Elton John's Famous Heart-Shaped Glasses ... RECOVERED!!!

Police in Memphis did some serious "CSI" stuff to help recover Elton John's famous heart-shaped glasses ... and it worked ... they've been returned safe and sound.

The glasses were swiped last week from the Rock 'n' Soul Museum in Memphis, TN. Police took the incident so seriously, they lifted fingerprints off the glass case and managed to track the thief to Mississippi.

Police then called the guy on the phone ... and 26-year-old Matthew Colvin copped to taking them.

He was arrested for bringing stolen property into the state and for being a fugitive from justice.

Colvin is currently in custody and being held without bail.