Reviews (page 7 of 13)
Love Lies Bleeding is an unreal tune
Classic for a reason. Great album, several great songs, and even discovered a few new ones for my personal collection.
Strong overall, if a little flabby in middle (double albums almost always are) with a handful of close-to-classics that continue to age well. Elton gave it his all, it would seem, and definitely had a good time with it, even if he got a little tiresome in his late, ubiquitious celebrity days.
Such an absolute classic.
Real good blend of pop and jazz, some rock. I liked it
Enjoyed, need to listen again
Elton's best album though it's not without it's skips (cough "Jamaica Jerk-Off" cough cough). Favorite track: Bennie And The Jets 3.5/5
Elton John always makes me so happy. Classic album 4.5 tho because idk
Good album
Full of hits. Nice hear!
8/10…glam rock
M'ha fet il·lusió començar el projecte amb Elton John. He descobert que es un doble disc. Crec que la meva part preferida és la intro instrumental.
So many classics in this album, it's hard to love. Really embodies the greatest parts of piano rock and classic rock'n'roll from the 70's. Didn't expect to like it as much as I did, but I'm glad to consider myself a fan of it now. Pure fire!
I wish I could've experienced this when it was brand new. Love the album art It has plenty of great songs, but as an album, dare I say, it's a bit overrated. It lacks cohesion and is inconsistent in terms of quality (especially in the middle). Most pleasant surprise: Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding Fav Track: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Elton John's magnum opus. If I'm not mistaken, the 3rd of 6 straight #1 albums in the US. I would call it a flawed masterpiece. It's very bloated, with over-the-top production in some places. As many people would agree, "Jamaica Jerk-Off" should have been cut as it doesn't fit and is the most annoying track. I also think "Dirty Little Girl" and "All The Girls Love Alice" are a bit weak. I've also never been a fan of the ordering of the tracks. "Candle In The Wind" (one of my least-favorite songs ever, but probably because I heard it too much as a kid) right after "Love Lies Bleeding" takes out a lot of momentum from what is a much more upbeat album overall. It should be reserved for maybe the end of side 2 or 3. I would put "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" as track 1 as it quickly establishes the mood, then "Bennie and the Jets"-- the audience noise reminiscent to the transition to "With A Little Help From My Friends" on Sgt. Pepper. "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting" could be earlier, maybe the opener to side 2. I think "Love Lies Bleeding" actually serves better as an album closer than opener.
Easily Elton's best work, probably spread a little too thinly across a double album to make it a truly top-tier LP. Enough great songs to warrant four stars from me though.
I've never listened to an Elton John album before. Of course I'm very familiar with a few songs on here, but it's pretty interesting to hear them together on the same album - a great diversity of styles, and surprisingly it kept me engaged through all 70-something minutes.
Opens with a set of A+ tracks but unfortunately does not return to that high. Still. Fantastic album
Did Jerk-off mean something different in 1973?
I enjoyed listening to this album. He has some absolute belters on here. However I have a slight issue with the length and had it been shorter it may have got full marks.
Some of his biggest hits, but also some misses and a little countryfied at times for me
heck yeah it belongs. Stars: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Sweet Painted Lady
4 stars. A lot of great hits. I liked it more than I thought I would.
Ow off to ask the wife for a Jamaican jerk off, wish me luck!
4,5
It’s not bad but it’s way too long. There are easily 4 tracks you can skip without missing the hits.
Dad- 10 Mom- 8.5 Mike- NA Lori- 7.5 Michael- 8 Miles- 5 Cole- 5 Avg-7.33
Elton John's best album. This one is full of classics (see: Candle in the Wind and Bennie and the Jets).
84% Best: Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding; Bennie And The Jets; Grey Seal; The Ballad Of Danny Bailey (1909-1934); Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting) Must-Hear? Sure. Would be better as a single album, though.
Favourite songs: Bennie and the Jets; The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909-1934) Least favourite song: Dirty Little Girl Rating: 3.5/5
An absolute classic. Few are as accomplished as Elton, and he hits some of his highest notes here.
Like most double albums it has its flaws but there are so many legendary tracks on this and even the fillers are kind of fun
This album is a little too long winded, but there's so much strong moments that it still holds its place as a masterpiece of pop/rock.
I've never heard a full Elton John album, and this one is pretty good. Bennie and the Jets and Yellow Brick Road are classic hits. I literally didn't know the latter was Elton John. Anyway, aside from that much of this album is pretty rocking, and not as slow-paced as I imagined Elton John to be for some reason. The only real terrible song is Jamaica Jerk Off, which is not only goofy and bad but near offensively bad. 4/5 but I could see how fans of this era would give it a full five. It's a pretty complete album--my only qualm is I'm not fully into Elton John in general.
Fantastic classic album!
Chad John 4.5
Great album from Elton!
This album is a classic. It is very good.
Awesome
Elton John's career has maybe now been long enough that his discography is seen a a monolith - not something where people speak about albums, but just "what he's done", generally, or individual songs. Well, Mr John, I had underestimated you, this album is great and so much more that the handful of signal for which I know Elton John, especially for what is actually one of the more justified double albums I've heard!
Didn't listen closely but it is 90% bangers
One of his best albums for sure. Amazing piano with some fun and some powerful lyrics.
And we back boys. What a great album to come back to. I’ve got this album on vinyl and have always loved it but when I was listening a little more intentionally this time, I kinda forgot how many stinkers are in between grey seal and Saturday night. Elton has enjoyed surprising longevity in his career but one thing that always follows him is that even though he’s got a ton of hits, that also comes with a ton of not so good songs. I think if he had just cut this down to one album (with the inclusion of Saturday night) and taken out the second half of the album it would be an easy 5 for me. If you haven’t listened to Sara barellies live cover of goodbye yellow brick road stop what you’re doing right now and listen to it because it’s the best thing you’ll listen to all day.
Such a fun album that I listened to it twice over the weekend. There’s a handful of hits and the deeper cuts are really enjoyable as well. I’m pretty sure this is the first full album of Elton John’s that I’ve listened to that wasn’t a greatest hits album. I’m sure we’ll have more of his stuff and I’m looking forward to it.
