Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" is the 7th album (and a double album at that) by British singer, pianist and composer Elton John. Pop rock and glam rock are the Wiki-listed genres. Fair enough. Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics in two and a half weeks and Elton John composed most of the melodies in three days while staying at the Pink Flamingo Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica. Recording for the album started in Jamaica but moved to the Château d'Hérouville in the village of d'Hérouville, France due to difficulties with the sound system and studio piano in Jamaica, logistical issues arising from Joe Frazier-George Foreman fight in Kingston and protests over the political and economic situation in the country. The bandmembers included Elton John (vocals, piano, organ, Mellotron), David Hentschel (synthesizer), Davey Johnstone (guitars, banjo, vocals), Dee Murray (bass, vocals), Nigel Olsson (drums, congas, tambourine, vocals), Ray Cooper (tambourine), Leroy Gomez (saxophone) and Kiki Dee (backing vocals). The album was a big commercial success hitting #1 on the US Top LP & Tape Chart and #1 in the UK. Critics cite this album as one of John's best and, in 2025, it was inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for its artistic significance. The album opens with the 11-minute "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding." A swirling synth and organ in the first epic part instrumental. Drums, piano and time changes. Apparently, it's an instrumental for Elton's funeral and does have a church feel. In the second part, the band kicks it in to a rock song. A lost love. "Candle in the Wind" is more of a piano ballad. Guitar accents and nice harmonies. A tribute to the tragic life of Marilyn Monroe and later was used to tribute Princess Diana. Audience cheers start "Bennie and the Jets." A drum tick. Piano led. Elton's vocals are all over the place in a song about an androgynous fictional rock band led by a woman named Bennie. Elton also shows a fairly large vocal range including a falsetto in the self-titled "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." A melancholy start with the piano. Strings are added giving a baroque vibe. A song about the disillusionment with a fame and a desire to get back to a simpler. Speaking about getting back to a simpler life, "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" opens with a great, great guitar riff. Probably Elton's most rockin' song and inspired by a neighborhood pub from Taupin's youth. I am a fan of the Elton snarl. The album ends with the lovely "Harmony." More of a serious love song with strings and you guessed it, great harmonies. The songs on this album are varied including rock, ballads, pop, baroque pop and Queen-like glam. They're mostly piano led and the band is tight, particularly the guitar, bass and drums. Great backing vocals and harmonies and Elton shows a wide vocal range including a falsetto and angry and snarling Elton. The lyrics can personal, philosophical and story like. I really enjoyed the song placement which balanced the soft, loud, epic and baroque. It seems to be a theme so far this week but the third side kind of dragged. But overall, there are a number top level well-written and performed songs showcasing Elton, I imagine , at his peak. A strong recommendation.

15/1001 First listen. Sounds like the seventies right away. I know the hits. there’s a bunch on this one. Was feeling two stars but there’s more interesting things on here than just those tired old singles. Glad I listened.

This is really a Genre that’s mostly a miss for me. I don’t really like theatrical rock at all. Too much piano and overly dramatic singing is off-putting to me most of the time. Not really for me, but this one? Well… This is a little different. There were like 2 songs which should’ve been cut, but other than that, this was an amazing listen. The songwriting and the production are insane on this one. Can’t bash Elton’s piano play and singing either. This is a bop. Low 5.

i don’t really have any thoughts on this, i feel quite indifferent. didn’t love it, didn’t hate it, wouldn’t care if i heard it again and i wouldn’t care if i didn’t

Hey Steve... I know what you mean about passwords on this site. I mean ANYONE can just review one of your albums! (Like I am doing here!). Hope you don't mind.. this is a classic!

Songs are way too long, enjoyable tho

4.5 This is probably Elton John’s masterpiece, and a masterpiece it is. Over an hour of pop rock ballads, and while not all may hit, there’s plenty here to enjoy. This may be long for some, but it’s enthralling and almost runs like a greatest hits album. He certainly has a lot of bravado in his voice and the music is so vast, clear and well played. Could probably trim a song or two off the track list to really make this special.

You know, the original Candle In the Wind is a lot easier to listen to than the '97 version. It just feels kind of wistful, remembering a superstar from Elton's youth who imploded at a young age, not like the bizarre parasocial raw grief of the Princess Di rewrite that got severely overplayed during my early teenage years. Ahem. My Elder Millennial youth experience aside, this is a damn good album, and even as a double it never really dragged (my least favorite track being second, it's all up from there!) and didn't feel excessive. Elton was wandering all over the place, experimenting with different styles, and I am here for it. (O.G. Candle In the Wind is decent enough to not knock the album as a whole down to four stars, but I still don't LIKE it. C'est la vie.)

mega tolls album! s erste stuck het mi komplett umghaue, bi vo afang a begeisteret gsi vom album. soo funky, vielfältig und schön. d basslinie, klaviersoli und gitarreduett gönd ab, d instrument sind vielfältig, d rhythme catchy, d harmonie interessant und gfühlsintensiv. s einzige was mer biz schräg inecho isch dasses ide mitti mal recht reggae-lastig und happy-songy wird, das het mi biz gnervt, aber wird ufgwoge dur alli bangers.

So spooky

Some of these tracks really alter the curve. As a whole it’s 3.425 ⭐️

...and he's back! Ready to rate albums again after an extended hiatus. I'd never listened to this front to back -- lotta bangers! Always loved All The Girls Love Alice and of course the quartet of better known tracks Candle in the Wind, Bennie and the Jets, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road & Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting. But Sweet Painted Lady, Dirty Little Girl and Harmony were also fun. Not a huge Elton John fan and likely won't put this back on anytime soon, but it's very good at being what it is!

Elton John is the soda of music, bottled sunshine that HITS when it hits. Things get just a liiittle darker in the eighties, with I'm Still Standing and Who Wears These Shoes—and that is my preferred Elton. ?? Jamaica Jerk-Off ??

Even though I had to skip 'Candle in the Wind' every time I listened (if you were a child of the 90s, you get it), I loved this album. I know Elton John is sort of like the Bee Gees...his most famous hits aren't truly representative of his best work. This album was the proof. I loved the different styles he played around with and, while long, this album had cohesion and tightness that I appreciated. It all kind of makes sense.

It’s hard to review a classic objectively. With the exception of only a couple songs, I’d say these are confirmed bops.

lotta hits. lotta skips.

Some real classics on here.

it starts showing

I have definitely hear a lot of this, but I don’t ever recall listening to this straight through. * Funeral / love Lies: all over the place in a good way. Piano and some decently ripping guitar. * Candle in the Wind: perhaps a touch overdone for me at this point. Classic song though. * Bennie and the Jets: another classic. This one holds up better, IMO. Such a great syncopated beat. Elton’s voice amazing as always. * Goodbye yellow brick road: third straight classic! * Next few are fine but forgettable * Seen that movie: liked the feel of this one * Sweet painted lady: good not great * Danny Bailey: enjoyed this one * Dirty little girl: digging the guitar change of pace. Feels a little skynyrdy, tuesdays gone??? No, I hear a little Curtis Lowe. Loved this. Would love to hear phish cover this. * Alice: keeping with more guitar…ok. * Sister twist: meh * Saturday: fourth classic. Love this song. * Roy rogers: meh * Social disease. Decent. * Harmony: meh Enjoyed overall. Liked the guitar-driven tunes. Not what I would’ve expected for an Elton John album.

