Goodbye Yellow Brick Road [Remastered] - Elton John > Reviews > Nice to see you Yellow Brick Road

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money

Advantages:	Great music, wonderful value, excellent lyrics
Disadvantages:	None whatsoever

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I’m currently in the process of collecting all my favourite vinyl albums on CD and finding some real bargains in the process. My latest acquisition at a mere £4.99 from Our Price is Elton John’s classic double album ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’.

I can vividly remember buying the original version on a day trip to London, just before Christmas in 1973. I went with some of my friends on the train, no mean feat in those days from the Shropshire backwaters and bought it from what I believe to be Virgin’s first music shop in Oxford Street. Nearly thirty years ago – doesn’t time fly! And yet the music and the memories are as fresh as ever.

Goodbye Yellowbrick Road was the peak of Elton's fabulous ride through the 70s. The album is as enchanting and nostalgic as ‘The Wizard of Oz’ from which the title is derived. At this stage in his career it really looked as if he and Bernie Taupin were going to be as influential as Lennon and McCartney, somehow it never quite worked out like that and I believe this album portrayed Elton’s music at its zenith.

The album begins with “Funeral for a friend” an organ-whispering-church-like movement that quickly turns into a screaming frenzy of fingers on a variety of keyboards that will take your breath away. The whole track is an album in itself - 11 striking minutes of Wagnerian melancholy, a dirge like rock instrumental, which has terrific atmosphere and flows seamlessly into "Love Lies Bleeding" a song apparently reflecting the end of a romance. The piano solo following the second chorus is incredible and unmatched in it’s simplicity. A fantastic start to the album, which really gets you in the mood for a further 16 tracks.

This is followed by one of the album's best known songs, “Candle in the Wind”, Elton and Bernie's lovely farewell to the Marilyn Monroe, which later became an unlikely rewrite and farewell to Princess Diana upon her death in 1997. As poignant and touching as his rendition seemed at her funeral, in retrospect I feel some discomfort with the tribute. Still, it’s a beautiful and melodic song with great depth and tremendous meaningful lyrics, a real classic which people will long remember.

“Bennie and the Jets”, "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting" and "Your Sister Can't Twist" are all very well known, still played regularly on radio, even after nearly 30 years. Pure rock, raucous, full of fun and energy, guaranteed to get your foot tapping , ideal party tracks to start people dancing.

The title track “Goodbye Yellowbrick Road” is probably my all time favourite single. A beautiful anthem in which the singer ponders love and life among the elite, the price one pays and the rural and simple refuge he seeks to find again. Using the imagery of the classic Judy Garland film “Wizard of Oz” this is one of the best ‘pop’ songs ever written. It’s a celebration as well as a lament and has absolutely everything, great melody, ideal lyrics, Elton’s voice range at its best and incredible musicianship. I remember when it first came out it was on the radio for months with the effect that it was probably one of the most overplayed records ever. Listened to now, its easy to remember why.

One of the main plusses about this album is that all the songs play together so well. Songs like "Sweet Painted Lady ", "Ballad Of Danny Bailey",” Social Disease”, "All The Girls Love Alice" and Dirty Little Girl” mix perfectly with the better known songs.
Listening to the album is like reading a good book or watching a good film, each track seems to fit into place.

They all have fantastic story lines, which complement the wonderful music, with locations ranging from mean streets and pubs to the hills of Kentucky and songs about rock bands, baggage queens, prostitutes and lesbians.

My own particular favourite is Elton’s best ballad “Roy Rogers”, which is incredibly evocative. Fantastic lyrics, brilliant irony – Piano, bass and steel and acoustic guitars beautifully arranged by Del Newman.

‘‘Sometimes you dream,
Sometimes it seems
There’s nothing there at all
You just feel older than yesterday
And you’re waiting for tomorrow to call”

Goodbye Yellowbrick Road is a fantastic album. Elton's life went in new directions, and Bernie's themes and lyrics followed, but in my opinion “GoodbyeYellowbrick Road” remains their best, and at £4.99 a really good bargain. If you aren't quite sure if you do or don't like Elton, this is a great album to buy as it has a good bit of variety of his diverse style and brilliant for listening to in the car.

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A few details about the CD which is one of the great double albums of all time:

Released - October 1973, MCA Records. Produced by Gus Dudgeon

Elton John - Lead & Backing Vocals, Piano, Organ, Mellotron

Davey Johnstone - Lead, Rhythm & Slide Guitars, Synthesizer, Backing Vocals

Dee Murray - Bass Guitar and Backing Vocals

Nigel Olsson - Drums, Percussion and Backing Vocals

Ray Cooper - Percussion

Additional Personnel - Kiki Dee, Leroy Gomez, David Hentschel

All songs written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin

Track Listing:

Funeral For A Friend
Love Lies Bleeding
Candle In The Wind
Bennie And The Jets
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
This Song Has No Title
Grey Seal
Jamaica Jerk-Off
I've Seen That Movie Too
Sweet Painted Lady
Ballad Of Danny Bailey (1909-34)
Dirty Little Girl
All The Girls Love Alice
Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting
Roy Rogers
Social Disease
Harmony