Rarely mentioned as one of the great double albums, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road had to settle for ending up in a few million record collections. So sprawling that it doesn't quite measure up to the earlier, more laid-back Honky Chateau or the later, pushy Rock of the Westies, this still holds claim to a lot of brilliant, very pop-savvy music: the winking rebellion of "Bennie and the Jets" and "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting," the ready-made nostalgia of "The Ballad of Danny Bailey," the downbeat melodicism of "Harmony." --Rickey Wright

Japanese special edition of this classic original album re-released on CD and packaged in a 12 x 12 inch album sized LP replica sleeve with all the original artwork and tracks. Universal. 2005.

Japanese Special Edition of this Classic Original Album Re-released on CD and Packaged in a 12 X 12 Inch Album Sized LP Replica Sleeve with all the Original Artwork and Tracks.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - 1973 (*****) 17 tracks (76:23)

Many people consider this Elton John's masterpiece album. It is very good, and has many excellent and classic songs on it. Sonically, it sounds great, and as the number of reviews indicates, this is Elton John's most popular album. It easily has more than double the average number of reviews of his other 70's era albums. Back in the day this was a double vinyl album of 17 tracks, and there are only two weak songs on the whole thing. But, because of that, it end's up #2 on my classic era 1970's Elton John list, just behind the excellent Tumbleweed Connection (which has no weak songs).

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is one of the most classic rock albums of the 1970's, and is an album everyone needs to own because it is packed with great music. This was one of the first Elton John albums I was exposed to after previously only owning his greatest hits album. Boy, was I ever impressed the first time I heard the opening track Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding, with it's slow atmospheric beginning to it's hard rockin' and fast paced mid-section. This song is just awesome and really sets the bar high for the rest of the album to try and match. There are so many great songs on this that hardly if ever got any radio airplay. From "I've Seen that Movie Too" to "All the Young Girls Love Alice". It doesn't matter if you are an Elton John fan or not, every fan of classic rock and quality music from the `70's needs to have this one. It's an absolute 5 star album.

**** Highly Recommended ****

I remember this album, and the times. Not only does this music show his versatility, around this time, he also did the movie "Tommy" with Tina Turner, Ann Margret and Roger Daltrey, and showed his comedic ability on "Cher" a cbs/tv special(that got a 28.9 rating according to Nielsen Media Research)

By the way, I wonder how much help Elton John's benefit 'Hillary Clinton for President' concert was to her, after all, she won more votes than any other Presidential primary candidate in history.

When Elton John released his double album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road in 1973, he and lyricist Bernie Taupin were at the peak of their songwriting collaboration. While "Levon," "Rocket Man," "Honky Cat," "Daniel," "Tiny Dancer," and "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" are truly great songs, few fans would disagree that this is John's best album. Recorded at the Château d'Hérouville (where John also recorded Honky Chateau in 1972 and Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player in 1973), it features the Number 1 radio hit "Bennie and the Jets," along with the meticulously crafted, 11-minute "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," "Candle in the Wind," "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting," "Harmony," and "Grey Seal." It is also one of the best song-sequenced albums of all times (especially evident in its original vinyl LP format. For instance, Side One of the first LP included "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding," "Candle in the Wind," and "Bennie and the Jets.") On the album, Elton John is backed Dee Murray on bass and backing vocals, Davey Johnstone on electric guitar and backing vocals, Nigel Olsson on drums and backing vocals, and David Hentschel on A.R.P. synthesizer. It is perhaps now common knowledge that John wrote "Funeral for a Friend" as the kind of instrumental he would like performed at his own funeral, and "Candle in the Wind" as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe. (Taupin first heard the phrase "candle in the wind" used in reference to Janis Joplin.) In "Bennie and the Jets," Taupin paints a poetic picture of John: "She's got electric boots, a mohair suit/ You know I read it in a magazine Ohh..." Complete album tracks include:

1. Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding 11:08
2. Candle In The Wind 3:49
3. Bennie And The Jets 5:23
4. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 3:13
5. This Song Has No Title 2:23
6. Grey Seal 4:00
7. Jamaica Jerk-Off 3:38
8. I've Seen That Movie Too 5:58
9. Sweet Painted Lady 3:54
10. The Ballad Of Danny Bailey (1909-1934) 4:23
11. Dirty Little Girl 5:01
12. All The Girls Love Alice 5:08
13. Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock'n Roll) 2:42
14. Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting 4:53
15. Roy Rogers 4:08
16. Social Disease 3:43
17. Harmony 2:45

G. Merritt

We All know Elton John's signature album. It has it's own unique place in history.

This repoduction is stunning! Essential for any EJ fan.

- FB

I bought the CD because I'd heard a few tracks from the album on digital radio and decided that the new re-makes make recordings from 20 years ago pale.And I was correct.It sounds great.