Captain Fantastic and the Paydirt iTunes

A MERE 39 YEARS after fans got their hands on his first seven-incher, queen of pop Sir Elton John's entire back catalogue is to be made available online.

More than 30 albums will be available for download from March 26, coinciding with yet another 'Greatest Hits' compilation. Real saddoes will also be able to download ringtones.

Some 400 tracks will be furnished on iTunes, including some previously only available as singles. Elt, who we knew before he wasn't bald, has sold more than 200 million albums worldwide since 1970, but the availability of his entire back catalogue will be a welcome boost for his bank balance [Shurely 'welcome news for his millions of fans'? - Ed]

As he approaches his sixtieth birthday, Sir Elton commented, "I've wanted my music to be available for digital download worldwide for some time, but I knew that the entire catalogue - not just the hits - needed care and attention to be released in this way. Now that it's happening, I'm pleased for the fans' sake. The world has certainly changed since Philips Records issued my first single on seven-inch vinyl - 39 years ago this month." µ