Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

He's bald, he's queer, he takes it up the rear Elton John Elton John

How much coke do you have to be doing to decide to open your double album with an 11 minute long prog rock song? This much. A huge mix of styles are across this album from Prog, to ballads, to rock n roll and he nails every one. Even the over played songs still sound good. Just great. Best Tracks: Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding; Bennie and the Jets; Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)

Elton starts out strong with this album, and I mean really strong: he's in his own league and it shows. It drops off a little after Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, but it's still good songs overall. There are a few particular weak points on this album (Jamaica Jerk-Off) but otherwise I enjoy Elton John's works. Even here, though, the album is overly long and could have benefited from cutting down on a few of the songs.

Awwwww yeeeeah. I like 1970s Elton John in general, but this one is his masterpiece. It's a sprawling, baroque romp through rock n roll nostalgia and piano pop that still sounds fresh. The songwriting is great, and Elton is on top form. The sequencing of the tracks starts off well, pulling the album into a coherent whole. "Jamaica Jerk-off" is pretty stupid, and "Roy Rogers" is a weak point. But I don't even care. B-b-b-benny and the motherfucking jets.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John (1973) At the :57 mark of the symphonic opening track (“Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding”), the serious listener in 1973 would have known right away this was something special. And I’m not sure if it was David Hentschel’s waxing and waning ARP synthesizer, the haunting lament of Davey Johnstone’s guitar, the all-too-familiar right-hand-heavy piano chording of Elton John, or the (uncredited) castanets at 3:44, but by moment of the triumphant tonic at 5:08, that same listener would have discerned that this album was a game changer. I speak from experience, and I am not alone. This extraordinary musical smorgasbord contains ballads revealing the dark side of fame (“Candle In the Wind”, “The Ballad of Danny Bailey”), cautionary tales for lusty metrosexuals and their suppliers (“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”, “Sweet Painted Lady”, “All the Girls Love Alice”), contemplative reflections on personal responses to entertainment media (“I’ve Seen That Movie Too”, “Roy Rogers”), and ironic paeans to the underclass (“Dirty Little Girl”, “Social Disease”). These are songs that undoubtedly changed lives, however imperceptibly, for the better. Bernie Taupin is probably the greatest pop lyricist of all time. He treats extraordinarily interesting themes and characters with a cinematic imagination—bringing enough light to force the listener to celebrate, lament, enthuse, wallow, and boast right along with the creatures of his contrivance. Master of the metaphor, he provides a ready and unifying connection to the inner meanings of a bewildering array of cultural phenomena. But these wonderful lyrics would go nowhere as songs without the supremely gifted musicality of Elton John. His musical sense employs melody and chord progressions that actually take the listener toward a goal. He provides meter to some decidedly un-metrical phrases, as if that were the plan all along. His arrangements and production choices are Elysian. And the contributions of bassist Dee Murray (“Grey Seal”) and drummer Nigel Olson (everywhere) are both essential and hugely creative. Together, they make a grooving success of the two pure rock (and wonderfully back-to-back) tracks “Your Sister Can’t Twist (But She Can Rock and Roll)” and “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting”. Davey Johnstone’s guitar compositions and performances superbly executed and remarkably versatile. I’m sure he didn’t grow up playing banjo, but just listen to “Social Disease”. Now Elton John displays little virtuosity on piano. He plays mostly chords and standard flourishes with the right hand, and the left hand generally just keeps a steady beat and harmonic grounding. But with his voice providing deft stylings (in both pitch and diction) on colorful melodies, the combined effect is mesmerizing, even if it does require the added arrangements, effects, and backing vocals that we consistently hear on this recording. Double albums are tricky. Sometimes they are released as a double because there’s slightly too much material for one LP, but have added tracks (of lesser quality) to fill them out. Not so here. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road has no filler. Plus, this is the kind of album that provides true favorites that are not among the more ‘popular’ songs—my personal ones are “Grey Seal” and the wonderful closing track “Harmony”, a song the ending of which is fully deserving of its title. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road provided a sorely needed contribution to Anglo-American culture in 1973. Still does. Always will. 5/5

I know the first two songs (fucking amazing) and a few other tracks as well. If the rest of the album is as good as those this is heading for a 5. Ok, and it is! This is going in my regular listening, what an album. I knew Elton could write a song, but this is way better than expected. 5/5.

to get really into the right frame of mind for this i selotaped some fruit to my glasses and some books to my shoes. did some massive air piano. that amzing vibe i'd built up took a nosedive once it hit the prince phillip reggae song and then i pretty much lost interest then as the pony kept repeating its trick for what seemed like a lifetime. i bet drama kids love this album, loads of excuses for jazz hands and cheeky side glances.