I listened to this album twice over the weekend, and I find myself in the same conundrum as did with RHCP's Califonication. The highs are really high, and there aren't really any lows, but the length is ruining the 5 stars for me. There are 5 or 6 songs that you can easily cut from this album and no one would notice. Back in '73 I'm sure the extra songs were a plus, but in the streaming age, it's just too much. Don't get me wrong, this is easily a 9/10 album (it might be a 9.5/10), but I don't think it quite makes it to a 5 stars because of the length.
A personal favorite record. This one's good as there isn't a single track you'd want to skip. Not a ton of those out there.
Прикольно кайф
This is a good album! I can see why Elton John is so popular. I like Candle in the Wind, one of my grandmother's favorites (RIP). I'd go 7.8/10, so 4/5.
You could give this 5 stars for the hits alone, and I could respect that choice. "Candle in the Wind", "Bennie and the Jets", the title track, and "Saturday Night's Alright" are legendary. I like them as much as the next person. Really thought I'd rate this higher too, but then "Jamaica Jerk-Off" steps in and ruins the party. From there on it's a mix of good songs and filler that could've been cut. Double albums are really tough to pull off and create something that sustains the momentum throughout. There's very few that manage it. I don't feel like this one does. It's still worth hearing though, I'd just like it a lot more if it had been cut down to the best songs.
- Pretty stoked to see an Elton John album! - Love the song Bennie and the Jets - Even songs that I don't know I end up liking...Elton John and piano...yes. Like "This Song Has No Title"...never heard it before, still enjoyed it. - Jamaica Jerk-Off is my least fave song on the album. - Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting is another fave.
cool
This should have probably been a single album. The second half has some skippable songs. Would have been 5 but 4.
Jamaican jerk-off was the best gay orgy that Elton John ever threw!
Thought the album would be good. Didn't realize it would rock so hard for no reason???
Un Elton grandilocuente y sobrado, Podía haber sido un lp sencillo perfecto.
This album took me forever to get through, in part because it's too long, but also because of something more personal. Context: Elton John was my one of my Dad's favourite artists. Since he passed last year, I haven't really been able to listen to the music he loved. This took me about 7 sittings to get through. Look, I get that this album was a bit like throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks, but when it hits, it hits hard. Those first several tracks are all iconic. The raw talent here is palpable, if a bit self indulgent. I do think this could've been easily edited down into a 5-star album. 3.5 actual stars, but rounding it up to 4 for Dad.
Elton at peak power. Whatta way to kick off an album - an 11 minute middle finger where the frontman doesn't utter a word until about the 6 minute mark, showcasing his composition chops and letting his bandmates cook (listen to that bass guitar!) This album suffers from having too many bangers to be a single LP, but too many forgettably bleh tracks on Side 3 and 4 to be that elusive great double LP. Sir Reginald has never been accused of being a perfectionist with his output (I find his follow-up to this album "Caribou" to be a challenging listen.) It's a disappointing fizzle out on what is otherwise an iconic album. Still, the top-heavy first half is too good to give this anything less than 4 stars.
Classic. Thoroughly enjoyed it
Mye bra, men mye mid også
Fun!
Nothing takes me back to my school days of the late 70's listening to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road...songs were so much simpler, and so much more musical and poetic.
Ok
First record someone ever 'taped' for me, played it to death (as you do when you only have one tape), opened my eyes to a whole new world of music. The 4 represents sentimental value for me really, after the first four monsters it's a bit of a mixed bag, apart from the magnificent Your Sister Can't Twist / Saturday Night's Alright obvs...
A real party and some mind blowing piano - but a few duds for me (looking at you "Jamaica Jerk-Off"... Obviously a classic overall though
Great album with classic songs
Really liked this, it's only not getting a 5 because of a couple of weird songs
Very enjoyable album. Classic for a reason. Slightly biased I guess because it has such a good reputation already. I related sad that Elton John has stoped committing to the receding hairline. Specific rating - 4.3 Fav song- Bennie and the jets Least fav- Jamaica jerk-off
More great stuff! Very Elton John (shock)
Went in thinking it would be nearly impossible for the rest of the album to live up to Bennie And The Jets- was very pleasantly surprised by quite how much I enjoyed the rest of it! A few questionable musical decisions really bring it down. Favourite: Grey Seal Least: Jamaica Jerk-Off or Dirty Little Girl
Ikon
Sir John was always a legendary singles artists and this double album benefits from that big time. Ultimately, can’t help but feel that this album is overrated by the fact that it has some of his best known songs but it slips quite a bit in the middle with some weaker album tracks.
So many classics, but also a few complete unknowns
Makes me happy and excited. 4/5
3.5/5. bennie and the title track are absolute masterpieces that carry this record. there’s also a lot of forgettable music. Shoutout all the young girls love alice, intro track, harmony, and this song has no title. all very fun as well. Above all, this record is just so wholly itself and i really dig that. A real sonic character piece.
Pretty good, first of 1001. Already heard before.
Didn't like this as much as I thought I would. Some good tracks overall though. Maybe cut some of them to tighten the album up?
Rating: 4/5 | Favorite Track: Bennie and The Jets --- This album is so much fun. The only small critique holding this back from a 4.5 or a 5 star album is just withing the album was a little shorter to cut out a few of the tracks that don't hold up as well.
I’ve never been a huge Elton John fan. I appreciate this is a good album but it didn’t catch me on the right day.
Oldie and a goodie.
Another really good one. Starts with one of the best few songs for an album I’ve ver heard, and the songs after are pretty good as well. 7/10
Love the classics, but truthfully, feels a little long by the end
Das Album ist zu lang. Aber es ist kein schlechter Song drauf. Episch, aber nicht übertrieben, und wie schafft er es, dass alle Songs nach Elton John klingen, sich aber trotzdem von einander unterscheiden?
