Reviews (page 12 of 14)
Wow, this started on such a high, not at all what I was expecting. The rest of the album doesn't live up to the opener and I found some songs quite annoying (the Jamaican one) but still, a good listen.
Of course the songs I know I like but some of it was a bit slow for me
There are some really great tracks on this - the title track and I've Seen That Movie Too being my highlights. But it really starts to drag towards the end and there's a bit too much that doesn't work - Jamaica Jerk-Off being the real nadir, but even Your Sister Can't Twist had me reaching for the skip button.
I have never been a big fan of Elton John - I appreciate his talent, but most of the time his music is too much entertainment/show music without much essence. This album is well produced with some songs that I liked (Candle in the Wind, though I prefer the 1997 verson after Princess Diana died; or the self titled song). However, the album is too long with quite many songs that were not that great. Overall it's 3 stars at best.
A few hits but they blend into too many similar songs. Would rather listen to early Stones which this is reminiscent of. Favourite song: Harmony.
It was good. It was fun and it wasnt what I expected but I wasn't blown away by it.
I thought I liked Elton John. Didn't enjoy this album though. It generally lacks essence. "Saturday Night's Alright" is the only song I would listen to again. 5/10
This definitely grew on me the second listen. I don’t know how much I’ll actually go back to play these songs but I can see why people like this album and I can appreciate a lot of the tracks on it. Not my usual genre but definitely worth the listen.
yipee to most of the album, not a fan of ‘Jamaica Jerk off’ or ‘dirty little girl’… Favs: Candle in the wind, Bennie and the Jets, Goodbye yellow brick road, Grey seal, Saturday night’s alright for fighting. Rating: 3.8
Ikke dårligt, faktisk bedre end forventet. Men (dobbelt) albummet er 50 minutter for lang... Fat dig dog i korthed, og udgiv 2 hele plader istedet....
Det var slet ikke så slet som jeg havde frygtet. Var faktisk rimelig godt underholdt. Men som mange dobbeltalbums var det for langt til at holde mig fanget fra ende til anden.
Some good ones, some stinkers
The title track is really good, and there are a few other good songs, but there are some huge whiffs, like Jamaica jerk off. Sometimes instead of clever he shades into offensive or just smug.
I know it's a classic, but I just don't think I'm an EJ fan.
Elton John is a lot like Paul McCartney. Some absolute classics and then the "granny songs". This album is a lot like that. Coincidentally, another one I own on vinyl.
I love elton john but my moms obsessed so ove heard it so many times that this is gonna be painful.
Some amazing songs and some boring parts
Some stellar stuff, but it's too long and all over the place. Overwhelming.
Not my genre but a good album nevertheless.
Good album solid Elton John. Candle in the wind version far better than the Diana version
Stimmlich gut, aber nicht mein Stil. Grade so 3.
The opening medley Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding is awesome. I loved how Elton John was able to build up energy by methodically layering instrumentals, eventually crashing into the half-time portion around the 4' mark. Elton John/Bernie Taupin are a fantastic songwriting duo, and there are plenty of great songs on this album. The world needs great pop hits, and Elton John provides them. Only, I feel that these tracks could be mixed up or replaced with others and there would be no effect on the cohesiveness or flow of the album. There is no need to listen to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road as a single entity. There are some truly great performances here, from rock n roll to heartfelt ballad, but I think Goodbye Yellow Brick Road fails as an "album."
Decent tunes.
a lot of great hits. love elton. so so so long which for some reason bothered me
a bit doll
Not exactly a very cohesive album I gotta say. But there's some big hits on here. And it's enjoyable enough to not suffer too badly from being a double album Standouts Candle in the Wind Goodbye Yellow Brick Road I've Seen That Movie Too All The Girls Love Alice
This album starts out really strong; the first several songs have a good variety of mood and tempo. The second half was a slog to get through. I think there were 3 or 4 songs with the same chord progression in the chorus as "goodbye yellow brick road". I tuned out halfway through.
Decent album. Some songs were lacking spice and really didn't offer much to the album as a whole.
7.5/10. Never really listened to that much Elton John before but you can tell it's him from the signature style on the piano. It's very iconic, as is some of the composition of these tunes, I especially enjoyed 'Bennie and the Jets' (which I already knew) and the latter track on the opening tune of the album (which I didn't and have still forgotten the name of). Obviously great vocals as well and plenty of fan favourites in the mix. Having said all this I don't think it did quite enough for me to put it in amongst the top albums in terms of some of the particular brand of emotion which I look for. Can certainly see why this album might take a top spot for some but for me it peaks out at a high 3.
I saw Elton John perform in Vegas and he was great live. I do not consider myself an Elton John fan, but I only really know his big songs. I liked this but didn't love it. There were some really good songs, but also a few clunkers. It dragged a little and was a bit too long. It is certainly of its time in terms of sound, and it can sound a little dated. I wouldn't rush to play it again, but I also wouldn't rush to turn it off.
I just can't really get into Elton John. Candle in the Wind is incredibly sappy and I think wouldn't be so highly regarded if people cared less about Princess Diana. Saturday Night's Alright rocks, but overall this is a pretty self-indulgently long album for how meh it is. I'll give it a 3 overall
It was pretty good but I didn’t listen to all of it. It really didn’t hold my interest.
Прослышал как-то сумбурно, всё прошло мимо.
Daydream, nostalgia, honky, pop rock
I should like this album more than I do. I like the upbeat, campy rock and roll on the second half of the record. The first half despite it’s beautiful songwriting isn’t my favourite but Funeral for a Friend is epic. I love all of the songs after Dirty Little Girl, however
I love some of Elton's songs, hate others and don't care about the vast majority of them - so my first end-to-end with him (oo-er) could be a fun ride! Favourite tracks:
I was really hoping that I would love this, since generally I like piano-forward rock and roll (like Billy Joel). And while there are some really good tracks on here, it never really hit a higher level for me. I was really energized by "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" at the start and hope it would carry me through the album, but unfortunately I think that is the best song on here. I liked when he goes a little more upbeat on the B side of the second LP, with "Your Sister Can't Twist", "Saturday Night's Alright" and "Social Disease",but alot of the middle blends together. Good but not great album.
