Reviews (page 10 of 14)
An incredible album! Easily Elton John's best.
Top 3 Songs: 1 - All The Girls Love Alice (12) 2 - Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting) (14) 3 - The Ballad Of Danny Bailey (10)
just generally love elton's voice and instrumentation. so emotional
un 4, casi 3.
Excellent album
This double album from Elton is certainly an interesting one! The contents of this album definitely feel all over the place. Some aspects are a bit progressive, some a bit glam, some a bit piano pop, some a bit bluesy, and some are just good old fashioned rock and roll. But you know what? It works! This album is just peak showcasing of Elton John style, and if you're not convinced of that, just observe that a good handful of his most adored songs from a huge discography come from this one album. Again, despite this album being all over the place, it's just impossible not to enjoy this display of talent from Elton. I loved listening to this, and while I usually feel like double albums draw on too long, this album's length was fine by me!
4.5
That descending bassline, holy shit.
Really really good album. Reminds me of Songs in the Key of Life in a way where it is just packed with insanely catchy, tightly written, charismatically performed, and overall fun songs that you don’t really get tired of. The first run of tracks is absolutely untouchable in their quality, with other gems throughout the runtime as well. It does have its dips and failed experiments (Jamaican jerk off) but they’re minor blemishes on an otherwise impeccable body of work. Deserves its place among the greats.
This is simply a masterpiece. The first four songs are some of pops absolute catchiest and best. Elton John will always be a king amongst normal men when it comes to showmanship and musicianship. Marvelous stuff!
Great!
3.5/5 some good songs and talent but too long
Solid and quintessential Elton John. Well produced and stands up. My signature move is the Jamaican Jerk Off
Some incredible tracks, but a few that weren’t quite up to standard.
ive never heard this classic before, but i know quite a few songs. a double lp usually feels bloated and unnecessary, but this album settles well. it contains a plethora of his biggest hits nestled between b and d side gems. could have just been two lps released separately? more than likely, but it still feels jovial and focused even still. shine on you platformed diamond.
Lots of great tracks
I like all the non radio played songs way more. This album is great.
Great, some excellent songs, a few weaker ones.
A good ass album
Half all time best Elton John bangers half forgettable shit that you WILL forget.
Really solid album after to finish, the classics are classics and the lesser known songs are great as well. Only thing stopping this from being a 5 star is Jamaica Jerk-Off, like what the hell were they thinking with that song it's terrible!
Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Funeral for a friend, Bennie and the jets, Goodbye yellow brick road, Grey seal, Your sister can’t twist, Saturday night’s alright
It's a very solid album, and a really good listen. Once again, I appreciate this project giving me the opportunity to dive into back-catalogues and discover an artist's work in a more cohesive way. There's a lot of brilliant standout tracks on here. The start in particular is really strong. I love the opening with the synths and real upbeat rocking out bits. Candle in the wind is superb. Obviously Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is a real sing-along. "I've Seen that movie too" really worked for me. I'm not digging ALL of the songs, but that said even the ones I'm not massively into are still really solid.
Quite a long one - but it's also pretty good. Not entirely my cup of tea, but most of the songs here are great, and it deserves acclaim. Candle In The Wind alone, outside the context of later years is sublime, and everything else is almost as well crafted. So far, this is the first Elton John album I can actually say I like.
So many great songs on this album, and I'll always admire Elton John not just as a songwriter, musician, performer, and entertainer, but also for his bravery in being who he truly is at a time when that was so tough to do (not that it's super-easy now, but it was even more dangerous back then).
Without a doubt an album that deserves to be in this book and list. It is an album that everyone must experience, even if by the end of it you may not rate it as high as you would others on the list? Why? Well, in the long run because it has many songs that have become all time classics of Elton's career, and others that for want of a better description are just filler. The great is brilliant. Songs like "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding", "Candle in the Wind", "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "Bennie and the Jets" and "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" all stand the test of time, and still draw out foot tapping or crooning along to the vocals. Of the remainder of the album has some better than average songs like "This Song Has No Title" and "Grey Seal" and "I've Seen That Movie Too", and also some stuff that maybe doesn't quite make the grade. Being a double album, this is probably always going to happen. But that doesn't detract from its essence and purpose, and it still ranks as one of the best there has been, even all these years later.
didnt fully listen yet but great so far
Ladies and gentlemen, buckle up and prepare for a journey down the yellow brick road to the Emerald City of Rock, where the Wizard of Pop, Sir Elton John, graces us with his most iconic album to date. As we embark on this magical musical adventure, we'll reminisce on classics, uncover hidden gems, and perhaps even find a few tracks that didn't quite age like a fine wine. As soon as the needle hits the vinyl, you're instantly captivated by the opening track. With its epic feel and a touch of flamenco flair from those ever-charming castanets, it's clear that we're in for a treat. This album is a treasure trove of classic hits, including "Candle in the Wind," "Bennie and the Jets," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," and "Saturday Night's Alright," which are sure to get your toes tapping and your heart swelling. But don't be fooled, my friends – the magic doesn't stop there. This auditory wonderland also houses some criminally underrated gems like "Grey Seal" and "I've Seen That Movie Too." Alas, every album has its kryptonite, and this one is no exception. A few songs, such as "Jamaica Jerk-Off" and "Your Sister Can't Twist," may have you reaching for the skip button. Time hasn't been kind to these tracks, and they might leave you wondering if the Wizard of Pop was temporarily dethroned during their creation. Ultimately, this album is a beautiful, glittering snapshot of the 70s. It may have some quirks that stand out like a disco ball in a minimalist living room, but its nostalgic charm and timeless appeal make it a must-have addition to your collection. So, dust off your platform shoes and oversized glasses, and let Sir Elton whisk you away to a land where rock reigns supreme and the yellow brick road never ends.
A few classics but wasnt a fan of the faux southern drawl in some of the later songs. Still a very good listen
4.75
Grey Seal goes hard
Leuk weetje: deze plaat is op hetzelfde Franse kasteel opgenomen als de vorige plaat, van T-Rex. Maar goed, als je dit album in één zin zou moeten samenvatten, is het: fun. Sir Elton laat zich lekker gaan, zijn creativiteit de vrije loop latend. Het sleept me echter niet genoeg mee om het subliem te vinden. Wel leuk om het origineel van 'Kopje koffie in de wind' van Rooie Rinus en Pé Daalemmer weer eens te horen.
