Elton John :: Charts & Sales History

[Basil]

Key
year of release
year of last certification
title
riaa shipment
soundscan total - courtesy of Hanboo
weeks on catalogue chart since 1982

Elton John - USA Shipments

Original Studio Albums
1969 none Empty Sky - 42,000
1970 1971 Elton John - 500,000 - 123,000
1971 1998 Tumbleweed Connection - 1,000,000 - 51,000
1971 1998 Madman Across the Water - 2,000,000 - 171,000
1972 1995 Honky Chateau - 1,000,000 - 219,000
1973 1995 Don't Shoot Me - 3,000,000 - 209,000
1973 2014 Goodbye Yellowbrick Road - 8,000,000 - 1,600,000 - 16 weeks
1974 1993 Caribou - 2,000,000 - 82,000
1975 1993 Captain Fantastic - 3,000,000 - 312,000
1975 1993 Rock of the Westies - 1,000,000 - 41,000
1976 1976 Blue Moves - 1,000,000 - 30,000
1978 1978 A Single Man - 1,000,000 - 18,000
1980 1980 21 at 33 - 500,000 - 11,000
1981 none The Fox - 27,000
1982 1982 Jump Up - 500,000 - 27,000
1983 1995 Too Low For Zero - 1,000,000 - 20,000
1984 1998 Breaking Hearts - 1,000,000 - 23,000
1985 1986 Ice On Fire - 500,000 - 27,000
1986 none Leather Jackets - 8,000
1988 1988 Reg Strikes Back - 500,000 - 49,000
1989 1990 Sleeping with the Past - 1,000,000 - 325,000
1992 1993 The One - 2,000,000 - 1,879,000
1995 1995 Made in England - 1,000,000 - 1,035,000
1997 1998 The Big Picture - 1,000,000 - 776,000
2001 2001 Songs From the West Coast - 500,000 - 594,000 aug 2007
2004 2004 Peachtree Road - 500,000 - 335,000 aug 2007
2006 none The Captain and The Kid - 148,000 aug 2007
2013 none The Diving Board
2016 none Wonderful Crazy Night

Other Projects
1971 1971 Friends - 500,000
1979 none The Thom Bell Sessions - 6,000
1979 none Victim Of Love - 32,000
1993 1994 Duets - 1,000,000 - 823,000
1999 1999 Aida - 500,000 n/a
2000 none The Road to Eldorado - 197,000
2010 none Union (with Leon Russell) - 303,000

Live Albums
1971 none '17-11-70 - 54,000
1976 1998 Here and There - 1,000,000 - 41,000
1987 1995 Live in Australia - 1,000,000 - 500,000
2000 2001 One Night Only - 500,000 - 730,000

Major Compilations
1974 2016 Greatest Hits - 17,000,000 - 4,623,000 may 2006 - 681 weeks - 101 weeks at Number One
1977 1998 Greatest Hits Vol 2 - 5,000,000 - 1,512,000 - 282 weeks
1987 1995 Greatest Hits Vol 3 1979-1987 - 2,000,000 - 280,000 - 6 weeks
1992 1998 Greatest Hits 1976-1986 - 2,000,000 - 1,794,000 - 71 weeks
1995 2000 Love Songs - 3,000,000 - 2,244,000 - 26 weeks
2002 2016 Greatest Hits 1970-2002 - 3,000,000 - 2,266,000 jan 2008 - 35 weeks
2007 2016 Rocket Man-Number Ones - 2,000,000 - 762,000 feb 2011

Other Compilations
1990 2016 To Be Continued - 500,000 - 142,000
1992 none Rare Masters - 111,000
1986 1995 Your Songs - 500,000 106,000
1999 none Live at the Ritz Limited Release - 38,000
Imported Album The Very Best Of - 162,000

Also:-
2004 remixed EP - 11,000
Xmas Party - 120,000 - Elton on 2 of the 21 tracks (thanks Han)

Total Shipments - 74,000,000 oct 2016

Soundscan total since 1991 - 25,838,000 dec 2007


A few titles could do with an riaa update - particularly the 1970 Elton John album last certified in 1971!!