This is the most 70s thing I've ever heard. The Moog synthesizer, the melodramatic orchestrations, the wall of harmonies in the background. When everyone from The Who to Pink Floyd to Queen to Wings were trying to make rock operas, this album definitely fits in. I've never been a big Elton fan aside from some of the bigger singles. Several of them are on this album, so I wasn't dreading it quite as much as that terrible country-western album of his I had to suffer through. I still wasn't looking forward to it, though. Seeing that the opening track is 11 minutes long did nothing to reassure me. But I have to admit, the bass lines and guitar riffs are pretty sick, the piano is fun, and the weird Reading Rainbow synth lines have an odd charm. The next three tracks should be very familiar to even the most casual music listeners: "Candle in the Wind," "Bennie and the Jets," and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (though as a Millennial, I'm more familiar with the Princess Diana remake than the Marilyn Monroe original — it was actually one of the first singles I ever bought. And I still find it weird that he recycled a memorial song). Bennie always gets on my nerves by about the halfway point, but Goodbye is one of Elton's best songs. By track 5 we're already 20 minutes deep, with another almost hour to go. Oh boy. As with most double albums, not every song is a winner. "Jamaica Jerk-Off" is amusing to say ... less amusing to listen to. "Ive Seen That Movie Too" is a better song, but it's basically a musical mash-up of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Bennie and the Jets" with different words. Then we get into the meat of Bernie Taupin's morality tales and problematic lyrics over the next several songs, with "Dirty Little Girl" being the peak of the ick. Actually, very few of these songs are winners (in my opinion). It gets a bit repetitive musically, and the lyrics are ... not great. I kind of zoned out for a while until the other big hit, "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)." By the last three songs I was kind of over it. It is both admirable and insane that the actual writing of this album took about three weeks total and that Elton allegedly wrote most of the music in three days. Cocaine is a helluva drug. But perhaps that's why several of the songs sound similar and why so many of the lyrics aren't great. I can't say I loved this album. Honestly, besides the opening track and the four singles I can take it or leave it. Elton's just always been a singles guy for me, and the more albums I listen to, the stronger that opinion becomes. I really dislike a lot of Bernie Taupin's lyrics. If you're the kind of person who only pays attention to the music and doesn't listen to the lyrics, I can see the appeal of Elton John. A lot of this album is fine to listen to, musically speaking. But the lyrics drag it down a lot. Elton John is undeniably an iconic artist who has been hugely influential on music, fashion, and gay culture. I understand why many of his albums are on this list from a historical perspective. But they're not my favorite. 3/5
This has some bangers but also it was overlong. Overall, I felt like it was decent to good. Jamaica Jerk-off is a weird track, y'all. 3/5
Startet sehr gut beginnt aber dann schnell sich zu dragen
pretty good fav- bennie and the jets
Um disco maduro de Elton, de grande qualidade técnica.
Would have been 2 were it not for the big hitters.
Hit or miss album. Some truly great tracks in Saturday Night and the title track but others run from awful ( the Jamaican one) to fine. I will happily listen to and seek out some songs but the whole album is unnecessary.
Some absolute classics on here but also some killer so only 3 stars sorry eltz
Ok
3.5
Some belters but not enough for a double album. I'll revisit the good stuff but not the album
Supposedly Elton's best record, and it definitely hits better than the previous album of his I had on this list (Madman Across The Water). I'm just never convinced about the vocals. Musically though it's very good and this definitely had more bops on it. 3.5 stars
titelsong ist mein favorit, danach viel elton john aus den siebzigern 😁
Ein Hammerlied mit Candle inthe Wind und daneben viel Elton John. Ein grosser Musiker aber diese Platte finde ich mittelmässig und zuviel 70er like
Elton isn’t someone I think of in the context of particular albums. For as long as I can remember Elton had always been a background pop culture mainstay for specific songs. This album is decent overall, and has a couple great songs, but is another example an artist where a best of compilation better aligns with what I’m looking for than multiple albums. An hour long Elton best of seems like a guaranteed five stars.
Not bad, though I found it overlong. The hits are all great but the deep cuts were just fine. Worth hearing though!
I like "Candle in the Wind", "Bennie & the Jets", and the title track a lot. Could take or leave most of it. Some of the tracks like "Jamaica Jerk-Off" and "Your Sister Can't Twist" are downright bad. Never really liked "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" either. 3.5 stars.
It’sa shame that the only worthwhile songs on this album are (a) the singles and (b) clustered at the start. Hadn’t really thought about it before, but my clear favourite is Benny and the Jets.
B-B-B-BENNY N THE JETSSSSS
Correcto
Benny and the Jets is such a great song. Rest of the album is good, but not mind-blowing, must hear this before I die.
A bit bloated. I prefer Madman Across The Water, but I still enjoyed most of the songs.
Good mix of both melancholy and theatrical, ‘big production’ upbeat songs. Would be great live!
3- Stars (7/15)
I'm torn. The four singles and two or three others are wonderful songs, the rest - which is a lot - is just ok. I don't see myself returning to listen to this album in its entirety but what's good here is really good.
Decent album.