Elton verrast mij een paar keer. Is dit echt Elton? En ook als hij wat anders doet dan ik van hem gewend ben, is de uitvoering uitstekend. Dan kan je dus zonder problemen een dubbel-album afleveren.
Wederom een fijne rock n roll plaat van Elten Jon. De dubbelaar verveelde niet en het tempo blijft er lekker in zitten. Aangezien het ietwat gedateerd aanvoelt wel en het voor mij niet de wow-factor heeft, blijft het steken op 4 sterretjes. Maar ik zou het met alle plezier nog een keer aanzetten.
Nåken jævlig bra sanga, men og ein del fyllmasse. Kunne fint ha kutta ned albumet med ein halvtime (da gjelde forsåvidt alle album på over ein time)
Most of this album was new to me, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a little hit-and-miss in the middle, which is why I can't give it a 5, but this is a solid album and I've definitely got some new songs to add to my regular rotation.
Ahh, such a good album with a lot of diversity. I simply love Bennie and the jets
very good for background music and all recognisable bangers but they all sound very similar
Classic. But also inconsistent.
Favorite song - Candle in the Wind
Very solid classic rock album, only a couple tracks that weren't great
Good classic british rock album. First full elton album I listened to
70’s Elton John is peak music
Plenty of timeless classics and not too much filler on a double album for the ages.
Never got too into Elton but never had a problem with him either. This is good but I don’t have much to say about it. Social Disease was my favorite.
Again, sorry fans, I am prejudiced. I decided I mostly dont like Elton John. No denying its an iconic album and has so many great moments and songs. Its better than I expected. Few albums are this evocatice. Princess Diana. A reluctant 4. legandary. just not a fave.
Elton’s sprawling masterpiece. The album where, more than any other, he maintains the quality beyond the singles. The opener is an absolute monster of an 11 minute song.
Eltonin kuuntelu on itsellä jäänyt liian vähälle. Tämä oli hieno ja auttoi vähän rauhoittumaan aamulla. 4/5
Mestarillisen pianopopparin hittikimara. Ja toimiihan se. 4/5.
I have never heard this album all the way through, though when listening there were a lot of individual songs I recognized. I was losing steam towards the end though... I think this album was a bit too long to hold my attention all the way through. Lots of classics though!
One of Elton's best-selling & most beloved albums... and one that's a bit too long for me to call one of my favourites of his. Still a really good album overall though. favs: Bennie & the Jets, Candle in the Wind, I've Seen That Movie Too, All the Girls Love Alice least fav: Jamaica Jerk-Off
ilk sarki mukkemmel 11 dk yi gorunce basta nasil biticek bu kesin atlarim falan diye dusundum ama sonra akti gitti hatta favori parcalarimdan oldu
Starts off like a visit to the Korova Milk Bar and then turns into a who's who list of Elton John hits. This is a really great album
Never listened to an actual Elton album. Obviously I know all the big songs, so it's just a question of what the rest is like. Nice to listen to the proper version of Candle in the Wind instead of the incredibly mawkish rework. I forgot how terrific a song it genuinely is. Benny and the Jets is obviously magnificent, and the title track is plainly one of the greatest songs written by anyone, ever. Weirdly I heard the Beastie Boys slightly daft (but still faithful) cover of the former before I heard the original. Saturday Night's alright for fighting, likewise, absolute cracker. So to the rest. Grey Seal is great. Jamaica Jerk off is not great. Everything else is good, very good even, but it's not really classic. It's unfair to compare them to 4 of the best songs ever written but they are on the same album so here we are. Also, this is a double album, which needs to have extra classic bangers to score top marks. (It's only 6 minutes longer than the Spiritualized 'single' album I just gave 5 to, but hey ho)
A really good album, but I don't think every single track deserves its place on it.
Love love love Elton John. As always there are a few odd tracks but come on it doesn’t get better than Bennie and the Jets <3
This album starts off so so unbelievably strong! It kind of drops off a bit but each song still delivers great music (especially the piano obviously), great voice, and great storytelling. Elton is a master of his craft!
What a fantastic album. I've heard the big songs but this is my first listen straight through. The album started very strong but didn't keep that up the entire time. It wasn't bad by any means but not as good as the first 4 songs until Saturday Night's Alright. This is a very high 4 if not a 5.
Instrumentally this album is flawless. Overall there’s a few skips but what an iconic album, sound, and man in Elton John.
Shattered my preconception that Elton John is a mawkish bore. Incredible highlights on this album, Candle in the Wind really hits hard and the title tracks’s chorus is glorious.
Lots of hits, but also lots of filler.
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road est ma chanson préférée d’Elton John. J’aime également son côté rock’n’roll, moins ballade. Je me suis donc énormément divertie. Avec Benny and the Jets en plus, on frôle vraiment les 5 étoiles
This album is, at points, very good, like on the opening suite Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding which is one of the best thing Elton John ever produced. Unfortunately, its length and fillers are big downsides that keeps it from true perfection. 7,5/10
Really good album. The first song is 1/2 of the album, but it's got energy and spirit.
Banger after banger on this bad boy. One I would like to add to my collection.
Ok
A lot of classics, but kind of overstuffed.
Although Elton and Bernie’s collaboration produced many great albums and many excellent songs across many albums, it is this album where all their production and songwriting strength is brought to bear. For me, this is the Deep Cuts album par excellence. Of course this album has unassailable hits like the title track and “Candle in the Wind”, a song that—like “Yesterday”—is ingrained in pop culture consciousness, but the glue that holds it all together is surprising high quality of the deep cuts. Just listen to “This Song Has No Title”, a throwaway track if there ever was one—but it is? One doesn’t waste such poetic lines as “born on the breeze and die on the wind” on throwaway songs. Or what about the reversed weeping guitar solo on “I’ve Seen That Movie Too”? Brilliant stuff that really sweeps you away. Even the vibraphone and violin on “Sweet Painted Lady” perfectly paints the charming atmosphere of some seaside debauchery. This is without a doubt one of the greatest double albums of all time. So kick back and enjoy Elton at his most beautiful and symphonic and melodious and harmonious, but also enjoy the grit and vinegar sprinkled throughout!
