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.

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

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.

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

Elton John is a legend. This is a legendary album. So many great songs. Not a dull moment in such a long album

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.

The most classic work of a most classic artist. Even the filler is killer.

Low 90s

Loved from beginning to end. One of the greats.

Excelente álbum. Nunca había escuchado un álbum completo de Elton John. Tiene rock, baladas, temas triste y temas alegres. Arreglos muy buenos y armonías interesantes. Algo me recuerda a David Bowie, pero menos experimental

#6 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road ~ Elton John I mean, what can I say? Deliciously opulent. Proudly self-indulgent. Over-extravagant and Wagnerian in scope. This is an album that defines the term 'pop-opera'. Elton's piano and guitar instrumentation is a powerful wall of sound that is both catchy and complex, a sign of a well tuned ear for music. Bernie Taupin's light-heartened, imaginative lyrics, although wavering on outdated, really do help move the sound of the album forward. And Elton's voice sounds really REALLY good here, brimming with a controlled confidence. Frankly, this is an album that can easily leave you at a loss for words, it really is just that epic. Verdict: Pop for La Scala

Absolute banger

It’s hard to find a bad thing to say about this album. This is peak Elton (a peak that would last for a while). I typically don’t like 60+ minute albums, but there’s always exceptions, and this album is one of them. EJ’s melodies, lyrics, and piano playing are exemplary. He influenced music with in almost every genre with this album and it has some of the most iconic tracks in all English language music. 9.5/10 87/1001

Overall: 9/10 I love Elton. Whenever I'm asked about my favourite fruits I say "Apples, but Elton John is a close second." (Big compliment.) This album starts off so epically and keeps up that momentum for a majority of it's runtime. I obviously knew the hits (Bennie and the Jets, Saturday Night's Alright, the title track) but it's the deep cuts that make this album so great. They're pretty consistent in quality for the most part. I'm gonna talk about my favourite song. The title track, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard in my life. It gives me chills every single time. I still remember the first time I heard it. I was in a corner store and they were playing the film "Breaking the Waves" on a TV. If you know that movie, you're probably thinking "wtf why would anyone play that in public". Anyway, there's a bit of an interlude in the movie and they played Goodbye Yellow Brick Road over it. I remember asking the cashier if they knew the song and he just looked at me like I was crazy. "If you don't know that song, I can't help you". What a dick. I went home and figured out what the song was and my life was forever changed. So thank you, random cashier who was fucked up enough to play Breaking the Waves in a public place. You're a homie. Jamaica Jerk-Off is hilariously terrible. Fav Song: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Least Fav Song: Jamaica Jerk-Off

Masterpiece! Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is the best Elton's song!

Classic rock, good stuff but not my fave

I’m conflicted for this one, I really want to give 5 stars as it is brilliant, almost every song is awesome. It feels like a natural follow up to the Rock and roll of the Chuck berry generation, amazing ballads, great vocals and lyrics, but there’s just a few songs that don’t do it for me. They feel like filler. I think I’m inclined to give it 5 as it’s almost there, but this album is great.

When this album was released, we knew the Elton of Tiny Dancer and we liked him. This let us know he was a real rock star. One brilliant song after another. One of the great ones.

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Wow, echt prachtig

This is such a great album. Probably my favorite of his. It's nice and long but doesn't seem like it. I wasn't ready for it to be over when it ended. Everyone knows the hits from this album but the whole thing is really fantastic and it flows really well. I love the different styles on this record, they go from one to the next perfectly and the whole thing is seamless. A near perfect record that almost everyone will love. 5/5

This might be the Elton John Band at its best. The Taupin/John writing team was locked in, and even the guest musicians and vocalists made this particular double album only a very marginal risk. "Candle", "Bennie", "Goodbye", and "Saturday" are huge crowd pleasers - but deeper cuts like "Funeral" and "Alice" show Elton's closet was still full of creativity. Love this album.

Gotta respect how Elton John decided he would open this album with an 11-minute prog rock ballad and there's nothing anyone could do about it. I guess Jamaica Jerk-Off hasn't really aged well but the double album of it is good enough to overcome it. Standouts: Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding, Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting, Bennie and the Jets

I know the legend of Elton John and I know the hits. This is my first time listening to an album of his and I understand the hype. This was hands down just incredible music and a damn near cinematic experience. I’m impressed and I want to hear more projects from him!