I'll begin by getting my most controversial Elton John opinion off my chest: I've never liked "Bennie and the Jets". There it is. I've said it. It's out there, on this site for you all to rage about. Why? Something about the cloying, clunky piano, the uncanny-valley-Sgt. Pepper knock-off with its false audience, the irritating squiggly synths and falsetto "Bennie"s on the way out, has always rubbed me up the wrong way. It's "Ziggy Stardust" gone wrong. …As for the rest? Sheer brilliance. "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" was Elton John's seventh album: the crest of his wave after a stratospheric rise through the early 1970s. Genre-defining hits like "Your Song", "Crocodile Rock", "Tiny Dancer" and "Rocket Man" were already behind him, moving John and lyricist Bernie Taupin further and further up the ladder. By 1973, it was second nature: the classics were falling out of his head even quicker than his rapidly thinning hair. "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" remains a guaranteed party-starter fifty years later. The title track is transcendent: up there with "Life on Mars" as a dazzling, surreal anthem for the ages. "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" is a fan favourite, with exhilarating instrumental work and one of the best segues in popular music. And say what you will about "Candle in the Wind"'s saccharine 1997 rendition, but in its original context, among an album indebted to the allure of the silver screen, fantasy and fame, it fits brilliantly. There are some real underrated gems too, my favourites being "Grey Seal" (should have been in Rocketman, the COWARDS), "The Ballad of Danny Bailey" (for the cinematic orchestration at the end) and the deliciously jaunty "Social Disease" (I can never resist a showtune). Even the more questionable moments are irresistible: "Dirty Little Girl" might be queasy and sleazy, but those horns are phenomenal. And "Jamaica Jerk Off" becomes less and less appropriate as the years go by, so shoot me for having the goddamn melody bouncing round my head as I type this. I can even put aside my disdain for "Bennie": this one's an all-timer.

Masterpiece album, Elton in peak form. This is the album I would recommend to anyone who wants to get into Elton John beyond the hits. Yes the hits are there, but with deep tracks that will make you a fan forever. Fave songs: Bennie and the Jets, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, I've Seen That Movie Too, Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding

Bloody love this album. Should lose a star for Jamaica Jerkoff, but Bennie & The Jets more than makes up for it

I was already familiar with some tracks from this album but it was my first time actually hearing it and I can see why It's considered Elton John's magnum opus.

E

One of the most classic albums of the 1970s and Elton John at his finest. Jam packed with hit songs including the title track, Candle in the Wind, Benny and the Jets, and Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting. Stylistically, Elton John covers a lot of ground but the album itself feels unified, as if there was a plan. Finally, this is the classic lineup at it's height. Caribou, which follows this album, seems like outtakes from it. Afterwards, Elton John began to steer into adult oriented music, leaving the hard rocking behind. If you only own one Elton John album, this is the one.

This album has my first ever favorite song from when I was five. How can I not rate it five stars.

Any record that starts out with a track like Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding is going to have to have every other track be pretty terrible for me to give it anything less than 4 starts. The rest of the record is pretty amazing as well. 5 Stars it is. Grey Seal has always been a deep cut that I love to hear. I really paid attention to it first way back when I got the Elton John box set. (remember those?) All the Girls Love Alice and Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting? No wonder Goodbye is such a well loved record. Yes, I skipped Candle in the Wind. I have always loved this song. But, I have to admit that once it moved from a Marylin Monroe song to Princess Di, it lost a bit of luster for me. I understand how well it fit the time, but, it's Marylin's song. Lady Di deserved her own.

Excellent. Classics that I have heard before just get better whilst the ones 'new' to me where all killers. The opening track "funeral for a friend/love lies bleeding" started this masterpiece off and it never took its foot off the pedal. Brilliant

Some of the most solid songwriting ever displayed, an even more excellently executed (just ignore Jamaican Jerk-off lol)

What's not to love? Great span of tunes, tempos and moods. Phenomenal instrumental performances. This and Madman... are all the 70s Elton you need.