A pastiche pop album, it's fun, it's got nice surprises. Your Sister can't Twist (but she can rock'n'roll) and Bennie and the Jets as songs are very catchy. Production 2/5 Fun 4/5 Nostalgia 1/5 Musicality 2.5/5 Singing 4/5 [Best Song for my album nr. 10; Pavement Slanted and Enchanted is Two States]
I listened to this in the car, so I didn't really get a chance to pick standouts, but they're kind of obvious in this context. The album starts out super strong, but there's just too much time in between heaters for this to be a 5 in my eyes.
Some of Elton's best work
Cor, there are some big hitters on here. None more so than the title track, which is possibly Elton’s best, in my opinion. The album tracks are mostly very good too, but not always - it would probably benefit from being a single disc, and cutting a chunk out of the middle (tracks 7-11, for instance) would be the easiest way to achieve that. Still, it’s got me excited to see the big man on the Pyramid Stage next year.
Every song on the first side was a hit. Funeral for a friend is an epic masterpiece of music. The whole album is great overall, Saturday nights alright for fighting was the other hit off this album. It all flows together nicely. Great album
I rock musical/opera style epic from Elton’s imperial period
Classic
Poprock, virkelig catchy, rammer lige på, bare bundsolidt
The only Elton John album that I have ever had time for. Stand out.
4 or 5 great songs on this album and no real duds. Lots of different genres but nothing sounded forced. Great storytelling and very much worth a listen. Album is a little too long otherwise I'd probably give this 5 stars.
It seems like he threw everything at this album... and it works for me.
favourite song: i've seen that movie too least favourite song: jamaica jerk off really really solid album. kept my attention very well despite its length and very rarely got tiresome or boring.
Good job Sir.
I wish it gave me this on a saturday
afude
elton john - goodbye yellow brick road (1973) notes - classic alert!!! - what a big boy - 14 song double album - first half is just banger after banger - loses it in the middle a bit - but ends off strong with the song harmony - love the little synth accents sprinkled throughout the album and how they pair with his piano playing fav - goodbye yellow brick road - one of the greatest chord and melody combos ever - dissillusionment of fame least fav - your sister cant twist - jamaica jerk off ALMOST a 5, but a few songs i felt werent on the same level as others 4.5/5
This album starts extremely strong - first four all classics. It fades after that. Still great.
Better than I expected out of it
This was fantastic. A lot of classics that were fun to revisit and some new songs like Jamaican Jerk that were fun to discover. Will definitely be returning to this.
Didn't like every song but there are a lot of good ones for sure.
Alternately brilliant and bloated, this was the declaration by Elton John that he was here to stay. Excellent album if marred by a couple of clunkers.
Was a little long but some real classics on here. Also loved the opener.
I didn't realize how sassy he was in these early albums.
lots of great tunes. never rated Elton as I grew up in the MOR/Cocaine era Elton but have come to apricate his earlier work a lot more in recent years
Amazing singles, some good deep cuts.
Great album, but a tad bit too long.
Really enjoyed this. Could have done without Jamaica Jerk-Off. (Haha, I see I’m not the only one who feels that way.)
Fabulous. Was on the road to five stars when suddenly “Jamaica Jerk-off” came on and I thought, “No Sir Elton, you have to be penalized in some form for that.”
I like most of this, but I love Grey Seal the very most. Incredible variety for a man with a piano, but yeah.... sometimes he really misses (Jamaica Jerk Off).
Glamorous. Like the big jewel in the middle of the fancy brooch, this flashy album is set right in its time period. Elton is having the time of his life and railing away on that piano, no doubt dressed in his signature extravagant outfits. It’s definitely Stadium Rock, the type of anthems that only sound good when 50,000 people are squished together in an arena listening to them. The songs started to sound the same somewhere in the middle, but there are some iconic and legendary songs on here. Bonus points for thinking it was “electric boobs” and not “electric moves” until I was 20, and for the rocking cover art. My favorites: Candle in the Wind, Bennie and the Jets, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Harmony
I mean, it’s Elton John… Jamaica Jerk Off, though? No
excellent c'est tout
I have never heard a full Elton John's album and only now I can tell that it was a great mistake. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is a charming piece, consisting of compositions from a wide variety of genres, like rock, pop, rock'n'roll, country and many, many more subgenres of above. In general, Elton's voice, his pugnacity, showmanship and uniqueness, make it a genre of its own. I understand that this album has received plenty of awards and is internationally recognised, but I am honestly surprised that songs from this record aren't more popular on radio air, or in popculture, and instead we are being tortured with 20 different remixes of "Cold Heart" and "I'm Still Standing". Unless I have been mistaken, the album is still extremely popular, and I've been living under a rock for all those years. The album starts very strong, with my favourite composition "Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding". Beautiful song with a great instrumental part, evoking many emotions, but still very entertaining and catchy. It has some resembling to progressive songs of the time, not only by structure, but also by length. The bar has been set up very high with this one, and truth to be told, it was very hard to match the energy and the complicated and complex part like this. After this song album slows down a bit and gives a lot more room for Elton John's voice to be at front. And even though it's the most sensible decision, I am a little bit disappointed the record didn't move in the direction of "Funeral For a Friend". Second part of the album explores multiple genres, we have a few ballads, couple rock'n'roll tunes, a country song, but everything is intertwined by a great voice and talent of Elton. I am very surprised at the quality of this album (positively, of course) and I am sure I will come back to this album times and times again.
A great glam rock album, with highlights for me being Dirty Little Girl and Grey Seal.
4.25
9/10. His best album
The record that defined Elton as we know him: the larger than life star. An album that showcases every aspect of his personality with a huge blockbuster sound. Three amazing singles, and another single that's unfortunately my least favorite EJ song ever. A variety of styles (both good and not so good) providing at least something that resonates for pretty much everyone.
Lovely stuff
Great album, but could be shorter. I love Elton John, so it was all great for me. I can see others finding this to be a bit of a slog.
Il y a un peu de remplissage sur cet album, mais il y a quand même 17 chansons dont 6 hits. De plus, le remplissage n’est pas ennuyeux, juste moins intéressant. Tout un album.