Good album, some tracks are quite a bit stale and Jamaica Jerk-Off is just outright bad in my opinion. However, Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding is too good to not give the album as a whole a 4

I think this album was intended to appeal to the American market. Fortunately I’m not American. One or two good track interspersed with dirge. If I had it as vinyl on my shelf I wouldn’t get out of my chair to put it on.

121/1001 Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ❓ Elton John really throws everything at this, from the long proggy Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding to the ballads of Candle In the Wind to the pure rock n roll of Saturday Night's Alright (for Fighting). It's ambitious, it's top heavy, it needs a couple of songs cut (Jamaica Jerk-Off). I'm not sure when I'd revisit it, but I had a great time with this, this morning.

Great music

Amazing album Probably no skips

Tough one to rate. A couple classics but too long of an album. 4 is probably about right.

Seemed too sad for me. Other than that Elton delivers. Elton gives variety. Masterful shit!

Não consigo me acostumar com a voz de Elton; tem algo nela que eu desgosto, mas não consigo apontar o que. Isso foi um dos principais motivos pelos quais eu não gostei do disco, mas, em geral, não é minha praia mesmo. Consigo reconhecer a qualidade da produção e da construção do cd, mas só não clica comigo.

Masterpiece

Eines der großen Werke von Elton John. Mit bekannten Hits, entspannten Pop/Rock-Songs. 5/5

How can Elton John be the only one that makes piano vibrant and not depressing Truly a great album

Nice

Great music by a great musician and lyricist.

Cannot believe that I have had 50 years to listen to this album and just now got around to it.

11 minutes first song damn 😭 ahhh nvm i love it hahah i really like it very very much even though i normally prefer guitar albums over piano ones bit long but thats alrightyy

Let me get something out of the way: I can't do long albums. 60 minutes is pushing it, and anything over that tends to drag on. That said, this album is full of emotive ballads, driving rockers, and a couple duds. The tracks are for the most part highly enjoyable and well made, with a handful of exceptions(Dirty Little Girl, Jamaica Jerk Off) that brought the album down a couple pegs.

Probally the best album that Elton made so many classics but Benny & the Jets is my Personal favourite

Bangers and belters. Only one listen though. Girls liked it.

Just fun vibes

Really no need to say anything. Just listen to the legend.

A classic for sure...we've all heard so many of the songs on the radio. Listening with fresh ears you wonder if this wouldn't have been stronger as a single album. There's some fluff (Jamaica Jerk Off, e.g.) and you have to wonder how much drugs affected decision making. 3 (would have been 4 but too long)

Good Album

Classic. One of the first albums I bought.

Decent. Many hits which are still hits.

Enduring singles highlight this 50+ years-old album that is playable start to finish.

Listened to this while on a road trip and it really fit. 4/5

Sorry Elton, I really wanted to like this more

First half is just fantastic and then there are some more good songs

A great classic, the intro gets me every time <3 I still find listening to the whole album a bit repetitive, but lyrics are fantastic and there is a lingering sadness that I can always appreciate!

First double lp I ever bought

how i imagined quintessential rock music as a kid

- great album - Elton John has such a sad voice, I swear it doesn't matter how upbeat the song is, if Elton's sings it, its a sad song Likes: - sound wise I love the album - no skips really Fav songs: - Bennie and the Jets - Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding - All the Girls Love Alice Dislikes: - some of the songs do bled together a little especially because you can't always understand what he's saying and he tends to sing his songs in the same way

I was hoping this would turn out to be an undiscovered gem, but there's a lot of filler that just sounds like AI Elton John. The singles are quite good but no unexpected revelations here.

I knew Elton John was an icon but I’ve never honestly spent time with his music — what a mistake!! This album was so much fun!! This album really rocks it on the keys, and Elton knows how to have a good time while he does it. Of course Benny and the Jets is a banger, but also found myself bopping to the second half of the album. The only really confusing song was Jamaica Jerk Off lmao. Anyway, I see why Elton is considered a king. Hats off to him as a legend and a musician. I’ll have to go explore the rest of his discography and give it a real listen.

This is one of those albums that explains to you very clearly why someone is a legend. Just the introduction alone stunned me. I've never listened to an Elton John album in full, but I get it now. The writing alone is masterful, and I so look forward to sitting with these lyrics—which is to say nothing of his voice and the music. Sweet Painted Lady was one of my favorites, as was the title track. Long Live Elton!!!!

He’s still got it

Elton John is an absolute legend. So many good songs on this album (Candle in the wind, Bennie and the jets, GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD, Saturday night’s alright for fighting…). I love Elton John and most of his discography, I just think this album was a little on the longer side and some of the tracks in the middle third didn’t feel like they necessarily needed to be there. Really wish there were fractional scores here because I’m definitely in the 4.5/5 camp here.

loved. it was so cool to hear so many classics come together in a way that told such a story. you can really see how influential Elton John was even at that time, but especially how those influences carried on through the evolution of music

Typically, double albums are a type of ego-driven project by an artist or band that believes their fans want more from them with every new album. What those artists don’t realize is that you always want to leave your fans wanting more. You don’t want to give them reasons to dislike those extra songs on the album or to feel like the double album is more for the band than the fans. There might be one case where a double album might have been better than two separate albums, and that’s with Metallica’s Load and Reload, but I digress. Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is a perfect double album. Every song is a banger. The album flows with a loose concept of nostalgia for the past, and every few songs, you get a new musical style, it seems. Plus, the album is loaded with singles that you've already heard, you just didn't know it. Elton John is a musical genius, and his writing partner Bernie Taupin may be one of the world’s best poets/lyricists. Put them together and you have some of the greatest songs ever created. Just on this album alone, you have Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting, Bennie & The Jets, Candle In the Wind, and the title track, which I think is vastly underrated. Plus, the album kicks off with one of the hardest rocking songs John ever released, Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding. Incredible stuff that I hadn’t heard until my brother told me, “You’ve got to hear this.” It was embarrassing that I didn't know it before Dustin showed me. I don’t have to tell you how good this album is, it’s got accolades out the ying yang, but I can tell you it’s one of the most beautiful and brilliant rock/pop records ever made. You’ll feel good listening to it, and you’ll find yourself singing some of the songs when you aren’t listening to it. I mean, Roy Rogers is such a great song and you’ll only hear it when you listen to the album. Before bed or while you’re winding down for bed, put this on and drift off to dreams of Captain Fantastic and the Brwon Dirt Cowboy.

O cara é bom

Nåken jævlig bra sanga, men og ein del fyllmasse. Kunne fint ha kutta ned albumet litt

Lots of classics here. He's great at what he does.

An icon of the genre. Love this album. If it was 20 minutes shorter it would probably be a 5-Star

This was just a fun listen all the way through!

