Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Album 5 of 1001 Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Rating : 5 / 5

Amazing!

Elton John was great in the first half of the 70s, and this was far and away his best.

Knew a bunch of these already and really enjoyed the album

"...This boy's too young to be singing the blu-uu-ues, ooooh..." A classic. Best songs are "Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding" (what an opener) and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road."

Liked every song. Even the ones i hadn't heard were unique and made Olivia wanna dance. 5 stars

Phenomenal

Aside from the Jamaica song was perfect

I love this album.

Just straight fire. Benny and the jets and goodbye yellow brick road are obviously classics but even the other tracks were awesome. Also the opening instrumental was delicious

Fantastic from front to back, a lot of great talent on here and a real showcase of Elton John's best. Almost feels like a greatest hits album

This falls into the genre of album where it could be mistaken for a greatest hits album. Highlight after highlight.

Great album. I knew most of the songs, but totally enjoyable listen.

So very good

great

Great album. 5/5

This album comes out swinging. Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding, Candle in the Wind, Bennie and the Jets, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road... What a way to start an album! Overall, an amazing record! Favourite songs: Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting), Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'n' Roll), Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Candle in the Wind, Bennie and the Jets, Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding, All the Girls Love Alice, Jamaica Jerk-Off, Roy Rogers, Social Disease, Sweet Painted Lady, Dirty Little Girl Least favourite songs: I've Seen That Movie Too 5/5

Never took the time to listen from start to finish, although I know quite some of the songs. Some hidden favorites of mine are grey seal and I've seen that movie too. I loved the long intro song, Funeral for a friend, which felt like 2 or 3 songs. Quite an experience.

Classic Elton ❤️ Loved this one

A classic!

Wonderful

Man, what a great album! Wife and I were able to see Elton on the second to last US show at Dodger Stadium for his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in 2022 and it was absolutely amazing. Only bad moment was I was literally taking a piss as Elton began the opening piano riff and lyrics for Rocket Man; I couldn't rush back to my seat fast enough. It did make something pretty clear: besides Paul McCartney, I can't think of many performers that could theoretically play a full concert on two consecutive nights and not really have to repeat a song due to having SO many hits. I love the early, more folksy Elton from his first few albums, but here's where he blossomed into the ENTERTAINER in all his glorious, over-the-top and totally flamboyantly engaging artist that's the other side of his persona. He nails both sides of himself, with some not too shabby help from long-time partner Bernie. A true gem of an album.

Excellent album.

A piece of art.

Wonderful camp noise, some real bangers on here too

Honestly brilliant, every song but Jamaica Jerk-Off is great

It really is the complete package of his work in a release.

Another absolute classic! Very excited to see this one, as a kid this was one of my mom’s favorites. We’d listen on Sunday mornings as she watered the plants and sang along. You really can’t mess with ol Reggie. This album has just about everything- symphonic composition, poetic lyrics, a real storyline you can follow. It’s fun and somber, both of which evoke all sorts of emotions. The remastered version brings out a lot of tones and sounds that I probably missed out on as a kid so this is definitely a treat.

Classic. I remember playing this working at a hole in the wall comic shop. Starting a pop album with an 11 minute song is baller. Then Candle in the Wind! Benny and the Jets! The title track! Not an instrument out of place nor wasted.

Very good album - one of Elton's best from the 70s - that is marred by its long running time, to which many of the songs don't quite live up to to be considered iconic. Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding, Candle in the Wind, Bennie and the Jets and the title track carry this album, and they are only Tracks 1- 4. After that, the quality drops noticeably, but is largely saved by intersprinkled gems like I've Seen that Movie Too and Harmony. Saturday Night's Alright (for Fighting) is late to the party, but very welcome nonetheless, as it's the only track that can hold up a candle to the first four. A worthwhile listen, that could have done with some trimming. 4.5/5

Piano rocking Dueling himself, shakes the bar Songs of deep feeling

Such a good one! Definitely one I would have playing in a retail space. So many classics and genres of music blended into one album.

Love Elton John, great album

Classic early Elton! I wore my album out years ago.

Really good music, and nice singing voice

Makes me feel good

relisten. the best Elton John album and one of the absolute best albums of the 70s or even of all time. not a single skip for all the 75 minutes. so beautiful, nostalgic and catchy. sounds like a good memory, old friend or a sunny day.

Great album!

Excellent

Classic!

This is Elton’s most glorious masterpiece. And just like him, it is unapologetically too much. Too over the top. Too ostentatious. Too extra. That’s just who he is. It’s what we want, it’s what we expect of him, every time. I like Madman Across the Water better as an album, but I cannot deny this record, what with its smashingly huge and undeniably iconic signature songs, it’s due place in the sun.

Elton John and his band at their peak

An absolute classic album. Really appreciated listening through it again to pick up some tracks I hadn’t really dug into before.

Great artist. Great album

I had never heard the first cut, Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding before, I guess because it's 11 minute long and would never get air play. I thought it was the most brilliant cut on the whole album.

Cant believe this is my first time listening to this album. I knew much of it due to a box set (cassette tapes!) i owned back in the day but the whole album is great. The title track is one of my favorite EJ songs and Bennie and the Jets is perhaps the most iconic song he has ever written. Classic.

LP

Classic album. Some of Elton John's best known songs. Solid from start to finish.

Gear: Aür Audio Aurora Mix (2014 Remaster): Dayum! 🧨 Musik: grelles, expressives Rock-Pop-Pomp-Piano Meisterwerk Wertung: 👠👠👠👠(👠)/5

the 1hr 16min play time scared me at first but the album is good from front to back. Whatever the first track is (literally how have I never heard this song??) to candle in the wind to Bennie and the jets to goodbye yellow brick road is such a banger line up. Love 9/10

This album has some of my favorite songs - 9/10

Crazy first song for an album. Probably my favorite. Lot of great songs, some that had percolated through pop culture. I definitely enjoyed the faster paced songs at first listen, but the slower songs grew on me as I listened more. Overall I think I need to adjust what I consider a 5 or a 4 because I end up spending way too much time relistening to these albums so I'm just going to give this one a 5

That first track was so epic and totally took me by surprise. I didn’t know Elton John made music like that. Most of the other songs were great too, definitely some classics on this album. 9/10

If this album had Candle In The Wind, Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting, and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and 45 minutes of Elton John banging on a trashcan lid and screaming, it would still probably be a five star album

I have seen Elton John 12 years ago in Borussia-Park at Mönchengladbach. He is a great artist in sounds. Who doesn´t know his songs - ... but this album i have not heard yet.

One of my all-time favorite albums!

Classic album.

Totally biased here because this was a foundational childhood album. No criticism, just a pure nostalgia vote!

It is wild to me that this album is over 50 years old and was his 7th, considering I saw Elton on this tour just over a year ago. The last album has me debating how high I'd rank an album by one track and this has at least 5 great songs, and not really any skips. The fact that all of these songs are so solid when he put out about 100 songs in the 5 year span this came out is crazy prolific. I would have probably been just fine if the tour was just a 50th anniversary of this and played from start to finish. Since it was actually a farewell tour, I'm glad some of the other iconic songs in his career made it in as seeing him live was a definite bucket list item for me. Saturday morning was alright for giving this album a full listen, probably my top rated album of this 1001 journey so far, and the first to make my vinyl shopping list. Favorite tracks "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Saturday Night's Alright" 6/5

Awesome album.