Je ne connais pas tant les albums d'Elton John, mais je pense que je peux affirmer sans me tromper que c'est mon préféré (même si c'est la première fois que je l'écoute en entier 🤣). Des mélodies biens construites avec une bonne dose de rock. Un classique et un essentiel de l'artiste (que je dois d'ailleurs me procurer...).
A phenomenal album! What a classic! Only held back by a few misses, but what a fantastic showing from the one and only Elton John.
Some really good stuff, from an era I really like. I can't believe I never listened to that!
Really impressed with the energy, a lot of classic songs on here too. Suffers from double album bloat, there’s a perfect album in there watered down slightly by a few clunkers.
Scattered thoughts. Elton John's falsetto made this nearly unbearable at times Otherwise, excellent songwriting with lots of dramatic chords like secondary dominants. I don't find the album ever reaches the heights that the first song achieves, however. I was never bored listening to this. Not a personal favorite but high scores for the complex songwriting.
Something for everyone. Literally, there’s a banjo in there Personally think it’s too long but there is some bangers in there, All the Girls Love Alice is a personal favourite
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road( is one of the classic albums of Elton John. It contains "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "Bennie and the Jets", "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" and of cource the original (and best version of) "Candle in the Wind".
Heard a lot of these songs before. Did not know about the reggae song.
Probably his best album
It's a good thing Yellow Brick Road is a double: This second side is rockin' and rollin', and that trait is just what sets the album above typical Elton fare. Not that typicality is necessarily bad. Lyrics detail a love affair with show business, filling a welcome glam niche. The ballads scattered throughout are good. A few pieces (Dirty Little Girl) are well and truly weird. It's appropriate for the titular voice to be the connecting tissue of a pop album. Elton John's is a tad too nice for some of the cuts here, but it was never going to be a fully cohesive or eclectic record.
Discazo Candle in the wind es un temazo en su primera versión
A classic. Pretty good
About as good as expected. The feel loses steam over time, but double album and made it through which is nice.
In my humble opinion, what we have over here are: 1. Elton John's best album, and 2. Elton John's best song (the title track). Both of these say a lot, given Elton John is not exactly a slouch when it comes to producing classics. That said, I do think a shorter version of this album would have packed a bigger punch (and easily deserve the full 5 stars accolade).
TIL "Candle in the Wind" was originally about Marilyn Monroe. I knew Elton John was fantastic, but I enjoyed this more than I thought I would.
Benny!
Classic Reginald Dwight right here!
One's always dinged and (perhaps) underrated Elton for all the silliness and celebrity-ing. This is quality, with spirit and soulfulness in the playing and singing and no shortage of willingness to have some fun. One forgets how good songs like "Harmony" were/are. Perhaps the softening in one's cynicism toward certain stars is to be expected. 3.7 / 4
A sprawling, fantastical compendium of piano-driven soft rock that - somehow - manages to hit the mark, most of the time. Side one, which kicks off with 'Funeral for a Friend' and wraps with the helium-powered oddity 'Bennie and the Jets', is fantastic. Elsewhere, all the big songs - the title track, 'Saturday Night' - deserve their laurels. Brilliant pop music. I wasn't familiar with the rest, so was pleased to find some gooey, chewy stuff like 'I've Seen that Movie Too', 'Social Disease', 'The Ballad of Danny Bailey' and 'All the Girls Love Alice'; even the rather eccentric 'Grey Seal' possesses a kicky charm. Taupin's lyrics are ambitious throughout, but inevitably on a double album there's a bit of variance in quality. Some of the more pedestrian material has the whiff of clunky pub back room sing-alongs, but even this is elevated by John's charismatic performances. Yeah, really good.
Better than I remembered it - still sick of the "hits" but much of the rest really stretches out into interesting territory.
I know this record from the singles which are all hot fire. Listening to the whole thing makes it clear why it's considered his best record.
He made a point in glam rock.
3.5/5. It's Elton John. It's good, I'm just not the biggest fan of this type of music. This album is also pretty long.
According to Wikipedia this album is considered to be one of if not John's best works and I would have a heard time challenging that.
Aside from a couple of weaker songs (Jamaica Jerk-Off?), the album deserves its spot on this list as a masterpiece
4, very grand
A legendary and once in a lifetime musician. I loved this album so much. Bunch of hits on it.
Holy shit. I'm so sorry, Elton John. Can't believe I haven't heard a single one of his albums in full until now. While I can't give this full five-star treatment (there are a few skips for me), the vast majority of the deep cuts are enjoyable and this album absolutely deserves a place on a list of seminal albums in music history. Notably, you can hear the sonic influence here: "this song has no title" has a VERY similar opening piano line to Mika's "Underwater". I doubt that is coincidental; it's probably a direct homage, whether or not it's conscious. Fave track: torn between Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding (reads like a synth version of Bohemian Rhapsody), or Saturday Night's All Right for Fighting (that guitar!!!)
Iconic songs, but there still are better albums out there.
I grew up with a Greatest Hits album — the one with Elton in a white suit and hat on the cover. I always assumed they had put a live version of Bennie and the Jets on it. Imagine my surprise when I later picked up Goodbye Yellow Brick Road — finally, the “album” version…
A pivotal Elton John album. The music sounds so good throughout- the high quality musicianship leaps out at you - and the production is excellent, sounding so grand. The four opening tracks are exemplary. For a double album you better be damn sure there’s enough material and unfortunately there are too many tracks without much to commend them (Jamaica Jerkoff being especially egregious). At times there’s a nastiness and misogyny to Taupin’s lyrics which jars today. So many stories here but very little emotional insight or poetry. But let’s be honest, we’re all here for Elton John’s performance and that shines across the record and the energy is infectious.
Jolly good!
Erittäin keinutteleva. Hyviä melodioita täynnä ja draamankaaria
Brilliant but sprawling album. Not always my taste but I appreciate how great it is.
