For those who have never heard this before. Congratulations! You just heard one of Elton John’s best. And that’s saying a lot. The musicians are superb.
Elton, back in a time, he could do absolutely no wrong. Heard this back in the day, age 11. It’s fabulous, what a magnificent performance, and a great band too.
What a fantastic start to an album! Goodbye Yellow Brick Road isn't only one of Elton's best, it's one of the best albums ever. It's regarded as the pinnacle of his career, and rightly so. The album includes songs that would appeal to every popular music fan.
Funeral for a Friend is pure prog - yes, classical influences, but also interweaving themes and melodies. Add synths, a wind machine and a dollop of pure bombast. It's probably the only prog that he's done.
@@maruad7577 Let's bear in mind that 1973 was probably the best year ever for Progressive Rock. Not only does this double song have changing moods, movements and time signatures but the opening is a reflection (not copy nor clone -- it's too good for that) of 1972's opening of "Watcher of the Skies" by Genesis. I see this opus as Elton & Co. declaring to the world that even with Pop like "Crocodile Rock" in their repertoire, they could also produce heavy Rock and Progressive anthems to rival anything by Yes, ELP or Genesis - the last of whom worked extensively in later years with David Hentchel, the synthesist on Elton's "Goodby Yellow Brick Road" album.
One thing to keep in mind, something I’ve only learned in the past year or so - “love lies bleeding” is a type of flower, and you know how Brits love their flowers. So, double meaning?
The epic keyboard intro is performed by David Hentchel who went on to become the producer for Genesis on A Trick Of The Tail, Wind & Wuthering, Seconds Out, And Then There Were Three and Duke.
Elton is obviously the star, but one must not discount greatness of the band -- Dee Murray on bass, Nigel 'so many drums I can't possibly miss' Olsson. Davey Johnstone on guitars.
Worthy recognition of one of Elton's famous tracks. "Rocket Man" wasn't mentioned. There are some early gems too, on the 1970 Tumbleweed Connection album - "Where To Now St. Peter", "Amoreena", and "Burn Down The Mission".
The entire Tumbleweed Connection album is noteworthy. Elton has always acknowledged that his piano style grew out of southern gospel blues that he listened to growing up. Tumbleweed Connection really embraces the style throughout and it is my favorite!
I've never been able to get into Tumbleweed like l did with Madman. It has been my favourite Elton album for years. However it doesn't include my favourite Elton song, it's from Caribou, the song is Ticking.
The most amazing thing about this album is that it's not a Greatest Hits record lol. Not really a bad song on it, and many hits. I would argue that his deepest "pockets" are from his Captain Fantastic album. And yes, his band is very talented, as well.
Literally this. @JustJP, you really, really, really should just track this whole album. It shows the breath of his artistry at what is probably the peak of his career. Also, for fun, do a Wikipedia of his album release dates from 1970-76 and see just HOW MUCH music he put out and how quickly. Dude literally was releasing two albums a year for a while, and this is a double album. The volume, and level of quality of the volume, is absurd.
@@MilwaukeeMartin It helps a lot to have someone else writing the lyrics but still there are few people on this planet with a gift for melody and hooks like Elton has.
@@1nelsondj I agree with you, this was a collaboration made in heaven. I have seen some video of Elton John live at the Hollywood bowl where he plays a solo that's just a piano, and it is one of the best solos I've ever heard, and if you were that good on guitar he would be up there with the best guitar heroes.
I saw him at MSG in 1976. He opened the show with these two songs... EVERY song on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is a masterpiece. The diversity in styles alone is enough to make it a bucket list album. There is a song for every mood and emotion. From profound (This Song Has No Title) to silly (Jamaican Jerk-Off) to nostalgia (Roy Rogers) to straight up rock (Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting) and everything in between. It's kinda like a box of chocolates...
Fun fact: Elton John once auditioned to be Gentle Giant's singer. He toured with the band's previous incarnation Simon Dupree and the Big Sound for a few months and they remained friends throughout their careers. He also auditioned for King Crimson, btw.
Loved Justin’s facial expressions for each part of the many layers of this song… which is my favorite of Elton’s. To me, it was his most complex and progressive offering ever.
In Toto, Let me sum up Elton John. Piano player, singer, songwriter advocate for human rights, flamboyant fashionista. Most of all first-rate father and employer! He has kept his entire band on his payroll since the early '70s. No matter what that is CLASS! Don't care for the poppier tunes but songs like this the sh*t! Peace.
The opening is supposed to mimic a funeral dirge. There are classic songs and then there is Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding. This is my favourite Elton song and also just happens to be my favourite song of all time - and that's saying a lot. Elton's music, especially his piano playing, is haunting and epic while Taupin's lyrics are evocative and heartbreaking. The arrangements and musicianship in this, particularly the wild, fast-paced last third are amazing. There is a bit of everything in this. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is an all-time double album. Davey Johnstone is such an underrated guitarist. Elton's best rocker is also on GYBR, Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting.
I think the reason most people love watching reactions is because we love the idea of people experiencing what we experienced the first time we heard a brilliant song. We also want others to appreciate what we love. During this song there was a moment when you smiled and it all clicked: "EUREKA! This is genius!" moment. THAT'S why we watch your journey, Justin. There's so much joy in watching others get what you got. Elton John was the perfect vehicle between the pop and rock world. People who loved Zeppelin could love Elton John. People who loved The Carpenters could love Elton John. He was universal. Next up on the Elton John journey: From this album: the title track, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Grey Seal, This Song Has No Title... Other songs that are immaculate: Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (autobiographical brilliance), Someone Saved My Life Tonight, Curtains, Levon, Madman Across The Water, Mona Lisas & Mad Hatters, Daniel, Pinball Wizard (a cover from The Who's Tommy), Billy Bones and the White Bird, Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting, the Bitch Is Back... This is a handy list to, so clip and save!! lol. Cheers!
If Justin smiles then Justin likes. Simple. GYBR is a masterpiece, well worth an entire play-through. Try the under-appreciated jem "I've Seen That Movie Too" - it ends with a sublime wailing guitar.
This whole album is great. Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting became a Classic Rock radio staple for years. Constant airplay. The title track is a masterpiece. Elton went from Pop Superstar to Rock and Roll heir to the Elvis/Beatles throne after this.
Davey’s guitar work is amazing (love the multi-tracking), and Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson make a great rhythm section. I’m with others in the ‘Captain Fantastic Fan Club’ here. Autobiographical, it was also the last album with this incarnation of the band.
@@Drummingvulture Davey was still there, but Dee and Nigel were replaced by Kenny Passarelli and Roger Pope. Caleb Quaye added another guitarist, and James Newton Howard was just getting his career started (and what a career it’s been!). Rock of the Westies is a fun album. The Caribou Ranch has had so much good music created there.