Superb album, enjoyed best in it’s entirety

still figuring out how to vote/have opinions lmao, 4 or 5 or sure tho. mkay 5

I understand John is one of the greats, however I had never really taken much notice of his work. Before my time. This was a brilliant album. Really enjoyed the instrumental soundscape in addition to his excellent vocals. The opener was amazing.

Rocked harder than I expected + I knew some of the songs even if I didn't realized they were from Elton John. Amazing!

84/1089 pressing play on this album and hearing young elton rather than the older elton that i recognise more was a bit of an odd (but expected) experience didn’t expect for the album to open with an 11 minute prog rock song but it worked! it’s been a good listen, more so than maybe i expected. I personally would cut Dirty Little Girl, All the Girls Love Alice and Your Sister Can’t Twist, partly because i don’t love those songs but also to shorten the project a little 70/100 faves: funeral for a friend/love lies bleeding, this song has no title, i’ve seen that movie too, ballad of danny bailey, saturday nights alright

One of the best albums ever

There's not really a bad song here. The first four in particular are classics, and a great demonstration of what Elton John and Bernie Taupin were capable of at the height of their powers. One of the greatest albums of all time. 5 Stars.

why is elton into his sister and why is this so long

First 3 tracks incredible. Immediately loses steam for the whole B side of disc one. Picks it back up in the third quarter and closes out strong with some good ol country skronkin.

It's about time I got an Elton John album on this website. I had never listened to "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" before. To no one's surprise, it was great. There are a few tracks that should've been singles. Let's hope I get another good album. 4 stars for "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road".

This album is full of bangers. Elton and Bernie did their big one. Very enjoyable.

There are generational talents out there, and Elton John is one of them. This album displays that.

It's a double album, but Elton put a ton of bangers in it. Listen to it, or not. I'm not your boss.

Nice album to have on in the background. Some great hits on here.

Classic album with some of Elton’s best hits in his career. This is really close to being a 5/5 for me, but the back half of the album is on the weaker side and drags on a little. Overall still a phenomenal album. 4/5.

Beyond the yellow brick roooooooooooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad

pay no heed to the man behind the curtain

There's a couple filler tracks but there's just so many bangers that I can't give this less than 4 stars

Epic. Classic. Easy 5 stars.

so fucking inconsistent it's not even funny but SHUT UP FOR A SECOND and let Love Lies Bleeding and Grey Seal and Bennie and the Jets work their magic and THEN KEEP LISTENING because even at his worst 70s Elton John knows how to put on a show. super fun times deserves to be one of the 1001? YES!

It's Elton John, it's great.

Fan erkänner mig besegrad. Fått för mig att Elton är sisådär. Men denna skiva var grym. Å då gillar jag inte ens candle in the wind. Skönt energi och varierande. Kommer lyssna mer!

Inte hört hela denna tidigare, men det blir den första skivan som jag tveklöst kan ge högsta betyg efter endast en genomlyssning. Mästerligt bra.

Funky narriative musical storytelling. I've heard many of these songs before this album from single releases. Distinct voice and showmanship style

This album has arguably the greatest opening 4 songs in music history. It opens with the 11 minute medley “Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” it’s gorgeous for the first half and turns into one of the greatest rock songs of all time in the second. It’s one of my favorite recordings Elton ever recorded. This immediately goes into “Candle In The Wind”, his tribute to Marylin Monroe, the soft guitar and backing harmonies have always been favorites of mine on this song. We then get the big hit “Bennie And The Jets” which is one of the most fun lyrical and musical moments in John’s career. It then moves into the title track, my favorite Elton song, the lyrics and vocals are amazing and the harmonies are amazing. The next track “This Song Has No Title” is fun and I love the opening piano line. The remaster of “Grey Seal” is so much better than the original it’s fun and a rollicking good time. “Jamaica Jerk-Off” is somewhat catchy but it’s the only truly weak track on the record. “I’ve Seen That Movie Too” is one of my favorite Taupin lyrics and is gorgeous especially the instrumental in the middle. “Sweet Painted Lady” is really pretty as well. “The Ballad Of Danny Bailey” is a great mob story and I love the opening piano chords. “Dirty Little Girl” is decent too. “All The Girls Love Alice” is one of the great rockers on the album. “Your Sister Can’t Twist (But She Can Rock N Roll)” is super fun and echoes back to classic rock and roll. “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” is a fantastic rocker and one of the best of Elton’s career. “Roy Roger’s” captures that feeling of nostalgia amazingly and is a go-to hidden gem for me. “Social Disease” is a fantastic country tinged tune and “Harmony” has amazing (well) harmonies. The track is a wonderful end to a wonderful album. This album is one of the greatest double albums of all time. Only two tracks are below average and it’s not significant. The lyrical themes are amazing and there’s a reason it’s John and Taupin’s most celebrated piece.

So this is hard to rate It is far, far too long But it contains some absolutely classic 5⭐️ songs (Saturday Night and the title track in particular) However, of the songs I hadn’t heard before, only Harmony really landed So we probably end up at a high 3 rather than a low 4

I didn’t make it through this album. It has some classics. The first half of Funeral for a Friend is an amazing piece of prog-rock. Jamaican Jerk Off is not a good look-goes up with his red face track off of Madman Across the Pond. He’s a good musician though and there are some classics on here. For me it’s more of a 2, but I will bump it up for the classics.

Classic

Lots of lovely songs and a few bangers. A few hokey tracks admittedly, but it still didn't feel like it went on for too long even with the over-hour length

Some high points...but goes on a bit...it's a bit too much Elton for me in one sitting. Jamaica Jerk off might be one of the worst things I've heard in a long time...

amazing although did not like the first song too much. The outro and intro should have been switched would have made a lot of sense. 10 out of 10

Sir Elton John is a legend. And Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is perhaps one of if not the greatest of his albums. Candle in the Win, Benny and the Jets, GYBR, Saturday Night. These are all time classic bangers from one of the greatest artists of all time. I'm waffling back and forth as to if this is a four or five star album. Probably only worth a four, but It's Elton and I feel obligated to go full five stars. Saturday Night will make the playlist because I favor upbeat songs.

I don't like Elton John. Benny And The Jets epitomizes my disgust for Elton John. Meanwhile, Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting it's probably my favorite EJ song, but that's not saying much, but it will bring the album up to 2 stars.

The songs on this album generally fit into 3 categories for me: Perfect/Great ("Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding", "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road") Good ("Candle in the Wind", "Social Disease" "Harmony", "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting") Meh ("Bennie and the Jets", "This Song Has No Title", "Grey Seal", "Jamaica Jerk-Off", "I've Seen That Movie Too" "Sweet Painted Lady", "The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909–34)", "Dirty Little Girl", "All the Girls Love Alice", "Your Sister Can't Twist (but She Can Rock 'n Roll)", "Roy Rogers" While the sheer volume of meh songs should edge this toward a 2, the great singles (especially the opener funeral for a friend) makes the album well worth it, imo. 3/5

Some bangers, a little slow for me. 7/10

Classic indeed. I love him and this was the album recommended my by dear friend and teacher Mr. Lehn. I was trying to listen to better music and he said this was one of the best of all time. He was right. Miss you bud!