Not included is The Lion King Soundtrack which shipped 10 million and has a soundscan figure of 7,676,000

Also, very interesting soundscan figure for that single Candle in the Wind 1997

8,837,000}

[Basil]

Key
year of release
year of last certification
title
BPI shipment
BPI autoshipment from 1994

Elton John - UK Shipments

Original Studio Albums
1969 none Empty Sky
1970 none Elton John
1971 none Tumbleweed Connection
1971 none Madman Across the Water
1972 none Honky Chateau
1973 none Don't Shoot Me
1973 1975 Goodbye Yellowbrick Road - 300,000
1974 1974 Caribou - 100,000
1975 1975 Captain Fantastic - 100,000 60,000
1975 1975 Rock of the Westies - 100,000
1976 1976 Blue Moves - 100,000
1978 1978 A Single Man - 100,000
1980 none '21 at 33
1981 1985 The Fox - 60,000
1982 1982 Jump Up - 60,000
1983 1983 Too Low For Zero - 300,000
1984 1984 Breaking Hearts - 100,000
1985 1986 Ice On Fire - 300,000
1986 1986 Leather Jackets - 100,000
1988 1988 Reg Strikes Back - 60,000
1989 1990 Sleeping with the Past - 900,000
1992 1992 The One - 100,000
1995 1995 Made in England - 100,000
1997 1997 The Big Picture - 300,000
2001 2002 Songs From the West Coast - 600,000
2004 2004 Peachtree Road - 100,000
2005 2013 The Captain and the Kid - 60,000
2013 2014 The Diving Board - 60,000

Other Projects
1971 none Friends
1979 none Victim Of Love
1980 none Lady Samantha
1993 1993 Duets - 300,000
1999 none Aida
2000 none The Road to Eldorado
2010 2010 Union (with Leon Russell) - 60,000

Live Albums
1971 none '17-11-70
1976 1976 Here and There - 60,000
1987 none Live in Australia
2000 2000 One Night Only - 300,000

Major Compilations
1974 1975 Greatest Hits - 300,000
1977 1977 Greatest Hits Vol 2 - 100,000
1990 1995 The Very Best Of - 2,700,000
1995 1997 Love Songs - 900,000
2002 2014 Greatest Hits 1970-2002 - 1,500,000
2007 2010 Rocket Man - 300,000

Other Compilations
1980 1980 The Very Best Of (K-Tel) - 100,000
1982 none Love Songs (TV Records)
1990 none To Be Continued
1992 none Rare Masters

Total Shipments - 9,940,000

However we know from end of year sales that he sold over 10 million from 1984-2004 alone.

The usual problems with the BPI. Nothing certified pre-1973. Many 70's and 80's releases not updated. Best example is Greatest Hits last certified in 1975. More recent releases do seem more up to date.

Hope to add some actual sales info from 1984 onwards to this post soon.

I couldn't find a certification for The Lion King which is strange.

One further certification is the Pickwick album - Elton Live - a double album comprising 17-11-70 with Here and There. Released in 1978, it was certified in 1979 with a shipment of 120,000.

Over a dozen budget albums were issued in the UK.

[mansfield]

Unfortunately it's impossibile to know how actually he sold in the 70s in the UK.

We all know Goodbye yellow brick road or Greatest Hits sold much more than 300.000 copies although Gbybr has been certified Platinum.

[Basil]

Key
year of release
year of last certification
title
cria shipment

Elton John - Canadian Shipments

Original Studio Albums
1969 none Empty Sky
1970 none Elton John
1971 none Tumbleweed Connection
1971 none Madman Across the Water
1972 none Honky Chateau
1973 none Don't Shoot Me
1973 none Goodbye Yelllowbrick Road
1974 none Caribou
1975 none Captain Fantastic
1975 1976 Rock of the Westies - 100,000
1976 1977 Blue Moves - 50,000
1978 1978 A Single Man - 100,000
1980 1980 '21 at 33 - 50,000
1981 none The Fox
1982 none Jump Up
1983 1984 Too Low For Zero - 100,000
1984 none Breaking Hearts
1985 none Ice On Fire
1986 none Leather Jackets
1988 1989 Reg Strikes Back - 200,000
1989 1990 Sleeping with the Past - 200,000
1992 1993 The One - 300,000
1995 1995 Made in England - 200,000
1997 1997 The Big Picture - 100,000
2001 2002 Songs From the West Coast - 50,000
2004 none Peachtree Road