Elton John’s progressive rock song, Funeral for a Friend is a phenomenal lead in to Love Lies Bleeding. A couple of fantastic songs off a spectacular album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Please continue with this album, you will love it…
Like many of the greatest albums, every song on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road has, at some point, been played as a staple on the radio. EVERY song. This qualifies as Sir Elton's Magnum Opus.
This is a great album. Title track is amazing too, but I have a feeling you've heard that. But another underrated gem from this album is Grey Seal. Definitely check that one out.
This song has always been exciting and sounds great live! They opened the show with it on the last Elton John show I saw (probably 8 years ago). He never wrote anything else like it. Elton and his band reproduced the song perfectly. Elton has a huge range of styles/genres/melodies. A lot of his songs are highly influenced by gospel music. I’m glad you liked it so much!
Elton goes even much deeper than this in a different way!Tunes like Burn Down The Mission And Where To now St. Peter are great songs from Elton’s Tumbleweed Connection album.
This is such a killer song from such a fantastic album! This album was released just 2 months before PMc&W "Band on the Run! I was given both albums for Christmas that year, so I can't think of one without thinking of the other. Two of the most amazing and iconic Pop/rock albums ever, within such a short time! Anyway - I am not surprised to see how much you enjoyed and appreciated this amazing suite! I really appreciated your take on the lyrics! Of course, I have to mention that the entire album is fantastic! ;)
I got the 'GYBR' 8-track for Christmas that year (1973), also. When I first plugged it into the player and this track came out of the speakers, I was convinced I was in Heaven. I didn't buy 'Band On The Run' 'til spring of '74, but once I did, I was once again transfixed. Geez, the music that came out around that time. Wow!
Superb double album! I still remember every single word to every song. It helped that the lyrics were on the inside cover. Both records are play worthy and not bad for the 70’s! 😁❤️
Picture this... the first concert I ever went to was Elton John at the old Boston Garden in 1973. He was supporting the album this song came from "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road". I had no idea what to expect and the wait for the show to start seemed to last forever. Finally the lights dim and the mist from fog machines start creeping across the stage and the churchyard bells and wind sounds from the beginning of this song start playing. The band starts playing "Funeral For a Friend" but we couldn't see them yet. As the intro hits the crescendo, a huge neon "ELTON" sign lights up and all of the spotlights come on to highlight the band members. Elton was the guy who changed me from a teeny-bopper bubble gum music kid to someone who would put on my headphones and get lost in full album of rock. Follow this up with Honky Cat for a completely different sound from Elton and the band.
I could have been the one writing this!!! Switch the words Boston Garden to The Olympia in Detroit and I have the same experience. As a 13 year old, this blew me away. My brother smuggled in a 35mm camera and we have black and white photos of the night. Too funny. Once the ARP started up and the smoke poured out? What a show.
This may be IMHO the best song of his abundantly successful career. I was lucky to see him in 1983 when I was 16. Loved it! Tremendous performance. This is EPIC live!
The most together early album and the one I would recommend for a full album listen because it is best heard in a single sitting is ‘Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt cowboy’ which is semi autobiographical about Elton and Bernie. One thing to clarify is that Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics but it was Elton himself that composed the music. Usually Bernie would send Elton poems in the post and Elton would set them to music. There are a whole lot of great songs that illustrate that he was not just about pop records.
The engineer on this album was David Hentschel who also worked on Genesis' "A Trick of the Tail", "Wind and Wuthering", "And then there were three" and "Duke".
Elton John and his band, when they jam, are among the best. It's not just random noise, but everything in its place. Madman Across the Water is another song where the band lets loose.
What a masterpiece is this song!! Another masterpiece you should listen to is the song: TICKING, a very touching song, It is a shame that this song is so unknown, it deserves to be heard a lot more!!
Elton John was my first favorite musician. I dressed up as Captain Fantastic for Halloween when I was 6, and I already owned that album, this one, and a couple others. As others have said, this double album was in the middle of Elton John’s explosive start. He put out something like 9 albums in 6 years, and they were *dense*. Not albums where there was 1 hit, a few good songs, and a whole side you never listen to. Not every song was a hit, but just about every one is good, and many are great. Like this pair of tracks - Funeral for a Friend and Love Lies Bleeding were never going to hit the pop charts, but they’re a great start to this album. I’d bet that most pianists/keyboardists whose careers started after 1975 would point to Elton John as an inspiration.
One of my fondest memories was driving across the state of Pennsylvania (age 17) with my girl to see Elton in Cleveland. We spent the night in the car in the parking lot and got up early. She was sitting on my shoulders (all 98 lbs of her) as we bought tickets. As 'Funeral' started, great waves of smoke, and a blast of cold air wafted over the audience. Good times. I think Captain Fantastic was his best album - not a bad song on it. For singles, I still cannot comprehend the complex joyful syncopation of 'Honky Cats'. Whoo!
You could go through many of these older albums of his and find absolute gems that never saw any radio time. He has just a great band, with markedly amazing background vocals. Crazy that this album was recorded in like two weeks - his production during the first half of the 70s was prolific. I remember seeing an interview with the producer saying how they had a few more singles lined up but Elton had already finished the next album, and so they just moved on to that. That's David Hentschel of Genesis lore on the Arp btw - and that part live still just kind of pins you to your seat. You could easily go track by track on this double album. My favorite deep cuts are Roy Rogers, Harmony, Grey Seal and Ballad of Danny Bailey. I'm also hoping some Elton exposure slides you into some mid 70s-early 80s Billy Joel reactions.
I was hoping you would have done "Levon" and the title track from Madman Across The Water before you had moved on but this is fine. The first I can remember (atm) by EJ was "Your Song". I think by this point in time I was looking for stuff that was either heavier, proggier or folkier. I had been stuck with just an AM radio and no decent stereo or even FM radio for too long and couldn't suffer pop much more. The opening feels like it has the same classical roots as many prog tunes though I don't feel it explores the music in the same manner as I would expect from a prog band. More like Procul Harum, he uses it as a platform instead of a trapeze. I awoke this morning from a dream where I was the 5th person in a 4 man band. Aretha Franklin and her band and tour bus full of her musicians and techs kept popping up. Now my inner song keeps bouncing between "Fireweed" and Steely Dan's "Nineteen". Great songs and review.
Bernie writes the lyrics only. He sends the lyrics to Elton who then sits at his piano and writes the music. Better said he builds the song. They been doing this for about 50 years.
