Quick answer
Start with Live From Moscow 2CD if you want a two-disc live document of Elton John and Ray Cooper in the USSR and don't mind paying more. Choose Jump Up! CD if you want a single 1982 studio album at the lower price and a straightforward first purchase.
What each disc actually is
Live From Moscow 2CD captures Elton John with percussionist Ray Cooper on his 1979 Soviet Union tour, first broadcast by BBC Radio 1 and later the subject of the documentary To Russia With Elton. The audio has been fully remastered by Bob Ludwig from the original BBC analogue tapes. That makes it a live album, not a studio record, so expect concert arrangements and audience context rather than polished studio versions.
Jump Up! CD is a studio album originally released in 1982 by The Rocket Record Company. Its tracklist includes Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny), a tribute to John Lennon, plus Blue Eyes, Ball and Chain, Princess and All Quiet On The Western Front. The supplied tracklist notes the songs as Remastered 2003, so this is a later remaster of the original album.
The trade-off: scale versus single-album focus
The 2CD set gives you two discs of one historic performance, which suits listeners who want a complete concert experience and are curious about the 1979 tour. The trade-off is that you get one night's repertoire rather than a spread of studio material, and the higher price reflects the larger package.
Jump Up! CD gives you one studio album from 1982, which is a narrower commitment in both time and money. The trade-off is that you won't get the live-arrangement energy or the historical framing of the Moscow recording. If you're building an Elton John 80s albums shelf, Jump Up! is a direct studio entry; Live From Moscow is a live document from the end of the 1970s.
Price and format at a glance
At catalog prices, Live From Moscow 2CD is USD 12.99 against a comparison price of USD 19.98, and Jump Up! CD is USD 7.49 against USD 9.98. Both show a discount, but the absolute spend on Jump Up! is lower, which matters if you're testing the waters before a larger order.
Format also affects shelf space and ripping time: a 2CD set means two discs to store and load, while a single CD is simpler. Neither listing supplies option types such as bonus tracks or packaging variants, so treat the supplied tracklist and format as the decision limits.
Decision trade-offs
- If you want the live experience: Pick Live From Moscow 2CD. You get two discs of the 1979 Moscow performance with Ray Cooper, remastered from BBC analogue tapes, at USD 12.99 versus a USD 19.98 comparison price. Check that you have room for a 2CD case and are ready to listen to a full concert rather than shuffled studio tracks.
- If you want a single studio album: Pick Jump Up! CD. It is the 1982 studio album with Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny) and Blue Eyes, priced at USD 7.49 against a USD 9.98 comparison price. Confirm you're comfortable with a 2003 remaster of the original album rather than a new mix.
- If you're buying both: Buy Jump Up! CD first if budget is tight, then add Live From Moscow 2CD when you want the live counterpart. The two cover different eras: a 1982 studio album and a 1979 live tour recording. Keep the eras straight so you don't expect the live set to contain Jump Up! studio tracks.
Product facts
-
Live From Moscow 2CD: Two-CD live set recorded on Elton John's 1979 USSR tour with Ray Cooper, remastered by Bob Ludwig from original BBC analogue tapes. Choose it when you want a complete concert document rather than a studio album, and accept the higher price for two discs.
Live From Moscow 2CD
-
Jump Up! CD: 1982 studio album on The Rocket Record Company, including Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny) and Blue Eyes, with tracks marked Remastered 2003. Choose it when you want a single, lower-priced studio album and a clear entry into Elton John's 80s albums.
Jump Up! CD
Who each CD fits
Best for
- Listeners who want a historic live Elton John and Ray Cooper performance in full
- Fans building a live-album shelf alongside studio records
- Buyers who prefer a two-disc set and a remaster credited to Bob Ludwig
Not for
- Shoppers who want the lowest-priced single CD for a first Elton John purchase
- Listeners who specifically want 1980s studio songs such as Empty Garden