I haven't listened to much of Elton John in my lifetime, but it was a strange coincidence I listened to the title track a few days before receiving this. It is definitely a good album, but it definitely had a mixtures of ups and downs. Elton's musicianship was brillian throughout though so I am glad I listened to one of his works in full. The first half would be a 5. Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding was a very interesting album opener that intrigued me immediately, and then you got Candle In The Wind afterwards which is a staple in pop music. Bennie And The Jets and the title track were excellent following tracks, and there are a few fun and sad songs to accompany the first half. On the second half I began to tire from investment. Found Your Sister Can't Twist and Roy Rodgers incredibly annoying, and was overall a bit bored with the rest except for Saturday Night's Alright and Harmony which brought me back to life. After this I found out that I probably won't become a massive fan of Elton, but can still come away liking several of his songs and appreciate his musicianship more so.
This is a damn fine album and for me just behind Madman Across the Water for EJs very best. The first 4 songs are basically classics and point to the stylistic chameleon EJ can be. A prog rock opus, a tender ballad, a straight up rocker and mid tempo beauty all done with drama and grace. There are a few silly one's the rest of the way (I'm looking at you Jamaica Jerk Off). But Grey Seal and especially Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting, raise the bar once again. An excellent album 4.5 🌟
A gem!
Lots of 10/10 tunes and a few duds makes this a perfect 4 star. Also one of the greatest intro tracks I've ever heard
Absolutely bibbity bobbity bops Hadn't listened to this in a while but I know that I loved it! Was a bit obsessed while I was in Australia WHAT A BLOODY INTRO!! Candle in the Wind is just devastating Wowza I forgot how absolutely stacked this album is, obviously Bennie and the Jets absolutely slaps Goodbye Yellow Brick Road will always have a shiny emotional place in my brain I think, it's so short and yet it feels like a full story (I remember listening to it on loop on the metro in Sydney when I was feeling a bit homesick and weird) Oh the intro to Grey Seal is fabby!! Heck I remember this song now, its all fabby My attention started to drift a bit towards the end, it is quite a long album, but it is solid
When I was a kid, one of my go-to karaoke songs was "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road". I never sat down to listen to the album proper, and honestly forgot about that until I did today. The record does a fantastic job of playing everything from shirt-rending wails of grief ballads, to drunken-knock-down-fight party songs. There's surprisingly little fat to trim here. It's also an impressive move to open a pop album with an 11 minute prog-ish song, and having it pay off is just another point in Elton John's favor. Favorite tracks: "Bennie And The Jets", "I've Seen That Movie Too", "Saturday Night's Alright", "Social Disease", "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"
I have heard so much Elton John, but for some reason limited to the his Greatest hits, likely due to the huge catalog that he has. Refreshing to listen the an album and a few new discoveries. Not sure if I would seek out again but if I want some Elton, then I'll put on an album in future. Also great to hear Candle in the Wind for who it was originally intended.
El mero mero estilo de Elton John. mis favoritas Candle In The Wind y Sweet Painted Lady. Roy Rogers también. Mi problema con este disco es lo largo, dos que tres suenan muy parecidas que se podrían recortar y hacer un turbodiscazo. Sólido 4.
Theatre kid yacht rock
Some of Elton John's best tracks are on this but I don't think his style of songwriting holds up over the course of a double album. Needs more of a narrative thread or something to do that. Still, it's a four for me just on the sheer strength of the singles that came from this.
Ohhhhh bloody hell this was great. I unashamedly a big Elton fan. Mostly since I saw him (for free!) a few years ago (my friends flat overlooks the cricket ground where he did a show). It was fantastic. I love how grand this album is. What a legend
ooooo what a banger
A lot of tunes on this one. Bit of a classic. If anything, it goes on a bit, though
Elton John is van vele markten thuis, en dit is dus een album bol goeie muziek. Al vind ik het misschien niet zo herluisterbaar
A fair dinkum classic.
This is a damn fine album and for me just behind Madman Across the Water for EJs very best. The first 4 songs are basically classics and point to the stylistic chameleon EJ can be. A prog rock opus, a tender ballad, a straight up rocker and mid tempo beauty all done with drama and grace. There are a few silly one's the rest of the way (I'm looking at you Jamaica Jerk Off). But Grey Seal and especially Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting, raise the bar once again. An excellent album 4.5 🌟
Never have listened to this album before but was obviously pretty familiar with a lot of songs. The first song sounds a little like Elton John trying to play Rush (not in a bad way). I recognize Elton John is talented and get why people love him. I'm just not a huge Elton John fan... never have been.
I hate Elton John, but this is by far his most palatable album. I had the 45 of “Saturday Night” and remember listening to it with my sister as a kid.
A couple of great songs on here but too drawn out for top marks. I would have liked to have got this over a weekend to give it a really good listen but it feels like something I have to “give a chance” or put in effort to “get” it doesn’t just grab me as being amazing in its own right, as with a lot of Elton John stuff. Just not a big fan I guess.
C'était bien jusqu'à ce qu'il décrive des gamines de 16 ans comme des "dirty little girls" Prefs: Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding, Candle in the Wind, Bennie and the Jets, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Grey Seal, Jamaica Jerk-Off, The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909–34), Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting, Social Disease Moins pref: Dirty Little Girl
Overall this is a fantastic album, but in my opinion it's one side too long. There are many so-so double albums which could have been outstanding single albums if the filler had been left out. With this that doesn't quite hold true, because in order to make it a single you'd have to throw away some good stuff along with the filler. If you could have a three-sided LP then this would be a great contender. If I never hear Jamaica Jerk-Off again I wouldn't be sad about it, and it's be a much better start to the album if it kicked off straight into Love Lies Bleeding. It's still a masterpiece, but it loses a star for the unnecessary filler.
Classic!
His masterpiece
Really liked this album. Intro and first track are fantastic. Benny and the jets is a horrible song.
I quite liked it overall although the body of work didn't match the highs and it was too long. Not sure whether 3 or 4 stars, if I could I'd give it 3.5 on the site. Still, that first song is a gem and I will listen to it regularly.