When I was 13, David Hentschel's synth work on this song started my lifelong love of synths. I remember thinking "what is that?" - it wasn't any musical instrument I was familiar with, and I had already learned to play on a Hammond Organ. I was awestruck, and found a whole album of synthesized music - Kraftwerk's Autobahn. I also had a friend who's father taught music at a local community college, who brought us a Putney VCS3 (of Dark Side of the Moon fame). Man was it fun to be able to create sound from electronics! (I wound up getting an Electrical Engineering degree.) Of course this led me straight into my favorite band, YES, and Rick Wakeman's crafty and mind-blowing synth work. I am surrounded by synths, hardware and software, and play Funk, Rock and Reggae. Thanks for diving into the depths of Elton's vast, vast career! You have much to look forward to in this album and the many other stupendous works of his band, who are some of the top players. Taupin's lyrics are so magnificent too! Most of Elton's songs started with a sheet of lyrics from Bernie, which Elton would create his amazing compositions from. You rock, Justin! You always make me smile!
You might also enjoy -- Candle in the Wind -- A song written for Marilyn Monroe --- Elton sang and dedicated it to Princess Diana for her funeral --- Love that song too
People these days tend to think of Elton John as an old, overweight pop star with a few lightweight songs in the 80’s. But, there was no one bigger than him in rock music in the 70’s. He and Bernie Taupin wrote some brilliant songs together. He was not a lightweight back then. The rabbit hole runs very deep on this one. Keep going!
These two songs have always been favorites of mine. I've always liked synthesizer based music and I really like the synths in this one. They did a great job combining the two songs together, they just flow together perfectly. I think the engineering on these songs is also incredible. You can hear each musician quite clearly, really nice balance. While the guitar work really sings, the bass and drums really fill things out. I definitely recommend almost everything else on this album. There are a couple of songs that aren't my favorites, but overall this is an excellent double album and I hope you do more from it.
early Elton is an absolute golldmine of wonder.There will never be another.in 6yrs he released 12 albums of which 2 were doubles.The combination of his voice,melodies,bernies lyrics,the band and their backing vocals meant it just worked lerfectly.Captain Fantastic was his peak i believe and its an autobiographical gorgeous album.A couple of songs that stand out from that period are Ticking and Talking Old Soldiers which are Elton on piano only.
Ticking has been my favourite Elton John song for years. In the early 70's Elton produced some of the best music of that time, unfortunately he didn't maintain that standard into the late 70's and 80's, only a couple of later albums stand out for me, Too Low for Zero and Songs from the West Coast, the latter album includes The Ballad of the Boy in the Red Shoes, that song l think had shades of the early Elton, it had a 'warmth' which was evident in some of his early tracks on albums like Madman, Tumbleweed etc.
@@keithjones6023 yes i agree. Sadly his voice was never the same. He had such a range. Capt Fantastic i think is his best. Being older i appreciate Blue Moves more as a double album. I think his last good album was Peachtree Road. These days an artist like Adele dont release an album for 5 yrs and compare that to Elton👍😎
@@RockChickFace Elton's albums released every five months! 😄 I have Peachtree album, I'm going to have another listen, see if I like it more when I've heard it again, I must admit that it's never been a favourite! 🤔.
In 74 we were all turning sweet sixteen and every party had this album playing. Funny fact Elton was a member of Gentle Giant for a cup of coffee. Nice reaction.
These two songs, are like with Grand Funks two songs, "I'm Your Captain", and "Closer To Home." They are really part of one another. "Funeral For A Friend," and "Love Lies Bleeding," are like that too. You can't have one, without the other. Thanks Justin
His best Album IMHO is Tumbleweed Connection. There was a reason he had 2 percent of all Alum sold in the whole world at one time in the early 70s. Like Indian Sunset, Rotten Peaches, Where to now Saint Peters, Ammoreena, My Fathers Gun, Like a Bullet in the Gun of Robert Ford, Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me, Levon, etc., etc.
Tumbleweed is a great album, but Madman for me is the best. l used to think maybe it was a little bit odd to have that album as a favourite, but seeing how other people hold the album in such high regard, I'm not alone! 😉
Thanks for such a wonderful reaction! In my opinion, this is Elton John's masterpiece. Funeral For A Friend always makes me think it's about somebody who has passed away, starting very sad, but then progresses to how vibrant, spectacular and exciting his life was. Tumbleweed Connection's Burn Down The Mission is a close second for me.
This is the song that got me into prog, and I'm thrilled to have had a chance to see you discover it as well. Regarding the lyrics, my interpretation is that the "rock and roll" bit is actually just an analogy. "I was playing rock and roll and you were just a fan / but my guitar couldn't hold you so I split the band" would then translate roughly to "You loved all these things about me, but then got bored with me, so I tried to change who I was to hold your interest, all to no avail." Just an interpretation, mind you! But that's how I hear it.
One has to think that Wakeman's 'Six Wives' was at least some influence on the opening of 'Funeral'. I think this is EJ's best album - great tracks throughout.
"Madman Across the Water", "This Song Has No Title", "Someone Saved My Life Tonight", "Sweet Painted Lady", "Levon", he has some really low key pearls out there.
My dad used to have ‘yellow brick road’ on 8 track, this was early/mid 1970’s but learnt to love this Album because of him. I’ve always loved Grey Seal from this album which I recall dates back much further than the other songs.
I was feeling a bit down, only 2 trick-or-treaters tonight, so I put on my favorite Elton album "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" since Elton and Bernie are both in costume. Cheered me right up, it's been a long while since I heard this, starting to forget the words. It moves me more than any other Elton album because it's so personal for them. Bernie wrote the lyrics about himself and Elton too who was engaged to a woman and attempted suicide to get out of it. Deep stuff. Just read the lyrics to 'Someone Saved My Life Tonight'."
Bernie Taupin writes the lyrics - Elton writes the music. This particular track represents (as far as I can recall) Elton's only attempt at dipping his toes into prog rock waters. He's primarily a pop artist...but an ELITE pop artist. His melodies are often transcendent; his piano playing frequently virtuosic.
Great album and wonderful lead off couple of songs. Not a bad song on this double album but my favourite couple would be 'All The Young Girls Love Alice' and 'Sweet Painted Lady'. Best Elton John song ever is 'Skyline Pigeon' on his first album 'Empty Sky'. There is, however, an embarrassment of riches to choose from.