Yeah. This is some great psychey Elton

Hadde plutselig hørt igjennom et par ganger uten å tenke over det. Det må jo være bra?

Great beginning, great end. Dragged a bit in the middle

listened to again its a classic

Terrific.

I have a feeling we're not not in Kansas anymore

Honestly really great. 75 minutes is too long though.

umm yes

Pretty good, but I'm not that much into Elton John's music.

mega good first part of the album is just banger after banger after banger

Some absolute classics here and also a few not.

Forgive me for not listening to the full 70 minutes of this, but there was no coming back from the Jamaica Jerk-Off

Итс окэй. По-моему здесь можно было бы найти один просто разъебный альбом вместо затянутого приличного. Лучшая песня - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

I haven’t listened to this since I was a wee lad and it reminds me of my mom. I’m typically not a fan of albums that run over an hour. Too much of a risk of filler tracks and this album is no exception.

Decent a bit to long 3/5

When I think "Elton" I think of this sound and energy.

Interessant åpning! Ikke helt for meg dette. Noe klassiske låter såklart. Men hva er den Jamaica-sangen?

Muy buenos temas y en general buen regusto.

Another one I had never listened to before and a very pleasant surprise. Never had really listened to Elton John and was surprised he could rock this much. Excellent classic rock album!

Отличный альбом ! Шикарный голос Элтона Джона!

An absolute legend. Has to be Elton’s greatest albums ever. Greatness from start to finish.

Sprawling and impressive with a few of the best songs ever written.

Saturday Night's Alright will never not remind me of Gnomeo and Juliet

It’s so funny I got this album right after the Stranger, when I specifically mentioned Elton in that review. This album is incredible. I’ve listened to it many times. My controversial take is that I hate “Saturday.” Favorites: - Funeral for a Friend - Goodbye Yellowbrick Road - Dirty Little Girl - Roy Rogers - Harmony

Stary ale klasyczny, bardzo fajny mix basu, jednak wokal i gitary są dość płaskie. Ale mimo tego mi się podoba

Jako największy hater pianina jakiego znam muszę przyznać, że Elton John robił naprawdę dobrą muzykę

Fantastic album

Elton John plus Bernie Taupin is a muscial match made in Heaven; they give me goosies so many times across this album. Candle in the WInd takes me to Diana so I cannot listen to it. I've Seen That Movie Too and Listened before? Y Saved to library? Y Favorite track(s): Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding, Bennie And The Jets, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, I've Seen That Movie Too, Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Love love love

Absolutely fantastic. Gloriously epic. I've heard a lot of the different songs separately and loved them. This was my first time listening to the full album. I love it!

A classic

It's okay, it's not my favorite but I don't hate it. When I found out Benny and the Jets was not live but was engineered to sound like that, I thought less of it for some reason. Maybe its the added in cheers? I like the way they did drums in this era.

Wonderful album. Grey seal and Alice are two stand outs that, frankly, eclipse the hits. I don't love Elton John but I respect him and his song writing partner. It can all get a bit much but I guess that is what you sign up for.

Chef d'oeuvre l'intro de Funeral for a friend Et Bennie and the Jets = Intro de Super rich kids de Frank Ocean

A classic. Great album.

This album has been part of my DNA since I was seven years old (my mother had the eight track, which had a slightly different sequence to the original LP) and has never left. This album began my lifelong appreciation of Elton John and his music.

Funeral for a friend is so well done, my favorite of this collection.

This was the fun Elton John I grew up listening to. I really enjoyed the first half of the album but the second half began to drag a bit. It's completely not what I would ever have chosen to listen to in the past, but I think it will go to my 'background music' playlist. For me, not quite a 5 but a strong 4 - a bit too much pathos for me.

Zuhause, Heidenheim, Deutschland. Tolles Album.

This is another one of the albums that takes me back in time. I was born at the beginning of the 70's and, although I don't own this album, I've probably heard every track on it at some stage. It contains multiple classic tracks, no weak tracks at all. This really was Elton John's zenith, or if not, it was during his peak years.

Nothing really stood out to me besides the classics.

Elton’s always great. Enjoyed the country/blues elements. But very long.

elton john. nice rock.

Great album not much more to say

A lot of bangers on this album but also a lot of filler too. I maintain that virtually no double album needs to exist.

An eclectic collection of songs.

Some killer tracks, and I loved when the album went really out there, especially the intro. But did not care for Elton doing “reggae”

I never truly enjoyed Elton John. He’s a rocker and a great singer/songwriter. There’s much respect to be had. Still, this album will not find a place in my collection

Elton John is just a phenomenal musician. I don't love every song he does, but his hits fucking slap hard, and his "lesser" songs still are pretty damn good in their own right. I didn't grow up listening to him, it was more of a post-teenage re-introduction to his music that really made me appreciate it.

What an album. Awesome all the way around!

A 5 for the exquisite Candle In The Wind and the title song, then 1 for the mindless Benny and the Jets. The rest fall between.

good but somehow repetitive

This was Harmony.

Gotta love Elton John. Fun album, much better than the other one I've had of his, Madman Across The Water. A lot of good fun songs. Bennie And The Jets had good music. Jamaica Jerk-Off was a blast. The Ballad Of Danny Baily was fun, as was Dirty Little Girl, good guitar work in that one. Saturday Night's Allright is a classic, great song. Roy Rogers had a fun western sound. I would have picked that one as the best song. But.... this album also has a little song called Candle In The Wind. Such an incredible song, sad and sweet and just a pleasure to hear the piano and vocals. Best song: Candle In The Wind

An obvious 5-star album, even if it is slightly bloated and could be a couple songs shorter. It’s an essential, timeless record. Probably Elton’s most famous album, the hits are incredible as per usual from his classic era. The album tracks aren’t quite as strong as some of his other records like Tumbleweed Connection and Honky Chateau, but Elton is still at his peak performance here. What an iconic album art too. I’d have loved to have been around when Elton was releasing new albums like this - picking up this record on vinyl had to bea magical moment for millions.

This was brilliant, all the singles hold up despite massive airplay on classic rock radio throughout the US. First track was stunning and very cool, I love those analogue synthesizers he used. Spans all moods and really comes together well despite the longer length.

Classic. Definite road trip music!

Great music. Fun album but also moody at times which I wasn't expecting from what I knew of his big hits. 4 outta 5

The best songs have had a life outside this album for so long that it makes the rest of the album redundant. It's good to have them recontextualised, but I don't think the filler really adds much. That said, I love a sax break. Blues roots on show with strong harmonica and banjo. Three, purely because of the hits.

Went in expecting to enjoy this. Aside from a couple of classics I found the album pretty dull on the whole

Best way to start off an album, an 11 minute mostly instrumental song. Very much enjoyed the album. A very strong start in terms of the first 4 songs, did tail off a bit and therefore a 4 star.

This is a great . Trim a few songs and this might have been a 5

truly the pick me up i needed today!!