4/5 for me. I agree with the rest of you that it was way too long, and would add that it was too sprawling in terms of what it tried to cover. you've got: - big instrumental hovering between rock opera and prog rock (Funeral For a Friend) - ballad types (Candle in the Wind, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, This Song Has No Title, Grey Seal, I've Seen That Movie Too, Danny Bailey, Roy Rogers, Harmony) - Elton with attitude (Bennie and the Jets, Saturday Night, Social Disease) - reggae Elton (Jamaica Jerk-Off) - smutty Elton (Sweet Painted Lady, Dirty Little Girl, All The Girls Love Alice) - Elton the Beach Boy (Your Sister Can't Twist) Would have worked better as a double album, with the ballads on one disc. As it is, it doesn't really feel like an album, there's not much connecting the songs and the styles. That being said, there are some phenomenal songs on there, those first four is probably the best start to an album that we've had so far. Then you've also got Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting, which I knew coming into this and a couple of others (Roy Rogers and Sweet Painted Lady) which I didn't know before but really like.
Very good. Heard before.
Baladas de Elton John. Animadas. Un 4.
Un 4, casi 3
So dense. Curious about how Elton John got into ska.
Side A of this album is so strong. Had never listened to it in full before. Most of the hits are front loaded with the exception of Saturday Night's Alright. The middle of the album is blah and Jamaica Jerk-Off is almost unlistenable. But giving it a 4 for how strong it starts off with those hits. And a great album cover.
Top Tracks: > Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding > Bennie and the Jets > Goodbye Yellow Brick Road > I've Seen that Movie Too > Dirty Little Girl > All the Girls Love Alice > Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting > Harmony
An enjoyable collection of songs, including several monster hits, some surprises both pleasant (Grey Seal, Harmony) and quite unpleasant (Jamaica Jerk-Off). A tour-de-force of a great musical storyteller at the height of his powers.
Funeral for a friend, ha una lunga intro ed è una lunga intro all'album. Candle in the wind capolavoro, anche nella prima versione. Goodbye yellow brick road altro classico. Anche 'Saturday night's alright', ma le altre non mi rimangono molto, per questo non dò 5 stelle.
This is the 7th album from Elton John, and is regarded as his magnum opus as well as his best-selling album, after all of the popular songs on it helped this album sell over 30 million copies worldwide. The album is certified 8 times platinum in the US and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003. It's hard to find something to not like about this album. Every song sounds like a jam even the less popular ones, and the popular ones were such big hits that everyone knows them. Pop rock was a hot topic back in the 70's and 80's, but it still holds up today. I am glad to have finally had the pleasure of listening to this album in its entirety.
A good double album with nice piano-heavy music that however leaves me wanting a bit more. A bit more rock, a bit more prog rock and also a bit more diversity
This one started out rocking and ended kind of mellow. I was surprised at how many songs I knew off of it. Six recognized songs
Well, this is a pleasant surprise. Had heard the hits, but never really sat down to listen and couldn't get the Princess Diana association out of my brain. But a good listen - Benny and the Jets a standout.
Definitely plenty of great songs.
Super lekker, had echt cheesy dingen verwacht maar viel me alles mee
Nice to hear some old school Elton. Good dose of rock and
Never a massive Elton fan, but this is a damn fine album.
Es ist wie eine ganz große Show. Ich muss nicht alles mögen, um aber allem zu attestieren: großes Tennis! 3.5
What a wavy ass album, Elton John really is who tf he says he is lmao. Such great songs and ya, goodbye yellow brick road we're back to reality.
Always good
Pretty dmn good
War nie wirklich ein Elton Fan, aber er macht schon geniale Musik.
The image of Sir Elton was distorted into parody long ago and I've had an aversion to his flamboyant whimsy and overblown fame since I was a kid, not to mention the ubiquitous radio/MTV presence that killed his context. I put off listening to this record extensively, expecting it would be unbearably trite, dated and worn out. Who's the asshole now? I had never given this record a fair chance and yet right away I was bewildered and intrigued; from the opening ELO-esque spacey opera and then sweeping into waves of undeniably hooky, uplifting and endearing ballads I understood where all the adoration came from.
Great start. Lost steam near the end though.
absolute favourite of mine!
Not as bad as expected
Alcuni classici di Elton
There are a lot of hits on the album. However there are other songs that aren't that good. Still overall a good album.
Jamaican Jerk Off was awful -1 star.
Classic Rock album!
Look at those motherfucking high heels.
You don't expect an Elton John album to open with a bunch of Wendy Carlos style electronica. Or the bleakness of Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding. The next three tracks are all all time. Candle is my least favourite, probably because it was ruined by Greek Phil killing Ol' Jug Ears' ex missus. The original is still infinitely sadder and, ironically given his friendship with Di, more heartfelt. But Bennie and the Jets, and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road are all time classics and Taupin and John at there finest. Hard to even approach them with a critical mind. This Song Has No Title is still good, but suffers from its proximity to the aforementioned pile of genius. Grey Seal is fin too, and at the point it came in, the album required a change of pace. There is a bit of a lull from the cod reggae of Jamaica Jerk Off up to Danny Bailey, which picks up again (John shines when he's writing more biographically. Odd). About a minute longer than it needed to be though, with some extended piano camping at the end. It then hits a strong stretch of more rock n roll music from Alice to Saturday Night, which injects a lot more energy and life back into the album. This is sustained until the mediocre closer, Harmony. In conclusion, a lot of this album is brilliant. There are a couple of mediocre stretches it could do without, but definitely a great one.
The synth and bass work on some of the songs is outstanding :)
Pop, rock... Todo con un gusto impresionante. Tenía ganas de meterme con Elton y no ha defraudado. El que no haya de las que conozco me hizo relajarme y simplemente disfrutarlo. Trascendencia: 5. Entiendo que es muy buen disco, pero desde la ignorancia... Tan influyente ha sido? Género: 10. Pop/Rock de orfebre Personal: 8. Me encantó, si bien no he sentido la necesidad de volverlo a escuchar.
Didn’t have time to listen to much but some top songs from what I heard
this shit slaps
Classic Rock, calm sounds. Revisit
I definitely never listened to this front to back, and it’s quite good!
It has to be nearly forty years since I listened to the whole album. I remember the anticipation of its release in that it would be a double and whether it could hold the attention all the way through. Listening after such an interval it is striking how varied the music is given the way the two songwriters collaborate. There are some standout tracks, the opener is one of the finest of any album. The closer is pretty good too.
Epic opener and I never knew so many of these hits were on one record! I’ve definitely under appreciated Elton John
Great music. Like it a lot more than I thought I would.