Thanks for jumping back into Elton so quickly. And you can't go wrong with this one. I've seen him four times. First time was at the Hammersmith Apollo in West London, and he opened with this, with me looking down from the balcony about thirty feet above his head. Unforgettable. If you don't listen to the whole album, please think about 'I've Seen That Movie Too'. Davey Johnstone is back on guitar and the way he makes it cry is extraordinary. And please don't pay much mind to those who say he didn't write anything good after the mid 70s. I suspect this is where many people stopped listening regularly, as he was no longer top of the charts all the time. Of course, 1970-75 was a burst of amazing creativity, and no one can keep that up forever. But - well, chart success isn't always a guarantee of quality but he didn't actually score a UK solo Number One single until 1990 (the double-A side 'Sacrifice/Healing Hands': both excellent songs). And I think two of his very best songs came out in 1992 ('The One') and 2000 ('This Train Don't Stop There Anymore'). By the way, he recently released a new album and had another #1 single, 'Cold Heart' - a remix of 'Sacrifice', 'Kiss the Bride' and 'Where's the Shoorah', with UK singer Dua Lipa singing 'Rocket Man'. He's still going strong and I love to see him experimenting. Great reaction to a great song.
Isn't it prog ? On the negative side, using the Arp and other synths make the thing sound a little out of date. And the mix is sometime weird. But what an album. A double album ! Musics (as often Elton John did at the time) all written within a week. Two weeks for Bernie Taupin to write the lyrics and two weeks to record it ! In the famous french studio of Chateau d'Hérouville by the way (where I lived not so far for few years a long time ago)... Goodbye Yellow Brick Road may not be the best of Elton John album but it is probably one of my favorite ! Elton John live performance in Sydney (1987) with an orchestra is a must see/hear ! Thank you JP ! This was again great video, and a very good surprise to see Elton John entering your channel.
I remember hearing Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding for the very first time. I didn't even know who it was, but thinking Wow! Who the hell is this?
My cousin Frank and I grew up listening to Elton in the 70's... We parted musical ways when he became a Disco freak and I did not, but we always had Elton and Pink Floyd in common. We'd promised each other that we'd play this at the other's funeral, as I'm sure many have done. He must have told others because when I played it at his funeral in 2018, everyone had a big grin on their face! ;-] Just to be clear on Bernie Taupin, he is essentially a poet, not a musician. His contributions were lyrics and friendship. Elton was the musician, composer, and arranger. Thanks for the great review, Justin!
Love Elton from the 70s. Excellent album. Great reaction, JP. These are definitely a pair of songs that go well together and gets this masterpiece of an album off to a great start. Glad you enjoyed it.
And opening up a live concert with this was an absolute blast! Great playing all around, super bass, booming drums, wicked guitar and fab keys. The arrangement and pacing, superlative. Great piece of music.....
When you've listened to plenty of Elton John, so as not to hear reaction spoilers, watch the documentary Two Rooms to learn how Bernie and Elton collaborated, although the title gives it away.
FFF has that regal, "Britishy?", guitar that gets picked up some years later by Brain May. I used to bar back at a new wave/rock n roll night club in a huge old theater. Every night, as they opened the doors and the guests would star filtering into the club, this would be playing - kind of kicking the dust out of the speakers. You have a great taste of it here, but as you dig deeper into this album, pay attention to the elements of poetry throughout, including alliteration here, and here and on other tracks - interior rhyme, meter, etc. It's practically Shakespearean.
The ARP synth intro and on the track was played by Studio engineer David Hentschel who went on to work with Genesis from Trick of the Tail in 76 through to Duke in 1970
A contender to best double album ever, the whole album is a masterpiece. This track is extraordinary, moving from the epic start (Sir Elton going prog) to the following infectuous rocker. The rest of the album keeps this stellar standard (with the arguable exception of... ehm... Bennie and the Jets, and that says all).
@@mariosandri4010 For me when it comes to double albums it's neither the one nor the other, but rather Quadrophenia by The Who, Genesis' The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, Mike Oldfield's Incantations and David Sylvian's Gone to Earth.
@@a.k.1740 Different people have different tastes, and that's what makes the world interesting. For me Quadrophenia and Tommy are close to the top, Lamb has fantastic music but negligible lyrics, while Incantantions (Oldfield in general) and Gone to Earth (my least favourite of the early solo period) never really grabbed me.
The album was produced by David Hentschel, who produced Trick of the Tail, Wind and Wuthering, Second's Out, And Then There Were Three, and Duke by Genesis.
Is there a better album opener? Everything is so perfectly produced, every sound is just naturally where it should be. And as much as i love the first part when Eltons voice comes in i'm always so happy and think "Go get 'em tiger!". Maybe Eltons best song but who wants to pick. Also the first part could also an album closer. Almost like black and white, death and life in one song combined... but maybe i'm talking out of my ass. :D Elton 4 Ever
For those who have never heard this before. Congratulations! You just heard one of Elton John’s best. And that’s saying a lot. The musicians are superb.
its one of my 10 deserted island albums. now if i can only find a record player and some electricity
Elton, back in a time, he could do absolutely no wrong. Heard this back in the day, age 11. It’s fabulous, what a magnificent performance, and a great band too.
@@lesblatnyak5947 Same! Ever since the day I brought it home in 74!
What a fantastic start to an album! Goodbye Yellow Brick Road isn't only one of Elton's best, it's one of the best albums ever. It's regarded as the pinnacle of his career, and rightly so. The album includes songs that would appeal to every popular music fan.
Dirty Little Girl is my favorite Elton John song. It doesn't get enough attention.
I love this album, but I think his masterpiece is Captain fantastic and the Brown dirt cowboy.
@@Shamris Poor old Danny Bailey doesn't get enough attention, my favourite track on the album! Well, maybe after Funeral 🤔
When Elton John meets Prog rock. One of his very best songs!
@@Katehowe3010 I have to agree. Classical influences for certain but not what I would think of as prog.
Funeral for a Friend is pure prog - yes, classical influences, but also interweaving themes and melodies. Add synths, a wind machine and a dollop of pure bombast. It's probably the only prog that he's done.
@@maruad7577 Let's bear in mind that 1973 was probably the best year ever for Progressive Rock. Not only does this double song have changing moods, movements and time signatures but the opening is a reflection (not copy nor clone -- it's too good for that) of 1972's opening of "Watcher of the Skies" by Genesis.
I see this opus as Elton & Co. declaring to the world that even with Pop like "Crocodile Rock" in their repertoire, they could also produce heavy Rock and Progressive anthems to rival anything by Yes, ELP or Genesis - the last of whom worked extensively in later years with David Hentchel, the synthesist on Elton's "Goodby Yellow Brick Road" album.
@@Katehowe3010 This song, not the whole album.
I was about to post a similar comment. Very proggy.
One thing to keep in mind, something I’ve only learned in the past year or so - “love lies bleeding” is a type of flower, and you know how Brits love their flowers. So, double meaning?
This entire double album is worthy of reviewing. This is the album that made Elton a superstar!
The epic keyboard intro is performed by David Hentchel who went on to become the producer for Genesis on A Trick Of The Tail, Wind & Wuthering, Seconds Out, And Then There Were Three and Duke.