No skips! I knew the hits but this whole album just kinda flows together and keeps it entertaining. It’s also pride month so it feels fitting to be listening to it now. I definitely will be returning to this album

It doesn’t get much better than this. What a journey it takes you on, banger after banger. It’s so varied in style, yet flows perfectly. An album that can go from Candle In The Wind to Saturday Nights Alright For Fighting. Yes please. Simpsons: Yes

Banger after banger. Just enjoyed the whole album.

Just a beautiful record. I've had it for a long time but for some reason I never properly sat down and listened to it in one sitting. The first few songs are incredibly strong, you may even argue that they are some of the best pop or rock songs ever written but the whole album is a beautiful example of brilliant musicianship and songwriting. The lyrics are very evocative of all kinds of nostalgic episodes with excellent storytelling. Elton was simply at his peak with his vocals and melodies here. How does one even write something so brilliant as Goodbye Yellow Brick Road with one of the most dramatic hooks in the history of music.

Goated

All time classic album.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>The Beatles Simply one of the greatest albums of all time.

Classic album, runs a little long but never gets boring! Grey Seal and All the Girls Love Alice are great deep cuts, IMO

Super enjoyable. Starts off almost rock-opera-y in a way I really enjoyed, and the piano is wonderful throughout. Gray Seal was my favorite of those I hadn't heard ebfore

Peak Sir Elton. All there is to say really. Just an epic album all around. It's definitely one that everyone should listen through at least once in their life.

A little bit too long and could lose Jamaica Jerk-Off, but it’s hard to argue against this as the absolute peak of Elton’s pop songwriting powers.

One of the greatest to ever do it!

Such an amazing album. The deep cuts are great too, not just the singles.

bernie taupin is not a great lyricist by most standards anyone could think to judge a lyricist by but the artistic chemistry between him and elton john was p undeniable...they matched eachothers rambling, freeflowing freak in their respective mediums. more than anything i find myself fascinated by how elton wrangles this big stack of taupin pseudo-poetry into song structures and melodic phrases, theres just something so unconventional and endlessly expressive about all of it...and this famously loaded and lengthy record p much has to be the peak of that raw energy. the couple of Massive Lapses In Taste are practically baked-in parts of the experience, and the highs, i mean what to even say man, im not sure anyones ever even Tried to write pop songs in this particular weird, sprawling, wonderful flavor since

An iconic album of the early 70's. Several songs I've forgotten about. Loved listening to this album today.

Fun to be had all around. A masterpiece of pop rock!

This is MOMCORE at its best. Joking aside, this album is flawless from start to finish. There’s no skips and every other song is a massive hit song. And the ones that are not massive hits are not skips, they are actually really good and add a lot of variety to the album like “Jamaican Jerk-Off”, “Grey Seal”, “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding”, etc. Honestly this album is amazing and has aged really well. Please give it an honest chance and try not to associate this song with your mom.

Geweldig album. Geweldige cover. Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting blijft één van m'n favoriete nummers. 5.0

Enjoyed every minute of this lowkey. Super good. Can see the hype.

Wow! I’m familiar with Elton John‘s works, but I never listened to this album all the way through. I just have to say that it’s amazing.

I don't remember if I listened to the full thing before or not. The highs are high, but a there are a few songs I didn't care about at all. Still, very good, very of its time sound-wise.

This is a really fantastic album. It has been one of my favorites for a long time. There are many excellent songs. Despite its length there really isn't a bad song on here (Jamaica Jerk comes the closest but that is really a novelty song). I would listen to this any time.

Great album. I can see why Elton is a classic

What an epic opener, at least mins in before the vocals even start. I actually skipped passed the well known singles, but can only imagine hearing those for the first time when this came out and being blown away by most of them. This album for sure stands up to the tests of time, and I’m going to add it to my vinyl collection soon.

Was a bit hesitant about 5 stars for a similar reason to the Bon Jovi’s album (slippery when wet). Also I really thought there was no such thing as a 5-star buffet..but maybe this album breaks the rule. I really liked his biggest hits. Very tasteful and commercially successful. And I think if he debuted again today with this album, he will have become very big again. So I guess I was wrong, it is a five star buffet!

Really good. Elton John is one of those artists that you realize has a lot more recognizable songs than you thought. I think either so many hits and just the level of artistry it’s an easy 5. I’m not crazy familiar with his body of work past the hits but this is known to me as an iconic album and I get it.