Other Projects
1971 none Friends
1979 none The Thom Bell Sessions
1979 1979 Victim Of Love - 50,000
1980 none Lady Samantha
1993 1993 Duets - 100,000
1999 none Aida
2000 none The Road to Eldorado

Live Albums
1971 none '17-11-70
1976 1976 Here and There - 50,000
1987 1991 Live in Australia - 200,000
2000 2001 One Night Only - 50,000

Major Compilations
1974 1988 Greatest Hits - 1,000,000
1977 1977 Greatest Hits Vol 2 - 100,000
1987 none Greatest Hits Vol 3 1979-1987
1992 none Greatest Hits 1976-1986
1995 1996 Love Songs - 200,000
2002 2005 Greatest Hits 1970-2002 - 200,000

Other Compilations
1990 1992 To Be Continued - 12,500
1992 none Rare Masters
???? none Your Songs

Total Shipments - 3,412,500

I don't usually include cria figures in analyses because there are too many problems with the database.

First, no certifications before 1975.

Second, many titles are mysteriouly missing any certification.

Third, updating is patchy.

Still, at least with Elton there are plenty of certifcations even if they are incomplete.

The Lion King was also certified shipping 1,000,000.

[Basil]

reserved for European figures

[Basil]

UK Sales

The following info is pieced together from end of year sales figures.

We have no information regarding his heyday which ended in 1977 with the release of Greatest Hits Vol 2.

1979
Although released in 1978, A Single Man was 82nd on the end of year best sellers chart in 1979

1980
21 at 33 didn't feature on the end of year chart

1981
The Fox didn't feature on the end of year chart

1982
Jump Up didn't feature on the end of year chart

1983
Too Low For Zero at 16 on the end of year chart

1984
Too Low For Zero at 74 on the end of year chart - the first platinum album since his "comeback".

Breaking Hearts is 33 on the same list.

Total album sales in 1984 - 428,000

1985
Ice on Fire at 45 on the end of year chart

Total album sales in 1985 - 335,000

1986
Leather Jackets didn't feature on the end of year chart.

Total album sales in 1986 - 165,000

1987
Live in Australia didn't feature on the end of year chart.

Total album sales unknown - but less than 128,000.

1988
Reg Strikes back didn't feature on the end of year chart.

Total album sales in 1988 - 174,000

1989
Sleeping With the Past didn't feature on the end of year chart.

Total album sales in 1989 - 189,000

1990
Sleeping With the Past does make the end of year chart at number 8.

Even higher is The Very Best Of at 4.

Elton is number 2 on the best selling album artists of the year

1991
The Very Best Of at 15 on the end of year chart.

Elton is 18th best selling album artist of the year.

1992
The One at 44 on the end of year chart.

Elton at 30 on the best selling album artist of the year.

NOTE - In the 3 years from 1990-1992, Elton sold 2,911,000 Albums - an average of 970,000 per year.

1993
Duets at 15 on the end of year chart

Total Album sales in 1993 - 468,000 (16th on artist chart)

1994
Total Album sales in 1994 - 140,000 (93 on artist chart)

1995
Love Songs at 12 on the end of year chart.
Made in England didn't feature on the end of year chart

Total Album sales in 1995 - 800,000 (14th on artist chart)

1996
Love Songs sells 160,000.

Total Album sales in 1996 - 220,000 (67 on artist chart)

1997
The Big Picture sells 250,000

Total Album sales in 1997 - 450,000 (22 on artist chart)

1998
Total Album sales in 1998 - 160,000

NOTE - In the 6 years from 1993-1998, Elton sold 2,238,000 Albums - an average of 373,000 per year.

1999
Total Album sales unknown - but less than 147,000

2000
One Night Only sells 328,000

Total Album sales in 2000 - 420,000

2001
Songs From the West Coast sells 402,000

Total Album sales in 2001 - 580,000

2002
Greatest Hits 1970-2002 sells approx. 675,000

Songs From the West Coast at 122 on end of year chart

Total Album sales in 2002 - 960,000

2003
Greatest Hits 1970-2002 sells 480,000

Total Album sales in 2003 - 554,000

2004
Peachtree Road sells 156,000

Greatest Hits 1970-2002 sells 144,000

Total Album sales in 2004 unknown - but were between 300,000 and 430,000.