This was basically a stimming album! The production was so engaging even through slower beats, and each song had a lot of unique and interesting character to them that made re-listening easy to do. A lot of bangers here!

I actually hear a little TSR-era Tame Impala on the intro of Funeral for a Friend lol Great album overall, no notes

I didn't hate it 2.5

Pretty good. A bit long, but some real hits.

6/10

I can’t claim to the biggest Elton John fan but I did but this on vinyl pretty early on in my collection. It’s a solid album, probably a bit long bit does have a handful of great songs on it. I do return to it very occasionally, it’s a good Sunday morning album

Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding is the greatest song ever written and you can quote me on that

Too long and too bluesy for me. But Yellow Brick Road is a Cotton family classic forever.

mid 2

åh, er det den. Hyggeligt! 3

-1 for an attempt at reggae

Beautiful

I’ve known Elton rocks for some time now, but this was still a pleasant surprise. Started to get into some Lion King territory towards the end, but still a great listen.

Showcases Elton John’s versatility and talent. Each song feels like a testament to loss and the different ways we experience saying goodbye. Whether it’s a relationship ending, a close friend dying, or even just saying goodbye to a personal hero, each stage of grief is represented.

Classic album. I didn't know Elton rocked this hard! Favorite track: Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting

This is a very fun (and a bit sad at times) album that has aged amazingly, an amazing listen that feels fresh even after ~50 years. Incredible work. However, should have been cut a little, some songs feel either too long or just dont fit/dont add nothing new. Still, amazing work 87/100

3.75

Pop

Sweet Elton, au e künstler wo mer mal muss glosst ha. 4 pinki pfaufedere

fantastisch! bi froh hani's endli glost <3

It was ok. A bit over the top for my tastes.

Lost of great tunes too many duds (note to EJ: quality is better than quantity)

What an album. Almost every song is captivating. The musicality and creativity shines through. Elton's music grabs you by the ears and doesn't let go.

222/1089 - I was surprised and impressed by the amount of texture variety in this double album. I guess I shouldn't be, piano is a very versatile instrument and Elton John knows what he's doing as a pianist and singer. I liked the synth and organ playing too.

This is nice, and it's one of those classic 70s CDs from the peak of rock music that stands the test of time. Within that top group though, it's kind of middling. The beginning is very strong - it has his 3 biggest hits, and I love "Love Lies Bleeding" and "Grey Seal", those should be on the radio more. But the back half really drags, the overall quality is mediocre, and it's really long. "Dirty Little Girl" and "Jamaican Jerk Off" in particular are two that I bet Sir Elton wishes he has back, and without them this could've nearly fit into a single LP. I debated between 3 and 4, but I love glam, and the peaks here are high enough (especially the title track), plus it's a single-album's worth of quality material with a bunch of filler.

Very good

Love it!

Should have been great, too many filler tracks

great

Seguimos con discazos. Este es uno que no tengo escuchado de pe a pa debido a su extensión y sus 17 canciones. Siempre que tengo ganas de escuchar a John, generalmente voy a otro de sus primeros discos, mucho más escuetos; o a alguno de los últimos, porque el tipo tuvo un gran comeback. Este disco tiene igual temas tremebundos que me vuelven loco. Las mejores: Mi canción favorita del disco es la primera: Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding, que también es una de las primeras canciones que me gustaron de él. A mi John siempre me gustó más como compositor y como pianista que como cantante (su voz es demasiado perfecta). Y la primera mitad de esta canción, los primeros 4 minutos, me parecen gloria pura. Después maduré y me empezó a gustar como canta John, así que también pasé a disfrutar mucho la 2da mitad de la canción, más rockera. Otra canción fantástica 10 estrellas es la homónima, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, con una letra buenísima y conmovedora (prefiero pensar que no es un mensaje de Taupin para John, eso le quita algo de magia) y una melodía eterna. Otra canción espectacular es Grey Seal (¿La canción infravalorada del disco?: es un art rock perfecto, con tal vez la línea de bajo más memorable de todo el disco. Es una canción que siento que si estuviera en otro disco con menos canciones hubiera sido el highlight; al mismo tiempo esta canción me parece superior a otras que sí fueron hits como Candle in the Wind, así que no sé. Otro temón: I've Seen That Movie Too. No sé si no es la 2da mejor canción después de Funeral for a Friend. Lo que hace John con el piano es espectacular. Y la letra!? Impresionante. The Ballad of Danny Bailey: posiblemente la mejor canción del 2do disco. Por alguna razón creo que hubiera sido una gran canción de Lennon. Social Disease: El disco vuelve a repuntar al final: Social Disease es un temazo mucho más memorable que los anteriores. Un pop muy melódico donde John se acompaña con un banjo que le da un factor un "toque" más country: una canción divertida en un momento en el que el disco se estaba volviendo aburrido. Harmony: el cierre del disco: una balada pop perfecta de las que solo John nos puede dar. En este disco se extrañaron (está Candle in the Wind que no me gusta mucho), pero viene al final y hay recompensa. Las que están bien: Otro hit del disco fue Bennie and the Jets. Está bastante bien. Me gustaría que durara un poco menos, pero es innegable la melodía que tiene. Y es una canción en la que John se suelta, ¿no? Siento que en un disco con 10 canciones sería una cosita más acotada y no se hubiera convertido en el hit que fue. This Song Has No Title es divertidísima, pero dura solo 2 minutos. Es difícil no verla como una coda a GYBR. Me hace acordar a esas canciones de Queen de vaudeville que me parecen divertidísimas pero tmb sé que son un poco pelotudas. Sweet Painted Lady también está bien. Lo que pasa es que es el tema 9 y, a esta altura, quiero MÁS Y MÁS como Karina (?). Es un tema simpático que en otro disco con menos canciones me gustaría más. Me hace acordar un poco a Francia (no sé si es la intención) con ese acordeón. Las canciones 11-14: están bien pero es una secuencia de 15-16 minutos de rockandrolles medio genéricos (un tema más twist que rock and roll): por separadas estas canciones son buenas (de hecho Saturday's night... fue single y es un buen single): todas juntas son mucho de lo mismo, y llegando al final del disco. Roy Rogers: está bien, pero me aburre un poco. Es el tema 15 del disco, quiero un tema que destaque acá. Las que no me gustan: "Candle in the Wind" es una canción que no me gusta mucho; nunca entendí a Marilyn Monroe, me parece sobrevalorada. Y cuando después le re-dedicó el tema a la pelotuda de Lady Di es peor. Me cuesta mucho disociar el tema de eso. No sé, está bien, pero prefiero skippear este tema. "Jamaica Jerk-Off" es un tema influenciado por el reggae. Bastante pelotudo. Seguro: es mejor que los intentos de Eric Clapton por emular este género, en un disco que ya revisé y que no debe ser mencionado. Al menos es solo UNA canción, y es relativamente divertida, si bien, boludona. En suma, es un disco excelente. Agrupé las canciones en tres categorías; la peor solo tiene dos canciones (y estoy seguro que la mayoría discreparía con una de esas dos), pero son muchos temas, muchos, muchos, muchos. Y es un disco que creo que pierde con tantas canciones. Hay discos como el álbum blanco que me parecen perfectos por sus imperfecciones; y hay otros como éste en el las imperfecciones son solo imperfecciones. Por todo esto le pongo 4 estrellas. Pero no se equivoquen. Algunas de las mejores canciones de John están acá.

