Caribou Sky Blue Vinyl 2LP vs Elton John Purple 2LP
By Elton John Official Store - Elton John Official Store | Published: 2026-11-01
Category: Comparisons
Compare Caribou Sky Blue Vinyl 2LP and Elton John Transparent Purple 2LP on bonus content, pressing color, and price to decide which colored vinyl belongs in your collection.
Quick answer
Choose Caribou Sky Blue Vinyl 2LP if you want the hit-filled 1974 album plus session demos and rarities on sky-blue wax. Choose Elton John Transparent Purple 2LP if you want the 2016 remaster of his first UK album paired with bonus tracks and two previously unreleased demos on transparent purple vinyl.
What each second disc actually adds
Both releases are double LPs, but the second disc does different work. Caribou's LP2 houses session demos and rarities tied to the album's 50th anniversary. The Elton John purple 2LP puts the 2016 remaster on disc one and fills disc two with bonus tracks from the 2008 CD Deluxe Edition that had never appeared on vinyl, plus two previously unreleased demos.
If you already own a standard Caribou pressing, the sky-blue set is the version that adds studio-floor context. If you have the original Elton John album on vinyl, the purple set is the one that brings the deluxe-era extras into a vinyl format for the first time.
Pressing color and packaging trade-offs
Caribou arrives as a vivid double sky-blue vinyl edition, while Elton John comes on transparent purple in a deluxe gatefold. Color is a preference, not a sound guarantee: neither listing states a mastering difference between the colored wax and any other pressing, so treat the hue as a visual choice rather than a quality claim.
The gatefold on the purple release gives you a wider sleeve to open and read, which matters if you display records or flip through liner notes. The Caribou listing does not describe its sleeve format, so do not assume a gatefold there.
Price and catalog position
At catalog prices of USD 27.59 for Caribou and USD 17.42 for Elton John, the purple 2LP costs noticeably less. That gap makes the Elton John set the easier entry point if you are curious about colored vinyl 2LP releases and do not want to spend much.
Caribou is the fourth Elton John album to top the US chart and his third UK chart-topper, and it carries two familiar singles: "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" and "The Bitch Is Back." The purple 2LP marks the 50th anniversary of his first UK album. Pick based on which chapter of the catalog you want to hear with extras, not on chart history alone.
Trade-offs to weigh before you buy
- Hit familiarity vs. debut history: Caribou gives you "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" and "The Bitch Is Back" in one package; the purple 2LP gives you the album that started Elton John's UK catalog. Choose the one whose songs you will actually play.
- Bonus content type: Caribou's extras are session demos and rarities from the album's era. The purple set's extras are 2008 Deluxe Edition bonus tracks making their vinyl debut plus two unreleased demos. Match the bonus disc to the kind of listening you enjoy.
- Color and sleeve: Sky blue versus transparent purple is purely visual. The purple release is a deluxe gatefold; the Caribou listing does not specify a gatefold, so do not count on one. If display packaging matters, confirm the Caribou sleeve format before ordering.
- Budget: At catalog prices, the Elton John purple 2LP is the lower-cost option. If you are building a colored vinyl 2LP shelf on a budget, start there and add Caribou later.
Product facts at a glance
- Caribou Sky Blue Vinyl 2LP: Record Store Day 50th-anniversary double sky-blue vinyl with LP2 holding session demos and rarities. You get the hit-filled Caribou album plus a full disc of studio extras, so the set rewards listeners who want context behind the songs.
Caribou Sky Blue Vinyl 2LP - Elton John Transparent Purple 2LP: Limited-edition Record Store Day deluxe gatefold 2LP on transparent purple vinyl, with disc two carrying 2008 Deluxe Edition bonus tracks never before on vinyl and two previously unreleased demos. This is the version to choose if you want the 2016 remaster of the debut album alongside vinyl-first bonus material in a display-friendly gatefold.
Elton John Transparent Purple 2LP
Which one fits your collection
Best for
- Fans who want Caribou's singles plus a disc of session demos and rarities
- Collectors drawn to sky-blue vinyl and 1970s studio-era extras
Not for
- Buyers who mainly want the debut album and its deluxe-era bonus tracks
- Shoppers looking for the lowest-priced entry into Elton John colored vinyl 2LP releases