Also
Sleeping With the Past sold 790,000 by mar 1995

Love Songs sold 920,000 by jan 1998

The Very Best Of sold 2,060,000 by jan 1998

All the above figures are shop sales and do not include record clubs and mail-order outlets.

In Conclusion - From 1984-2004 Elton John sold between 9,321,000 and 9,726,000 Albums in the shops which means approximately 450,000 Albums per year.

[nelson]

Australian Sales

Duets - 35,000
Greatest Hits 1970-2002 - 70,000
Live in Australian Withe the MSO - 70,000
Love Songs - 210,000
One Night Only - Greatest Hits - 35,000
Reg Strikes Back - 35,000
Sleeping With The Past - 210,000
Songs From The West Coast - 35,000
The Big Picture - 70,000
The Ones - 140,000
The Very Best Of Elton John - 420,000

[nelson]

French Sales

21 at 33 - 100,000
A Single Man - 100,000
Blue Moves - 100,000
Duets - 100,000
Greatest Hits - 100,000
Greatest Hits 1970-2002 - 100,000
Ice On Fire - 100,000
Love Songs - 600,000
Made In England - 200,000
Reg Strikes Back - 100,000
Sleeping With The Past - 300,000
The Big Picture - 100,000
The One - 300,000
The Very Best Of - 1,000,000
Too Low For Zero - 100,000
Two Rooms - 100,000

[Basil]

Australian Sales

Many thanks Nelson. Seems the aria certifications start in 1987, so in order we have:-

1988 Reg Strikes Back - 35,000
1989 Sleeping with the Past - 210,000
1992 The One - 140,000
1995 Made in England
1997 The Big Picture - 70,000
2001 Songs From the West Coast - 35,000
2004 Peachtree Road

1993 Duets - 35,000
1999 Aida
2000 The Road to Eldorado

1987 Live in Australia - 70,000
2000 One Night Only - 35,000

1990 The Very Best Of - 420,000
1995 Love Songs - 210,000
2002 Greatest Hits 1970-2002 - 70,000

1990 To Be Continued
1992 Rare Masters

Total Shipments since 1987 - 1,330,000

[nelson]

German Sales

Greatest Hits 1970-2002 - 150,000
Ice On Fire - 250,000
Love Songs - 500,000
Made In England - 250,000
Sleeping With The Past - 250,000
The One - 250,000
The Very Best Of Elton John - 1,000,000
Too Low For Zero - 250,000
Your Songs - 250,000

[lucad]

Hi everybody,

when you talk of shipment you talk of minimum shipment, as it represent the certification of a cd/album (ex: for Us gold is 500.000), not the total real shipped sales (that can be 890,000 or whatever until the next step, 1000000 for platinum).
So, a total of shipment in this way if it is not real or realistic(due also to most 70's and 80's album not certified) and has no sense, in my opinion.

Second point:
i think that BILLY JOEL certifications have a contrary problem than elton's. They are too big (see for example sales for Greatest Hits I&II) seeing the soundscan figures.
I can clearly see that they are not realistic, probably a move from the record company.

[Basil]

French Sales

So quick, thanks!

I'll put them in order again,

1969 Empty Sky
1970 Elton John
1971 Tumbleweed Connection
1971 Madman Across the Water
1972 Honky Chateau
1973 Don't Shoot Me
1973 Goodbye Yelllowbrick Road
1974 Caribou
1975 Captain Fantastic
1975 Rock of the Westies
1976 Blue Moves - 100,000
1978 A Single Man - 100,000
1980 '21 at 33 - 100,000
1981 The Fox
1982 Jump Up
1983 Too Low For Zero - 100,000
1984 Breaking Hearts
1985 Ice On Fire - 100,000
1986 Leather Jackets
1988 Reg Strikes Back - 100,000
1989 Sleeping with the Past - 300,000
1992 The One - 300,000
1995 Made in England - 200,000
1997 The Big Picture - 100,000
2001 Songs From the West Coast
2004 Peachtree Road

