10 Best Non-Album Track Elton John B Sides

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Creating a list of the ten best Elton John B-sides is almost as difficult as creating a list of the 10 Best Elton John Songs or the 10 Most Underrated Elton John Songs. Few artists have released more music than Elton John. His output between 1970 and 1976 was unparalleled and astonishing. It is difficult to imagine any artist matching the number of great songs and albums Elton released during that extraordinary run. Some fans believe the streak ended with Blue Moves. Others would argue that it never truly ended.

As Elton John fans know, his career did not end after Blue Moves. The gears simply shifted. There were still many excellent albums and singles to come. The 1983 album Too Low for Zero, The One in 1992, and the magnificent Songs from the West Coast in 2001 are among our favorite later Elton John records.

Elton continued expanding his catalog through the 2025 collaborative studio album Who Believes in Angels? with Brandi Carlile. His enormous body of work includes solo studio albums, collaborative records, soundtracks, live albums, compilations, and well over one hundred singles. Bernie Taupin supplied the lyrics for most of Elton’s classic recorded output, although Elton also worked with Gary Osborne, Tim Rice, John Lennon, Kiki Dee, and several other writers.

For decades, many of Elton John’s finest B-sides were difficult to find outside their original singles or later CD reissues. The 2020 box set Elton: Jewel Box devoted two discs to 36 non-LP B-sides from 1976 through 2005 and finally made all of his studio B-sides available digitally. Earlier rarities had also been collected on releases such as Rare Masters.

With such a large singles catalog, choosing ten is nearly impossible. However, that is part of the plan and part of the fun. The only condition placed on this list was that each selection had to be a B-side that was not included on a regular Elton John album when it first appeared. We hope you enjoy our picks.

# 10 – “Lonely Boy”

Opening our Top 10 Elton John B-Sides list is “Lonely Boy.” The song appeared as the B-side to “Passengers” in 1984 and had also been used on selected 1983 releases of “Too Low for Zero.” The latter was the title track of Elton John’s 1983 album Too Low for Zero.

“Passengers” was released on Elton John’s 1984 album Breaking Hearts. “Lonely Boy” sounded so much like Elton’s 1970s work that many fans assumed it came from that decade.

A closer listen reveals more modern keyboard textures. They resemble the sounds Elton used on “I’m Still Standing,” which appeared on Elton John’s Too Low for Zero album.

# 9 – “Conquer the Sun”

I always thought the flip side of “Little Jeannie” was the better song. “Conquer the Sun” was released in 1980 as the B-side to the first single from 21 at 33. Although it appeared during that album’s campaign, the song was actually left over from the sessions for A Single Man.

The track also marked one of Elton John’s early collaborations with lyricist Gary Osborne. Its sweeping melody and emotional vocal make it feel far grander than a song hidden on the reverse side of a single.

The beginning of the 1980s was a strange period for established 1970s stars. New wave was exploding, while hard rock and heavy metal would soon become dominant forces. Elton’s albums 21 at 33, The Fox, and Jump Up! contained good pop music, but they could not match the extraordinary records he had released during the previous decade. “Conquer the Sun” was proof that tremendous music was still being created during that transitional period.

# 8 – “House of Cards”

Elton John’s “House of Cards” was released as the B-side to “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” in 1975. The legendary A-side originally appeared on Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, the greatest Elton John album of all time, at least in this writer’s opinion.

“House of Cards” had been recorded during the Caribou sessions in January 1974 but was held back until the following year’s single. Its arrangement places Elton’s piano and electric piano inside the classic sound created by Nigel Olsson, Dee Murray, Davey Johnstone, Ray Cooper, and producer Gus Dudgeon.

The song sounds completely at home beside Elton’s finest middle-1970s recordings. It is difficult to understand how a track this good remained off the original albums.

# 7 – “Sugar on the Floor”

Anyone who wants to explore how much Leon Russell inspired Elton John should listen closely to “Sugar on the Floor.” Elton’s performance of the Kiki Dee composition was released as the B-side to the 1975 single “Island Girl.”