I apologize in advance for this being a review of my own feelings about the album rather than about the album itself. Pretty much par for the course for my reviews, now that I think about it. There are five-star albums, and then there are albums like this, which hold a special place in my heart. I somehow bought this when I was 11 years old. Songs like "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "All the Young Girls Love Alice", and "The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909–34)" didn't make much sense to me back then. But I would put this on, open the album, and dissolve into a completely different world. When I heard this again just now, I was transported in my head back to my bedroom as a kid, lost in music, not really caring about the meaning. The music transcends words. This is how great art always affects me. I WANT to tell you about it. I want you to understand its value emotionally, sensorially, musically, and in a thousand other ways that change my experience—some of which have English words, most don't. But the ability to communicate art's a priori nature lies exclusively in the experience of it. Which is both frustrating and fantastic. I will probably end up saying this again, and I wanted to mention it when I wrote about "Band on the Run" (another album that lives in the same place as this): analyzing art robs it of the deep joy that comes from experiencing it. Check out the original album on vinyl if possible: every song has the lyrics and an illustration; it's an amazing package. Some part of the album experience is the package, the manipulation of the disc on your stereo, moving the needle JUST SO onto the groove at the beginning before the actual music starts... ah, good times! "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" is fascinating, humorous, sad, multi-dimensional, deep and broad, engaging, weird, fun, cool, bold and meek, familiar and mysterious all at the same time. And for reasons I just can't put into words, it really means a lot to me.

Ikke rart han skrev musikken til Løvenes Konge, for strukturen på låtene til Elton er perfeksjon. Introen hører hjemme på et filmlerrett. Fuck den guitaren slapper. Det er så old school hallelujah. Starter rolig med noen av de beste låtene noensinne skrevet. No biggie. Yellow Brick Road er bare, en av mine favorittlåter. Ah. Mæn. Teksten er nydelig. Koringa er perfekt og måten han sier "huntin the hawny bak taod" får meg til å smile hver gang. Men hva med resten av albumet da? Fortsatt dritbra, 10/10 good shit.

This album rules

"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" by Elton John, released in 1973, stands as a timeless masterpiece in the realm of rock and pop music. This double album showcases Elton John and Bernie Taupin at the peak of their creative powers, delivering a diverse array of unforgettable songs. From the anthemic "Bennie and the Jets" to the introspective "Candle in the Wind," each track on this album is a testament to John's remarkable vocal talent and Taupin's poetic lyricism. The album effortlessly transitions between rockers, ballads, and even nods to country and blues, showcasing John's versatility as a musician. With its lush arrangements, infectious melodies, and profound lyrics, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" continues to captivate listeners decades after its release. It is a timeless classic that deserves every bit of its 5/5 rating, solidifying Elton John's status as one of the greatest artists of all time.

One of my favorites. 5 stars. No notes.

I'm not sure how you could give the genius work of Elton John any less than a 5. So many classics.

That is just a staggering number of hits on a single album. What an achievement.

Solid album, start to finish. Elton John at the pinnacle of pop stardom in the early 70's

The streak of amazing albums continues. One of Elton’s finest moments.

One of Elton's most iconic albums

Genre: Pop Instruments: 3/5 Modern Translation: 3/5 Dance Potential: 4/5 Listening Location: commute to work and NZ Heard it before: Yes Favourite Song: Grey Seal Made me feel: optimistic and upbeat. Kept returning to this album to give it the attention it deserved. Great variety, although Jamaica Jerk Off was just confusing. Would listen again.

Always enjoyable.

A classic, really great album, loads of hits and lesser-known gems. 5 stars.

You know I gotta drop a fat five for Elton

Sharing a thing I wrote to our group chat: I think this album is predominantly about three things- being famous, yearning for adolescence, and being gay. I also think those three things are wrapped up together. The Oz imagery underlines these themes- Oz itself can be fame. Hollywood (used here as a blanket term for the world famous artists walk in) is famously a strange and wondrous place that hides danger and darkness within, particularly if you're a young boy coming from council housing in a suburb of London. Wizard of Oz, at this time, has also already become a symbol of nostalgia for a bygone era. Hollywood (the movie industry this time) is transitioning to the auteur driven "New Hollywood" and movies that are nowhere near as innocent as Oz are being released. Though with Candle in the Wind, Elton and Taupin are reminding us that all the wonder that came through on the screen was obtained at a terrible cost. At the same time, songs like Your Sister Can't Twist and Saturday Night's Alright are songs sung from a teenage perspective, talking about how great being young is, but barely masking the rot and danger of the world the youth run in. Friend of Dorothy was a slang term for gay men and was a well known term among the LGBT crowd at this time. So just by using Oz imagery, Elton is giving a very obvious wink (also keeping in mind he was still publicly in the closet). And while a song about Judy Garland would have been the most obvious nod, a song about Marilyn Monroe and how the boy in the 22nd row admired her in an unsexual way is the next best thing. The song All the Young Girls Love Alice is also notable through this lens because it's a song about a young straight woman being prostituted (literally) out to lesbians sung by a young gay man being prostituted (metaphorically) out to straight people. So in a way, the songs about childhood reveal an absurdity about where Elton is at this time- he's allowed to sing outright about teenage violence and banging underage girls, but his true sexuality can only be nodded at. Jamaican Jerk-Off is the only song I won't bother defending, shit is lame ass white people reggae. Would have been more at home on a Jimmy Buffett album Bad reggae notwithstanding, this is still a 4.5 album for me, giving it a 5 here.

I don't think there is a better Elton John album out there. A masterpiece.

Great album, now I understand why Elton John is called one of the greatest musicians of all time

brilliant album.

CLASSIC!!! Another album I listened to a lot. Lyrics are brilliant especially Painted Lady, Alice. And the video for Benny and the Jets is worth many re-watches. Thank you for bringing this back to me.

Elton and Bernie at their best. Which is saying something.

He's a true star. The music is great and you can understand the lyrics.

Fun album that hit so many different vibes and notes but without feeling disjointed or scattered. This was a really fun weekend listen that I put on for the whole house.

no me saltaría ninguna canción del álbum

Curled up on the floor sobbing listening to the title track (this is one of the best songs ever made)

Fantastic album. Lot to enjoy on this one.

Love it so much. Amazing! All of it!

Fantastic!!! How have I never listened to this before??

Fantastic album

I needed time to appreciate Elton John's work

Such a fun listen. Not every song is perfect, but there are enough great ones for this album to be 5 stars for me. Arguably Elton’s peak vocals.

Some absolute classics and a few I'd never heard before. A great album

J'ai passé un très bon moment, j'espère qu'on pourra se remettre ça vite

sir elton john is up there with a few select musicians that are unapologetically original and inspiring to me. the kind of musicians where you get down on your knees and have a revelation as soon as they start playing the piano. and this album. pure. audio. orgasm. there's a reason why this album specifically is said to be the best one elton has ever written. the man is a composing god, if bach or mozart witnessed a live concert by elton they would scream, cheer and beg for more. gay people sure know how to make music. seriously. some of the best ever musicians are gay dudes. elton john. freddie mercury. george michael. i worship the ground they walk on.