Well, I love Elton, and early Genesis.
Made at a time when synthesisers were in their infancy
What a great album A Trick of The Tail is✌️
The definition of "When Music was Music!"
To call Elton a pop artist would be very unfair.
He evolved into a pop artist but his earlier music is mostly pure genius.
This is a masterpiece. I saw him and he opened the concert with this. Played to perfection.
Elton is obviously the star, but one must not discount greatness of the band -- Dee Murray on bass, Nigel 'so many drums I can't possibly miss' Olsson. Davey Johnstone on guitars.
Absolutely. Without his band I'm not convinced he would have achieved the status he did. They were cornerstones of his early sound. ✌
And I believe they are underrated (a term I use rarely).
Their background vocals were always spot on!
The whole album 'Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy' is brilliant
Oh boy that’s a terrific album. !!
Worthy recognition of one of Elton's famous tracks. "Rocket Man" wasn't mentioned. There are some early gems too, on the 1970 Tumbleweed Connection album - "Where To Now St. Peter", "Amoreena", and "Burn Down The Mission".
I will be shocked if Justin doesn't Know Rocket Man.
The entire Tumbleweed Connection album is noteworthy. Elton has always acknowledged that his piano style grew out of southern gospel blues that he listened to growing up. Tumbleweed Connection really embraces the style throughout and it is my favorite!
Apparently, Rman was left off my list, oopsies… of course, absolutely one of my favorites.
I've never been able to get into Tumbleweed like l did with Madman. It has been my favourite Elton album for years. However it doesn't include my favourite Elton song, it's from Caribou, the song is Ticking.
@@stpnwlf9 absolutely agree, can't forget his self titled Elton John release
The most amazing thing about this album is that it's not a Greatest Hits record lol. Not really a bad song on it, and many hits. I would argue that his deepest "pockets" are from his Captain Fantastic album. And yes, his band is very talented, as well.
Literally this.
@JustJP, you really, really, really should just track this whole album. It shows the breath of his artistry at what is probably the peak of his career.
Also, for fun, do a Wikipedia of his album release dates from 1970-76 and see just HOW MUCH music he put out and how quickly. Dude literally was releasing two albums a year for a while, and this is a double album.
The volume, and level of quality of the volume, is absurd.
@@MilwaukeeMartin It helps a lot to have someone else writing the lyrics but still there are few people on this planet with a gift for melody and hooks like Elton has.
@@1nelsondj I agree with you, this was a collaboration made in heaven. I have seen some video of Elton John live at the Hollywood bowl where he plays a solo that's just a piano, and it is one of the best solos I've ever heard, and if you were that good on guitar he would be up there with the best guitar heroes.
I love this album, but have to agree Captain Fantastic is special.
I always loved Funeral/Loved. But my favorite song on the album is actually "Grey Seal." Really neat song.
One tends to forget how much Elton could really rock. This period of his music was incredible.
I saw him at MSG in 1976. He opened the show with these two songs... EVERY song on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is a masterpiece. The diversity in styles alone is enough to make it a bucket list album. There is a song for every mood and emotion. From profound (This Song Has No Title) to silly (Jamaican Jerk-Off) to nostalgia (Roy Rogers) to straight up rock (Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting) and everything in between. It's kinda like a box of chocolates...
I heard life is like a box of chocolates too. 😆
Fun fact: Elton John once auditioned to be Gentle Giant's singer. He toured with the band's previous incarnation Simon Dupree and the Big Sound for a few months and they remained friends throughout their careers. He also auditioned for King Crimson, btw.
Started out early on as Long John Baldry’s boogie-woogie pianist.
Loved Justin’s facial expressions for each part of the many layers of this song… which is my favorite of Elton’s. To me, it was his most complex and progressive offering ever.
In Toto, Let me sum up Elton John. Piano player, singer, songwriter advocate for human rights, flamboyant fashionista. Most of all first-rate father and employer! He has kept his entire band on his payroll since the early '70s. No matter what that is CLASS! Don't care for the poppier tunes but songs like this the sh*t! Peace.
He's also a well-known supporter of animal rights and the ecology. A quality human being.
Agree with most of that especially the part about his pop songs.
Not a fan of those.
The '70s was the only time music that sounds anything like this ever happened.
That's so true!
The opening is supposed to mimic a funeral dirge. There are classic songs and then there is Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding. This is my favourite Elton song and also just happens to be my favourite song of all time - and that's saying a lot. Elton's music, especially his piano playing, is haunting and epic while Taupin's lyrics are evocative and heartbreaking. The arrangements and musicianship in this, particularly the wild, fast-paced last third are amazing. There is a bit of everything in this. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is an all-time double album. Davey Johnstone is such an underrated guitarist. Elton's best rocker is also on GYBR, Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting.
Someone Saved My Life Tonight is an incredible song.
Taupin writes the lyrics, Elton writes the music.
So much greatness in the Elton John catalog.
I think the reason most people love watching reactions is because we love the idea of people experiencing what we experienced the first time we heard a brilliant song. We also want others to appreciate what we love. During this song there was a moment when you smiled and it all clicked: "EUREKA! This is genius!" moment. THAT'S why we watch your journey, Justin. There's so much joy in watching others get what you got. Elton John was the perfect vehicle between the pop and rock world. People who loved Zeppelin could love Elton John. People who loved The Carpenters could love Elton John. He was universal.
Next up on the Elton John journey: From this album: the title track, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Grey Seal, This Song Has No Title... Other songs that are immaculate: Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (autobiographical brilliance), Someone Saved My Life Tonight, Curtains, Levon, Madman Across The Water, Mona Lisas & Mad Hatters, Daniel, Pinball Wizard (a cover from The Who's Tommy), Billy Bones and the White Bird, Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting, the Bitch Is Back... This is a handy list to, so clip and save!! lol. Cheers!
If Justin smiles then Justin likes. Simple.
GYBR is a masterpiece, well worth an entire play-through.
Try the under-appreciated jem "I've Seen That Movie Too" - it ends with a sublime wailing guitar.
So many great songs on the album, a couple of my favourites are The Ballad of Danny Bailey and Harmony.
My tastes run Roy Rogers and Sweet Painted Lady…..but they are all good. Danny Bailey comes in a close third.
:)
This whole album is great. Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting became a Classic Rock radio staple for years. Constant airplay. The title track is a masterpiece. Elton went from Pop Superstar to Rock and Roll heir to the Elvis/Beatles throne after this.
This whole double album is perfect, not a bad song on it.
Davey’s guitar work is amazing (love the multi-tracking), and Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson make a great rhythm section.
I’m with others in the ‘Captain Fantastic Fan Club’ here. Autobiographical, it was also the last album with this incarnation of the band.