The A-side served as the lead single from Elton John’s Rock of the Westies album, the first record Elton released with his newly assembled band.

“Sugar on the Floor” is restrained, soulful, and beautifully sung. Elton places the focus on the melody and lyric rather than surrounding the song with a large production. That simplicity gives the recording much of its power.

# 6 – “Cold Highway”

Many of Elton John’s greatest B-sides and non-album recordings came from the Caribou sessions in 1974. It is astonishing how prolific Elton John was during this period.

While Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy usually receive the greatest praise, listeners should not overlook the excellent Caribou album or the singles, B-sides, and outtakes recorded around it.

“Cold Highway” was recorded during the Caribou sessions and released as the B-side to “The Bitch Is Back.” The song’s dark subject and driving performance make it one of the strongest non-album tracks from Elton’s most productive era.

# 5 – “Into the Old Man’s Shoes”

This one should score a few points on your pinball machine. “Into the Old Man’s Shoes” was an outtake from the Tumbleweed Connection sessions and was released as the B-side to the United Kingdom single “Your Song” in 1971.

Like many of Elton John’s non-album tracks and B-sides from the 1970s, “Into the Old Man’s Shoes” later appeared on expanded editions of his legendary albums, including Tumbleweed Connection.

The song contains the rural imagery, American roots influence, and Paul Buckmaster orchestration associated with the Tumbleweed Connection period. It would not have sounded out of place on the original album.

# 4 – “I Saw Her Standing There”

Yes, we know Elton John did not write this great Beatles song, but how could we leave off a duet between Elton John and John Lennon recorded at Madison Square Garden in 1974? This one smokes.

The performance was recorded during Lennon’s surprise appearance at Elton’s November 28, 1974, concert. It was released as the B-side to “Philadelphia Freedom” in 1975. Lennon introduced the song as a number written by his estranged former fiancé, Paul McCartney, adding another unforgettable moment to his final major concert appearance.

“I Saw Her Standing There” later appeared on the expanded edition of Elton John’s 1976 live album Here and There.

# 3 – “Sick City”

Elton John’s “Sick City” was another great B-side from the Caribou era. The song was released in 1974 on the flip side of “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.”

“Sick City” offers a harder and more cynical contrast to the emotional grandeur of the A-side. Elton’s vocal has a sharp edge, while the band creates the loose but powerful sound that defined the sessions at Caribou Ranch.

The fact that both “Sick City” and “Cold Highway” were left off the original album demonstrates how much strong material Elton John and Bernie Taupin were producing at the time.

# 2 – “Bad Side of the Moon”

As we move closer to the top of our Best Elton John B-Sides list, we turn to the great “Bad Side of the Moon.” The song was released as the B-side to “Border Song” in 1970 and did not appear on the original Elton John album.

Its first appearance on an Elton John album came through the fiery live version released on his first concert album, 17-11-70. The original studio recording was later added to expanded CD editions of Elton John.

The Canadian band April Wine also recorded “Bad Side of the Moon” and enjoyed early commercial success with the song. Elton’s original remains one of the finest examples of the harder rock sound he could summon at the piano.

# 1 – “One Day at a Time”

We knew this song would sit at the top of our Elton John B-Sides list. When Elton decided to cover the great Beatles song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” it made perfect sense to place a John Lennon composition on the flip side.

“One Day at a Time” originally appeared on John Lennon’s Mind Games album. Lennon played guitar and sang backing vocals on Elton John’s beautiful version.

What a single release this was. Both sides were non-album tracks when first issued. Elton’s “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and “One Day at a Time” remain two of his finest cover versions, released together on the same 45. Depending on the territory, the single appeared in late 1974 or early 1975.

If you find one of those old 45s at a garage sale, there is a good chance it will be scratched because both sides were probably played hundreds of times.