Als Kind war Crocodile Rock eines meiner Lieblingslieder. Hatte ich tatsächlich bis zum Hören dieses Albums wieder in meinem Kopf nach hinten verbannt. Aber obwohl das Lied nicht auf diesem Album ist, kam es wieder hoch. Das macht Musik. Großartiges Arrangement.

Really loved Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding

Great album. Long time since I listened to it straight through.

Old favorite

Great classic

I’ve always loved funeral for a friend. And everyone knows candle in the wind and Bennie and the heat. I didn’t remember some of these songs. Sweet painted lady was quite good!

Really good album. Worthy of an add to my library.

[NOTE: The following is a redux review written on October 25th, 2025 – I always thought I could've done a better job talking about this album, and thus I've tried to. The original review, written January 5th, 2024, is preserved below.] It's honestly kind of fitting to me that this song starts with a song for a funeral. And not for any morbid reasons, I should say; more just for the idea that this album represents the absolute apex of Elton John's career, and that I don't think he ever truly reached it again. Now, of course, Elton John would never stop making good music. After this album came out, he'd have songs like "Philadelphia Freedom", "The Bitch Is Back", "I'm Still Standing", "Song For Guy", "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me", "I Want Love", his cover of "Pinball Wizard" . . . I could go on. And it's not just songs; 'Captain Fantastic And The Dirt Brown Cowboy' is another incredible album; it's 100% worth your time. But whatever heights and peaks he achieved after 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road', they could just never match up to how high he peaked with this album. And why is this album such a peak? Simple: it's the one with the biggest scope. Which of course comes with the territory, being a double album and all . . . but honestly, I can't think of a single other album in Elton John's discography that aims to be as big as this one is. There might be some individual songs that get there ("Burn Down The Mission", "Have Mercy On The Criminal", "Rocket Man", "Tiny Dancer"), but never a full album. Like, goodness me, the run of songs that kick this album off? "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" is absolutely massive, and the energy you get off of its size carries **hard** over into "Candle In The Wind" and "Bennie And The Jets". (And can we take a second to acknowledge how weird "Bennie And The Jets" is? It's all herky-jerk n' shit, with lyrics about electric boots and mohair suits . . . I love it so much.) It keeps going from there. I don't wanna just list off every song on this album, but I damn well could. Even "Jamaica Jerk-Off", for the sort-of out-of-place piece of cod reggae it is. I have a soft spot for it, what can I say? You're talkin' to someone who enjoys "Informer" by Snow and "Rude" by MAGIC!. But look down this track listing: the title track is an eternal classic with its wistful yet determined lyrics. "Grey Seal" is a fuckin' jam and a half. Of course "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting" rips, but let's not leave out "All The Girls Love Alice", as tragic as its lyric is. "Social Disease" is a fun song, paired together with the pretty-sounding nostalgia of "Roy Rogers". And they contrast well against the beautiful sadness and anger of "I've Seen That Movie Too". All capping off with a hell of a closer in "Harmony", goodness. The line on the song that goes "Am I the only friend you ever had, or am I just the last surviving friend that you know?" has always stuck with me for some reason. Maybe it's the way it's sung, I'unno. At this time, I should tell you that not every song on here is an absolute winner. I think it's very rare that any double album has a 100% perfect track record, and I don't wanna overhype this thing and tell you that it does. I mean, I do enjoy "Jamaica Jerk-Off", but I won't tell you that it's all **that** good. "Dirty Little Girl" is fun, but I've never considered it **that** strong . . . and I've just never been all the way there on "Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'N' Roll)". It just seems a little too silly and dinky for its own good. I mean, I get what it's going for, but eeeeehhhhh. But here's the thing about that. Y'remember that "energy" I mentioned earlier? The stuff I said "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" lent "Candle In The Wind" and "Bennie And The Jets"? That energy, collected from song to song, is the secret sauce of the album. And what I mean is, when you look at a song like "Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'N' Roll)" all by itself, you could very well wonder what the hype about this album is supposed to be. But taken as one small part of a whole, riding off of the energy collected from every previous song . . . for one, it's a feat to have any double album hold song-to-song energy that consistently, but the variety between tracks sure helps. And when you're cruising on that energy, it can raise even the lesser songs to feel like "Dang, what would this album even **be** if you got rid of 'em? Honestly." It's a testament to both Bernie Taupin's lyrics and Elton John's vocals and arrangements. I've expressed many times in reviews of albums I've gotten after this one that double albums can very easily run the risk of being ego trips if you're not **very** careful and **absolutely** on your "A" game. It's just the gamble you hafta take for releasing a two disc set. And there is never a moment on this album where I feel even a hint of ego. There's no self-indulgence here; it's just nearly 17 of the finest songs you'll ever hear from the 1970's. You can see why this album is a hard act to follow up on or compare to. And I haven't heard every Elton John album, I'll admit that, but seriously — what even could compete? In my mind the only album that gets close is 'Honky Château', and even then . . . I mean, it's like Stevie Wonder's 70's discography? Albums like 'Talking Book' and 'Innervisions' are all-time classics, and maybe arguably stronger than the double album that's so often claimed to be his best. But 'Songs In The Key Of Life' still wins. And so does 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road'. It's just that big and that strong for anything else to knock it off the peak. And for the record, I don't think it's a bad thing he never reached this peak again. I don't think he's ever tried to — and why would you? Any active, conscious attempt is gonna end up falling short, no matter how hard you try. So it's probably best to just say goodbye and keep on your way, doin' what you do. Keep this album in your memory, keep it in your heart — but just know it could never truly be replaced. It's one of a kind. And it's without a doubt Elton John and Bernie Taupin's greatest accomplishment. [The original review:] I mean, complete bias about this being my favorite Elton John album must be the only reason why I give a pass to "Jamica Jerk-Off".

Amazing stuff.

For all intents and purposes, I have to give this a 5, because it’s so much closer to a 5 than it is a 4 – just after one listen, it stands on its own merit as just a classic album. Not only did it live up to the slightly lofty expectations I had set for it, it blew them away because it’s just far, far, more than what I originally thought it was gonna be. It is my favorite album we’ve done so far.

Rocks. Impossible to sit still! An Im 80, will listen again

8/10

did not expect so much energy, did not expect to like this album so much

Five star album

This one was amazing.

So talented. Every song on here was great

a whole lotta hits on this funeral for a friend/love lies bleeding candle in the wind bennie and the jets goodbye yellow brick road grey seal i've seen that movie too sweet painted lady dirty little girl all the young girls love alice your sister can't twist harmony

Good one.

Favorite Tracks: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Candle In The Wind Benny And The Jets Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting) Grey Seal

I mean, who doesn't, right?

So many classics. Easy 5.

This is the second album in a week where a white guy in the seventies puts on a dubious Jamaican accent. Oh dear. Other than Jamaican Jerk-Off (which is truly awful) and Roy Rogers (which is a bit weak), every other song on this is great. Elton certainly knew how to write them in the seventies. Favorite one I hadn't heard before was "All The Girls Love Alice". 4.5 stars (minus half for JJO), but rounding to 5.

Love it

The Greatest Album of All Time

oh hell yes!

elton's voice is so catchy and potent. he can go from a sorta deep voice to a higher pitch that most male vocalists can hit. not a big fan of all songs here, some of them are a little silly, but theyre fun anyway. big fan though of the ballads and the other classic more known songs. didnt know this album at all, and loved it, its a 5.

