an americana and country direction sounding different by having a more American sound than what Elton normally does. Elton mixed americana with his brand of pop rock on “Peachtree Road” and would do the same with heartland rock. For Elton’s heartland rock song, I”m featuring “England and America”. I included it and songs by the three heartland rock singers in my my article “Ten Great Heartland Rock Songs”.

England and America (2016)

Piano-Guitar-Bass-Drums Album

This is the most traditional sounding Elton John album on this list. This is a stripped down album with just piano, guitar, bass and drums. When Elton John’s long-time guitarist Davey Johnstone joined his band, the Elton John Band consisted of piano, guitar, bass and drums. Davey was with Nigel Olsson (drums) and the late Dee Murray (bass). Even though Elton had this band, it was rare for Elton to have a song on a studio album with only these four instruments as there was usually something additional such as percussion, additional keyboards, orchestra and/or horns. This album would be only piano, guitar, bass, drums and backing vocals with no additional keyboards, percussion, orchestra and horns.

This album would have rock energy giving both the piano and guitar more room to rock. Davey & Nigel would showcase their great playing which is crucial to the Elton John sound. Elton could do rock & roll, hard rock, blues rock and pop rock. This arrangement would also provide energy and a full band sound to the ballads. The song I’m providing below is the original version of Elton’s rock ballad “Candle in the Wind” which has just these four instruments. Elton leads the song with his piano and Davey plays both acoustic and electric guitars with his electric guitar providing a great rock feel. Elton’s band members provide great backing vocals.

Candle in the Wind (1973)

These are a list of albums I’d like to see Elton John record. They comprise three sub-genres of rock he hasn’t done a whole album before as well as an album with a different recording arrangement. I’d be interested to hear if you have thoughts on what I said or albums you’d like to see Elton record.