Live From Moscow 2CD vs Jump Up! CD: Which to Start With
By Elton John Official Store - Elton John Official Store | Published: 2026-11-02
Category: Comparisons
Compare the Live From Moscow 2CD and Jump Up! CD on price, era, and listening payoff to decide which Elton John CD belongs in your first order.
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