Like it 3/5

More than just the singles, the opening track was fantastic. Couple songs could have been removed and it would have been a 5 star

Cultural icon and brilliant societal touchstones like this don’t come around often. I almost wish that I hadn’t heard it before

A lot of fun Muppets energy on this one, and Elton & Kermit are killing it!

There were some good parts.

Opening track left me pleasantly surprised, did not expect that sound. Did not get the hype around Bettie and the jets, one of the lower points of the album for me. Favorite track: Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding

Love this album

Better than Coldplay

Love this album since my childhood, used to listen to it on tape reel

Great album

There is so much good stuff on this.

Meh

One of the few double albums that is not too over-bloated to deserve a top rating. Sure, there are some songs here that are a bit weak, but in many double album playlists, you'll find enough dross that you wonder why the artist didn't just go for a single, really great album. Here, a single album would almost certainly have left out too many terrific tracks.

I want to like it. And there are some great songs here (particularly sides one and four). But does it have to be a double album?

Can't hear Bennie and the Jets without thinking of this Chris Fleming bit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzzkhS_goJk The first 4 tracks on this album - "Funeral for a Friend," "Candle in the Wind," "Bennie and the Jets," and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" - are an incredibly good run. Unfortunately the album continues on for another 50 minutes after the end of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" without ever hitting that same level again... maybe Elton really *is* bound to the piano by some kind of unseen malevolent force. Decided to weight the first 23 minutes and let it have 5 stars.

Great start to the album but drops off a little. Loads of great songs!

Åpner sterkt, tar noen rare turns, med foreksempel Jamican Jerk-Off. Tenker Elton ikke trenger å drive med reggea. Alt i alt et ålreit album. Elton er flink.

Now, this is more like it! Love me some Elton John, especially with Bernie Taupin's lyrics. I'll even excuse Jamaica Jerk-Off because I've Seen That Movie Too is so good. Listened before? Y Saved to library? Y Favorite track(s): Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding, Bennie And The Jets, I've Seen That Movie Too, Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)

Now, this is more like it! Love me some Elton John, especially with Bernie Taupin's lyrics. I'll even excuse Jamaica Jerk-Off because I've Seen That Movie Too is so good. Listened before? Y Saved to library? Y Favorite track(s): Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding, Bennie And The Jets, I've Seen That Movie Too, Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)

Classic album, Elton in his prime.

Familiar with the hits on this album but first time listening through. First song feels unnecessarily ornate with long lead in that never really builds. And this holds for most of the album. Candle in the Wind frankly always associated with Princess Di and found lyrics deeper than expected. Benny and the Jets live has a great vibe - realization that Ben Folds stole from EJ in terms of playing style and song structure. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road appeared in a lot of movies when I was young and listening today took me back to my childhood home and deep innocence - I could see an album label circling the spindle. The next 3 and frankly rest of the album largely forgettable. Alice is fun - good way to conclude a side of the record. Good enough to score highly for the hits but not near perfection I am seeking for a 5. 4/5

Mad at myself that i didn’t listen this record before

Ok I didn't expect the prog frost track. That was fun. The rest of the album feels like a best of album. You know and understand that he's been writing hits for a while but listening to this made me realize it. It's a very good album and I wasn't kidding when I said it feels like a best of. It's not his greatest hits, but the album has several on it, but it just feels like a huge album. Good stuff.

Classic. A few tracks I would have left off. Still, the singles are legendary.

tons of bangers on this one, great album benny and the jets is def my favorite elton john song

Elton John isn’t exactly my cup of tea, but that being said, its a really fun and feel good album that is incredibly catchy, blends multiple genres of music, and has a certain warmness to it. Feels like something I’d put on to clean my house to

Mr Elton I’m sorry I wasn’t familiar with your game

Couple great songs and a bunch of filler.

Iconic standard. Lot of good stuff.

nostalgic 70s piano rock.

I didn't care for Elton John on Madman Across The Water, I still don't care for him now. Music is good and well made, that's obvious, I just don't vibe with it.

This is #day366 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… this has to be my first-ever full album experience with Elton John. And what an album to start with, right? There's something unmistakably '70s about it the moment you hit play. Glam rock is front and center, but so is progressive pop and pop rock. I mean, this is the same year Aladdin Sane came out. Some absolute highlights: the first four tracks (loving that synth in "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding," and the title track is just golden). "I've Seen That Movie Too" and "Sweet Painted Lady" are also standouts. The piano work throughout is exceptional. Had the record been a tad shorter or spared a couple of inessential tracks, it'd easily be a 5. Still, this is a 4. Looking forward to #day367.

One of the better of the Elton Johns albums (in my opinion).

I was excited when I saw this cover come up. Easily recognizable and highly regarded. I just am not a huge fan. The lyrics were not great in my opinion and sometimes I feel like I would have had a better experience if the entire album was instrumental. Don't get me wrong, some songs are beautiful. "Candle In the Wind" is an amazing song throughout. The opening instrumental of "Funeral for a Friend" is so good. "Grey Seal" and "Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock'n' Roll)" and "Social Disease" are also standouts. Sadly, I just find myself getting bored halfway through a lot of these songs. The best songs are really good and I would come back to. The worst ones, honestly I wouldn't skip, but I don't see myself listening to the entire album again. A normal 10 song album or shorter version of many songs might land at a 4 or a 5, but as it is, it's just too long and doesn't use the time how I would want it to.

A classic.

Some amazing songs mixed in with so really bad tracks (dirty girl and Jamaica jerk off)

Phenomenal. Easily some of his best work. It's a great listen and I was just overall super pleased with this album.

The songs are all good but like I didn’t get much out of it. Fire vibes though

the second half of the forst track was lame. dirty little girl was just worse benny and the jets + some discomfort. the rest of it was pretty solid stuff eh? actually no it falls off after dirty little girl.

Grew up hearing the first record of this two-record set on the radio, but this was the first time I'd listened to the whole thing. I don't know if I'm going to go out of my way to listen to the second record again, but I will say that he and Taupin crafted some amazing songs for the back half of this set.

Kind of boring but some hits. Couldn't really get through all of it

it's cheesy and all and I don't like cheesy. but it has a remarkable quality and a tremendous recognition value!

This is my mom's jam. She loves listening to Elton John's songs.

Surely, Scissor Sisters’ favorite record.

The peak of early Elton John composition.

great album!

I am not a fan of Elton John per se, not my preferred style of music. Even so, this gets 5 stars, it is clearly his masterpiece. Very creative.

Jamaican Jerk-off has aged like milk

Not really my kind of thing, but shout out to Elton for Bennie and the Jets, The Ballad of Danny Bailey and Saturday Nights alright for Fighting.