Buen disco, el inicio es muy dramático y me gusta. Quizá un poco largo, pero igual tiene buen ritmo y no diría que aburre, sobre todo hay una variación de estilos y géneros. Me gusta también porque no conocía ningún álbum de Elton John hasta esta dinámica. Canciones preferidas: “Bennie and the Jets”, “I’ve Seen That Movie Too”, “Dirty Little Girl” “Saturday Night’s Alright”. 8.5/10
Pretty solid. Lots of good ones, but quite long.
Classic rock is classic.
Some of the most beautiful!
Isn't quite my favorite Elton John album, but really good.
This is rightly considered a classic.. early Elton was pretty prolific on banging out the tunes!
His early 70s stuff is amazing
I'm refusing to mark this down because of Candle in the Wind despite every desire to do so (a particular bugbear since Di Died on my 21st birthday). Can we accept that this is a great album? 4/5
Really beautiful album, a lot of memorable songs
So Bennie and the Jets is far and away the best song on this album. Side note: thanks to Diana’s “cute boots” story, I only hear electric boobs rather than electric boots and it makes me laugh every time. I hated the candle in the wind song that got popular following the death of Princess Diana (so many Diana references today!) and I had no idea at the time that it was a rewrite. The lyrics about Marilyn Monroe were way less sappy and more interesting. Not interesting enough for 5 stars but listening to this did make me want to go watch Rocketman so I will bump this up to 4 stars based the fact that my interest has been piqued.
I remember there was a time when you couldn’t listen to the radio for more than a few minutes without hearing Elton John. It's easy to see why it's his biggest selling album with it's 4 big hits. I think that Yellow Brick Road is autobiographical for Bernie Taupin, because of the line “I’m going back to my plough” and Bernie was a farmer, and still might be, in his retirement. The supporting tracks seem stronger than on Madman Across the Water. Funeral for a Friend is a good starter/song, some of the others less so, like Jamaican Jerk-off. Nice shoes.
this starts of with Elton's magnum opus - Funeral for a friend/love lies bleeding which in my opinion is one of his very best. The album also has some killer songs: Bennie, Candle in the wind and Saturday night. If he had released this as a single LP and left out some of the filler crap such as Jamaica jerk off and Roy Rogers this album would deserve serious consideration to be a 5 star album.
best so far, I guess. Elton John can sing, which I can't say for dylan
Now we’re talking
Ha gaaaaaaay
Funeral For A Friend and Goodbye Yellow Brick Toad are masterpieces. Candle In The Wind, Bennie And The Jets, and Saturdays Night's Alright are very solid songs too. The rest of the album is still pretty good.
A massive album with some massive songs. Maybe it shouldn't have been a double, though? Best track: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Baladas de Elton John. Animadas.
Very good
Some great singles on this abum
"She's got electric boobs, but no-one knew" - is this peak Elton? Could well be - an insane number of hits here. Absoutely cannot give it 5 stars due to fucking Candle in the bastard Wind though.
Lots of great tracks. Some bad ones too. Album is coherent and follows a piano-centered rock album which isn't something I typically like much due to its repetitive nature. And with a full double album length, it does feel a bit tiring fitting the best songs near the front. But there's some variety here and there. There's a reggae song (which I hate but at least it was different), a rockabilly song ("Your Sister Can't Twist"), something that sounds like it came out of a Rolling Stones album ("Saturday Night's Alright"), and much more. I applaud Elton John's hard piano sound that creates a very distinctive rock identity and is used to make some of the best songs of the decade. It sounds like a great transition for me to learn how to play pop rock songs.
3.5 Easy, will listen again.
Pretty excellent all together. As a double album some tracks tend to drag, but theirs a lot of heat on here from big hits like Benny &the jets and Saturday Night-to lesser stuff like Jamaican Jerk Off which still slaps. Easily can be considered Elton Johns magnum opus
Roy Rogers rides again. Very catchy, good singles, nothing outrageous.
Classic. It does drag a bit and feels a bit bloated, but when it’s good, it’s truly great.
Piano-centric pop consistently does it for me. Several memorable songs I would enjoy hearing again
This guy fucks. // Favs: Funeral For A Friend / Candle In The Wind (?) / Goodbye Yellow Brick Road / I've Seen That Movie Too / Your Sister Can't Twist Score: Strong 4
Legendary. Would've given a 5/5 if sir Elton trimmed the album a little shorter.
Ahhh Duh.. Amazing album.
Classic tunes and more and more appreciation for how good a song writer Elton was
A lot of hits. B-sides is great too. Very blues heavy. Love "All Girls Love Alice" and "Funeral for a Friend".
Such a great album. Had not heard some of those since the 80's. Elton and Bernie were just starting to peak and the songs were powerful. Will listen again
Ein tolles uns vielseitiges Album! Viel mehr als nur Klavier! Candle ins the Wind hammer Lied!
So macht man gute Popmusik! Ich liebe es, wie abweichungsreich die Stücke sind - schon allein das erste. Popt, rockt, grooved, funked daher das Album - gerne immer wieder.
Erst wollte ich 5 Sterne geben, aber dann wurden mir die Lieder doch zu ähnlich. Es kommen bestimmt noch bessere Alben von Elton dran.
