Elton John Releasing 50th Anniversary Record Store Day Edition of 1970 Self-Titled Album

Record Store Day is coming up on Saturday, April 18, and Sir Elton John is opening the vault for a lavish commemoration of the 50th anniversary of his second album, 1970’s self-titled record.

The LP, featuring eventual Elton classics like “Your Song,” “Take Me to the Pilot” and “Border Song,” was a landmark moment in the musician‘s aspiring career, and it will be honored as such for this special release.

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 'Elton John' albums UK release with this limited edition #RSD20 exclusive 2LP version, out April 18th!

💫 Disc One – The 2016 remaster of the original album
💫 Disc Two – Bonus tracks from the 2008 CD Deluxe Edition + two unreleased demos pic.twitter.com/pWvkimDn2m

— Elton John (@eltonofficial) March 9, 2020

Pressed on transparent purple vinyl, the album includes the 2016 remaster of the original record, while the second LP will include bonus tracks from a 2008 Deluxe Edition release of the album — recordings that have not previously been pressed to wax.

Full details, via Record Store Day’s website:

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Elton John’s first UK album with this limited edition Record Store Day exclusive deluxe gatefold 2LP version. Pressed on transparent purple vinyl, the first disc features the 2016 remaster of the original album, while the second contains a selection of bonus tracks from the 2008 CD Deluxe Edition, never previously released on vinyl, as well as two previously unreleased demos of ‘Border Song’ and ‘Bad Side Of The Moon’. Out 18th April for Record Store Day 2020.

LP1 / SIDE A –
1. Your Song, 2. I Need You To Turn To, 3. Take Me To The Pilot, 4. No Shoe Strings On Louise, 5. First Episode At Hienton
LP1 / SIDE B –
1. Sixty Years On, 2. Border Song, 3. The Greatest Discovery, 4. The Cage, 5. The King Must Die
LP2 / SIDE A –
1. Your Song (Piano Demo), 2. I Need You To Turn To (Piano Demo), 3. Take Me To The Pilot (Piano Demo), 4. Sixty Years On (Piano Demo), 5. Border Song (Piano Demo), 6. Bad Side Of The Moon (Piano Demo)
LP2 / SIDE B –
1. Thank You Mama (Piano Demo), 2. All The Way Down To El Paso (Piano Demo), 3. I’m Going Home (Piano Demo), 4. Bad Side Of The Moon, 5. Grey Seal, 6. Rock And Roll Madonna

Here are the demo recordings that make up LP2 of this release, as originally featured in a 2008 reissue:

This release from Elton John is another big title from an iconic act that will be included in RSD’s 2020 festivities — joining previously announced limited-edition titles from Paul McCartney, U2, David Bowie and more.