You think you know Elton John. Everybody does. You’ve heard "Rocket Man" at every grocery store and wedding for the last forty years. But when the credits rolled on his 2024 Disney+ documentary, Never Too Late, something else happened. A massive 58-track collection quietly dropped digitally, titled Elton John Never Too Late: The Deeper Cuts.
It’s a lot to digest.
Honestly, it isn't just another "Greatest Hits" cash grab. We have enough of those. This is more like a curated archaeological dig into the years that actually made him—specifically that white-hot streak from 1970 to 1975. If you're looking for "I'm Still Standing," you won't find it here. Instead, you get the grit, the weird piano demos, and the songs that were too "heavy" for Top 40 radio back in the day.
What is Elton John Never Too Late: The Deeper Cuts?
Most soundtracks are just a list of songs you heard in the movie. This is different. While the "Official Soundtrack" has the radio hits and the new Brandi Carlile duet, Elton John Never Too Late: The Deeper Cuts is a companion piece designed for the obsessives. It’s a 58-song marathon. It starts with "Come Back Baby" from his 1965 R&B band, Bluesology, and ends with a bizarre theme song called "The Devil's Gallop."
It’s basically a roadmap of how Reginald Dwight became the flamboyant icon at Dodger Stadium.
The collection focuses heavily on the stuff casual fans skip. Think Tumbleweed Connection and Madman Across the Water. You get songs like "Amoreena" and "The King Must Die"—tracks that show off Bernie Taupin’s cinematic lyrics before they became pop-ified. It’s less about the glitter and more about the wood-paneled studios and the smell of old piano felt.
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The Tracks That Actually Matter
Let's be real: nobody listens to 58 songs in a row without a plan. You shouldn't either. To get the most out of this, you have to find the "hidden" gems.
Take "Rock And Roll Madonna." It’s an incomplete band demo on this set. It sounds messy and alive. Then there’s "Thank You For All Your Loving," a band version that feels way more soulful than the polished studio stuff we usually get. These aren't just B-sides; they are the DNA of his career.
One of the coolest inclusions is "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night" and "I Saw Her Standing There" recorded live at Madison Square Garden in 1974. These are famous because they were John Lennon’s last major stage appearances. Hearing them in this specific context—sandwiched between deep cuts like "You’re So Static" and "Empty Sky"—makes you realize how much of a rock-and-roll powerhouse that band actually was. They weren't just playing pop; they were playing for their lives.
Why This Collection Hits Differently Now
Elton is "retired" from the road. He’s done. That makes Elton John Never Too Late: The Deeper Cuts feel less like a promotion and more like a final statement.
The documentary itself, directed by David Furnish and R.J. Cutler, spends a lot of time on Elton's vulnerability. It talks about the addiction and the loneliness of the 70s. When you listen to a song like "All the Nasties" (which is track 10 on this collection), the lyrics about people judging his sexuality hit way harder. Back in 1971, people probably just thought it was a catchy gospel-tinged tune. Now? It sounds like a cry for help.
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That’s the beauty of "deeper cuts." They don't have the baggage of being "hits." You don't have memories of hearing them at the mall. You can actually hear the music.
The Brandi Carlile Connection
While the "Deeper Cuts" set is mostly archival, you can't talk about this era without mentioning the title track. Brandi Carlile basically saved the documentary's ending. She saw an early cut of the film, felt the weight of Elton's journey, and wrote "Never Too Late."
She reportedly tried to channel Bernie Taupin’s writing style, and it worked. Elton loved it so much he changed the name of the whole movie. It’s the "new" song on the standard soundtrack, but its spirit hangs over the entire 58-track deeper collection. It’s the bridge between the 25-year-old superstar who was drowning and the 77-year-old man who is finally happy.
How to Listen Without Getting Overwhelmed
Look, 58 tracks is three and a half hours. Don't try to do it in one sitting while you're working. You’ll miss the nuances.
- The Early Years (Tracks 1-10): Listen to these if you want to hear the transition from R&B piano player to "Your Song" era songwriter.
- The Glory Years (Tracks 11-30): This is the heart of the collection. It covers the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Honky Château era, but ignores the singles. "Grey Seal" and "Ticking" are the standouts here.
- The Rarities (The Demos): Scattered throughout are piano demos like "Razor Face" and "Rolling Western Union." These are for the songwriters. You can hear Elton figuring out the melodies in real-time.
It's sorta like a museum exhibit. You don't have to look at every single painting for ten minutes. You find the ones that speak to you and linger there.
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What Most People Get Wrong About "Deep Cuts"
There's this myth that a song is a "deep cut" because it wasn't good enough to be a hit. That’s nonsense. Sometimes a song like "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" (Track 11) is just too specific or too long for the radio. In 2026, we don't have to worry about radio programmers. We have the space to appreciate an 11-minute "Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding" without someone cutting it in half.
Elton John Never Too Late: The Deeper Cuts proves that Elton’s legacy isn't just built on sequins and glasses. It was built on a terrifyingly high standard of songwriting that most artists couldn't touch on their best day.
If you want to actually understand why he matters, stop playing the "Essentials" playlist. Go find the "Jazz Version" of "Come Down In Time" on this set. Listen to the way he interacts with the piano. That’s where the real Elton John is hiding.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're ready to dive in, don't just hit shuffle. Start by watching the Never Too Late documentary on Disney+ to get the visual context of his 1970s rise. Once you've seen the footage of him at his peak, pull up the Elton John Never Too Late: The Deeper Cuts digital album. Create a smaller playlist of just the tracks from Tumbleweed Connection and Madman Across the Water included in this set. This will give you a concentrated dose of his best "storytelling" music before the superstardom completely took over.