In my opinion, Elton John can’t make an album without filler. There’s no denying his talent, it’s just that he’s an artist that shines on greatest hits collections rather than a top to bottom album with a story or overarching message. That’s fine, he’s still great and this might be the best album of his I’ve heard so far. Jamaica jerk-off is, however, my least fav song and the best example of the aforementioned “filler”. A nothing but fun song that didn’t leave me with a particularly strong feeling by the end. I knew the hits in here but I’ve seen that movie too is the surprise favorite of mine. At its best, there’s a glitzy, glamorous sound tinged with weariness and sadness. At its worst, poppy and unremarkable. There’s more good than bad and for that, I liked it.
4/5 some big hits, but some of the deeper cuts (sweet painted lady & all the girls love Alice) are just as good. Jamaica jerk-off is forgettable
Great range of songs here, including some all time greats but at about half a dozen songs could have been left out to make a single album would have been absolutely killer instead of a double album that drags in places. Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting is a towering classic. I know everyone loves Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding. It’s not my favourite but I can get behind the idea of it as almost an overture of sorts. Candle in the Wind is such a tearjerker even after so many listens after so many years. Bennie and the Jets. People love this but I get distracted by the Bu-bu-bus and that hiss at the end of Jets every time. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is lovely though and Grey Seal is underrated as an Elton John song. It’s got a lot of pep. Sweet Painted Lady works for me as a quieter song that helps balance the album and while not a classic, Dirty Little Girl had its charms. With All the Girls love Alice these make for an interesting collection of songs about girls in one kind of trouble or another. Roy Rogers is a keeper. There’s a bit of filler here though that could have been easily cut and the album would have been stronger for it - This Song has No Title - Jamaica Jerk-Off (obviously) - I’ve Seen that Movie Too - The Ballad of Danny Bailey - Your Sister Can’t Twist
Strong album, maybe a bit too much though that I would listen to it again. Of course a few good classics in there.
Avausraita omaan makuun puuduttavaa tekotaiteellista schaibaa. Muuten oikein kiva limppu.
Good. The first song went craaaaaaaaaaaazy
Jamaica Jerk-Off enters the chat...
I was surprised by how much I liked this album, once again. There are easily some 10/10ers on this set, and this could easily be a 9 for me except for the fact that there are just a couple of random tracks that being it down just a bit. This guy’s piano is so good I sometimes forget it’s not someone singing background vocals. Like seriously, it feels like his piano is alive. I also found that the songs on this album were very internally consistent, and I basically knew when I was going to love a song within the first 20 seconds, even though the whole thing is 6 minutes long.
3.5/5
A classic and one which features one of the best songs in history
I really wanted to rate this five stars but there is too much filler.
I enjoyed this album! Some Elton John classics mixed in with some deeper cuts
Holy shit what an intro. Honestly pretty great, didn't think I'd have enjoyed as much as I did. Favorite tracks: Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding Grey Seal The Ballad Of Danny Bailey
pretty good. worth the hype :)
4+ stars
Johns magnum opus.
good album, long, some good tracks
Good job, Sir Elton
Lots of nice details that elevate this from just a generic pop-rock album to more of a grandiose experience. I definitely had a different notion of what Elton John’s music was, and this one pleasantly surprised me.
Did you know Elliott smith listened to this album for 18 hours straight before writing waltz #1 love Elliott and Elton xxx
Great album
So many classics. Enjoyed this.
Album starts off on fire with first five tracks, smooths out and ends pretty good but not great.
3-4 - many known songs, but newer interpretations may be better than the original
My previous knowledge of Elton John only comes from recent collabs with other artists, so this album was a surprise to me. Great vocals and well-executed instrumentals. Favorite picks: "Social Disease", "Bennie and the Jets"
Amazing album, some amazing hits that stand the test of time, but.......and I may regret this.....did it really need to be a double? It meanders in the middle in places. Think this'd be a 5 album, but there's so much just ok in the middle that i think it downgrades. But honestly, great. I love it. Don't hate me future self.
This guy’s pretty good
This is very good. A lot of his best songs here. Might be overlong being a double album.
Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Waiting Candle in the Wind Bennie and the Jets Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)
Enjoyed this more than I was expecting to. It outstays its welcome a little bit, and that Jamaica song needs to…not, but on the whole it’s a really solid album with an interesting theme about fame and ambition.
Always love putting this one on at a party and having listeners go from “huh? What is this?” to “this piano rips!” to “ SO GOODBYE, yellow brick road…”
A classic
The first half of this is absolutely worthy of a 5. The second half falls away though. Some of these artists get carried away with self indulgence. A bit of trimming and this would be an all time classic. Still gets a 4 though
you can’t like music and not appreciate the great things about this album, one of the world’s best songwriting teams at their peak 4 song run to open the album is an all-timer i don’t think it stays consistently strong enough to be a 5-star record, most songs are closer to good-than-great, but the highs are very high
no one told me elton john was awesome-- songs are bit long. also, jamaican jerk-off is a crazy title
Levy on silkkaa genrehupsuttelua. Elton John ei kuulu omiin suosikkeihin, mutta levy on omaperäinen ja henkii iloa.
Classic
Oikein hieno levy, tykkäsin.
Pretty good. Can't go wrong with Elton John.
Lots of fun
I really enjoyed this album. I don’t know that every song is perfect, but there is a consistency to how good they are. The most famous songs really stand out, and they are the most enjoyable to listen to. I would definitely give this album another listen.
Songs 2-4 might be the greatest 3 song run I’ve ever heard. 4.5/5. Would be a 5/5 if I listened to it more.
In high school I don’t believe I owned any albums by Elton. Two of his early albums got reasonable rotation when we played cards (Tumbleweed Connection and Madman Across the Water). I did buy Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (not on streaming), a no-misses compilation. Elizabeth owned this album so is more familiar with it than I am. If this had been a one LP release it’d be a solid 5. It has my two favorite Elton tracks, Bennie and the Jets, and Saturday Nights Alright for Fighting, the latter a hard rocker that swings like nobody’s business. The songs I was not familiar with I was hoping I’d like more than I did. They were OK, but not good enough to make this a 5. Candle in the Wind is not one of my fave hits of his. I did recently buy “Diamonds” a blu-ray surround disc with 51 tracks. A 54 track version is streaming. It’s quite good.