Yeah, I was pretty bummed when 'Rock Of The Westies' came out and Davey was MIA.
@@Drummingvulture Davey was still there, but Dee and Nigel were replaced by Kenny Passarelli and Roger Pope. Caleb Quaye added another guitarist, and James Newton Howard was just getting his career started (and what a career it’s been!).
Rock of the Westies is a fun album. The Caribou Ranch has had so much good music created there.
Elton John’s progressive rock song, Funeral for a Friend is a phenomenal lead in to Love Lies Bleeding. A couple of fantastic songs off a spectacular album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Please continue with this album, you will love it…
Like many of the greatest albums, every song on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road has, at some point, been played as a staple on the radio. EVERY song. This qualifies as Sir Elton's Magnum Opus.
One of the best intros to any album, ever.
It doesn't get much better than that!
THIS is how you star an album. Sheer perfection!
About 50 years later, still a great ride...
I swear everything in 1973/4 was the peak of mankind , and music proves it , brilliant album with a broad mixture of great tunes
Bernie Taupin writes the lyrics, Elton writes the music.
This is a great album. Title track is amazing too, but I have a feeling you've heard that. But another underrated gem from this album is Grey Seal. Definitely check that one out.
Ballad of Danny Bailey is one of my favourite songs of his.
Grey seal is way too underrated
Elton's Best instrumental !!!
Definitely! 👍
This song has always been exciting and sounds great live! They opened the show with it on the last Elton John show I saw (probably 8 years ago). He never wrote anything else like it. Elton and his band reproduced the song perfectly. Elton has a huge range of styles/genres/melodies. A lot of his songs are highly influenced by gospel music.
I’m glad you liked it so much!
Ty Cathy! Hope you're doing well up there!
Elton goes even much deeper than this in a different way!Tunes like Burn Down The Mission And Where To now St. Peter are great songs from Elton’s Tumbleweed Connection album.
My Father's Gun is one of my favorites from that album.
@@Shamris outstanding song just like every single song on that legendary album!
Where to now Saint Peter.
Tumbleweed Connection is a brilliant example of Bernie and Elton working together....
Talking Old Soldiers, Indian Sunset.... What more can I say?
@@Shamris i love Talking Old Soldiers. His voice and the dynamics of the piano. Plus Bernies lyrics. Really sad😎
This is such a killer song from such a fantastic album!
This album was released just 2 months before PMc&W "Band on the Run! I was given both albums for Christmas that year, so I can't think of one without thinking of the other. Two of the most amazing and iconic Pop/rock albums ever, within such a short time!
Anyway - I am not surprised to see how much you enjoyed and appreciated this amazing suite! I really appreciated your take on the lyrics!
Of course, I have to mention that the entire album is fantastic!
;)
Santa brought you two amazing albums that year! 🤶
@@keithjones6023 Indeed!
I got the 'GYBR' 8-track for Christmas that year (1973), also. When I first plugged it into the player and this track came out of the speakers, I was convinced I was in Heaven.
I didn't buy 'Band On The Run' 'til spring of '74, but once I did, I was once again transfixed.
Geez, the music that came out around that time. Wow!
My goodness! What a great Christmas that must've been! Wow! The best of the best.
I saw this tour in 73… opened with this…still get chills reminiscing about that night…🔥🔥
Superb double album! I still remember every single word to every song. It helped that the lyrics were on the inside cover. Both records are play worthy and not bad for the 70’s! 😁❤️
I remember hearing this for the first time and thinking, this is how church should start! 🤣😇
Picture this... the first concert I ever went to was Elton John at the old Boston Garden in 1973. He was supporting the album this song came from "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road". I had no idea what to expect and the wait for the show to start seemed to last forever. Finally the lights dim and the mist from fog machines start creeping across the stage and the churchyard bells and wind sounds from the beginning of this song start playing. The band starts playing "Funeral For a Friend" but we couldn't see them yet. As the intro hits the crescendo, a huge neon "ELTON" sign lights up and all of the spotlights come on to highlight the band members.
Elton was the guy who changed me from a teeny-bopper bubble gum music kid to someone who would put on my headphones and get lost in full album of rock.
Follow this up with Honky Cat for a completely different sound from Elton and the band.
I could have been the one writing this!!! Switch the words Boston Garden to The Olympia in Detroit and I have the same experience. As a 13 year old, this blew me away. My brother smuggled in a 35mm camera and we have black and white photos of the night. Too funny. Once the ARP started up and the smoke poured out? What a show.
You made my day, Justin! This was 14-year-old me’s JAM. Edit: the look on your face when that guitar RIFF starts off was priceless!
Ty Sarah!!
This may be IMHO the best song of his abundantly successful career. I was lucky to see him in 1983 when I was 16. Loved it! Tremendous performance. This is EPIC live!
The most together early album and the one I would recommend for a full album listen because it is best heard in a single sitting is ‘Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt cowboy’ which is semi autobiographical about Elton and Bernie. One thing to clarify is that Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics but it was Elton himself that composed the music. Usually Bernie would send Elton poems in the post and Elton would set them to music.
There are a whole lot of great songs that illustrate that he was not just about pop records.
You gotta try his
"All the young girls love Alice"
Bold for it's day
The engineer on this album was David Hentschel who also worked on Genesis' "A Trick of the Tail", "Wind and Wuthering", "And then there were three" and "Duke".
Elton John and his band, when they jam, are among the best. It's not just random noise, but everything in its place. Madman Across the Water is another song where the band lets loose.
What a masterpiece is this song!!
Another masterpiece you should listen to is the song: TICKING, a very touching song,
It is a shame that this song is so unknown, it deserves to be heard a lot more!!
Just keep going with this double album and you can’t go wrong.
Elton John was my first favorite musician. I dressed up as Captain Fantastic for Halloween when I was 6, and I already owned that album, this one, and a couple others.
As others have said, this double album was in the middle of Elton John’s explosive start. He put out something like 9 albums in 6 years, and they were *dense*. Not albums where there was 1 hit, a few good songs, and a whole side you never listen to. Not every song was a hit, but just about every one is good, and many are great.
Like this pair of tracks - Funeral for a Friend and Love Lies Bleeding were never going to hit the pop charts, but they’re a great start to this album.
I’d bet that most pianists/keyboardists whose careers started after 1975 would point to Elton John as an inspiration.
My very first lp! Massive fan. ✌
One of my fondest memories was driving across the state of Pennsylvania (age 17) with my girl to see Elton in Cleveland. We spent the night in the car in the parking lot and got up early. She was sitting on my shoulders (all 98 lbs of her) as we bought tickets. As 'Funeral' started, great waves of smoke, and a blast of cold air wafted over the audience. Good times. I think Captain Fantastic was his best album - not a bad song on it. For singles, I still cannot comprehend the complex joyful syncopation of 'Honky Cats'. Whoo!