1971 Friends
1979 The Thom Bell Sessions
1979 Victim Of Love
1980 Lady Samantha
1993 Duets - 100,000
1999 Aida
2000 The Road to Eldorado

1971 '17-11-70
1976 Here and There
1987 Live in Australia
2000 One Night Only

1974 Greatest Hits - 100,000
1977 Greatest Hits Vol 2
1990 The Very Best Of - 1,000,000
1995 Love Songs - 600,000
2002 Greatest Hits 1970-2002 - 100,000

1990 To Be Continued
1992 Rare Masters

Total Shipments - 3,400,000

[Basil]

Hi everybody,

when you talk of shipment you talk of minimum shipment, as it represent the certification of a cd/album (ex: for Us gold is 500.000), not the total real shipped sales (that can be 890,000 or whatever until the next step, 1000000 for platinum).
So, a total of shipment in this way if it is not real or realistic(due also to most 70's and 80's album not certified) and has no sense, in my opinion.

Second point:
i think that BILLY JOEL certifications have a contrary problem than elton's. They are too big (see for example sales for Greatest Hits I&II) seeing the soundscan figures.
I can clearly see that they are not realistic, probably a move from the record company.

The use of shipments is that they are provable audited figures - they are not estimates or guesses.

Of course many of Elton's albums have sold more than their "shipment" figure. We don't have anything better.

Billy Joel's shipments are not too big - they are audited like anyone else's.

Go to

http://www.ukmix.org/forums/viewtopic.p ... 47&start=0

This covers US shipments and accounts for these extra sales - say a Gold album actually selling 800 or 900k.

You will see there that the Billy Joel Greatest Hits has shipped 10,500,000.

[Basil]

German Sales

This is a quick thread - thanks again Nelson. Earliest award from 1983, so

1983 Too Low For Zero - 250,000
1984 Breaking Hearts
1985 Ice On Fire - 250,000
1986 Leather Jackets
1988 Reg Strikes Back
1989 Sleeping with the Past - 250,000
1992 The One - 250,000
1995 Made in England - 250,000
1997 The Big Picture
2001 Songs From the West Coast
2004 Peachtree Road

1993 Duets
1999 Aida
2000 The Road to Eldorado

1987 Live in Australia
2000 One Night Only

1990 The Very Best Of - 1,000,000
1995 Love Songs - 500,000
2002 Greatest Hits 1970-2002 - 150,000

1990 To Be Continued
1992 Rare Masters
???? Your Songs - 250,000

Total Shipments since 1983 - 3,150,000

[davedave]

thanks Basil and Nelson, Fantastic work
I was wondering if you guys had anymore numbers on him?

[Eltonfan73]

Here are some numbers i have for Elton John , These are counting album and singles sales.

USA = 113.000.000
UK = 30.000.000
Italy = 9.000.000
Australia = 5.500.000
Austria = 1.000.000
Brasil = 1.500.000
Canada = 6.500.000
Denmark = 800.000
Finland = 500.000
France = 6.000.000
Germany = 7.000.000
Holland = 1.500.000
Japan = 2.150.000
New Zeland = 400.000
Norway = 1.500.000
Spain = 3.000.000
Sweden = 1.000.000
Switzerland = 2.000.000

and I don't have information about Elton's sales in China , South Africa , Belgium , Taiwan , Hong Kong , Brasil , Portugal , Argentina etc....

[Hanboo]

Re: Elton John Sales

These soundscan figures total 22,284,000. By September 2005 Elton's soundscan total was 24 million, so about 2 million is missing.

A few titles don't have a soundscan figure. A few are too low - The Road to Eldorado sold more than 2,000. Also a number of titles were released as "Classic Editions" and these may not be included.

Here are SS figures of albums that didn't chart plus corrections to complete the scan picture.

The Road to Eldorado 197,000 copies
Greatest Hits Vol 3 1979-1987 280,000
Rare Masters 111,000
Your Songs 106,000

Three more that you didn't mention in the US list:
Very Best Of 162,000
England's Rose 62,000
Live At The Ritz-Exclusive-007 38,000

I know the above numbers don't add up to the "missing" 2 million, but please bear in mind, the 24 million figure I posted in September includes karaoke albums, interview albums and "in the style of" albums (Elton numbers sung by anonymous artists).
Also, a couple of the older albums were released combined, e.g. Tumbleweed/Madman.. which scanned 9,000 copies).