I knew I was gonna like this album when it opened with an 11min prog song with an incredible build up. The rest did not disappoint, I enjoyed it fully. Stand-outs: Funeral for a Friend, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Elton John is a god. I have so much love for the piano that I’m biased into liking this album no matter what. So many huge hits on this album. It’s a longer album but I wanted it that way. Besides the obvious hits my favorite song that I’ve never heard before until today was “All The Girls Love Alice”. The beat to that song just gets me moving. There wasn’t a single song that I disliked on this album and for that it’s a 10/10

Amazing. I just love Elton John so much dude. 9/10

Already know this album and it's a good one 😁

Elton John is wonderful

YEA!

I can’t remember the first time I heard Sir Elton John, but even at a young age I danced my ass off and sang along to everything.

Absolute classic. This is the one of the albums I’m sure was an instant pick for this list.

Instant 5/5. Classic Elton John, and Candle in the Wind & Goodbye Yellow Brick Road are some of his best tracks.

Elton John. Love these songs, several top classics like Candle In The Wind which is beautiful, Bennie and the jets is fun and quirky, and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is one of my favorites overall. The others are still good while a little less memorable.

I knew a couple of songs but I have never listened to a full Elton John album. What better place to start than his magnum opus? It's far more cinematic and experimental than I'd expected. It reminds me a lot of The Who's "Tommy". I can't say that every song is equally strong, but there are plenty of great tracks to keep returning to here.

Bennie & the Jets is about as good as it gets. Iconic album cover.

Bursting with charisma and talent.

If you love elton, you'll love this.

elton johns yellow brick road is a phenomenal album. with its popular songs benny and the jets, goodbye yellow brick road, and candle in the wind. i loved other song such as jamaica jerk off and the ballet

A perfect album. I've never liked the singles off this album, however, as part of what feels like a cohesive story the album in its entirety as a whole is fantastic.

For a long time, my love for this album was marred by the fact that I thought the back half was pretty weak compared to the front half. That basically Disc 2 didn’t hold a candle (pun intended) to Disc 1. But after a critical listen, this is like comparing a macon apple to a pink lady. They’re both fucking amazing, it’s just one seems so much better in direct comparison. Hit after hit after hit on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. It’s basically an Elton John greatest hits album, which makes an absolute all-timer. It also has some of the best album cover art of all time to boot. A masterpiece.

a lot of different vibes on this album but I enjoyed listening all the way through this one for the first time.

As a cohesive whole, this is hands down the best of his early output. With the epic Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding to start you off, then 3 of his best known hits, and a wide variety of songs that are great, it's such a solid album. Of the non singles so many stand out it's hard to choose, but I'd say I've Seen That Movie Too and Social Disease get honorable mentions.

Elton John slaps. Who would have thought

Fantastic album!! Filled with a good variety of songs with rich melodies, passion and fun. Would have loved to see these songs live back in the day....possibly Elton's best album, but ive still got more to listen to and I hope im proven wrong!

One of my favorite albums.

He's an artist I have always wanted to listen to more of but for whatever reason just didn't until now. Great songs.

This album is a queer masterpiece and I love it.

I LOVED this one. Elton’s voice does wonders on the ears. The genre bending here was unexpected as well. So many good tracks here. It has a good pace for an album thats an hour long. Very fucking entertaining to listen and sit through. I applaud!

"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" es uno de los mejores trabajos de Elton John. El genio del británico florece a lo largo de la hora y 15 minutos que dura el LP, sorprendiendo con canciones hipnotizantes y letras sumamente sensibles, que habla de experiencias personales del artista, evocando a sus ídolos y a sus enemigos. Realmente una obra maestra de la música de los '70s.

B+G, rainy day, Pumpkin beer, Friday

1973. Perfection start to end.

Hey kids!

Yeah this album fucks. Standout tracks: literally most of them

The truest 5 starts I’ve put there, original songs at the start and then original takes on established styles on the second half, the first track hooked me straight away. The quality of production for 1973 is also pretty crazy especially given the difficulties during the recording of that album.

So good in every way. Elton John became such a caricature as a performer in the late 70s - when I started really listening to music - that it took a while for me to come around to the fact that he is a brilliant musician and singer. The band is perfect. The story of the recording process is mind-blowing. There are moments on Side 3 when I start to wonder if it needs to be a double album; and then side 4 convinces me.

I don't really get the big deal with elton john but I did have fun so 5 stars who cares

Not gonna lie, Somehow this was my introduction to Fiona. I missed out. This album has made it to my favorites list.

Simply one of the best double albums ever made. Just the first four songs should tell you that. I wouldn’t say I’m a big fan of Elton John, but there’s something about his music and Bernie Taupin’s lyrics that really makes it special. It’s going to feel weird having him in that favorite artists page, though.

First album I ever owned. Got it on cassette around 1993. Still a favorite today. Brings lots of nostalgia, which is cool, because the songs are about nostalgia

'Candle In The Wind', 'Bennie and the Jets', 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' and 'Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting'. This is just a stone cold classic.

There’s a strong case to be made for Goodbye Yellow Brick Road being the greatest double album of all time. It’s what every 60+ minutes album should strive towards.

I've loved Elton John since I was a kid, but this was my first time listening to one of his albums from start to finish. I was only familiar with a small handful of the songs on this album, so most of these songs were new to me. I thought this album was fantastic from start to finish. Starting off with the ambitious "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding," and concluding with the beautiful "Harmony," this album never let up with its beautiful piano playing and brilliant lyrics. I thought the lyrical themes of nostalgia for youth were fantastic, and Elton John managed to bring depth to Bernie Taupin's lyrics with his glitzy compositions and unique voice. This album had it all, from the slower ballad "Candle in the Wind" to the adrenaline-filled glam rock of "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting," Elton John really can do it all. I was worried that the 76 minute runtime of this album would wind up feeling overblown and eventually drag on, but I think the the album length was needed in order to effectively create this epic. "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" is one of my favorite songs in Elton's catalog, and it was my favorite song on the album, just ahead of the title track. But I was also really enjoyed "Grey Seal," "Dirty Little Girl," "Your Sister Can't Twist," and "Roy Rogers" as well, all of which were new songs to me. This was a fantastic album, and I hate that I waited this long to explore a complete album of Elton John's.

Knew and already liked some of the hits from here, but also liked some of the songs I didn't know before - like I've Seen That Movie Before.

reminds you of why he’s one of the greats. Every song is an instant classic

It's a great album, we wore it out back in the 70's when it came out. Its an album with no 2 songs alike The team of Taupin and John was gold!! Tumbleweed Connection will always be my favorite though.

Beautiful album, some songs I’ve never heard but there is enough here to go 5.

Only one of the best Albums of all time. Very iconic!

lite cheesy men väldigt bra

So damn good

Era ya un 5 estrellas solo viendo la portada pero es que cómo no le voy a dar 5 estrellas si tiene Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting

Elton John at his Elton Johniest. John and Taupin at their Johniest and Taupinest.

Classic! Really love Candle in the Wind, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and Saturday Nights Alright for Fightin 🤜

One of my favorites from way back in grade school!

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Meanders a little bit in the middle. Still a really solid album overall though.

