Quick answer
Choose The Fox CD if you want an original Elton John studio album from his early-1980s transitional period. Choose Revamp CD if you want other artists covering his songs and a lower-risk introduction to the catalog.
Original album vs tribute record
These two discs serve different purposes, so the decision is less about quality than about what you want to hear. The Fox is an Elton John album from May 1981, built from his own writing collaborations. Revamp is a 2018 tribute album where other artists perform Elton John and Bernie Taupin songs.
That means The Fox rewards listeners who want to follow Elton's own arc, while Revamp works as a gateway record for someone who already knows the hits and wants a fresh angle on them.
Where The Fox sits in the catalog
The Fox is often described as a transitional work, moving from the experimentation of Elton's turn-of-the-decade records toward the creative rebirth he reached two years later with Too Low For Zero. If you enjoy hearing an artist work through a phase rather than arrive fully formed, that in-between quality is the appeal.
The songwriting credits reflect that mix: the album includes collaborations with Gary Osborne, Tom Robinson and Bernie Taupin. For collectors building an Elton John CD collection in release order, The Fox fills a specific early-1980s gap.
What Revamp offers instead
Revamp collects covers by Coldplay, Alessia Cara, Florence + The Machine, Mumford and Sons, Sam Smith, The Killers and Lady Gaga, among others. The tracklist opens with a 2018 version of Bennie And The Jets featuring Elton John, P!nk and Logic, then moves through We All Fall In Love Sometimes by Coldplay and I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues.
Because the performances are by different artists, the album plays like a playlist rather than a single statement. That variety is the point, but it also means Revamp will not tell you much about Elton's own studio sound in any one era.
Trade-offs to weigh before you buy
- Authenticity vs variety: The Fox gives you Elton John's own studio work from 1981; Revamp gives you many voices interpreting his songs. Pick the one that matches how you listen: album-in-full or track-by-track. If you skip tracks often, Revamp's variety may hold your attention better.
- Catalog depth vs easy entry: The Fox is a deeper cut that makes most sense once you know the major albums; Revamp is easier to recommend to a casual fan because the songs are already familiar. First-time buyers should start with Revamp; catalog builders should start with The Fox.
- Price and commitment: At catalog prices of USD 6.19 for The Fox and USD 8.54 for Revamp, both are low-commitment buys. The Fox costs less, so it is the cheaper way to test whether the early-1980s material suits you.
Product facts at a glance
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The Fox CD: Released in May 1981 and featuring writing collaborations with Gary Osborne, Tom Robinson and Bernie Taupin. This is the choice for listeners who want an original Elton John album from a specific, documented period of his career.
The Fox CD
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Revamp CD: Released on 6th April 2018, with covers by Coldplay, Alessia Cara, Florence + The Machine, Mumford and Sons, Sam Smith, The Killers and Lady Gaga. This is the choice for listeners who want familiar songs reinterpreted by a range of contemporary artists rather than Elton's own performances.
Revamp CD
Which Elton John CD should you buy?
Best for
- Collectors filling a gap in an Elton John CD collection by release year
- Listeners who want an original 1981 studio album and its songwriting collaborations
- Buyers who want the lower-priced of the two discs
Not for
- Listeners who only want the well-known hits performed by Elton himself
- Fans who prefer contemporary artists reworking the catalog
- Buyers who want a single-artist album with one consistent sound