One of the greatest singer-songwriters ever with what is probably his best album. It's a powerhouse album that touches on so many different genres that it's dizzying. It feels like every song is Elton banging out a wonderfully alive hit with whichever genre he decided felt compelling. His voice is incredible of course, the band is filled with precise, talented musicians and again, the variety of production here immaculately tied together makes the album continually replay-able. A masterpiece no doubt.

It's got a few extremely good songs on it but my God, this really did not need to be a double album. Also, whoever told Elton John he could do reggae needs to seriously consider their position.

You know, I wouldn't usually be excited for a 76-minute long album. That is, unless, it's from an artist that I'd want to listen to for 76 minutes at once. Fortunately, I am more than okay with listening to 76 minutes of Elton John, especially since this is some of his best work. This album's amazing! I love the variety in the sound of the album. You've got slower, more emotional songs like "Candle in the Wind" balanced out by fun, energetic songs like "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting". Both styles work very well. I noticed a few themes that show up throughout the album like love and fame. That's pretty cool. Of course, Elton John's singing is top-notch, with the writing on the whole album being just as good. I've got to give props to Bernie Taupin for his work on this thing. Somehow this album doesn't drag on as much as one might expect. Is the album pretty long? Yes, and I think a song or two could've been cut. Regardless of that, this is absolutely an album that's worth listening to. 5/5.

It's easy to mistake this for a greatest hits album. There's so many good songs with a few I could live without.

Damn this is so fucking good. I’ll be listening to this regularly.

Fucking Fantastic!

Elton and Bernie at their best! Side one is especially good with such a variety of moods that it could stand on its own even if the over three sides were crap. They aren't though. The rest of the album flows amazingly well for a double album with the non-single tracks all having some good hooks in them to keep a listener's attention throughout. Songs like All the Girls Love Alice and Harmony could have been hits themselves if they were put out as singles.

10/10. I'm calling this a 10 for now, but it is very close to being a 9 on account of it being real long with a weaker back half. Even still, this album had a lot of great songs filled in by a lot of good songs, and I enjoyed listening to the whole thing.

Wasn't a fan of Elton, until I heard this album. Oh my god. He mixes rock and folk and country so well. Defiently need to give this another listen, as all these tracks are well polished while transitioning seemingly perfect to one another.

First time listening through this one. Usually not a huge Elton John album fan, though I love listening to his hits. This one has some great deep tracks between the hits that make for a very good listening experience. Would love it on vinyl.

I need a separate rating system for albums that are really good yet also really not my cup of tea. I can appreciate the care, skill and attention to detail that goes into making a really great and sophisticated cup of tea. I’d still rather have coffee.

Almost an AMAZING album. If it had been reduced by five or so songs, this would have been a masterpiece. All tracks were full of varying levels of fun and camp (except for “Candle in the Wind”) but that Jamaica song has got to go.

Oh Reggie Dwight you old dog. What a treat this is! From the haunting Goodbye Yellow Brick Road to the frenzy of Saturday Night's Alright, just hit after hit. Look at those platform shoes! You'll snap your bleeding ankle, you daft apeth. By all means say your goodbyes, but be careful on those bricks, you silly sausage.

Much like every cassette inside a car stereo transforms into Queen's Greatest Hits, every record cabinet owned by British people of a certain age had Goodbye Yellow Brick Road materialise inside it. What made this such a big deal? He had just as many hits on the other albums in his empire building 70s run? Was it just because it was a double album with a vague concept?

Two questions before I get into the review: 1. Why is it called “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” if he is entering the Yellow Brick Road on the cover? 2. Did no one think to tell Elton John what “Jerk-off” means? (Although, that might be the least concerning thing about that song and I find it difficult to believe he, of all people, wasn’t aware of that innuendo) Those mysteries aside, this was a fine album, with some very interesting synth and guitar parts through out. It suffers, like 99% of double albums, from being overly long and often a little same-y.