Lots of classic hits on this one. Doesn't get boring despite being 76 minutes.

Classic

Un classique de classique mai un peu long.. tout de même 5

HL: title track, “Funeral for a Friend”, “Candle in the Wind”, “Saturday Night…”, “Harmony” honourable mentions: “This Song Has No Title”, “All the Girls Love Alice” Other HL: “Bennie & the Jets” I GUESS Except for a slight lull in the middle, a nicely paced double album with a grand intro & finale. Most of the tracks deserve their longevity (50 years, holay) July 15, 2023

Absolute CLASSIC! Wall to wall bangers. Hell of an album!

Hadn't listened to this album since 2019 in full, that time I've Seen This Movie Before was the stand out, but on this listen Harmony stood out. Such a good album full of some of Eltons best songs. Bennie may be his greatest song and the title track is just outstanding. The only criticism is that it is very long, but I'm not sure I'd want to remove any of the songs. Scrapes a 5

This was a fantastic 70s rock album that doesn’t have any real weak songs despite its length. The opening track is probably my favorite, however it also contains other classics like Candle in the Wind and Saturday Night. The songs are all pretty high energy but there is some variety, but I was mostly surprised by the album’s consistency. Great album

Absolute banger

Great writing and great performing throughout. So many classic songs in one place.

This is really really great. The reggae song is total trash, but otherwise this one crushes.

I expected this to be a nice one but enjoyed it even more than I'd thought. While some of Elton John's hits are truly fantastic, it was the consistent quality throughout all 17 tracks with the exceptional quality of some of the deep cuts that surprised me. This Song Has No Title, Grey Seal and I've Seen That Movie Too were particularly strong. The only low-point on the album was Jamaica Jerk-Off - but if that's the only one out of 17 tracks that isn't great, I can live with that.

Yeah it’s Elton it’s great, tracklist could’ve been a bit shorter but there’s nothing bad on it, it’s just my attention span. 5/5

A home run. I wonder if more of these songs would have been hits if the few that had already been released weren't dominating the airwaves.

Really nice 🙂🙂

This album is excellent. Elton is a great songwriter. Even though the album is about 75 minutes, every song is solid. Love Lies Bleeding is so good and Saturday Night's Alright is a classic.

I listen to songs on this album on the regular so I almost didn't need to relisten to it, but god damn I will. Just hit after hit after hit. I don't think there is a song on this album I really dislike. There are definitely some that are amongst my favourite songs of all time: Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, All the Girls Love Alice, Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting. I recently saw Elton on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour a few weeks back so this album had really been on my mind since he played a bunch from this album. It was my first and only time hearing Elton live, but talking to my father, who has been an Elton fan since the 70s, me how amazing the show was way back then. Elton can't hit the high notes like he used to, but god damn did he do these songs justice anyway. One of my favourite albums of all time. Easy 5 stars.

masterpiece!!!

El Ton John truly is a ton of good music

No notes. Excellent album

18th May 2023 Listened during the day while legging it around sorting stuff for Sav wedding, hypno birth class and work. It’s Elton and I struggled to pick a song for the playlist. Sad I missed him live.

a list like this is always going to contain some sort of bias. i was shocked that more of elton john's albums aren't part of this list, but i suppose if it's going to be any of his albums, it should be goodbye yellow brick road. many of the songs on this album are his biggest hits and are deservedly so classics. this album opens with a larger than life song, "funeral for a friend." this slow building intro, along with several other songs, gives me goose bumps on a sunny summer day. but soon, "funeral for a friend" brings us into "love lies bleeding" and if you aren't bopping along, then the problem is you. john toys with us some, alternating between fun songs and his slower, sincere songs. the tender, broken-hearted "i've seen that movie, too" is a star. unsurprisingly for an elton john album, the piano of course shines. somehow, so much emotion is in the songs because of that piano! this album wouldn't be what it is without john's piano creations. there are no bad songs to be found on goodbye yellow brick road--only one song i'd call so-so. for a double album, it certainly flies by fast. it's almost a shame! i never want this album to end.

Obviously I know so many Elton John songs but never listened to a full album. Unreal how many hits are on this one. Only songs I didn’t love were Grey Seal and Jamaica Jerk-off. Rest of the album is great.

In every legendary double-album, you seem to have an ugly little duckling, and it's part of their idiosyncratic charm today. It's usually a quaint, foolish cut that borders on being offensive, so "out there" and mindless as it is. In the Beatles' White Album, it's "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da". In *Goodbye Yellow Brick Road*, it's "Jamaica Jerk-Off". Ok, I've just written about the one and *only* truly negative thing about this LP. Because, let's face it, everything else is pop-rock/glam-rock heaven. Seventies Elton John usually slapped, both as a performer and as a hit machine. But this here reaches a whole other level. This double-LP is so good that it feels like a "best of" collection. And it's not only because of its megafamous songs. Of course, there's the "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" title-track, where Elton is so elated that it seems he's flying high over most of his peers. Of course, there's the ecstatic jam of "Benny And The Jets", the poignant tribute to Marilyn Monroe "Candle In the Wind", or the cult rockabilly/boogie number "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)". But those hits are just just the tip of the iceberg here. You also have that epic 11-minute opener "Funeral For A Friend...", the wry and quite topical "Social Disease" and "Sweet Painted Lady", along with the incredible melodies and lush instrumentations of "This Song Has No Title", "I've Seen That Movie Too", "Harmony", "Grey Seal" or "All The Girls Love Alice"...That road Elton mentions for the title of his magnum opus is paved with gold indeed. Once you take it, you never want to leave, wherever it goes. 5 stars, what else? OK, maybe 4.8 because of "Jamaica Jerk-Off". But that odd ditty/oddity makes me laugh now. So 5 stars anyway. Number of albums left to review: 569 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 208 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 101 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 126

I love this album!! It’s great from start to finish. I don’t know what else to say… it’s Elton John.

First album is a known banger. Bennie and the Jets is a longtime karaoke favorite of mine (RIP Biz Markie) and the rest of side A is all classics too. Had to give side B a listen first this time!

You don't need your comically oversized glasses on to see that this is a good album.

Very strong album.

Hit after hit after hit. Sir Elton at his finest. It is very long, and that Jamaican song is a bit naff, but who cares.

Dramatic but innocent, orchestral and dreamy pop rock. Literally sounds like the soundtrack of a walk to the beach in spring

Dit is een goed album. Het deuntje dat regelmatig terugkeert in het nummer: Bennie And The Jets vind ik erg leuk. ✨wist je dat!??✨ Elton had niet verwacht dat dit nummer een hit werd. Hij weet eigenlijk zelden wanneer iets een hit wordt. Daarnaast heb ik iets met getekende album covers. De cover vind ik erg leuk. De illustrator van het album is Ian Beck. Hij is een kinder illustrator. Ik kende aardig wat nummers uit dit album maar nooit geweten dat ze van Elton waren. Lang verhaal kort. Bijna het hele album staat inmiddels in mijn lijst🕺🏻🪩

Het gebeurt zelden dat een album geen enkele flinke misser heeft, en daarnaast zoveel grote hits bevat. Elton John is niet voor niks een van de beste ooit, en dit is mijn favoriete album van hem met reden.