Liked this more than I expected to
After listening to the first few tracks I was amazed and thought it was gonna be one of my favorite albums ever. But then it went on for much too long with too many weak songs. Shame, because I really thought the first side was fantastic. It's still a 4/5 but I wish it was a bit lighter
This album is pretty dang good. I've never been a huge Elton fan, but there's some great tracks on here and it's hard not to love Saturday's Alright for Fighting. 4/5
I honestly didn't expect much from this one; Elton John has never really drawn my interest. Funeral for a Friend was a solid start, and then three very good hits I've heard before, okay, then I figured the album would start to drag. But I have to say it was great from beginning to end. Some tracks I liked more than others, but after listening to this album I guess I finally get the hype.
I thought the album would be front loaded seeing all the hits at the beginning, but this is just fun and good all the way through.
It's just incredible how many singles he produced with one album. Even the non singles would have been singles to a lesser artist. Just crazy to think how everything you touch turns to gold. Let's just not talk about the Jamaican song...
Can't deny this feels like a masterpiece. Still a touch boring at times for me PERSONALLY.
Solid 4. Good deep dive, very iconic music in here. I don't think I ever seek out Elton John but every time I hear it I'm impressed.
I am fascinated by Elton John and Bernie Taupin's songwriting process. Apparently, Bernie writes the lyrics first, then Elton reads them, chooses which ones he likes, and writes the music. But what about completely nonsensical, confusing similes like 'You live your life like a candle in the wind, never knowing who to cling to when the rain sets in' made Elton read it and think 'now THATS a hook?' A candle doesn't know or not know anything! Much less what to do when its raining? It's a candle! What the fuck are you talking about? I find the problem with a lot of Bernie's lyrics. He must be the luckiest poet alive to have his harebrained and inscrutable verses immortalized by a musical genius and god-level performer. In the end, it doesn't really matter. Elton john is so talented he could sing the phonebook and make it a hit. Any one who can write a halfway solid reggae song centered around lyrics like: 'Come on Jamaica. Everybody say We're all happy in Jamaica. Do Jamaica jerk-off that way' must really have the goods. Other songs like 'goodbye yellow brick road' do read as though they might be meaningful to the writer (where the dogs of society howl MUST mean something to SOMEone, right?), but making sense of them as the listener is completely impossible. Maybe not knowing what any of his own songs are about frees Elton up to play around with them and arrange them in a way he wouldn't be able to if he'd written them himself? In any event, the combination obviously works more than it doesn't. This album is 7 songs too long but still has enough invention and charm to it to still be a classic anyway.
The highs on this album are all-timers for me. Title track and Benny & the Jets especially. Candle in the Wind is so over the top and I love it. At one point in my 20s, I had Goodbye Yellow Brick Road stuck in my head for over a week. It never got old. The guy does DRAMA better than anyone. I love that music with such weird Bernie Taupin lyrics was ever so mainstream. Guy somehow got us all singing along about a howlin old owl in the woods hunting a hawwwwny black tooooaaad A little too sprawling to get 5 stars from me though – the weird ones (like Jamaica Jerkoff???) dilute the good ones enough to knock off a star. If this were a tighter 12-track album, it's 5 stars for me. Gonna have this stuck in my head for a week again, and I don't mind
Total treat to listen to the whole album. Didn’t realize some of the songs were released that year.
Very Elton. Nice mix but didn't swing too far in any direction
Very well crafted numbers, some variety, and a couple of classics. Too long, though, and some of the reggae and country doesn't work for me.
Another absolute classic 1001 album. A double album with plenty of familiar tracks. It might be from 1973, it’s as fresh as day it was released.
Fun. Can’t believe I’ve waited so long to dive into Elton John. I get it. I love it. 3.9 vibes
I own this album on vinyl, and it's my strongly-held opinion that Elton John is just awesome. This album is no exception. I do think that Madman Across the Water is more consistently good and a better album overall, but I still enjoyed listening to this. Four stars.
A great bunch of songs. 2 or 3 songs I would have removed which is the reason I give it a 4 but not 5.
Some absolute classics on this album. Dynamically fairly one dimensional and repetitive.
- my aunt Jen gave me this original pressing, it’s a family heirloom!
Aunque tiene unos hitazos espectaculares, no siento que el resto del álbum sea igual de sólido. De hecho me aburre un poco porque además es larguísimo. Pero creo que es un buen álbum, solo que mis favoritas de Sir Elton no andan por acá.
The first half of this album is an absolute masterpiece. If he had called it quits it would’ve been a monumental album and his best. Sadly the weaker second half was allowed to live. Still an amazing album due to the highlights but not his strongest.
1. Goodbye yellow brick road 2. Saturday night's alright for fighting 3. This song has no title
The songs on this album are all over the place...there is no correlation whatsoever. This just proves that Elton John could do anything (and everything)!! What a king.
Favorite Song: Candle In The Wind and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road There are a lot of melodies here that I couldn't tie to a song until now. Still, the overall jangliness of the piano rock feels dated and many of these songs are just played out. The first half of the record feels stronger and more distinct than the latter half. That said, I can see why this song has 1.5 billion streams. It is solid and goes down easy.
First time listening to this album in its entirety. Some obvious hits on this. 'Goodbye yellow brick road' is such a beautiful song. I actually enjoyed The Ballad of Danny Bailey. All girls love Alice was not for me. The latter half of this album wasn't my favorite. Since this was a double album, safe to say I did not enjoy Side D.
yo piano man fr i get it now the bangers be bangin but i love songs like i've seen that movie too - masterful, takes its time, builds up the drama - this is how u make a song! i had to crank the volume up i enjoyed the journey that is this album
This album reminds me a lot of Supertramp's "Crime of the Century," which is probably a common comparison. The album is very theatrical and lyrically compelling. "Social Disease" stood out as one of my favorites on the album which I was not very familiar with before.