I was never really interested in Elton John. Not that I don’t like him – I’m just not familiar enough with his music to have a strong opinion about it. This was the first Elton John album I actually listened from start to finish. At the end of the first song, I was in awe. It was amazing, and I thought I was going for a 5* album. But then... the songs started piling up, and it became apparent that Funeral For A Friend was the exception. This album is really all over the place – some good songs (mainly the jazzier ones with a lot of piano), some average songs, some super cheesy stuff, and a couple of abominations (Jamaica Jerk-Off is criminally bad). In the end, I was left puzzled. I can appreciate the talent, the creativity and the passion Elton John has poured into this double LP. It’s objectively a great album, no doubt about that. But personally... only a third of the songs really brought me excitement, and only a couple of them were truly great. I guess it’s just not my kind of music.

great

As a while, the album is a little more disjointed than I remember. Some great songs, but some that lost my attention pretty quickly.

Bangers.

Meisterstück eines genialen Teams!

A bit longer, 80 minutes. I'm not a fan of Elton John, but It was a nice listening. I only was able to listen to the album once due to its length

Loaded with hits that have stood the test of time.

Not really my kind of music, but the album does have some undeniable classics like Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Bennie and the Jets, and Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting (my personal favorite). It deserves its spot on the 1001 Albums list, but I wouldn’t listen to it again. 7.5/10

Did not things it was going to be this good

Damn. I somehow forgot this album in my 1973 album playlist and it shot up to the fourth spot. This one has bangers: "Candle in the Wind," "Bennie and the Jets," etc. This is a long album that starts with the operatic and double-digit long "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding." Although the album slogs a bit on side three, the big singles more than make up for it. Top tracks: "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"

--Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding...love that bass starting around the 6 minute mark. A long but fun track --Candle in the Wind...great song. Prefer this over England's Rose (sorry, Diana) --Bennie and the Jets...I used to hate this song. I still do, but I used to, too --Goodbye Yellow Brick Road...good not great title song. --This Song Has No Title...very nice. I don't think I've heard this before. Great production --Grey Seal...has a nice groove --Jamaica Jerk-Off...I'm guessing Sir Elton is trying the old White Album-style genre stretch --I've Seen That Movie Too...not good enough to be six minutes long --Sweet Painted Lady...not bad but a little too old fashioned for me --The Ballad of Danny Bailey...this is weird. I love it! --Dirty Little Girl...decent. Could be shorter --All the Girls Love Alice...this one has a good groove and interesting tempo changes. Nice --Your Sister Can't Twist...trying a Jerry Lee Lewis thing. It's fun --Saturday Night's Alright...I'm not sure exactly whose ass Elton John thinks he's kicking, but this rocks --Roy Rogers...nice but basic, which is probably the point. Might like it more if I were more familiar with Roy Rogers --Social Disease...checking the volume on my headphones. I can barely hear him? Okay, it's getting louder. Intentional, I guess. It's a fun song --Harmony...fitting closer. Good stuff

4/10

I find the cover more interesting than most of the songs on this album.

Bennie And The Jets klingt einfach wunderbar, direkt gute Laune.

I've never been an Elton John fan, but I may have to change that. This album rocks. Elton is obviously a force on the piano, but the rest of his band is tight too. This album is absolutely frontloaded with hits. Standouts for me were "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" "Candle In The Wind" "Bennie And The Jets," yeah yeah all the hits. They're good! Solid, fun album. The second half is definitely slower. It's packed with good tunes, but it just lost me a bit. The album could have been shortened a bit to be honest, but there's so much good music here this easily hits a 4 out of 5. Not 100% my shtick, but pretty damn close!

A better listen than I thought. The opening track is really fun. I was bracing for Candle in the Wind and it turned out pretty good. Plenty of hits here. The musicianship is great too. I particularly enjoyed the vocal harmonies. However this album is long. I just don’t need this much in one sitting.

Much like Elton Johns career, it starts off with a bang, and then just progressively peters out...

First off, good stuff overall. Critical bits: could have done without the white-boy reggae ("Jamaica Jerk-Off") and the slight country twang in "Roy Rogers", and while "Candle In the Wind" is a classic, it's also overplayed and the 70s production is a bit cringe at times. But three skippable songs in a 17 song set isn't bad.

I feel like if I went to a record store right now and looked at a used copy of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, the second LP would look brand new, except for that skip at the beginning of side D where people kept dropping the needle on Saturday Night. And the first LP would be completely worn out. Did this need to be a double album, I don't think so, but I still will give it four stars, because its classic.

A classic album that displays all the traits of overdoing everything in the 70's. The high points of this album are amazing, the rest... well it could have been left out entirely. A LOT of skippers on here. Had clear heads won out over cocaine confidence this would be a single album and not a double. All of that being said I own this on vinyl, cassette, cd and even 8 track.

Fine album, some classics on it. Was pretty enjoyable, probably wokt listen to it front to back again though.

This is truly one of the all-time great albums. This is a classic. Best Songs Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding Candle in the Wind Bennie and the Jets Goodbye Yellow Brick Road This Song Has No Title Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting) Harmony

Isn't it common knowledge that this is one of the best albums ever made?

Hitsen är klassiska örhängen, men däremellan är det för många svaga spår för ett toppbetyg. Fyra

Normally don’t dig long albums but this is an exception. Just a high level throughout

One of my favorite albums with my all time favorite Elton song. This album is legendary.

Flöt förbi, men var inte necessarily dåligt. Skulle säga ett prima exempel på en 3/5

Je comprends pourquoi c'est culte, mais je trouve ça chiant. Et en plus ça dure une putain d'heure.

This is arguably my favorite EJ album. I saw him at MSG on the tour introducing this album. The intro for "Funeral for a Friend" was unbelievably surreal, the show was spectacular! Undoubtedly, I have a clear bias as I sat and listened, not something I could objectively set aside. What a great album. If I were to own only one Elton John album, this would be this one.

Woo!

A fine album, but way, WAY too long. There is a good 5 or 6 songs that could easily cut to bring this down to a standard album length. Easy candidates would be songs like "Jamaica Jerk-Off", "Dirty Little Girl" and that ridiculously long opener that could be saved just for concerts. While I will always take Elton John's honktonk over pretty much anything The Rolling Stones ever did, there is only so many honkytonk show tunes I can take. Also, I don't think the concept of leaving stardom and returning to a simple life really comes off, but then again I'm not interested in lyrics anyway. The hits are great. And 4 hits makes this an easy 3 to 4. Personally I am in a 3 mood today.

3 of the most famous songs out there, in a row, on the same album. Iconic. It would be crazy to see Elton live during this period. Absolute energy freak. The weak spot is the second half of the album, with a bunch of bouncy tracks that all have the Elton John sound but aren't particularly unique. I mean, this is not the worst problem to have: the man was bouncing off of the walls with ideas. But I would have preferred the punchier, 40-minute version, with the A-sides plus Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting.