Het meesterwerk van Elton John en Bernie Taupin. Zowel het bestverkochte als meest populaire album van de fantastische pop-rock artiest. De nummers variëren van goed tot perfect en is zonder meer één van de allerbeste albums ooit gemaakt. leukste nummer: Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding "Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding" heeft Guns 'n' Roses' "November Rain" geïnspireerd. Kan het allemaal nog beter?

Great album with some great hits. Even the b side doesn't really have anything bad

This has always been one of my favorites by him. There aren't many songs on this one that I don't just absolutely love.

Every song except Jamaica is good if not great. That one is really really bad though lol

a true classic, on par with Rumours

Fav tracks: Bennie and the Jets, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, All the Girls Love Alice

Elton John is one of my all-time favorite artists & pianists. I'd listen to him so much that one of my cats took a strong liking to him. Eventually, he became her favorite & she'd roll around in bliss to his music. As she became increasingly ill with cancer, I'd let her watch his old concerts on my iPad & I'd serenade her. It was sad & beautiful. This album, and cover art, is wonderful. I adore Goodbye Yellow Brick Road & its somber lyrics & I enjoy the opening tracks, too. Bennie and The Jets always pulls me in & Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting is full-blast fun. What a great listen. This definitely deserves to be on the list & I hope those not familiar with his work found something they enjoyed here. 5 stars. P.S. there was a bad ass arcade in Austin, TX that had a Goodbye Yellow Brick Road pinball machine & playing it was one of the best memories ever.

Just a slapper

Elton John goodness

This album is so packed with monumental hits that I’m a little desensitized. But I think if I was listening to candle in the wind or Benny and and jets for the first time, this album would be an instant five, so that’s what I’ll give it

probably the best album i've heard for the first time in this project for now. favorites: goodbye yellow brick road candle in the wind ive seen that movie too all the girls love alice harmony

Considering its a double album and when you look at the front half i feared that it was going to be very front loaded and lack depth. I was wrong, its amazing all the way thru

4 words…Funeral For A Friend

I grew up listening to this album, as it was one of the records that my parents owned. Always has been one of my favorite albums and it is really long. No doubt about that but it is difficult to have a double album that doesn't have some sense of filler. It's hard to differentiate between albums we "must" hear because they have some relevance or significant impact on music in the past or future, with albums that are just really good. It's bananas to me that Elton only has two albums on this list. So based on the limited number of Elton John albums on her, I would absolutely include this album. It perfectly encapsulates what Elton John was about and his music.

5/5

I hadn't heard most of the non-hit songs but I really enjoyed it all as a whole.

Back on familiar territory (I've heard this album a bunch) and I will reiterate what has been said elsewhere here that between 1970-1975, Elton's run of albums is pretty much untouchable in terms of quality. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, as stated in the allmusic reivew, is designed to be an absolute blockbuster and it is. The run of hits on this album are among the top pop songs of the era (Candle In The Wind, Bennie and the Jets, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting) and there's a lot more under the surface. The 11 minute epic "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" to start the album is just a ballsy and kickass move for Elton at this point in his career and it works perfectly. Lots of great album tracks and I can find something to enjoy in all of them. An utter classic.

an all time classic full of classics. It's a bit long, but it's all gold!!

All time great album

Very few skips and some absolute bangers on this classic album

Great album! Elton John 👌

That first track took me on a journey

Gevarieerd, goede muziek & zang. Helemaal Prima!

Why does an Englishman have a southern American accent? 5 stars.

One of the best

If this isn’t a certified 5 star album I don’t know what is

Classic

Well it’s Elton John, there’s not much else to say. Love everything about him. I obviously knew many songs but even the ones I didn’t know I was entranced by.

I don't know what to tell someone that doesn't like this album - after being fed a recent diet of low-fi punk, DIY indie rock, and fake-angry 90s loud guitar bands, listening to this absolutely ridiculous pompous grandiose overly long self-indulgent magnum opus ... confirms its status as an goddamn all-time classic. This isn't Lou Reed and thank fkng god for that. Put "Funeral for a Friend" in the pantheon of greatest and most appropriate album openers ever recorded - building up dramatically in mood and tempo to the relatively straightforward rocker "Love Lies Bleeding" (ht to Dee Murray's bass line in that song) ... holy hell the first 4/5 songs up thru the title cut would be a greatest hits for 99% of artists. OK even though I love it, it's not perfect. Yeah there are plenty of radio hits (even to this day) to satisfy the curious listener but many of the deep cuts I'll say can get ... weird, at best. And they're not all great - there are at least 4 or 5 throwaways that could have been cut to streamline the record a bit; e.g. I've always thought "Your Sister Can't Twist" is an unimaginative/annoying throwaway that in context almost - *almost* - lessens the impact of the hard rock classic "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" that immediately follows... "Jamaica Jerk-Off" ehhh I get it - they were going for the vibe where they went to initially record the album, but the lame humour and forced fake-reggae vibe is best skipped. "Sweet Painted Lady" is just boring. It's a double-album so in a way who cares - the flow gets interrupted at times but for every dog there's a fantastic song like "This Song Has No Title" "Grey Seal" or "The Ballad of Danny Bailey." Just a note - I think over the years Elton John eased in and out from being a "personality/celebrity" rather than the insanely gifted musician that he was and still is. One point of note: "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" - that song is a songwriting masterpiece even if you've heard it a billion times. My favourite part is the musical twist in the chorus - written so you think the phrase is gonna conclude after "....beyond the yellow brick...." and then the band* shifts into some unexpected chord progression.... dammit i love that. {*A word about the Elton John Band who are severely underrated (Davey Johnstone guitar / Dee Murray bass / Nigel Olsson drums) - I don't think it was a coincidence that when they split/were fired/who knows after 1975 the quality of the music fell sharply.} Elton's productivity in his first ~6 years of recording is probably only rivaled by The Beatles, seriously unbelievable. I would say of the 9 (!) albums he put out from 1969-1975 you could label 7 of them as classics or indispensable and this is firmly in the wheelhouse. 9/10 5 stars

On helluva musical adventure. Though there are a few that really stand out, the impressive part is that track after track, the writing, the energy, lyrical delivery, variety and melody are outstanding. Truly enjoyed.

So many classic songs. He still rocks.

So much better than I remembered. Perhaps retrospect fooled me into thinking some of his earlier albums were better. Maybe we should blame Cameron Crowe for suggesting everyone go back and reassess Madman Across The River. Or it could be the updated versions of Candle In The Wind soured folks on this album. This is the one, folks. The one we should praise on Sir Elton. His true masterpiece.

I received this as a bar-mitzvah gift from my then (and still) best friend. I could quibble as to which early Elton John is the best (I usually vacillate between Tumbleweed and Madman), but this tour de force is in the running. The scope is unbelievable. Looking past the hits (Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Saturday Night's Allright for Fighting and Bennie), there are amazing ballads (Harmony, Candle in the Wind), rockers (All the Young Girls Love Alice) and even prog rock (Funeral for a Friend). A great album.

Easy 5. Elton John's masterpiece album. One of the best Side 1's of a vinyl album and remains strong throughout. I love this one.

What an exceptional opening to an album. Wow. I wish the whole thing was as good as the first few tracks (funeral for a friend through the title track) but it started to wane for me. Saturdays alright brought me back though and This should still get a 5.

great one!!