I hadn't heard this album in full and felt a little eye roll happen when it popped up. But I was pleasantly surprised to listen to the hits mixed in with other songs I'd never heard. The intro track (Funeral for a friend/Love lies bleeding) caught me off guard. I was like, hell yeah we're at a fucked up 70's roller rink on cocaine, but it's also a musical! No one can deny Candle in the Wind is a great tune. Benny and the Jets and Goodbye Yellow Brick road wormed their way into my ear and I spent the day with those two worming about interchangeably. The B sides are equally as good and less well known. I enjoyed it more than expected and will keep an eye out for the vinyl. Bonus: my son's review "8.5/10 I really liked it"
11 minute opening is giving rock opera. Some really big hits. Excellent pop rock album, piano heavy.
Inte så mycket att säga, det är jäkla bra! Det är rock'n'roll möter queen + mera. Det är inte en fullträff för mig men det är rätt nära, 4 av 5.
Really great album with several terrific songs
decent album, not Elton's best tho
классный альбом, очень музыкальный, стоит переслушать
Love Lies Bleeding is incredible, but the elegiac Funeral For a Friend is an extended instrumental tinged with mournful organ. "Candle in the Wind" about a queer youth identifying with the tragic and ephemeral beauty of Marilyn Monroe whose legacy lasted longer than her brief life of exploitation and manipulation. "Bennie and the Jets," "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" are iconic and overplayed. "Jamaica Jerk-Off" is questionable, but even Bonnie Raitt recorded a calypso song complete with "patois" in the 1970s.
What was amazing about Elton is that he could straddle that fine line of the Stones edginess with the Beatles’ pop sensibilities. This is a fantastic album just a tad bloated.
Very good album, Elton is a master on the piano. Bit too long and a handful of tracks that could have been left off, but on the whole I like the sound and the melodies.
really 4.5; eclectic and funky - something for everyone but maybe not everything for anyone lol. i preferred the slower ballad styles and was impressed by the musicality and diversity within 17 tracks. "this song has no title" is definitely one of my tops from this album.
Elton John always is good for bangers. Seems to fit a lot of moods.
Eh tycker detta bevisar stt glam rock inte kan skapa 10/10 album(förutom bowie då men han ju undantag som person) överladdar en å man bara orkar inte vid slutändan
4.5
Really good album throughout. There were a couple of songs here and there that didn’t really click with me but Elton just has that certain sound that’s just special 4 Jamaicans out of 5
Pretty solid album. Would probably be a 5 for me if not for side three and a couple songs in the first half
Incredible stuff from Elton, Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding took off at the 3rd minute of the song and it doesnt really takes a breath until Jamaica Jerk-off. Incredible album that its near perfection for example the fake crowd in Bennie and The Jets, the lyrical matter of Jamaican Jerkoff, why is the bass drum that loud in I've Seen That Movie Too? ( https://imgur.com/FbXI0Vo comment from the Youtube upload of that track) after the rest of the instruments get louder it is less noticeable Of the deepcuts that I didnt know Grey Seal stood out as a highlight of the album alongside Bennie and The Jets, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting) 9.75/10
Went in skeptical and happy to have been proven "wrong" that Elton John is actually a generational talent. He was absolutely in excellent form here churning out banger after banger. Everybody is allowed a li'l sidestep with the Jamaican Jerk-off sesh but hey, very good times here.
I can't give this a 5 because you put Jamaican Jerk-Off on this record. What the hell Elton? Don't google this by the way, Genius is like, the 3rd page.
7/10 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is a record that demands a lot of attention for you, not because it’s challenging or deeply conceptual, but because it’s trying to make sure you don’t look away from the fire works, confetti, and jazz hands, it’s very much insistent that you understand this is a magnum opus you’re witnessing. It’s got a fat fucking budget, a new stylistic change on every track, a fake live audience to make you believe you’re watching a sort of theatrical masterpiece, make no mistake this is Elton’s tour de force, but he overdoes it just a little bit. I think the grandiosity of this album tries to compensate for some pretty weak songs on here, while I don’t think Elton is a weak songwriter, his limitations can be pretty clear, especially on a 17 track album, with some embarrassing satirical song choices and “nice while it’s on” tunes. Still, his overconfidence is warranted as a pretty damn good singer and songwriter, it definitely impressed a lot of people, and some phenomenal material is still on here in spite of the mess. Can’t wait to listen to the next most essential Elton John record; Sherlock Gnomes (Music From The Motion Picture)
Colorido, lento por momentos pero bueno, que se yo, para escribir algo más tendría que escucharlo otra vez. Nota: 3.8
Solides Pop-Album mit großen Rock-Anteilen. Vielseitig, kreativ und abwechslungsreich geschrieben und produziert, und dabei trotzdem immer wie aus einem Guss. Schöne Produktion und das Mastering ist warm, mit einigen innovativen Effekten wie einem rückwärts angespielten Gitarrensolo. Generell sind die Gitarren auch ziemlich cool gespielt. Das Album hatte für mich etwas nostalgisches und zugleich zeitloses. Mein Favorit war wahrscheinlich der Opener, der mich sehr an die Arbeit von Wendy Carlos erinnert hat. Der einzige Kritikpunkt wäre für mich vielleicht, dass für meine keine klare Struktur im Album erkennbar war, sondern es für mich wie eine Sammlung von Songs aus der selben „Produktions-Session“ und mir das Album etwas zu lang war. Trotzdem, sehr empfehlenswert.
When I was younger, I was not an Elton John fan. I think Honky Cat was the only song of his I’d tolerate on the radio. As I’ve progressed in age, I’ve told myself I should be more open to revisiting his music. Maybe I’d end up really liking him. Since then, I’ve come around on a few of his songs, but haven’t dug into his discography, or anything. Asking me to listen to 75 minutes of him was daunting. And I used to HATE Bennie and the Jets. I’ve come around on that song, and liked the other hits. I liked most of the filler. I originally wanted to give this a 3, but I think it earned a 4, honestly. Really solid stuff, with huge hits and above average filler.