EJ was my first concert ever. I was in 7th grade. Chicago! This man knows how to put on a show. Phenomenal performance!!🎹🎤
You could go through many of these older albums of his and find absolute gems that never saw any radio time. He has just a great band, with markedly amazing background vocals. Crazy that this album was recorded in like two weeks - his production during the first half of the 70s was prolific. I remember seeing an interview with the producer saying how they had a few more singles lined up but Elton had already finished the next album, and so they just moved on to that. That's David Hentschel of Genesis lore on the Arp btw - and that part live still just kind of pins you to your seat. You could easily go track by track on this double album. My favorite deep cuts are Roy Rogers, Harmony, Grey Seal and Ballad of Danny Bailey. I'm also hoping some Elton exposure slides you into some mid 70s-early 80s Billy Joel reactions.
Seeing this live is almost an "out-of-body" experience!
I was hoping you would have done "Levon" and the title track from Madman Across The Water before you had moved on but this is fine. The first I can remember (atm) by EJ was "Your Song". I think by this point in time I was looking for stuff that was either heavier, proggier or folkier. I had been stuck with just an AM radio and no decent stereo or even FM radio for too long and couldn't suffer pop much more.
The opening feels like it has the same classical roots as many prog tunes though I don't feel it explores the music in the same manner as I would expect from a prog band. More like Procul Harum, he uses it as a platform instead of a trapeze.
I awoke this morning from a dream where I was the 5th person in a 4 man band. Aretha Franklin and her band and tour bus full of her musicians and techs kept popping up. Now my inner song keeps bouncing between "Fireweed" and Steely Dan's "Nineteen".
Great songs and review.
Bernie writes the lyrics only. He sends the lyrics to Elton who then sits at his piano and writes the music. Better said he builds the song. They been doing this for about 50 years.
When I was 13, David Hentschel's synth work on this song started my lifelong love of synths. I remember thinking "what is that?" - it wasn't any musical instrument I was familiar with, and I had already learned to play on a Hammond Organ. I was awestruck, and found a whole album of synthesized music - Kraftwerk's Autobahn.
I also had a friend who's father taught music at a local community college, who brought us a Putney VCS3 (of Dark Side of the Moon fame). Man was it fun to be able to create sound from electronics! (I wound up getting an Electrical Engineering degree.)
Of course this led me straight into my favorite band, YES, and Rick Wakeman's crafty and mind-blowing synth work. I am surrounded by synths, hardware and software, and play Funk, Rock and Reggae.
Thanks for diving into the depths of Elton's vast, vast career! You have much to look forward to in this album and the many other stupendous works of his band, who are some of the top players. Taupin's lyrics are so magnificent too! Most of Elton's songs started with a sheet of lyrics from Bernie, which Elton would create his amazing compositions from.
You rock, Justin! You always make me smile!
You might also enjoy -- Candle in the Wind -- A song written for Marilyn Monroe --- Elton sang and dedicated it to Princess Diana for her funeral --- Love that song too
I just saw Elton and his band play this live in Washington, DC. I was blown away.
People these days tend to think of Elton John as an old, overweight pop star with a few lightweight songs in the 80’s. But, there was no one bigger than him in rock music in the 70’s. He and Bernie Taupin wrote some brilliant songs together. He was not a lightweight back then. The rabbit hole runs very deep on this one. Keep going!
Masterpiece. The opening instrumental sounds like something that could have been on Wind And Wuthering.
These two songs have always been favorites of mine. I've always liked synthesizer based music and I really like the synths in this one. They did a great job combining the two songs together, they just flow together perfectly. I think the engineering on these songs is also incredible. You can hear each musician quite clearly, really nice balance. While the guitar work really sings, the bass and drums really fill things out. I definitely recommend almost everything else on this album. There are a couple of songs that aren't my favorites, but overall this is an excellent double album and I hope you do more from it.
Produced by the amazing Gus Dudgeon who also produced the amazing Space Oddity track!
When I saw him in concert in the eighties, he opened the show with both these songs- very dramatic way to begin a show!
Bernie Taupin wrote lyrics only. Elton writes all of his music. Glad you’re discovering Elton’s genius. Love your channel!
early Elton is an absolute golldmine of wonder.There will never be another.in 6yrs he released 12 albums of which 2 were doubles.The combination of his voice,melodies,bernies lyrics,the band and their backing vocals meant it just worked lerfectly.Captain Fantastic was his peak i believe and its an autobiographical gorgeous album.A couple of songs that stand out from that period are Ticking and Talking Old Soldiers which are Elton on piano only.
Ticking has been my favourite Elton John song for years. In the early 70's Elton produced some of the best music of that time, unfortunately he didn't maintain that standard into the late 70's and 80's, only a couple of later albums stand out for me, Too Low for Zero and Songs from the West Coast, the latter album includes The Ballad of the Boy in the Red Shoes, that song l think had shades of the early Elton, it had a 'warmth' which was evident in some of his early tracks on albums like Madman, Tumbleweed etc.
@@keithjones6023 yes i agree. Sadly his voice was never the same. He had such a range. Capt Fantastic i think is his best. Being older i appreciate Blue Moves more as a double album. I think his last good album was Peachtree Road. These days an artist like Adele dont release an album for 5 yrs and compare that to Elton👍😎
@@RockChickFace Elton's albums released every five months! 😄 I have Peachtree album, I'm going to have another listen, see if I like it more when I've heard it again, I must admit that it's never been a favourite! 🤔.
@@keithjones6023 there is one track that has the same chords as Someone Saved My Life Tonight
In 74 we were all turning sweet sixteen and every party had this album playing. Funny fact Elton was a member of Gentle Giant for a cup of coffee. Nice reaction.
These two songs, are like with Grand Funks two songs, "I'm Your Captain", and "Closer To Home." They are really part of one another. "Funeral For A Friend," and "Love Lies Bleeding," are like that too. You can't have one, without the other.
Thanks Justin
His best Album IMHO is Tumbleweed Connection. There was a reason he had 2 percent of all Alum sold in the whole world at one time in the early 70s. Like Indian Sunset, Rotten Peaches, Where to now Saint Peters, Ammoreena, My Fathers Gun, Like a Bullet in the Gun of Robert Ford, Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me, Levon, etc., etc.
Tumbleweed is a great album, but Madman for me is the best. l used to think maybe it was a little bit odd to have that album as a favourite, but seeing how other people hold the album in such high regard, I'm not alone! 😉
Thanks for such a wonderful reaction! In my opinion, this is Elton John's masterpiece. Funeral For A Friend always makes me think it's about somebody who has passed away, starting very sad, but then progresses to how vibrant, spectacular and exciting his life was. Tumbleweed Connection's Burn Down The Mission is a close second for me.