When does prolific become prolix? Ask Elton John. 13 albums in ten years (including Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, the first album to enter the Billboard 200 at No 1). Any number of absolutely magnificent songs scattered amongst them; no one album rising above satisfactory. Goodbye Yellow Brock Road is typical of the trend. The ten minute epic Funeral for a Friend/Loves Lies Bleeding draws a line in the sand, which the rest of the album backs away from timidly. It’s terribly frustrating. He could have been a contender
the alice song goes so fucking crazy it makes me want to rank this higher than it really deserves. how come all the songs aren’t that good….i don’t care for his ballad-y stuff nearly as much as the more raucous banging out the tunes tracks because the piano features too heavily in the former songs. i know that playing the piano is literally his whole gig but there you go. fav tracks: all the girls love alice; grey seal
He’s obviously very talented and I’ve been listening to his music in some capacity since I was a little kid but there’s a lot of Elton John flavored filler songs on here. There are a few bangers and his piano playing is INCREDIBLE but it wasn’t enough to sustain my interest for a whole hour and sixteen minutes.
3/5
7/10
Some big tunes - candle in the wind - benny and the jets and Saturday night - the rest …..
I’ve heard it before and I expected to give it a 4, but idk something about I’ve Seen That Movie Too coming after that shitty Jamaica song really changed my perspective on this album. There’s something really effortless and vapid about this album, like he’s such a talented songwriter I’m sure he could make 50 albums like this. There’s nothing vulnerable or crunchy here, even if it might look like that on the surface. The emotions he expresses on this album don’t feel like they’re his, I think it’s his closetedness coming through tbh.
3 stars. Some legendary songs but the curse of the double album is here. A true gem of an album hiding within a whole lot of bloat.
Rock, Pop, 1973 -> 3
Good album but it felt a little bit long?
Wenn du dieses Album hörst, wirst du verstehen, warum Elton John ein wahrer Superstar ist – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road ist wie eine musikalische Schatzkiste, die immer wieder neue Überraschungen bereithält.
Has 2 of my favorite songs. Long album with 2 skips. Wouldn’t listen to it in full again
This was ok. A few songs I knew
High highs, not-so-low lows (but surely a bunch of them). Have to respect Elton's willingness to explore sounds
Es muy bueno, pero me aburre. Es muy similar todo, termina cansando, no tiene por qué ser toooodooo piano. Seguro es un gran letrista que no llego a apreciar.
Pretty good, but I kinda expected more. There are far more misses than hits. The misses are still more than tolerable
Not bad, a little long, but it is a double album. I'd say very middle of the road
251/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
Candle in the Wind and Roy Rogers are the stand out tracks for me on this album. Overall, fairly pleasant to listen to, but not really my thing.
I think this would definitely get better with more listens. Not sure 'Jamaica Nero Off' is Elton's finest work.
It starts strong and there are so many bangers but it is too long and inconsistent
3.5
I thought I'd put the wrong album on at first. Interesting start. Didn't hate it. I'm not on team Elton tbh, but I'm fine he exists. The world needs a little glam sometimes, this is pretty low down the list for me though. I wouldn't complain if it was on, but I'd be thinking of what to put on next. Saturday is pretty good. That Jamaica song though. Three stars.
Gostei do álbum, mas não encaixa muito no meu estilo. Dito isto, gostei de Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Bennie And The Jets e Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
I got pretty fed up about half way through
喜歡這張專輯的第一首，像是一場盛大的序幕。用了很特別的電子音跟蟲鳴的樂器聲，很酷。
too long and elton john always got a little too samey to me but sheesh there are a lot of hits on this thing
There’s some real bangers on here and memories came flooding back. The good tracks are really good but the rest aren’t great, so a bit of a mixed bag for me. On the balance of tracks like Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting, and the title track, it probably about swings it to get on the list. I mean how could I not give it the thumbs up when it contains a track called “Jamaica Jerk-Off”
Too much filler. The good songs are very good. The filler songs got annoying in their abundance.
I groaned a little when I saw this was a double album as I feel more often than not, they don't warrant being that long. Saturday Night's Alright caught my eye though, a GTA V classic I appreciate the pretty broad variety in sounds between songs, but I find the gulf between the best and worst tracks pretty huge. Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding is a winding prog pop epic, Bennie and the Jets features some great driving piano and synths and Saturday Night's Alright is a cool hard rocker. The honky tonk stuff towards the end made me roll my eyes and unfortunately, Elton John also succumbs to the "white English guy doing reggae" on Jamaica Jerk-Off which I find so stupid (also what a name). Unsurprisingly, if this wasn't a double album with a lot of fat trimmed off I would probably rate it pretty highly. 3.5 Highlights: Funeral for a Friend/ Love Lies Bleeding, Saturday Night's Alright, Bennie and the Jets
its really good but the album would be much better to me if a good amount of songs where left off the album tbh. Its too much and it makes it feel a little bit lost of the high quality and peak which this album has a few. 3.5/5.0
Fun, fun, I like Elton John.
Elton John is one of those artists whose later works continually detract from the earlier substantial work. He is clearly talented and has a great voice, but I guess he is more a product of his time than an enduring artist.
Couple standouts, but I just don’t get rock and roll piano. It’s..fine I guess.
This project really made me aware that I can stand albums over 40 minutes runtime only in exceptional cases. Sad to say, this is not one of them for me. There are good tracks on here, sure, but too long to keep my attention or listen a second time.
More Elton John than should be consumed in one sitting but it was alright for Saturday afternoon listening. A bit sloggy at parts. 3.5
There are very few weak tracks here, but there are so many in total that it's a lot as an album listening experience.
TIL I only really knew the Elton John hits. Kinda nice to hear new-to-me stuff
This is an incredible album. I would say that 50% of it are songs I love and would return to while the rest is kind of boring.
Beter dan verwacht
Tja, weer zo'n gevalletje van, ik merk dat het goed is, er zitten aspecten aan die ik chill vindt, maar overal not my thing. 3/5
Good vibes
Intenssssah
Good, but waaaaay too long!!!
