It’s mildly astonishing that it took Elton John this long to finally write his first proper autobiography, Me; it’s not like he has had any shortage of stories to tell. “My life has been ridiculous,” he told Brandi Carlile in a special Beats 1 interview celebrating the book’s release. Naturally, that life has involved a whole lot of music—both Elton's and others’—and it plays a huge part throughout Me. As you dive into each chapter chronicling the ups and downs (and ups again) of one of the world’s most singular singer-songwriters, consider this playlist—which highlights some of the artists and tunes he writes about—your reading companion.