-Wow, an actual good slow build in "Love Lies Bleeding / Funeral For A Friend." Like some chill bits to start and then the synth came in and then a bit of a jam and then it goes into a sweet Elton John tune. Nice. -The "Love Lies Bleeding" section is catchy and has great instrumental with a sweet bass line -"Bennie and the Jets" is a classic tune. The stuttering and the vocal changes are classic. It's also got pretty dang cool synth riffs at the end. Totally fun classic track -"This Song Has No Title" and "Grey Seal" are both catchy, fun tunes -"The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909-1934)" builds to a very intense level, especially for being a piano-centric song -"Dirty Little Girl" is crazy heavy. I can't even describe how. Other than the sick bass slides that happen a few times -"All The Girls Love Alice" is also heavy. It's got a crazy instrumental with a great riff and it kind of goes crazy at the end -"Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'n Roll)" is a great fast-paced track -STOP WRITING SONGS ABOUT 16 YEAR OLDS, THAT'S 2 IN A ROW, ELTON ("All The Girls Live Alice" and "Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'n Roll)" -"Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)" is an absolutely classic and absolutely banger song. To me, it is an iconic representation of the 50's and greasers and it reminds me of the book "The Outsiders." Everything about this song is classic, the riff is sick (and I totally sing the lyrics into the riff like "Saturday, Saturday, Saturday...etc"). Definitely was my favorite song before. It has a little competition, but I think it is still my favorite. -An album that really balances the soft rock and absolutely wailing on the piano/synth/jamming. I really enjoyed it, and more than I expected. On top of that, it has 3 classic songs in "Candle In The Wind," "Bennie And The Jets," and "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)." However, the other tracks totally hold up as solid as well, and the only song that I actually didn't care too much for was "Candle In The Wind." Definitely adding this album to my rotation.

This album came out when I was 8 years old, and one of my older brothers owned it. My two earliest music memories are listening, re-listening, and examining every inch of the album packaging of both this album and the Beatles white album. This isn't perfect by any means. There are quite a few throwaway songs, but when you look at the whole collection of songs and the packaging it really is an amazing accomplishment. Highlights for me are Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding, Candle in the Wind, Grey Seal, and All the Girls Love Alice. 4.5 stars, rounding up to 5.

Did not know the extent of Elton Johns talents

Rockin album. It goes in different directions from track to track. Very funky at times, then jazz, dance hall, then rock. Good stuff.

Elton John is a legend and I really vibe with this album.

There are a few albums that are so good, and so ubiquitous, that they almost transcend "music" and become just a part of life. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is one of those albums. Absolutely fantastic!

Sublime

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is a strange title for an album, given that it's not only a symbol for the promised land but the pinnacle of Elton John's creative and commercial streak in the 70s. It had to be huge, it had to be bombastic, it had to be yearning for the plights of those who didn't have things easy. Sure, he would go on to achieve a few more smashes before things started to go haywire but Goodbye Yellow Brick Road served as the moment where Elton can firmly place his name in the hat amongst those who came before him and establish himself as a legend in the process.

Even before turning this album on, I'm already inclined to give it five stars solely for Bennie & the Jets. After listening, I'm reminded of just how great of a song Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is, which makes me even more inclined to give this record five stars. And then you have tracks like Sweet Painted Lady, I've Seen that Movie Too, Dirty Little Girl, Roy Rogers, Social Disease, and yes, even Jamaica Jerk-off. Has it become obvious that I'm just gushing over every song on this album? Because that's exactly what I'm doing. Elton John can sure turn a piano ballad and a piano rock song into gold.

Really dynamic, so much energy !

One of his best albums.

Incredible album with fantastic singing and catchy tunes. Lots of big hits on this one, "Saturday Night's Alright", "Bennie and the Jets", and has an incredible start with the long opener in "Funeral for a Friend". 9/10.

album opens incredibly strong! Started to blend together as it went, but since I like what it’s up to, everything’s good!

Fantastic album, Elton’s Melodie’s, singing and piano arrangements are fantastic

Pretty familiar with most of this album but it was really great. Saturday night's alright is one of the greatest songs ever. Nuff said

Love this album. Funeral for a friend is one of the best songs of all time.

70s Elton John was banging. Love lies Bleeding is a standout track amongst others.

Classic

Comes from a time in my life when Reg released one memorable album after another, in this case a double album. A superb opening side - the instrumental Funeral For A Friend segues into 3 great tracks, ending with Bennie And The Jets, a hugely successful singles & John’s first song to make the R&B charts in the U.S. There’s some great stuff on Sides 2&3, notably the title track, Jamaica Jerk-Off,Sweet Painted Lady, etc. and he brings it home with Side 4, beginning with 2 absolute belters then easing out with the beautiful Roy Rogers, the country-inspired Social Disease & the mellow Harmony. Still does it for me.

Excellent! Good songs, variety. Rock, piano-led rock, boogie and bits of country-rock. Ballads and thoughtful songs are well done. A well deserved critically popular album. And it does not outstay it’s double length either. Very enjoyable. Could be a 5* album, but I’m not yet familiar with it apart from the hit singles. Oh ok, it does have Bennie & the Jets and Saturday Night’s Alright. Worth a 5😉

A classic, banger after banger album. Peak Elton John that has almost every single hit he ever made. It has party songs, slow songs, funeral songs, and anything else you could ever want from Elton John. Everyone knows which songs are the standouts but even the lesser known ones are still good. It was cool that he used the “I’m only sleeping” reverse guitar on one song

amazing

A great album and an old favorite of mine. There were a few duds (Jamaica Jerk-Off, Your Sister Can't Twist, Dirty Little Girl), but the rest of the tracks more than make up for the bad ones.

Elton at his best, great album that is definitely in my top 20! "Benny and The Jets" "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" & "Candle In The Wind" to name just three of the classics on this album. Love it and rightfully on this list in my opinion.

This is a flat out amazing album. Bernie Taupin and Elton John make up one of the most prolific songwriting teams of a generation. If you are interested in the songwriting, apparently Taupin wrote all the lyrics for this double album in 2 1/2 weeks and John wrote most of the melodies in 3 days! My wife and I had the pleasure of seeing Elton John on his Goodbye Yellow Brick Road tour, and, as you can imagine, a number songs from this album were performed. John and Taupin run the gamut of musical and lyrical styles in this production. This is one of the best on this list thus far.

This is chocked full of hits- Elton really is a musical chameleon and this is pretty Rock-y in places. Great song writing and very well produced although it can sound a bit dated in places- very 70s. Still, it's easy to listen to but has edginess too. I like it.

That was a whole different sound than I expected, and I liked it a lot! A lot more rocky and atmospheric l, definitely listen again

5 stars. Everything up to Jamaica Jerk-Off is great, great, great. JJO feels cheap to me. Not a terrible tune, just sounds thin and unnecessary. After that, it kind of lurches around. 'Seen That Movie Too', 'All The Girls Love Alice', 'Saturday's Alright For Fighting', and 'Social Disease' are all pretty solid. 'Harmony' is a pretty good closer. Even with the filler, though, I still do love putting this album on every time.