Not usually my style but if this was playing at a bar I’d absolutely rock the fuck out to it
Elton is alright, although not someone I gravitate to. There are certainly some wonderful songs on this album. However, it is longer than I'd like. I'm sure that is a positive for many, but when you only mildly like the album it starts to drag. Overall, it's an alright album with only one or maybe two misses, four or five straight up bangers, and a whole lot of meh for those who don't love the style.
Standard fare I listened to endlessly while in high school. 3 stars for the memories. Opening track happens to be my fav Elton song of them all.
I think this album is good objectively. I am just not that big into piano rock.
Enjoyed more than I thought I would. Benny and the Jets is an obvious highlight.
Good stuff from Elton!
Four great songs does not make an 18 song album great. This feels boated and showy.
objectively good music, i'm a big fan of Elton, and I really like a few of the tracks on this album, but I got bored and lost interest about halfway through. I think i've realised I can listen to a couple songs of his here and there, but a full length LP is pushing it. Not my kind of music.
It's good, but it feels like it goes on for a lot longer than it should.
entendo porque a galera curte tanto, mas não é pra mim
Good
Far too long and some of the many hits on here are not that good. Saved by Saturday nights
Highs are high, but a lot of the songs were fairly forgettable
There’s a lot to like on this album, but it also feels sometimes cluttered and asinine.
I like a bit of Beck but not enough tracks on this album really registered.
Has some classic hits, wasn't a fan of the composition and his songs not featured on the top 100 were just ok and sounded like filler.
First Elton John album I’ve listened all the way through. Heard plenty of songs and live stuff, but never needed to listen to a whole thing
The singles are fun, the rest of the album seemed a little bloated. I think many of the songs suffered from being too long. 3/5
too long - 17 tracks is too many
I enjoyed the popular songs but not sure I'd relisten to the whole album again.
Mostly awesome
Surprisingly good - will definitely have to mark down for Jamaican Jerk-Off but Bennie and the jets always bangs. Dad suggested that there were similarities with the stooges which was an interesting take. Generally hard not to tap a foot to pretty much the whole album. 3.4, could've edged to 3.5/6 without JJO.
Wasn't my favorite
Clásico para ahora e innovador oara su época
Lots of recording artist of this era seemed almost determined to create THEIR Sgt Pepper. I would say it's not Sgt Pepper but it is Elton John's masterpiece.
пока не научилась отличать песни Элтона, надо продолжать тренироваться
I like Elton John, but in smaller doses. His songs are baroque and (maybe) maudlin enough that it's hard to listen to too many in a row. Cake after cake, sort of thing. So, this suffers for being a double album. There's a 4-star album buried in there.
A few very good songs, but the rest was underwhelming
Not a huge fan but some of his music is impossible to hate. His voice can be soothing. The piano is soothing.
Langweilig. Alte Musik, die mir nicht wirklich gefällt.
Opens with bold, lively, beautifully original sounding pop songs. Unfortunately, those qualities diminish as the album goes on.
Best Song: Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting). The soundtrack to the dumbest possible theatrical dance fight (in a good way). Worst Song: Jamaica Jerk-Off. This song is so absurd, I can hardly believe it's just sitting in the middle of these other iconic mega tracks. "Do Jamaica jerk-off that way?" I really don't know what was even being attempted here. Overall: Sure there's a couple really massive songs here, but there's also a sizeable gulf of relative duds in the middle. Moreover, I get the feeling that if I want to listen to a virtuoso piano-playing singer, why wouldn't I just listen to Stevie Wonder instead? He's got the soul that is missing from a lot of Elton John's music.
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John is a mix of highs and lows. It features a variety of genres and iconic tracks like “Candle in the Wind” and “Bennie and the Jets,” with Bernie Taupin’s lyrics adding depth. However, some songs feel overproduced, and the double album format includes weaker tracks, making it feel a bit long. Overall, it’s a significant album with great moments but doesn’t maintain a high standard throughout.
songs were a bit hit and miss for me, some were good, some were famous, some were…. crap
Classic EJ, but just not my style.
classic Elton John. Some fun songs so classics. Fun listen.
Lots of good songs on this album
Great album, Love painted lady
3.3 Not an elton john fan and didnt really get into the album. Lots of recognizable songs and the songswriting is good. . I guess the question is if this is Eltons best but I'm not going to dig to find out.
Great album by a great singer, and performer. Some artists just know how to perform, Elton is one. Has some memorable hits, that will last forever.
Funeral for a Friend/Love lies Bleeding - really awesome instrumental intro, blends into the song about choosing a creative passion over love Funeral for a friend is an amazing song (typical Elton upbeat ballad?) but a bit long Candle in the Wind - sad but glorious tribute to Marilyn Monroe Bennie & the Jets - umm, it's got a catchy tune that goes uptempo over time and electric music samples (chiptunes?) but still don't get what the type is about (until the ending, maybe this rocks during a live performance?) Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - nice song about moving away from an oppulent life back to the basics This Song has No Title - Short, nothing remarkable about the tune but nice lyrics about wanting to grow up and experience life Grey Seal - lyrics so complex I have no idea what they mean, short Jamaica Jerkoff - Rastafarian tune I've Seen that movie too - resonates to me, about someone lying to you but you know their trick, really good one, underrated gem Sweet painted lady - about a prostitute (maybe meta, we're all a working woman/man?), simple lyrics The Ballad of Danny Bailey - short, simple lyrics song about an American gangster (anti-hero) that died, awesome instrumental with piano lead the end Dirty Little Girl - literal lyrics about a hag 😅 nothing remarkable All the girls love Alice - simple tune, song about a lesbian working girl, nothing remarkable (nice contrast between the upbeat parts and the slow chorus though) Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting - nice rock tune to get pumped with the guys for a night of drinking and partying! Roy Rogers - slow ballad about escapism of watching TV/media, nothing great Social Disease - peppy ballad about being a social nuisance good for nothing alcoholic Harmony - slow ballad about seeing an old flame again into the twilight Your Sister Can't Twist - really upbeat song about a crush, nothing remarkable
Critically, I feel I should give this a 4, but I'm such not an Elton John fan, and I found this album to be too long and drag for me, so I'm giving a reviewer's tilt down to 3. There are some good songs on the album and obviously very famous ones, but many of it feels schlocky to me, and I just don't like his voice or his delivery most of the time.