Piano based rock is always at risk of becoming showtunes, and this is no exception. The vocal performance is really good, and at its best there's a fun flamboyance to the unbridled 70s cocaine excess of the production/arrangements. But I have never, and still don't, understand the hype with Elton John. The songwriting comes across as clever and referential/winking genre tributes more than anything. He was early on the reggae appropriation trend (Jamaica Jerk Off), but good lord is that an abomination. He anticipates some of the sound of new-wave with the hoped up synthy rock & roll (Sister Can't Twist). His attempt at a Rolling Stones honky tonk song (Saturday Night) is good and would be a nice fit on Sticky Fingers. It's impossible to listen to Candle in the Wind without your skin crawling from the mawkish sentimentalism the British public has imbued that song with since the 90s. Bennie and Jets and All the Girls Love Alice and are fun. The Nashville-sounding country twist with cloying strings and lap steel on Roy Rodgers is a funny touch, taking a silly saccharine ballad about a TV cowboy to ludicrous levels of camp - I think it might be my favorite track.

I can see why Elton John is considered a good song writer, but I didn't enjoy this.

I really wanted to be one of those smug gits who says "actually its quite good" but it's fucking awful. Unrelentingly shite. I could go on, like this unremitting dross

WOW, what an opening 4 tracks to the album. Yes, bennyyyyyyyy!!!! Absolutely top stuff. Gets a bit silly with jamaican jerk off. But not so bad. It does lull a tad in the middle. Few decent songs. Saturday night smashes it again. Despite the lull in th e middle of the album, not many artists can have FIVE TOP TOP class tunes on one album. The length of the album didnt bother me too much on this one surprisingly. But i do think if it was shorted into maybe 10-11 tracks it would be even better considering half of the album would be absolute belters. Either way, the five world class songs take it from a 4 to a 5 for me. SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY

Ahhhh, Young Elton John when his genius was on full display! When the youngsters don’t appreciate him, understandably thanks to Disney, this album and Honky Chateau are where I send them to school.

I quite enjoy this album, lots of diverse sounds. I still haven't done a proper focused listen with my ears on, but definitely want to at some point. I love the dreamy spiralling sound of the title track that never really lands on a resolution harmonically. The rest of the album has a mix of superstar hits, fun bangers, with a hint of pisstake/cliche exploration (I'm looking at you, Social Disease). Much entertainment.

Still a classic

With all the toing and froing about double albums and whether or not they're a let down, this one is solid throughout and I have no complaints about filler. It has four hits (five if you count Harmony) which is more than the normal number of hits for a double album and the hits are all top shelf. This album is a 5. With that out of the way, I'll now turn to my usual rambling. There are many more songs that were not singles but very good nonetheless. The 11+ min Funeral for a Friend is an excellent kick off and sets the stage for the quality of the other songs on this album that weren't singles. There is also some creative dabbling like Jamaican Jerk-Off which sounds like music from the island. It has some Reggae / Island music accents but isn't Reggae. Likewise Roy Rogers has a country twang to it but I wouldn't call it a country song. It just has a creatively done country accent. This album also has a number of really good rockers such as All The Girls Love Alice which ends Side 3 and Your Sister Can't Twist which starts Side 4. The best rocker on the album is Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting. It would have been the best song to describe Saturday nights at bars in my hometown of Sudbury were it not for Stompin Tom's Sudbury Saturday Night. There are a couple of songs about gay and lesbian relationships on this album and this was released long before Elton "came out". The song about a gay relationship is Goodby Yellow Brick Road. Surprised? I was. This song has been played on the radio forever and I've always liked it but never really understood the lyrics. A few months ago I decided I wanted to play the song on acoustic guitar so I focused on learning the lyrics and found out the song is about a relationship between a wealthy man and a younger man who no longer wants to be his "boy toy". The other song, which is obvious from its title (and confirmed by its lyrics), is All The Girls Love Alice. In 1973 I wouldn't have figured this out. I was a big Alice Cooper fan back then and the apeth 12 year old version of me would have thought it was about his groupies. I wonder if that song had anything to do with the name of the Toronto bar called Slack Alice which was quite popular with lesbians back in the day. This album is the gold standard for double LPs.