One of the greats
4.5
4.5
4.5
Sure, the quality drops notably later in the album, and the less we say about Jamaica Jerk-Off the better, but the highs are worth it, so many tracks on here absolutely bang
Right, let's get the negatives put the way first. This album definitely tails off towards the second half; there's a deeply questionable cod-reggae song that feels extremely awkward; and as someone who lived in the UK during 1997 I have a visceral disgust reaction to Candle in the Wind. That being said, when this album hits it hits hard, and I definitely feel that the first six or so tracks are awesome. Funeral For a Friend starts off with a bang, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Bennie and the Jets are classics, and I'm a fan of Grey Seal and This Song Has No Title - so had the album finished there it might have got five stars, but as it is that's still a STEONG start to any album and deserves the four.
better than i expected
This is a rich, varied, and interesting album. Elton is extremely talented musically and performs with a presence. I get it.
Pianao was obviously really good but there there where also a lot of electric guitar forward songs too
Memorable songs, wide variety of styles and rythms.An incredible effort for a big album with many themes and concepts. Great sound and production.
His masterpiece?
Þvílík byrjun á plötu. Mér finnst eins og ég sé að fara að hlusta á einhvern frábæran söngleik ef marka má upphafslagið og svo koma bara þrjár neglur í röð og svo fellur platan í meðalmennskuna og nær sér aldrei á strik. 4.5 stjörnur bara til að vera smá góður en dreg niður í 4 bara til að vera smá vondur.
Really fireee
Some absolute classics here.
great album. a couple hiccups bump it down from a 5, but it's a very high 4.
The first four songs are absolute bangers, and it's an incredible start to the album. There are a couple that made me roll my eyes and wonder what possessed them to keep them on (Jamaica Jerk-Off and Roy Rogers), but aside from them, this is a great album. Favorite song: Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding.
Distinguishable, but no Daniel
4.5/5. Elton John has been serving cunt for years, decades even. So much variety on this record, from mourning Marilyn to what’s become a Saturday night hockey anthem.
Solid Elton John pop album. Lots of hits. I still don't like the original Saturday Night's Alright, but that's just me.
Classic album with classic Elton hits. Deep cuts really great as well, definitely overshadowed by top 40 hits
Joy
I think every Elton John song I know is from this album. Fun and a good listen.
This album is far more epic than I thought. The vocals are impeccable, the piano is notable throughout and the whole thing is very campy and musical theatrical. The standout tracks are “I’ve Seen That Movie Too” and “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting”.
- Already listened
Bello, molto bello Ma ziopera Elton accorcia sti album
Ive had a love/hate relationship with Elton John for a while- he has such powerhouse sounds (Someone Saved My Life Tonight) but also such hokey messes (Crocodile Rock). I found myself really enjoying this album- it has a great blend of sound and his talent as a singer and pianist is so evident throughout. Overall- very solid album.
I've never fully deep dived into Elton, mostly because I'm sick of hearing the same singles my whole life. Sort of embarrassed it took me so long to finally give this whole album a listen. Even though it contains a few of those said singles, in the context of a full album, they're pretty great. Also so many great songs I never heard. Nice work, E.
It's a great album, did feel a bit samey in sound at points. The big hits are top drawer still!
I like the ballads on this far more than the fast ones. (Saturday Night's Alright is such an insane song to me.) This album closes quite strong, even if it gets a little creaky in the middle.
What on earth is this man thinking? Saturday is most certainly, NOT, alright for fighting. Try talkin it out next time & take it easy Elton. Namaste, bud.
8/10 Favorite Tracks: Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road, You’re sister can’t twist, Least Favorite Tracks: This Song Has No Title, I’ve Seen That Movie Before
Starts strong with Candle In the Wind, Bennie and the Jets, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road! 4/5
Pretty good as far as pop rock goes. Runs a bit long (by the time I got to "Dirty Little Girl" it felt like it wasn't really doing much more), could've cut it around the 1 hr mark and made for a better album. An underrated track is "Grey Seal" with "Bennie And The Jets" and "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)" the other two hits.
Alright, this one has some absolute classics on it no question, and if it was just Side A&B I'd probably give it 5 stars. But did it really need to be a double album? Sides C&D just don't land quite the same way with me.
This was a fun listen. I've never listened to an Elton John album all the way through but I really liked this one.
Absolutely stacked with amazing songs! There were definitely a couple here and there that left me puzzled but this is ridiculously good throughout the vast majority of it. A delight
There is nothing like hearing your family belt out Goodbye Yellow Brick Road at the top of their lungs when you had no idea they even knew the lyrics. For that alone I have to give the album a 4.
Odličan album, iako nije nešto što bi slušao svaki dan. Prepuno raznolike glazbe, odličnog teksta, sve u svemu jako dobro.
The Good: Dorothy has managed to leave Oz! The Bad: Finding out that Dorothy isn’t who we believe her to be… The Ugly: Trying to figure out exactly what the wizard has done to her…. Undeniably a stellar album showcasing the importance of great songwriting and musicianship. Though for me this is not Elton’s best album, it sure is a great listen! However, for me, the experience of listening to this album starts off too damn strong, which means it tapers off towards the end. I would have ended with the opening song, but that’s just me. Having said all that, any artist would love to have something like this in their repertoire, and be willing to travel to Oz to talk to a wizard to see if they too can have such success… 4* as there are a couple of songs that are skip-able...
I liked this a lot more than Madman Across the Water. Only giving 4 stars because what the fuck is with Jamaican Jerk-off?
Ah, Reg from Pinner. Punchy, bombastic, overblown. I bloody love it.
seems like everyone tried their hand at a double LP at some point; they just keep coming! Goodbye Yellow Brick Road distinguishes itself from most other double albums from this period by actually being relatively consistent across the entire duration of the experience. that's not to say it's flawless, as there's still the ungodly annoying "Jamaica Jerk-Off" and the very creepy "Dirty Little Girl" to contend with (I'm really not sure where Bernie Taupin's head was at with those). but talk about a strong start! the first four songs here are some of the greatest of their time: two captivating ballads, and two infectious rockers. my other highlights are the dizzying "Grey Seal" and my favorite song here, "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting". at its best, this album's symphonic ambitions and blood-pumping performances create some of the most magical rock music I've ever heard. props to Elton John and co. for creating 76 minutes of steadily high-quality material! for the most part, anyway. strong 8/10.