Good. Not my style, but still pretty enjoyable.
Good album, big fan of Bennie And The Jets, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road & Saturday Night’s Alright. I know/like some Elton John, but I had not heard some of these tracks before.
It’s fine. I probably won’t revisit this one.
I like Elton John, but don't looove Elton John and it isn't something in my normal rotation. I hadn't heard this album front to back before -- I liked it well enough.
Nice experience. Was especially captivated by Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding. The album offers variety in musical styles and themes, high production value, an artist who can actually sing, and solid lyrics. However, there is not a single song I would go back to, let alone the album as a whole. For me, it scrapes the boundary to "great". 3.5/5
Fabulous songs surrounded by too much filler.
v good
It's fine. I don't feel too attached to it.
Like many - I know the hits, some of which I like. And I can tell he's obviously an amazing musician/composer. I really liked the biopic Rocketman, and was amazed at just how big he was in the 1970s. 2% of records sold worldwide were his around the time this album came out. Madness. So I was interested to hear an Elton album as it was meant to be heard. It starts with 11 minutes of a band being fucking pleased with itself. Track 2 - Candle in the Wind - not my thing but everyone can tell it's a solid gold song, gorgeous, classic, etc.... Benny and the Jets - I won't mind never hearing that again. US number 1, apparently! Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - finally! Great track, lots going on - surprisingly short (3:12). Sadly 9 tracks of purest shit follow until Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting. There were three songs after that, which was a pity. I don't know how to rate this - some obvious all time greats, but overall I found this tedious and smug.
Some classic Elton John hits. Lots of songs sound the same though
Surprised by the cultures appropriation in the Jamaica song. Otherwise it’s alright. Saturday is a good song.
Not listened for a while. Doesn't age badly. Good album
This album's a bit hit or miss. I've never loved the ponderous opening of the first track, or the entirety of Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting, and I prefer his remake of Candle in the Wind. But the title track is great, and Bennie and the Jets is a personal fave (it reminds me of my dad, who loved it). I dug a few of the deeper cuts, cringed my way through that Jamaican Jerk-Off, and felt kinda meh about a the others. Elton has melodic and harmonic chops for days, but Bernie isn't a great lyricist, and his poetry tends to keep the songs at arm's length. (Although he does have a gift for memorable phrases. Side note: The bass playing (via Dee Murray) is stellar.
Quite entertaining. I can see why it was a hit and has longevity. I do find it a bit odd the whole schtick but what the heck do I know
If you only had to purchase one Elton album... this one encapsulates his tremendous catalog. Save your money buy this.
I've expressed my feelings about EJ in earlier reviews. That said, this is my favourite of his albums. It's a bit too long, but it's still the one I'll return to if I'm ever in the mood.
Some good songs, a bit much at times
A lot more instrumental and piano than I was expecting. This one requires a second listen, but I enjoyed it.
Toen de intro opdoemde, imagineerde ik de opening van de Toppers bij Vrienden van Amstel Live, of iets dergelijks. Wat een walgelijk begin, en met schoenen gevuld met lood tot aan de enkels stond er nog een hele kluif te wachten. 1 uur en 16 minuten, godscriminelen. Ik wilde stoppen, maar ik heb me kranig verweerd tegen die instinctieve drang. En wonder boven wonder, het opvolgende trio - 'Candle In The Wind', 'Bennie And The Jets' en de titelsong - zorgde zowaar voor de ommekeer, en begon ik mezelf zelfs stiekem te vermaken (niet doorvertellen). Zo'n ballad als 'Candle In The Wind', die vooral bekend is van de live uitvoering bij Diana's uitvaart, is me vaak iets te kitscherig, en je bent direct bang dat de hele plaat vol staat met soortgelijk gejammer. Maar dat deed het niet, hooguit in mondjesmaat. Aandoenlijk nummertje, moet gezegd worden. De piano-driven 'Bennie And The Jets' is vintage Elton John. Een lekkere jam, die aanvoelt als Supertramp in z'n betere dagen. Die piano is natuurlijk weer de lijm die het album bijeen houdt, zoals vaak bij Elton John, maar het album heeft wel wat meer te bieden. De grootste kracht is de energie van het menneke, die eigenlijk tot het einde van het album aanstekelijk is. Op een aantal momenten na, zoals tijdens het ronduit smeerpijperige 'Jamaica Jerk-Off'. Het niveau daalt sowieso een beetje vanaf dat moment, en het had het album goed gedaan als er minimaal één kantje was geschrapt. Maar zoals ik al zei, ook tegen het einde levert hij aanstekelijke poprock, zoals in de rock & rollers 'Your Sister Can't Twist' en 'Saturday Night's Alright'. Die tweede is voor mij het hoogtepunt van het album, en heeft de kwaliteit van een Stones hit uit de 80s. Ik weet niet of het een objectieve beoordeling is, of dat het komt doordat ik de eerste 5 minuten een teiltje had vol gebraakt, waarna er een miraculeuze wederopstanding plaatsvond, maar het beviel me eigenlijk best aardig. Interessanter en vermakelijker werk dan op het reeds beoordeelde album van Elton Sjon. 7,5/10 Highlights: Bennie And The Jets Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)
Liked it quite a bit. Hadn't really listened to Elton John before that much, so it's something new Liked especially on this album: "the Ballad of Danny Bailey" and "All the girls love Alice"
benny and jets hits home
This improved my opinion of Elton John. While I recognize his talents, I have always been bothered by his grand affectation. But the rocking parts of this album are hard to deny. The consistent mention of “dirty little girls” and “tender young Alice” set of alarm bells for me. Different times I suppose.
some of the lyrics are questionable but the instrumentals are gooood and i like this sound so i can half forgive it
Bennie and the Jets and a few other tracks are here, but nothing else stands out.