Un dels grans magnum opus dels '70. El seu començament, amb 'Funeral for a Friend/ Love Lies Bleeding' és demolidor i una bona mostra del camí que ens queda per davant. No tot està a la mateixa alçada, impossible estar-ho a la de 'Candle in the Wind', 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' o 'Grey Seal', però res és menor, i en conjunt, una de les obres mestra de la década

Cmon it’s Elton

Great album with an amazing intro. Candle in the wind does not fit too well on this album - rest is amazing though

Love! First track is a standout. All the Girls Love Alice is a hidden fave.

disco peluca full

Classic 70's Elton John, one of his best with "Benny and The Jets" "Candle In the Wind" "Funeral For A Friend" "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting" are all classics from this classic. Deffo in my top 20 Albums of all times. Gotta love Reg haven't you!

A masterpiece of rock pop that is timeless. Elton John’s best album by far. A great collection of fun hits, ballads, and poppy tunes. The fantastic piano bits on several songs is where the talent makes some songs so easy to listen to over and over again. Candle in the wind is a classic. Bennie and the jets. Classic. So much of this album is Elton just being at his best in every category that is Elton John. 9.0/10

Brilliant

Rani elton je najjači

Man, Elton John is one of those artists that will never be overrated

Whoever this Elton guy is he knows how to write a tune. This is a powerhouse of an album, filled with bangers, charisma, and the best song the muppets have ever bopped to. He has such a fun swagger that even the slow songs are great. My only criticism is that it starts to repeat itself towards the end a bit, but overall I loved this album.

Dudes rock

Absolutely mega album, an all time classic and quite solidly the best of Elton's career (Lion King soundtrack not included)

OK, I've never really seen why Elton John got as big as he did before, but this album really opened my eyes. It properly slaps. I'm not even going to deduct a star for "Candle in the Wind", despite having a certain amount of loathing for that tune due to working in a factory during the summer of '97 and being forced to listen to it at least once per hour every day for weeks on end... Fave track - "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" maybe - that's one hell of an album opener. The title track is amazing too, of course...

Antes de ponerle play al disco dudaba si iba a ser de cinco estrellas, pero la neta es que tan solo con contar las famosas basta para darle las 5. Obviamente está la que le da título, que es un rolón en muchos sentidos: letra, música, arreglos. Pero también está Benni & The Jets, Candle in the Wind, Saturday Night y Funeral for a Friend. Y las que no fueron tan famosas también son muy buenas y la mitad del mérito de este disco va a Bernie Taupin y sus letras. Si bien, lo único que me hizo dudar si bajarle a 4 es que al final es un disco largo (doble) y podrían quitarse dos o tres rolas, que no son malas, pero creo que podría ajustarse a 1 hora.

Just a huge album stacked with huge songs. Were they all crushers? No. But the songs that do slap, slap hard enough to make up for the rest.

Incredible run of songs throughout, *almost* as good as Tumbleweed Connection

This is an obvious 5 stars!!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Elton John. What an incredible song writer and performer. So interested about his life as well and everything he went through, I find him such an inspiration when I see a lot of what he's been through and yet he's found happiness and contentment. So an album full of his best tunes and telling the story of his life effectively is right up my street. What a winner.

STONE COLD CLASSIC Harmony is just a beautiful, perfect song. So much pop culture imagery and perhaps Elton's most diverse and interesting piece of work.

This is the BEST! Benny and the Jets may be my all time favorite Elton John song. What an entertainer this guy is.

Loved it.

A forgotten album that is defined by on mediocre song rather than the 16 other better ones. Not my preferred style but I'm happy to recognise it pretty good regardless. Original better than the remix

Elton John’s masterpiece. You could argue there is a couple of duds on this album, Jamaica jerk of and Roy Rodgers specifically plus the album is a little on the long side. But these issues can easily be forgotten given how good the rest of the album is, the hits are brilliant and the other less well know. songs are also great. 5 stars.

- first track is an absolute banger, very long but it continuously changes up. style reminds me of david bowie in a good way - very upbeat and catchy, has a great vibe to it. i didn't know elton john is as popular as he is lol - this is one of those albums where every single song could be the lead single, deserves being in the list of the top 30-or-so selling albums of all time - wtf i am close to the end of the album and it just doesn't become bad. how is this even possible? i normally get bored getting into albums as long as this, but this one just stays consistently refreshing even at first listen. i would argue this is even better than ziggy stardust, gotta give it a 9 to 10 tbh - yup its probably a 9. not necessarily innovative but just genuinely perfect

Fantastic lyrics and a huge opener. Jam packed with familiar songs, and maybe the only issue being slight bloat.

The 1970s was the pinnacle of big band music in my opinion, not like big band swing but like a full group of musicians coming together and making one piece of music. I know Elton John gets the credit for his albums, like many of the solo musicians did, but if you look at the backing musicians they are always mega players themselves and they're hidden on these albums. I love Elton John and what he brought to the table, but these albums are great because there are so many hours of practice and studio time collectively among all the musicians involved that it almost couldn't fail. When you go back and listen to albums from this time, look at the other musicians who played and look into what else they were involved in, those are my favorites, the blue collar musicians that really made the hits. This album has a mix of big beautiful orchestral parts but also some honkytonk and everything in between, great album.

I am so happy to hear so much more than I knew about Elton John at this time! I loved it!

Oh yeah, you betcha, I love the music of Elton John. This is a great album with some beloved singles and a number of other great tracks...although there are a couple that I don't love.

This has everything I could want from an Elton John album. Great pop singles that I've known forever and, even better, deeper cuts that are new to me and that range from sweet pop ballads to country-tinged character studies to rollicking rock and roll anthems. In addition to long-time favorites Saturday Night's Alright... and Yellow Brick Road, I absolutely love Love Lies Bleeding, This Song Has No Title, Sweet Painted Lady, The Ballad of Danny Bailey, Dirty Little Girl, All the Girls Love Alice, Social Disease, and this amped up version of Grey Seal. Albums like this are the reason Sir Elton is the holiest of holy prophets in my own personal church.

I listened to this a lot as a kid, but after leaving home and losing access to my older sister’s and parents’ record collections I let this slip away. When building my own music collection it seemed more efficient to focus on greatest hits collections and boxed sets for artists with a huge musical history given the limited funds of young adulthood. Today I realized how much I have deprived myself of for the last 35 years. In the last decade the embarrassment of riches provided by digital music has provided the perfect opportunity to correct that musical deprivation. But instead I adapted my musical shorthand: cherry-picking singles, shuffle playing songs and focusing on custom playlists. That too can be great but this project has reminded me that there is something special when you listen to a great album from beginning to end. The journey is often even more lovely than any particular song. No where is this more obvious to me than on GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD. The singles I love on this album are all the more spectacular now that I’ve re-experienced them in their original context. I even feel a renewed sense of possibility and inspiration having been reunited with this masterpiece from one of the greatest artists of our time.

Um clássico. Candle in the wind é linda.

The only bad thing about this album is its runtime, and even then I never felt like skipping or rushing through any of the songs. This is the quintessential and definitive Elton John. Legendary voice and piano playing, big songs, great production, dynamics, all really well done. I appreciate the American sounds incorporating with the country and bluegrass, as well progressive rock pieces. I had a bad perception of Elton’s legacy, this all changed it.

The roses in the window box Have tilted to one side - funeral for a friend

this was a really cool album I was expecting it to drag considering how long it was but it really felt fresh and engaging the whole time no complaints, just a great album 10/10