[mansfield]

ITALY (the info I have collected through the years)

1972 Honky chateu 100.000 copies
1972 Madman across the water 50.000
1973 Don't shoot me.. 400.000
1973 GBYBR 100.000
1974 Caribou 80.000
1975 Captain fantastic 80.000
1975 Rock of the westies 50.000
1976 Blue moves 50.000
1978 A single man 50.000
1980 21 at 33 50.000
1988 Reg striks back 300.000
1989 Sleeping with the past 350.000
1990 The very best 400.000
1992 The One 400.000
1993 Duets 320.000
1995 Made in England 300.000
1995 Love songs 350.000
1997 The big picture 350.000
1999 Aida 50.000
2000 One night only 50.000
2001 Songs from the west coast 130.000
2002 Greatest Hits 70-02 100.000
2004 Peachtree road 30.000

TOT : 4.140.000

Sorry - No single sales known except for "Candle in the wind" which sold 550.000 copies

[mansfield]

German Sales

This is a quick thread - thanks again Nelson. Earliest award from 1983, so

1983 Too Low For Zero - 250,000
1984 Breaking Hearts
1985 Ice On Fire - 250,000
1986 Leather Jackets
1988 Reg Strikes Back
1989 Sleeping with the Past - 250,000
1992 The One - 250,000
1995 Made in England - 250,000
1997 The Big Picture
2001 Songs From the West Coast
2004 Peachtree Road

1993 Duets
1999 Aida
2000 The Road to Eldorado

1987 Live in Australia
2000 One Night Only

1990 The Very Best Of - 1,000,000
1995 Love Songs - 500,000
2002 Greatest Hits 1970-2002 - 150,000

1990 To Be Continued
1992 Rare Masters
???? Your Songs - 250,000

Total Shipments since 1983 - 3,150,000

TO BE ADDED :
GERMANY

Reg strikes back 250.000
Duest 250.000
The Lion King 150.000



USA
Elton John's Christmas Party- 109.000 copies - 2005

[mansfield]

SWITZERLAND

Ice on fire 100.000 copies
Sleeping with the past 100.000
The very best of 200.000
The One 100.000
Duets 50.000
The Lion King 50.000
Made in England 50.000
Love songs 100.000
The Big Picture 50.000
Aida 25.000
One night only 25.000
Songs from the west coast 20.000
Greatest Hits 70-02 40.000
Peachtree road 20.000

TOT : 930.000 copies



SINGLES
Candle in the wind 450.000
Sorry seems to be..(with Blue) 20.000

[mansfield]

NORWAY

Duets 40.000 copies
The big picture 40.000
Aida 20.000
Songs from t.w.coast 20.000
Greatest Hits 70-02 40.000

TOT : 160.000

Candle in the wind 85.000




HOLLAND
ALBUMS
A single man 40.000
Ice on fire 40.000
Sleeping with the past 40.000
The very best of. 160.000
Love songs 80.000

TOT : 360.000


SINGLES
Nikita 135.000
Don't let the sun 60.000
Candle in the wind 360.000
Sorry..(with Blue) 40.000

TOT : 595.000





AUSTRIA
ALBUMS
The very best of 120.000
The One 40.000
Duets 40.000
Made in England 40.000
Love songs 40.000
The Big picture 20.000
Aida 20.000
One night only 20.000
Greatest Hits 70-02 15.000

TOT : 355.000 copies

SINGLES
Can you feel the love 20.000
Candle in the wind 240.000



SWEDEN
ALBUMS
Made in England 30.000
Love songs 60.000
The big picture 30.000
Songs from the west c. 30.000
Greatet Hits 70-02 30.000[/b]

[nelson]

TO BE ADDED :
GERMANY

Reg strikes back 250.000
Duest 250.000
The Lion King 150.000

Where did you read those???
I never seen anything like this before?

[mansfield]

I have the photos of Elton whene he receives the Gold award.

[nelson]

I have the photos of Elton whene he receives the Gold award.

PHOTOS???

[nelson]

Brazilian Sales

The Very Best Of Elton John - 100,000
Sleeping With The Past - 100,000

Candle In The Wind - 250,000