What the heck even was “Jamaica Jerk-Off”??? Pretty decent album otherwise.
Classics
Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding was one of my favorite elton songs as a kid. The timbre of the synths and guitar in the intro sound sorta cheesy but melody is there and the overall make an epic intro to this song, and Love Lies Bleeding is great. Don't think I ever need to heard candle in the wind again. The syncopated piano chords with the one-off inversions during Bennie and the Jets gets me every time. Jamaica Jerk Off is aptly titled. Sweet Painted Lady, All the Girls Love Alice, Saturday Night are all bops. Overall felt a bit long, but even the weak songs are boosted by Elton's vocal delivery, which can be honky tonk charismatic, soulfully wailing, or just delivered with his distinct swagger.
Ok album. Knew a number of the songs. A good listen...
A straight forward set of pure 70’s pop.
Talented, competent, but it just doesn't touch me - something like Queen. Happy to acknowledge it as a milestone album though
Never listened to an Elton John album before. Skipped the hits which halved the listening time. Quite enjoyed the rest. Like the way Grey Seal rocks out towards the end. 11 minute opening song is ballsy. But then I guess Elton had license to do what the hell he liked by this point. Rock Opera at its finest if that’s your kind of thing. Jamaica Jerk Off indeed……
That it's a double album opening with an eleven minute proggy song is a sign of when the album was made, but it was likely still a gutsy choice for Elton John. The song takes time to develop and is not bad per se but it is also not the reason this record is a classic. I wonder how many people just put the needle on the record starting with track 2 back then because the following 2-3 tracks are absolute smash hits. In fact after these, the rest of the album is good but in an uneven, meandering pastiche kind of way. Kind of like the 70s itself? Maybe the first song is both the decade and the record in miniature in its own way. Honestly, I think once he committed to a double album it led to some bloat that would've otherwise been avoided in a different era. For me, I would prefer to cut out songs like "Your Sister Can't Twist", "Social Disease" for release in some other format. I'd wrap up with "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" immediately followed by "Harmony" as the mellow closer.
pros-lots of variety of music/lyrics, he is a very talented musician. cons-album is pretty long & so are several tracks. his voice is ok, I've never been a huge fan & this album did nothing to move me in that direction.
Iconic. Ive seen Sir Elton live but it's not a vibe and it's replayability is low.
I like Elton John, but in smaller doses. Maybe I’ve just been over exposed over the years. I can easily listen to this album, but I probably wouldn’t choose to do so.
Thought I loved Elton John, but I now know I only loved the hits; and harmony.
Lots of ups and downs for me on this record. I've never been an Elton John fan. I'm also good if I never hear Candle in the Wind again. But some of those other singles are really catchy. So maybe a 3.
Listened to this twice in the past few months and can never remember if I really enjoyed it. So certainly does not have staying power in my brain. I’m thankful that it gave us Biz Markie’s ‘Benny and the Jets’.
I have to admit, this one was way better than the last Elton John album I had.
good listen, a lot of hits all on the same album
It has some hits. It has some filler. Could be a single album if a few got shaved in length or cut out. Still not too long a double disc at 1.25 hours. Benny and the Jets always hits. I like use of guitar on some of the songs song it does not seem like the piano is the lead. Probably the best full album by Elton.
Chalky
Was aight
Such great musicianship - I can’t help but think there’s an amazing ten song album here, but the bloat doesn’t help.
Very famous album I enjoyed it but there’s a few songs on their I don’t enjoy
Starts out really good. Has lots of classics on it but it's too long and there's some really weak tracks
Tvöfaldar plötur eru rúnk, þessi ekki undantekningin. Smellirnir smella. Á skilið aðra yfirferð. 3,5.
Nice
Much better to listen to than Madman Across The Water. Very dated-sounding intro, though, and you do wonder what on earth he was thinking with Jamaica Jerk-Off.
I feel like I’m in a western musical or sumin 🔥🔥 intro track the best
Too much fat on this steak. And cheese.
Love the first song. Some great songs but got a bit boring.
Aight
Some very high highs on the beginning but it kinda does taper off towards the end. Still very enjoyable but probably won’t return to some of the later tracks
Music isn't bad here, but I'm a little turned off by the weird sexual undertones. Too many references to 16 year old kids and other songs with overt double entendres. Not my cup of tea. Fav tracks: Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
It wasn't a bad album, I think I needed more time with it. This song has no title was my favorite track, but again I think I needed more time with it to form an opinion.
Some good songs and gorgeous production on here. Jamaica Jerk-Off is really bad.
7/10
Some great jams on this one. The title track is a personal fave. I never get tired of hearing it. That said, I think a double LP is too much EJ for me in one sitting. And I like him! It just felt like a lot of the same sound. I could hear echos of Benny and the Jets in several other songs. 3.8
It's good but gets long -- they could've gotten it down to a tight 2 sides. Some solid radio hits and decent others. 3.8
I wish I liked this one more than I do.
Some undeniable big hits, but a lot of skips for me.
Was just okay. In my head, some of the lyrics to the MST3K theme song fit to 'Jaimaican Jerk Off,' which was fun. 3/5
Some bangers on here I'll admit but homie is way too obsessed with sixteen year olds
pelado
Sounds like a typical big production 70s rock album. Very piano driven which is nice. Stand out tracks are “Bennie and the jets” and “Dirty girl.” The rest is pretty so so
3.23per track.