Eltons rock opera
Good stuff Elts
And to think this guy would get the chance to back up Years and Years at the Brits in 2021. A brilliant album with some absolute classics and rarely a missed step
After his first three albums with arranger Paul Buckmaster (self-titled, Honky Tonk Chateau, and Madman Across the Water), Elton John had nothing left to prove, artistically speaking. But Elton wasn't satisfied, setting his sights for superstardom, starting with Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was Elton's swing for the fences attempt, and damned if he didn't succeed. Elton streamlined his style, jettisoning the cinematic orchestrations of Paul Buckmaster, de-emphasing roots music, and simplifying the structure of his tunes somewhat, all to great effect, commercially. Ironically, far and away the best song on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is the eponymous cut, with it's complex, winding structure and soaring multipart choruses. For a change, Bennie Maupin's lyrics measure up to the music. Such is the magic of this collaboration is that these two men somehow managed to get most of America to emphasize with a gay protagonist who engages in survival sex in the big city, passed around among friends by a rich benefactor, in 1973 no less! And there are more treasures. Candle in the Wind, which has become identified with Princess Diana, but which was actually written about Marilynn Monroe, is as tuneful and emotional a ballad as you could want. Bennie and the Jets, aside from being laden with hooks, has some ingenious instrumental interplay in the fade out. Sweet Painted Lady is uncommonly rueful and adult for a pop song. And, while I don't personally much enjoy Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting, it's a wonder of pop construction. Most of it is fairly straightforward rock 'n roll, but the long sustained note before the chorus and the wordless vocalizing that ends the chorus are pure genius. The first delays and sets up the chorus so when it hits, it's ten times as powerful as it might have been. The latter skillfully demarcates the choruses the verses. Unfortunately, on the rest of the album, there is more perspiration than inspiration, more workmanship than passion. The bridge and verses on Gray Seal are clumsy and forced, as is the chorus on This Song Has No Title, and I could enumerate many other examples. The thing is, such is the consummate craftsmanship of Elton John that these moments pass by painlessly, even pleasantly. It is tempting to give Goodbye Yellow Brick Road a full five stars on the basis of a handful of superb songs and overall stellar craftsmanship, but I can't. There are just too many songs that just aren't all that good. But I'll err on the side of generosity, as usual.
4/5 good album from Elton!
.
@SHACK - who's your favourite Rocketman, Elton John or Kim Jong-un?
Great album that loses a star for the running time as I was waiting for it to finish by the end.
Enjoyed this. Encompassed sounds of the era with some absolute classics.
An exciting sensation
s éxitos del álbum ("Bennie and the Jets", "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" y "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting")
Our dad is a huge fan of Elton and we have grown up with him around in some capacity but I don't think I've ever sat down to listen to an album all the way through (unless it was when I was little). This is a really fun album, the kind of thing that you play pool side or during a cook out. Elton always knew how to have a good time and translate that into his music. Favs were Saturday's Alright for Fighting and Bennie and the Jets. Classic album cover as well.
I didn't listen too much to Elton John's songs because I identify his songs as something for Sir and classy people, but this album absolutely changes my mind. I didn't love every song, but almost all songs sound very good to me. I'm able to identify much classic rock in these songs and I like it!
un 4, casi 3.
Elton worked a cobbled, oily orgy of piano for every track. Pretty damn good
Great but kinda long
At first I was a bit reluctant but, man, is this album a classic or what? Brilliant songwriting!
Overall good, an interesting mix of sad songs and fun rock.
Sir Elton! Never listened to a full album, but of course I know the hits, several of which are indeed on this album. Dad's a big fan, I'm sure he's enjoying getting this on the list. This is a very strong album, some great variety of sounds and songwriting. I was caught off guard by the reggae/ska track, and then laughed out loud when I saw it was called "Jamaican Jerk-Off." What a cheeky bastard. It loses steam on the back half, and maybe a little too long overall, but still a great album. Somehow I leave this album with the opening lyrics of "Tiny Dancer" stuck in my head, and that's not even on here. Favorite tracks: Saturday Night's Alright, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Bennie and the Jets, Funeral for a Friend. Album art: I like this one, cool art style. Elton John definitely not hiding who he is, you love to see it. 4/5
not bad some good time rock n roll
It was really enjoyable, solid album.
good album overall. some real classics on here
Epic and indulgent, ya know--Elton.
Solid album all the way through
What's not to like? Some amazing hits on here.
🤠
classic
false
Surprisingly good
Good album, some stuff I loved but not all of it, maybe a 3.5 here
Pretty solid album. Some truly timeless songs in there.
opening track SLAPPED. Come on its Elton, of course its gonna be good
Great Album, hopeful and anti-anxiety. Great as an album to listen while working alone at home in 2021.
Some amazing songs and a good composition but some tracks seemed out of place
Überraschender Einsatz von Synthesizer usw.
Classic!
Fighissimo
Thought I knew this album pretty well already, but looking over the track list there are a number of songs I’ve never heard before. Checking it out now. Really great. Parts are a bit samey.
Banger. Solid 4. Never listened to an Elton John album. Knew some songs on it, there were some other good ones. Ran long, 17 tracks. Like an hour and then some. Towards the end I was a lil tired of it, but I get why he's super famous, writes good music
Elton John is a beast.
Mere festligt end man skulle tro. Lidt ballader udover Candle in the wind, men ellers primært godt popmusik. Lidt langt og lidt for meget fyld
An album from Elton’s golden period. Good listen with big hit singles. Definitely warrants a listen and deservedly included in the 1001.
Good consistent album with some great tracks on it 7.5/10
A classic. If it had been a single album it would get a 5.
Like a dope rock opera.
Very beautiful, heartbreaking songs, side by side with energetic, fun songs. Closer to a 4.5 (jamaica jerk-off kinda sucks though)
First album I bought with hard-earned babysitting money. I still have it and still know all the lyrics to every single song. So many times you’d never hear if you didn’t listen to the entire thing. Some a bit weak…well, honestly many more than just some. Listening to it, I wonder who has the harder job--Bernie or Elton? Title song earns a 5, Dirty little girl a 1. Album overall, middle of the road: 3
Ben, c'est fort sympathique, plus rock que le premier album d'Elton John que j'ai eu dans la liste. Très orienté piano, ça va de soi, mais avec plein d'instruments divers et variés. C'était peut-être un chouïa long, mais c'était très intéressant.
Some great melodies and piano playing. The more theatrical bits are less my thing.
Handful of bangers on this one - didn’t overly care for the rest of it but still definitely enjoyed it
moody
Elton John's never been a favourite artist, but some of these early albums are OK.
so many good ideas yet none of them make my heart go badum
Not entirely my style of music, but there are plenty of bits here and there that I do like!
Illustrated by artist Ian Beck, with the overall packaging and package design handled by David Larkham and Michael Ross is all good. As one of the handful of records on constant rotation by my school friends this album was imprinted into that period of our lives. Although I dislike the whiney Reg Dwight immensely the music is compelling and impossible to give the 1* planned. dammit.
Stopped listening by track 6. Elton John is a good musician, but his stuff is a bit too poppy for me. 6/10.