Widely regarded as Elton John's magnum opus. Starts off with progressive rock, transitions to glam rock, pop ballads, and even some reggae thrown in for good measure.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road feels like a classic from the first note. Grand and ambitious, it showcases Elton John's versatility beyond piano ballads, blending rock, glam, storytelling, and hints of prog. Packed with some of his best songwriting, its length never drags thanks to perfect pacing, keeping each track fresh and engaging. A timeless masterpiece that defines his artistry. The songwriting on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is exceptional. Bernie Taupin’s vivid, poetic lyrics create grand, emotional stories, from the nostalgia of the title track to the raw storytelling of Candle in the Wind. Elton John masterfully transforms these words into melodies, ensuring every line resonates. His ability to craft songs that feel both intimate and larger-than-life is truly remarkable. The album’s variety is a major strength. High-energy rock anthems like Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting burst with distorted guitars and swagger, while the theatrical Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding opens with a dramatic instrumental before launching into epic rock. Tracks like Grey Seal and Your Sister Can’t Twist show Elton’s ability to rock just as hard as he delivers ballads, proving his versatility and dynamic range. Despite its 75-minute length and wide variety of styles, the album flows seamlessly. Each song feels essential, and the balance between grand, emotional moments and fun, upbeat tracks keeps it fresh and engaging. The pacing ensures it never drags, maintaining a consistent energy that keeping me invested from start to finish. The main issue with the album is Elton’s high-pitched falsetto at times. While he has an incredible vocal range, on tracks like Bennie and the Jets, his falsetto can feel a bit overwhelming. It’s not necessarily bad, but in certain moments, it feels a little too much and doesn’t always sit right, slightly detracting from the overall experience. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is one of Elton John’s greatest works, showcasing his ambition and versatility beyond piano-driven pop. The top-tier songwriting and rich, varied instrumentals make it a standout, with only a few weaker moments. While not perfect, its highs more than make up for the flaws. A masterpiece that earns a solid 4.2/5.

First listen - ok, some classics there, plonky piano n classic Elton vocals, and what's all the rest of the music, it just blurs. Second listen - hang on, there's something there, that 'Jamaican Rub' track is kind of interesting. So different to the rest. Actually, its all kinda different. Hmm. *scratches* Third listen - what a diverse performance, so many styles done so well, it's a honker of a long album too. I keep getting distracted. So joyous and interesting ...

I’ll admit this record had diminishing returns in the back half, but when your first four tracks are some of the most recognizable, influential and important songs of all time, I think that’s kind of okay.

Amazing

I liked it more then madman across the water. Still not 100% my music but it is a cool record

Few bangers, otherwise pretty eh. Elton was capable of great highs but always struck me as a bit of a careerist rather than having any real artistic vision, so the majority of his output was pretty bland.

Irrepressibly tuneful and seriously silly, but why didn’t anyone tell me it’s so outrageously slow? Elton’s sure got some sand to make quote-unquote rock ‘n’ roll that takes so long to get dressed. But like a model stalking down the catwalk, he knows he looks great doing it. So why rush? Don’t--that’s the answer. And neither you nor I have a better one. Now I think about it, slow seems to be part of camp. Queen, Meatloaf, Prince, Springsteen—they’re all at it (the one of them that isn’t dead, anyway). And Elton doesn’t even fill space with overwrought production. Most of this is just him, the ivories, and guitar-bass-drums. I say "just him" even though most of this sounds like it's played to an imaginary audience, which I suppose is a paradox because that should create intimacy. But it doesn't Sure, you’re at the show. But you’re in the wings, peeking out from behind the curtains, looking at Elton’s back while he performs to his own audience—and you ain’t part of it. For reasons I can't explain, I liked that. From-me-to-you earnestness was pretty rife in the 70’s, so maybe this as a refreshing alternative has something to do with it.

3 or 4 OK tunes Nothing special Sorry Sir Elton you've been living off this for 40 plus years

Even though I have one song that interesting to me on this one, but it sound really boring. Then I never listened it to the very end.

A lot of songs instantly forgettable.

1. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John. 17 tracks. I know there are some real belters on here, but there is also the dreaded "Candle in the wind" which I can't stand. Sat Nights Alright and Bennie & Jets are Elton at his best. Despite that, had to skip quite a few. 1/5.

overproduced too perfect, washes over don't like the instruments wtf jamaica jerk off too competent un-engaging background music, tepid, MOR, boring i do not like this at all

Ergh. I expected this is actually be alright, but it was absolutely fucking shit and really irritated me.

funky

Cool

Man, this really does feel like Elton John's magnum opus, starting with the first track. And I really do think that Elton is the very best of his little niche of pop rock, piano heavy glam rock. This really is just a great, complete album. It does everything well and just sounds so good. It also has some of Elton's best hits, and even some of the other tracks stand out on their own. I think the genre/style does kind of cap its greatness though. There's something about Elton John's music that just feels safe. Like there's never going to be anything that surprises you or catches you off guard (in a good way). And I mean that in, this is a top 150 album all-time, easily, but I would be surprised if anyone had it in their 25, or even top 50, maybe. Favorite Song(s): Benny and the Jets, I've Seen That Movie Too, Saturday Night's Alright, Roy Rogers

so many hits on that album. elton john just a classic!

Amazing.I loved listening to 'Funeral for a Friend', 'Grey Seal' and 'Dirty Little Girl' for the first time as well. 'Social Disease' too, I mean there's just enough great tracks on here that I can't not like this album. The synths on some of these tracks sound absolutely timeless as well.

So much better than I expected!

honestly wasn’t expecting to love it as much as i did, 5/5!

amazinggggg

I’d never heard this album in full and I love it! That opener had me on the floor! Definitely a new favorite song. There were so many genres and styles in this that it kept the length entertaining. And of course the absolute amazing classic Elton John songs are all on here. Overall incredible!!

Excellent album

Overly self-indulgent at 1h15? Absolutely. Is Jamaican jerk-off just a terrible song? Absolutely! Do some of the lyrics ("dirty little girl", "social disease") not age so well? Absolutely!! But it's also fantastic stuff, generally

Fantastic album super uplifting and upbeat never heard anything like it

Masterpiece. Elton and Bernie at their peak. The songs have a lot of depth and Elton’s voice is at its best. Hard to believe the lyrics and music are written at completely different times.

A superb showcase of the many talents of Elton John. Maybe a bit longer than it needed to be, this album is still chock full of superb songs.

This is absolutely awesome. It’s so over the top, but in all the best ways possible. The album stays interesting all the way through and has such an amazing energy that drives the whole project. Favourite tracks: Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, I’ve Seen That Movie Too, Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)

Я знаю Сэра Элтона Джона не по его творчеству, а из-за его громкого имени. Поэтому было интересно окунуться в его музыку, благодаря этому альбому. Это было очень ярко, насыщенно и интересно! Наконец, в моих глазах, у Элтона Джона появилась оболочка, и она очень яркая, эмоциональная, громкая, чувственная, но естественная. Красиво! 4,8/5 точно!

👍

First one.... great 😃

Weird week this week. Two Elton John albums and one from Culture Club. Elton wins the flamboyant front man comp hands down. The other album was Madman Across the Water which I gave two stars for a bunch of filler wrapped around one hit. This one on the other hand is packed with goodness. I am glad I got them both in close proximity. GYBR gets out there, much more experimental and this record has a lot more swing to it, making it altogether more palatable. Elton also gives his supporting musicians more room to breathe this time around and that makes for some really stellar moments. Two years of coke cracked that egg, and inside the egg was classic jams.

Great record, Candle in the wind had tears welling up at the bus stop. Such a great song writing combination Elton & Bernie Polymath

I was expecting a classic album full of iconic songwriter tunes. I got that, but I also got Jamaican jerk off, a prog rock intro, and two country songs at the end. Never change Elton John, never change.

Piano Rock done right, basically no bad songs and only 2 I'd say don't interest me much. Just a great album, easy to listen to but still complex in its song writing and musical pieces. Surprisingly varied too.

love it

This is such a great album. It has a lot of variety.

This album is pretty incredible, with one of the best opening 4 track runs I've ever heard. I've only recently gotten into Elton John; having never really listened to his 70s albums I thought he was a bit of a hack. I see now the error of my ways though. The songwriting and piano are fantastic, and there's only 2 or 3 duds (Jamaica Jerk-off, Dirty Little Girl and Roy Rodgers). That's to be expected with a double album though, especially when multiple genres are experimented with. None of them are bad enough to knock this though, 9/10.

I only really know Elton’s hits and tbh most of the ones I knew were on this album. It was an incredible journey from start to finish and I had a blast. It’s clear why Elton John is considered one of the greats and this album is him at his best

C’mon. It’s Elton John. It’s like hating ice cream and puppies. You’re just objectively wrong. This album has so many bangers and it’s his magnum opus for a reason.