Very few people know this but Houmous & Chutney actually played The Troubadour the afternoon after Elton played that infamous gig. We drew a bigger crowd and from what most people said, we were ‘considerably better than Elton’ just a shame back then Len enforced a very strict no press policy. He’s always been about the music. Which obviously paid off in the end…….4.2
Pretty great album. It definitely runs out of steam toward the end, but side one holds its own with the very best. This was the first album my wife ever bought with her own money. Middle schooler listening on her 70’s era portable record player, lying on the carpet, reading everything on the liner, soaking up every sound coming out of the cheap tinny speaker. A small moment of bliss.
Really enjoyed this, minus a couple of dud tracks. Some of the songs are so intensely layered they need more than a couple of listens to truly appreciate. Tempted to give it a 5 just for the name of the first track
Catchy and fleshed out instrumentation, piano rock at its finest.
Ok
4 or 5 great songs and e all know and love. The rest range from interesting to decent and I’ll probably never listen to them again
Bunch of classics!
I just love that part on the title song when it’s going into the chorus, I guess? Such a great thing!
hell yeah /between 3 and 4
Better than I thought it might be. Some obvious classics and some fine unheard before tracks
One of the greats and his greatest album. I’d give him a 5 if he wrote his own songs.
Good soup
Very solid, though memorability of the second half is mixed. 4.5 for me probably
I'm on the fence with Elton. I can respect his talent / achievements and I do like some of his songs - but others leave me cold. Not that familiar with GYBR and the baggy 11minute opening track was not a great start for an Elton sceptic. I enjoyed the very familiar classics but not much else jumped out at me (other than the reggae song for the wrong reasons) - it being a double album meant only a couple of listens so perhaps on further listens I would find more to enjoy.
This definitely feels like how I initially perceived Elton John. This grandiose piano prodigy who, at his core, just wrote excellent piano rock/pop songs. Opening with a 12 minute track is super bold but epic (I saw him live open with this at bonnaroo years and years ago and was blown away). The first 4 tracks I would just say listen to in a row and you'll get a great sense of his capabilities. There are also lots of other songs/deeper cuts I never knew about from him on this. This song has no title is great, grey seal is good. I think Jamaica Jerk-Off is....I don't know not very good lol. The songs kind of go in and out of my head. The alice song rocks hard. The closer is good. Saturday Night is also a classic. I think this album's only problem is it's length. Some songs get a little samey or there are experiments that don't work but otherwise this may be my favorite of his next to Honkey Chateau.
Overall, pretty good Elton John album.
A beautiful voice, accompanied by beautiful piano arrangements. Elton John always seems like he's having the time of his life when he's singing, which makes this album that much more charming. The former half of the album is definitely stronger, though.
A strong opening rock opera album that only lets up a little by the middle. Ballads that have not forsaken to send the listener off with some energy.
1973: A great year for music. One of the most iconic albums from the prolific year. Though not always captivating, this really locks in that feeling of everything being light and boppy and in the 70's. Some big hitters, but really just an incredible, transportive double album
Pretty decent album esspecially looking at the time it was made. The best songs on here here are the self titeled and Funeral for a friend. The worst was easily Jamaica Jerk-Off just look at the title.
Classic Elton
More engaging than I was expecting. It’s lighter, but still fun and uptempo for much of it. It may be soft rock, but it does indeed rock
The main song is sooo good! Some others too. So, I guess it's four
Classic.....Grew up on it.....
In Jamaica he was recording Found a lot of wording Together with transpiration He found lots of inspiration 75 minutes is very long for the ride I came along Beatles are not too far away This album here to stay
good songs
While I am very familiar with all of his "greatest hits," I had never listened to an Elton John album from start to finish until I started this journey. This record was a spectacle to behold, opening with an 11 minute prog-rock-esque track. While it still feels a bit lengthy at times, it was a delight to listen to. Clearly the genius combo of Elton John and Bernie Taupin were in top form when they composed this gem.
Many good songs on the album and very cohesive vibe throughout
Bueno
Alright this is a strong album, maybe it weakens a bit after the midpoint but still a good 4.
Where Elton John does what he does best: writing piano rock odysseys and being utterly inconsistent. I mean, you've got some absolute gold in tracks like Bennie And The Jets and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, but then you've got tracks like Jamaica Jerk-Off and Dirty Little Girl which feel like mildly amusing b-sides at best.
More passion! High energy! Plays the piano beautifully
I was totally expecting this album to just go in one ear and out the other like some of the few I've gotten lately, but surprisingly I wound up really enjoying this one! It almost feels like an anomaly though, you mean to tell me that a 1970s pop rock piano rock double album from Elton fucking John would be one of the few older rock albums from this list that I not only enjoy but also heavily click with? It's not common for me to enjoy any of those things but something about the way these songs have more than most pop rock things of the era, it is multifaceted emotion wise yet it manages to be convincing at its saddest songs and fun at its most playful and happy songs. Even more amazing is how incredibly consistent the album is for its whole 70 minutes and even the more middling songs like Jamaican Jerk-off or Your Sister Can't Twist are thankfully short enough not to get in the way of the other songs. Great album all around
OG
This is fucking music man
Someone just said “I just don’t get rock and roll piano” and I’m dumbfounded. Piano rocks and this album rocks as well. I thoroughly enjoy this album, but I do think that, if it were condensed and made into one album, that it would have been even better. With that having been said, it’s still amazing. Catchy hooks, the album flows well, high energy songs to get you moving, some slower songs to keep it evened out, excellent production, top tier musicianship. It’s like a 4.5, so close to 5.