Do I enjoy other Elton John albums more? Yes. Was this still fun and had some bops? Also yes

A bit too long and repetitive in sound bur some good songs on here. And an extra star just because it’s Elton

This isn’t my favorite Elton John album but was fun and nostalgic nonetheless. Elton can do no wrong in my eyes.

Of course there are some really good songs, but there are also some really not good songs like Jamaican Jerk Off. This album could be a lot better as one disc. Mid 4.

I get it: he's very good . . . but it's just too much like a musical for me

I think the album starts off really strong then gradually weakens with the occasional gem in the second half. I've never listened to the album in its entirety until today and as I went through the first 4 songs I thought this is going to be fantastic but then we hit the Jamaican number and I started to become a bit uncertain. Its not horrendous but its bizarre and ruins any flow the record had started to obtain. There are then a good few decent tracks but nothing mind blowing. Dirty Little Girl is pretty wild, funny hearing Elton John talking about grabbing a 'bitch' by the ass and giving her a well needed scrubbing. Was not expecting that. Obviously Saturday Nights Alright gets things going again but the album fails to hit the early highs. As for the positives, when the album is good its amazing. Guitars are off the scale at times , some brilliant solos. Proper rock and roll piano is hard to top and the vocals aren't bad at all. Lyrics are a bit cringe at times but I won't judge that too harshly. Overall it was a decent listen but I could probably have cut a third of the songs and went standard album length. Sorry Elton fans! Favourite track- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. 7/10

I thought this would be one of those slam-dunk 5 star albums. I’ve heard all the hits from this (who hasn’t?!?!?) but the deep cuts were mostly new to me. And while some of them are pretty great (“Grey Seal,” “Twist”) most of them are either retreads of earlier songs or totally forgettable. In particular, “Dirty Little Girl,” is a problem. The lyrics are aggressively misogynistic, even for the 70s, but what I find interesting is that the most intensity Elton musters up for the entire album is when he threatens to tell the world the subject is a dirty little girl. Dude, chill. Two songs ago you were singing wistfully about a sea-side resort prostitute. What the hell. And musically it’s just “Bennie” in a minor key. Anyways. By the time I got to side four I was exhausted. Sides 1 and 2 - FOUR STARS: Sides 3 and 4 - TWO STARS THREE STARS

thoughts: it’s wild to see how many massive songs are on this album. it’s pure distilled elton john through and through. i love the opener, although i wouldn’t have expected something like that to open an album like this. the title track is an all-time fave of mine. “saturday night’s alright for fighting” showing up late is a nice little shot in the arm songs: “funeral for a friend/love lies bleeding”, “goodbye yellow brick road”, “all the girls love alice” rating: 8.3/10

Classic Elton, Great mix of songs

AMAZING first half. Absolutely goes downhill in the second but the first half was GOAT territory so it retains the 5.

appreciate elton john but god damm the mf is just yapping too repititive for me

The first side is like a greatest hits album

This is a very good album. The songwriting is very creative and interesting and I like the mix of different styles used. The instrumentation is great, especially the piano. It's a fairly serious album and it includes lots of thoughtful lyrics. I think it could be improved if a few of the filler tracks were removed. Also wtf was he thinking with Jamaica jerk off. Overall, it's a really enjoyable album

I love Elton John, this is a great album. Not my favorite one but solid

Elton John is entertaining enough but not usually my first choice when playing albums. Surprised the first song was leaning so far into the prog realm. 3.5⭐️

Not bad for a double LP - doesn't really seem to drag. All of the classic hits are still classics.

Something about geeked up gay british dudes. They just make some of the best music. Sonically luxurious, harmonically beautiful, it rips it rocks and it rolls. Bonus points for tasteful use of Accoridan and Banjo in some deep cuts. Elton is one of the best composers of a lifetime.

Elton's best work. Many people agree with this as its got a wide range of stuff from hits to more niche songs. Its a double album and sure is long, but nonetheless enjoyable for one of music's greatest icons. Enjoyed the first time listen of the album.

I find it super tough to get into double albums. This has some great songs on - I didn't realise so many of his hits were on one double album together. It's tricky to get a feel for the whole work though when it's so long. I think I like Elton John when he's creating really interesting hooky melodies and harmonising them simply but beautifully (I think he does some interesting chord voicings sometimes!) I like it less when he leans into rock and roll clichés. I kind of want to give it more time but realistically I don't know when I'm going to feel like listening to a double album.

Fantastic

We all know that Elton John is one of the most accomplished artists in history. I've always liked certain songs (I'm Still Standing, Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me) and his catalog is astonishingly large, but he's never been one of my go-to musicians. That said, I am very drawn to many piano playing artists, whether it's Bruce Hornsby, Billy Joel, Sara Bareilles and others. So, I figured I would like this, but I had no idea how much. This is an incredible album. Candle in the Wind is an iconic song, not much more needs to be said. I know that Bennie and the Jets is one of his biggest selling songs, but I've never really understood why. It's a good song, but there are others that are much better. For example, Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting is a much more fun song. I would rather listen to the latter than the former. The title track is another excellent tune, especially the sweeping chorus. It's almost whimsical but it simultaneously has a lot of depth. Other highlights for me beyond the hits: Funeral For a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding: Yeah, the first 3:30 of the opening track is a waste but after that, it's a great way to kick off this album. Never knew that Elton had prog rock in him! An excellent song with tons of cool layers to it. Grey Seal: reminded me of Billy Joel's Miami 2017 for some reason, though it predates Joel’s by a few years. Something about the speed of the playing that felt similar. It had a smidge of a disco feel, which it also predated (at least mainstream disco) by a few years. All the Girls Love Alice: reminded me of I'm Still Standing in the non-chorus parts, really liked this one. Your Sister Can't Twist: I think Bernie and Elton sat down and said, "what if the Beach Boys were on unlimited stimulants?" Lots of fun to listen to. I was totally struck by the fullness of the sound and diversity of these songs. From front to back, it's abundantly clear how great a set of writers Bernie Taupin and EJ are. You do not get cheated on really any of these songs. An amazing effort.

Normally, I can’t really be doing with Elton John, which is why this album is a first listen for me. I know the hits and they don’t really put me up nor down. Much to my surprise, I really enjoyed this album. There is a lot to like on it, despite its vaguely prog aspect. It’s got a good mix of genres, from ballads, to rockers; prog to boogie woogie, and it’s really light. Even the album title is a nice piece of self-aggrandising fun. Reginald himself might be a prize wanker, but this is a damn fine album.

Last listened to this when I was a kid. Thought it was too long then and my opinion hasn’t changed. Obviously some all time classic songs but it could have been trimmed to a much better single LP I think.

My favorite of his that I've listened to.

Strong opening, a few questionable tracks, Jamaican Jerk-Off is a poor man's Dreadlock Holiday.

This gave me a deeper appreciation for Elton John. I really enjoy the blend of glam and pop with the doses of prog. While maybe the tracking can be a bit odd and some of the songs blend into each other, it's hard to deny how engaging all of this is.

3 or so good songs nothing special really could've been shorter

Outstanding flow. Interesting motifs, pure musical mastery. Melodic and calming.