One of my favorite albums.

Sounds like “true” music Definitely unforgettable

If this was a single album would probably be top 5 of all time but will have to settle for just being one of the best all of all time

Am familiar with most of the hits here, but never listened through this album until now. I honestly assumed some of these tracks would have been spread out over more albums because there's so many bangers.

He has such a large collections of hits, this is almost a greater album. Pure 70s gold.Even the clunkers are better than others

Great album

Great classic

It's Elton John. You don't need me to tell you that it's a banger.

while elton john certainly had his share of hits before this release, this album made him into a superstar. very eclectic, depending on the song you hear influences of glam rock, disco, reggae, and even a little country thrown in for good measure. themes of mortality, the media’s role in celebrity worship, homosexuality, and addiction are explored. it is one of my favourite double albums of all time and starts with my favourite 2 opening songs ever with “funeral for a friend” which morphs into “love lies bleeding”. this one is an all timer, kids. do not miss out on this one. highlights: “candle in the wind” “this song has no title” “i’ve seen that movie too” “saturday night’s alright for fighting”

You know what it's like, you start saying 'Goodbye' and before you know it it's an hour and sixteen minutes later.

Really glad we had this over the weekend. Considering its Elton's critically most acclaimed album, I wanted to give it some just time. The prog/glam feel at the start of the album was pretty shocking. Its not the side of him that Im used to, but it was entertaining. Curious to read what others thought there. Bennie and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road were slammin' back to back hits. Bennie might be a top 100 rock and roll song for me. The middle of the album was really dense and quite the range. Ballads everywhere... I really liked I've Seen That Movie Too, Sweet Painted Lady (very Parisian sound, not a surprising theme - prostitutes). Dirty little Girl showed Eltons true rock side. The back quarter of the album was good too, but a bit of filler. I thought Your Sister Can't Twist shouldve been kicked off the album entirely. Saturday Night's alright for Fighting is so epic. Social Disease was great too! Ill definitely be working my way back whenever im in the mood for glam rock. Great album overall. 4.25 stars and rounding up to 5

I go back and forth on whether I like Billy Joel or Elton's catalogue more. I think most days I'm an Elton guy. Don't tell the guys back in NY and Philly. I had listened to this album recently after listening to the Strong Songs on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Even if a little unedited at times, there's just so much to love here. Apart from the classics, Grey Seal is the highlight for me. Other surprises I hadn't heard as often: All the Girls Love Alice, Social Disease, Dirty Little Girl. Yes, Jamaica Jerk-Off kind of sucks, but still a top album overall for me.

What a gift to the music world!

This is brilliant. I’m so glad I’m listening on my good headphones because it gives me a new appreciation for the complexity in Elton’s music. He truly is a genius. “Bennie and the Jets” on these headphones is a revelation…also did I miss that this whole time the radio version is played live? Okay I am gonna have to google that one…lol. “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” is obviously a great song but I don’t think I truly appreciated it until hearing it here. One thing that’s clearer for me here is his background singers…wow, crisp and illuminating. I think Elton is so much more than the piano, he is almost more like someone who writes symphonies. You’ll be listening and all of a sudden…a little lick from a guitar that JUST belongs there, you know? The jamming at the end of “Grey Seal” is like some of the best shit I’ve ever heard. Yesterday I read an article that called “Jamaica Jerk Off” as a really bad song on a perfect album, so haha will I agree? Okay it is bad, the fake accents, the ska guitar and what tf is it about really. Interestingly enough, there is a lot that’s redeemable here…a few changes in style, and maybe a whole new concept I’d be impressed.

I knew some songs but hadn't heard the whole album. It was great.

Not my cup of tea, really, but I reckon this is a bit of a classic album from a period in Elton John and Bernie Taupin's careers where they must have so inspired and productive. This isn't an album I had listened to all the way through before, but I'm glad I did - barring a couple of clunkers, a solid set of songs with a strong thematic approach. Not an album I'll play much in the future though.

Never heard the b sides or other tracks sans the classic rock stations. super terrific effort double album

I've heard this album a zillion times. It's hard for me to rate it just because I know the tunes so well.. its not a fresh listen.