I appreciate the energy and craftsmanship of this album, but I have a hard time getting around the fact that listening to it once was enough. I also had a difficult time understanding many of the lyrics because of the reverb effect on his mic for most of the album. Generally speaking, I preferred the tracks without it more. While it's clear this album isn't for me, I fell like it's unfair to give it a 2: it's a 2.75, far better than many other two. So, it gets a lovely rounding up to 3.
On the whole, this album is too long. There's a whole bunch of stuff that, in 2024, does not hold up well to my ears (and maybe half this album has always been filler). That said, "Saturday Night" still slaps 50 years later.
A few bangers, but honestly drags on for a while
Some bangers and some misses
Better than expected. Enjoyed Saturday Night's Alright.
This was quite pleasant without really rocking my world. I knew a few of the tunes from radio play and so on and, other than Candle in the Wind which is so associated with mass hysteria bullshit, there's nothing on there that isn't OK. With more time spent listening to it I imagine I'd like it more.
Not his best work
a classic 70's album where there are like six or seven amazing songs and then a shit ton of bullshit dated shit. first four song run and the back little bit are 10/10.
Yes, there are some great songs on here but a double album of Elton John is just too much.
It's good and I can see why a lot of people love this album. I'd like it more if it was shorter and it rocked a bit more. Maybe 20-30% more? Another good candidate for 3.5 stars.
6.5/10
Fun eclectic album.
Hmmmmmm some great songs, some did not click. Might have to listen again. Great artist in general.
First full Elton, another album where I'm happy I've heard it, I enjoyed it, it has some great moments, but ultimately isn't strong enough at its core to lift it into great territory. Like obviously he's got killer pipes and he draws you in easily and the piano is real crisp and nice, but I expecting a little bitta transcendence given the hype and didn't quite get there. Given how strong a couple tracks on here were, I can't help but feel this would been better with a bitta trimming. Light 3.5 Fav track: Benny and the Jets or I've seen That Movie Too
There's some bangers on here for sure, but I don't think Elton's ever really been my speed. His voice is killer and charismatic, but the tunes are mostly a bit jangly for me. And some are really gross? Maybe I missed the point? Two and a half. Fave track: Bennie and the Jets
I’ll circle back to this one again in the future because I expected to like it more than I did on first listen. I was expecting it to be a 4/5, and hoping for a 5/5. What I found was once beyond the “hits” the deeper tracks all kind of had a similar feel. That’s not great with an album of this length, as the songs on the back half started to blend into each other.
It was ok. I wasn't blown away. I haven't listened to a lot of Elton John and this wasn't the one to convince me to listen to more. I expect, though, that more will come. Standout track: Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)
I’m surprised by this. I would consider myself an Elton John fan but I didn’t love this album aside from the tracks on his greatest hits. Bennie and the Jets is an all time great though.
the 70’s were wild. 3.5 stars.
Tiene algunas que si otras que no
S'écoute très bien, quelques très bonnes mélodies
I adore many Elton John songs and his performances but I've never found an entire album I love. He was a recording artist in an era when quantity meant more money, and he and Bernie cranked them out. This album is a bit long but the first half rips. Unfortunately overall I still file it under Elton John's quest to make money (not that there's anything wrong with that.)
Meget lang... Et par gode sange ind i mellem.
Was only able to hear half.
Was a lot better than I expected after listening to the Madman across the Water. First song was really good, prog rock which I did not expect. It did have some bad ones on it, it was a little all over the place. But the good songs were a very nice surprise. Will I listen to again: 70%
The album with his best song: benieuwd and the jets
I would never of expected tracks like Jamaican Jerk Off, and Social Disease from Elton John, but they are on there and need to be heard to be believed. Couple of good well known tracks but overall it suffers from too much confidence. sometimes you need to think 'is this shit?' and care
Nice
Album has a lot of class John tunes on it. Kind of loses a bit in the middle but overall a pretty good album. 3.5/5 Might listen again
solid could i write poetry to this? n
Surprisingly but really enjoyed listening 3/5
Hm. Kann man hören, ist jetzt aber auch nicht bemerkenswert für mich
I enjoyed his voice but most of the songs were mixed so I couldn't hear him or understand what he was saying. The songs were a little slow for my taste but I did enjoy a few of them and I knew 2 of them and I didn't even know it!
My friend Rachel had this album and we listened to it a lot c 1982. Sad that Candle in the Wind got so over-played after Diana’s death. I had to hold my skippy finger back. Favourite track- I’ve seen that movie too
A few bangers but omg so long
Not bad. Few good ones
Nice tunes, but don’t get the hype as one of the greatest. From the movie knowing his process of getting lyrics from his partner and then putting music to it, cool to think of these as coming out of that process. I like song without a name
not that into the ballady vibe or the man with piano genre but love the opening synths of 'funeral for a friend' and enjoyed some tracks like the classic 'benny and the jets' or something like that
It's not bad I just didn't enjoyed it really much. 6.5/10
Some great pieces in here, he has a very distinct sound, sometimes it’s to my taste, sometimes less so.
Better than I was expecting, but a very long album. I enjoyed it but some began to feel samey after a while. All the Girls Love Alice was a pleasant surprise. I can see myself coming back to this with my good headphones, when I have time to properly appreciate it
Might be one of the best examples of music being subjective because Elton John's cool, but doesn't really move the needle for me. The songs are great, he's great, but I never put on his music and that's pretty much my entire opinion of his entire artistic output. I'd rather listen to Queen?
Very top heavy, gets boring after the first free songs
Liked this more than I had expected, some great 70s vibes but also some big misses (Jamaica Jerk Off, what the hell is going on there? Must've been a shit load of drugs for someone to sign that one off)
Better than most Elton John albums. It has a couple of good songs in.
Better than the other Elton John albums we've had on the list. I had a good old singalong to the hits. What was going on with Jamaica Jerk Off? bit bonkers!
more of a greatest hits fan
Yeah it’s alright!