Man, this is full of bangers. That's to be expected with Sir Elton John, of course. The image of him just absolutely slaying on the album cover is a good sign of what's in store. ...And what an impressionable start it is. Starting with an eleven minute prog rock-like medley ("Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding"), immediately followed by Elton John's three biggest singles, the duo of Elton and Taupin were cooking here. One of the best songwriting partnerships in history, completed by Elton's showmanship and flair on vocals and piano. There are a few lulls that follow here and there, but overall a very strong double album with some of the Rocket Man's best recordings. Fav tracks: Bennie and the Jets, Grey Seal, Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting, Harmony
I can't say every song on this album gets me going as much as Candle in the wind, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and buh-buh-Bennie and the Jets, but on this listen I did discover some of the forgotten tracks that were obviously overshadowed by those hits. Grey Seal is fun and Jamaica Jerk-Off may be the only time Elton John tested the Reggae waters. Not sure what The Ballad of Danny Bailey is about but the tune was good. I can't wait to sing Dirty Little Girl to my twin daughters in the bath. Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting is another one of the hits. Overall a lot of good stuff here with just a few songs that didn't make my cut.
Ever listened to a full Elton record and it was very enjoyable!
Confesiones de Invierno walked so Goodbye Yellow Brick Road could run
That's more like it! This is the second Elton John album I've had, and the first one (Madman Across The Water) was a massive disappointment. Glad this one came along and restored my opinion of him. Full of hits and great songs I've never heard before ("I've Seen That Movie Too" in particular).
“Saturday” is always a song that will hit for me, even when I was in middle school and saw him in concert. I was not into, but then he played that and played the piano while laying underneath it with his hands on the keyboard. Iconic.
Absolutely iconic
I was expecting a 5—there are plenty of great songs I already knew, but the ones I hadn’t heard didn’t grab me. Probably just a case of expectations set too high.
Classic songwriting and performances. Interesting to hear some of the deeper cuts.
We played this on a family road trip driving South to see Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Katherine. It was a good roadtrip album. Roy Rogers was my favorite.
I'm sure it's great on its own terms, but it's not really for me.
This is definitely not my preferred type of rock, but it’s well written, produced and performed. It’s also a bit overlong.
Hits hits hits, I can't say every one of them because it's not every one of them, but it's enough of them!!
Some great songs. Definitely worth the (re)listen, just not really my type of music.
Absolute mint album, First time fully listening to it and the first song is so good, most of the classics are on this. P.S Ay liam Bennie and the jets is still great song
This is way longer than I anticipated, still excellent though.
Yeah I know this is like an all time best album but I'm just not the biggest fan of it, not sure why. It's still better then the half the albums we've gotten so far.
Really good but does go on for a while. That would be the only thing stopping it from a 5. After a few more listens I reckon it could be a 5
It's a great album. There are a few snoozer tracks, but the hits keep hitting after 50 years.
Could have been a 40 minute 5 star album, but it's too long. Favorite song: funeral for a friend
Pretty good
Iconic and distinct singer-songwriter, Sir Elton John. This record really portrays some of his best capabilities as a writer, singer and musician. This has some great ballads that are really fun and easy to get along with. Really sets himself apart with the mood of these songs.
always worth a revisit
Very nice!
Classic
Solid album with memorable songs and some absolute bangers. I hadn't heard an Elton John album before and was only familiar with his biggest hits, so it was cool to see how his songwriting and playing worked in other songs. The album was on the long side and I think could have been edited down (did we really need Jamaica Jerk Off?), but everything was so pleasant that I didn't mind a ton.
I have to admit, this one was way better than the last Elton John album I listened too.
Loved it
Great album, the title track is just a pure classic. The opening track is brilliant. It is probably a 3.6 from me, purely because I think it would have made a better single disc album, so rounded up to 4.
great album, love Elton
Goat Shit from Elton 4.5 rounded down
Quite liked this one. Iconic album.
Good
Excellent music but honestly could afford to drop a few of the tracks at the end.
Elton John piano = instant happy signals to the brain. :-) Favorite track: Sweet Painted Lady or Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
I'm not a huge Elton John fan and I hadn't listened to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road before this, but that was a great listen! I enjoyed this one from start to finish and it was nice to hear some of his songs that aren't always on the radio.
A fun album with a lot of his greatest hits.
Surprisingly I think this might be our first Elton John album on the list. This is certainly one of his better albums, and is set off with a couple of real bangers in 'Candle In The Wind', 'Bennie And The Jets', and 'Goodye Yellowbrick Road'. It's actually crazy that these 3 come in succession. Unfortunately, that is pretty much everything that is interesting with this album. I really like Elton John, and it's ridiculous how many good songs he has to his name. But in my opinion he has never really succeeded in putting many of those songs on a single album. They are spread out over all of his many many albums. So, while he certainly has a good amount of hits, there's also many songs that aren't particularly good or notice worthy, a bit like this album. Still, I think those 3 songs are just good enough to edge this record to a weak 4, but the album certainly doesn't deserve more than that to me.
Ok
Excellent album
Very fun. A bit front-loaded though. Huge hits that are widely beloved, but some pretty meh songs on the back end
Had a very good time listening to this one. Forgot how much I love some Elton. Funeral for a Friend is awesome and really enjoyed some of the deeper cuts like Roy Rogers. Of course the hits rock. Really close to a 5 for me but just a few too many that I wanted to skip, and Jamaica Jerk Off is weird af
Classic
If it was a single album it would be an easy 5.
4.5
Good! Lots of good lyrics and lively spirit throughout the entirety of the album. My Top 3: 3. I've Seen That Movie Too 2. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 1. Sweet Painted Lady
I have heard alot of the songs before but never the album as a whole. I liked the songs but it feels like more of a singles collection than a cohesive album. Favourite track: Saturday night is all right for fighting. 7/10
caralho um album duplo do elton john. to chegando a conclusão de que 80% da lista é dad rock. dessa vez foi dad rock para papais pró-lgbt. mas esse aqui eu curto, acho divertídissimo. beanie and the jets é clássico demais