This album is extraordinarily easy to listen to. There are some bad tracks (lookin at you Jamaican Jerk-off) but also some all timers (Bennie and the Jets, etc) and the mixing is really good. I like but don't love Elton John, but this is a well made album.
Great song! Wait, wtf, this is an album?
Classics are classics for a reason. Very musical in the arrangement.
This album is full of so many hits and also some amazing songs that should have been hits!
Already know this album, not new to me.
A nice little album but not something I'd go looking for
Very seventies, sometimes good, sometimes not..
He is an icon for a reason.
3.5
I felt that it started off pretty strong, but there was some tracks that were pretty nothing to me. Probably could have been trimmed down? Oh well. I liked it more than the other Elton John album I got, so that's good. My favourite song was Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
pleasant but nothing is jumping out at me
good album and a few classis, but not my favorite EJ songs. 3.4/5
Starts of really strong with the first 4-5 songs, but it does fall off a bit after that. The songs are still good, but the album is a bit long and gets a bit boring sometimes.
Elton is a remarkable singer with flair and there’s some entertaining tracks on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. I have no idea what the fuck Benny and the Jets is even about. Saturday Night’s Alright is a banger, Jamaica Jerk-Off is weird but I’m ok with it, same with Your Sister Can’t Twist. There’s something about Elton that just keeps me from getting too into the music though and this album is too stretched out. 3 stars
Surprising, when i think of elton john i think of piano balads. This had piano balads but also more stuff. Quite nice if in the mood for some whimsical showrock
Personally think that Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is the best song on the album. I think as a whole, this album is very average apart from the 4 singles.
AJ: that boy good!
Гуд албум бат ту мач факин филлер, вай со мач Айм тайред афтер листенинг, ватафак из зис шит 6/10
Pretty chill music, but nothing really stood out to me as amazing.
Surprisingly dreadful at points. Candle in the Wind is mawkish and silly, even before the Diana nonsense. I find much here unmoving and occasionally irritating. I prefer his earlier honkier tonkier stuff
Not for me
Must listen all the way through again
Great album not my thing but o do appreciate it
Me: oh yay, Elton John, I know a lot of his music, I’m going to enjoy this album. Reader, apparently I do not know a lot of his music. Still enjoyed the album though.
Standard rock band executed very well. Good to listen to but hard to stand out as an album other than Smoke on the Water obviously
Funeral for a friend/ love lies bleeding 8.8 Candle in the wind 8.6 Bennie and the jets 9.2 Goodbye yellow brick road8.8 This song has no title7.8 Grey seal7.7 Jamaica jerk off6.5 I've seen that movie too 6.6 Sweet painted lady 6.8 The ballad of danny bailey 7.1 Dirty little girl 7.6 All the girls love Alice 5.9 Your sister can't twist 6.2 Saturday night's alright for fighting 8 Roy rogers 6 Social disease 7.1 Harmony 5.8 3.5 stars
Particular tracks stand out very strong, however the album as a whole loses me frequently, and the second half all begins to sound the same.
Never really got into Elton John. I mean I like the songs I do know of his, just don't ever really actively seek him out. This first track is 11 minutes long. It's called a funeral for a friend. Sounds cool. wow, 1973! Bennie And The Jets is on this album. Nice. The song Goodbye Yellow Brick Road just came on. I love this song. I never realized it was Elton John though WTF?! lol. It was aight. I give it 3 stars.
I realize now that I foolishly expected this album to be much more rock and roll (as with Saturday night is alright) when that was the outlier and it is much more overproduced singer songwriter (as in candle in the wind)
3/5 Not my style
Some very good tracks (my favourite one being the track with the same name as the album), some decent ones, and some that were snoozefests. Nothing that was straight up terrible, though.
honestly not that great
Surprisingly decent start with Funeral for a Friend. Went surprisingly quick for an 11min song by someone I dont really like. Could never get away with Elton John, still dont like his voice but this is clear he’s more than just a voice. Candle in the Wind is the typical Elton John I expected: a bit pompus, a bit self indulgent, and just a bit boring for me. Same goes for a few others like Benny and the Jets and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road are belters though. There were a couple where I though ‘ah this aint too bad’, but nothing really stood out. Grey Seal was shite, and I’m not sure what he was thinking with that faux reggae track. He even did the accent. I genuinely couldnt be arsed with this but I quite enjoyed it all things considered. Still not a fan, and wouldnt return, but a lot better than I ever gave him credit for. He seems like a lovely man too, and does a loooot for smaller bands. Always has his finger on the pulse with things. Would like to have a pint with him providing he doesnt bang on about Lady Di
Elton John is great at what he does and this album sailed along given the runtime. That said I wouldn't say I'm a fan, it's very theatre musical-y and I'm not sure I'd ever choose to listen myself, even to the hits. Its inoffensive but not in a bland way, which is basically the key to his worldwide success.
The album opens with an amazing 11min track that just flies by. Unfortunely, it brings you back to down to earth with the awfully boring Candle in the Wind. This album has some big peaks and trophs but overall I liked it. I'll probably listen to the highlights again but the album is far too long and should have been trimmed down. Highlights: Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding Bennie and the Jets Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
Obviously know his hits, but never listened to an album before... The opening track was not what I was expecting at all. Thought I might have got him all wrong.... Then candle in the wind came on, which was played to death in the 90s and is crap. I can't say I enjoyed too much more of it Goodbye yellow brick road is ok I guess. Saturday night's alright is half decent. I appreciate it's put together well, and he's got a good voice and is pretty good at piano.... But not really for me. Although, I bet singing along with a huge live crowd would be amazing Funeral for a friend/love lies bleeding was my favourite though and it catfished me into thinking the rest of the album would follow suit... It didn't. 2 feels harsh so 2.5