This is the song that got me into prog, and I'm thrilled to have had a chance to see you discover it as well. Regarding the lyrics, my interpretation is that the "rock and roll" bit is actually just an analogy. "I was playing rock and roll and you were just a fan / but my guitar couldn't hold you so I split the band" would then translate roughly to "You loved all these things about me, but then got bored with me, so I tried to change who I was to hold your interest, all to no avail." Just an interpretation, mind you! But that's how I hear it.
Please do the whole album. It's easily one of the best albums of the seventies.
One has to think that Wakeman's 'Six Wives' was at least some influence on the opening of 'Funeral'. I think this is EJ's best album - great tracks throughout.
"Madman Across the Water", "This Song Has No Title", "Someone Saved My Life Tonight", "Sweet Painted Lady", "Levon", he has some really low key pearls out there.
My dad used to have ‘yellow brick road’ on 8 track, this was early/mid 1970’s but learnt to love this Album because of him. I’ve always loved Grey Seal from this album which I recall dates back much further than the other songs.
Yeah, the early version on "Grey Seal" on the 'Rare Masters' album is kind of an eye opener.
If you are like me, I bet you still remember when the 8-track “ka-chunk” would happen, in your mind.
@@mikewoodrow5878 pressing the skip track button certainly made a clunk noise. 👍
His band really shines in this album.
I was feeling a bit down, only 2 trick-or-treaters tonight, so I put on my favorite Elton album "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" since Elton and Bernie are both in costume. Cheered me right up, it's been a long while since I heard this, starting to forget the words. It moves me more than any other Elton album because it's so personal for them. Bernie wrote the lyrics about himself and Elton too who was engaged to a woman and attempted suicide to get out of it. Deep stuff. Just read the lyrics to 'Someone Saved My Life Tonight'."
Bernie Taupin writes the lyrics - Elton writes the music. This particular track represents (as far as I can recall) Elton's only attempt at dipping his toes into prog rock waters. He's primarily a pop artist...but an ELITE pop artist. His melodies are often transcendent; his piano playing frequently virtuosic.
What a fantastic way to start my day I am going to enjoy this thank you so so much
The opening track to one of the very very greatest albums ever created.
This is one of his best. He rocks the sh.t out of the vocals.
A completely different song by Elton is Blue Eyes 👀. A beautiful love song.
Great album and wonderful lead off couple of songs. Not a bad song on this double album but my favourite couple would be 'All The Young Girls Love Alice' and 'Sweet Painted Lady'. Best Elton John song ever is 'Skyline Pigeon' on his first album 'Empty Sky'. There is, however, an embarrassment of riches to choose from.
Oh, how I love the harpsichord version of Skyline Pigeon. I cry every time I hear it.
@@sarahzentexas Absolutely. Beautiful song.
Thanks for jumping back into Elton so quickly. And you can't go wrong with this one. I've seen him four times. First time was at the Hammersmith Apollo in West London, and he opened with this, with me looking down from the balcony about thirty feet above his head. Unforgettable.
If you don't listen to the whole album, please think about 'I've Seen That Movie Too'. Davey Johnstone is back on guitar and the way he makes it cry is extraordinary.
And please don't pay much mind to those who say he didn't write anything good after the mid 70s. I suspect this is where many people stopped listening regularly, as he was no longer top of the charts all the time. Of course, 1970-75 was a burst of amazing creativity, and no one can keep that up forever. But - well, chart success isn't always a guarantee of quality but he didn't actually score a UK solo Number One single until 1990 (the double-A side 'Sacrifice/Healing Hands': both excellent songs).
And I think two of his very best songs came out in 1992 ('The One') and 2000 ('This Train Don't Stop There Anymore').
By the way, he recently released a new album and had another #1 single, 'Cold Heart' - a remix of 'Sacrifice', 'Kiss the Bride' and 'Where's the Shoorah', with UK singer Dua Lipa singing 'Rocket Man'. He's still going strong and I love to see him experimenting.
Great reaction to a great song.
Isn't it prog ?
On the negative side, using the Arp and other synths make the thing sound a little out of date. And the mix is sometime weird.
But what an album. A double album ! Musics (as often Elton John did at the time) all written within a week. Two weeks for Bernie Taupin to write the lyrics and two weeks to record it ! In the famous french studio of Chateau d'Hérouville by the way (where I lived not so far for few years a long time ago)...
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road may not be the best of Elton John album but it is probably one of my favorite !
Elton John live performance in Sydney (1987) with an orchestra is a must see/hear !
Thank you JP ! This was again great video, and a very good surprise to see Elton John entering your channel.
His masterpiece! That’s all that needs to be said…
I remember hearing Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding for the very first time. I didn't even know who it was, but thinking Wow! Who the hell is this?
My cousin Frank and I grew up listening to Elton in the 70's... We parted musical ways when he became a Disco freak and I did not, but we always had Elton and Pink Floyd in common. We'd promised each other that we'd play this at the other's funeral, as I'm sure many have done. He must have told others because when I played it at his funeral in 2018, everyone had a big grin on their face! ;-]
Just to be clear on Bernie Taupin, he is essentially a poet, not a musician. His contributions were lyrics and friendship. Elton was the musician, composer, and arranger.
Thanks for the great review, Justin!
If you love this proggy/atmospheric version of Elton, Madman Across The Water is a must.
Love Elton from the 70s. Excellent album. Great reaction, JP. These are definitely a pair of songs that go well together and gets this masterpiece of an album off to a great start. Glad you enjoyed it.
Davey Johnson's guitar work on these songs is epic.
And opening up a live concert with this was an absolute blast! Great playing all around, super bass, booming drums, wicked guitar and fab keys. The arrangement and pacing, superlative. Great piece of music.....
When you've listened to plenty of Elton John, so as not to hear reaction spoilers, watch the documentary Two Rooms to learn how Bernie and Elton collaborated, although the title gives it away.
FFF has that regal, "Britishy?", guitar that gets picked up some years later by Brain May.
I used to bar back at a new wave/rock n roll night club in a huge old theater. Every night, as they opened the doors and the guests would star filtering into the club, this would be playing - kind of kicking the dust out of the speakers.
You have a great taste of it here, but as you dig deeper into this album, pay attention to the elements of poetry throughout, including alliteration here, and here and on other tracks - interior rhyme, meter, etc. It's practically Shakespearean.
1 of the best double albums brilliant album
There's a great video of him playing this live in Moscow. 'Love Lies Bleeding' is also the name of a plant.
This is Elton's HEAVIEST song ever. If you want a more Stripped Down tune (from the same Album) try "This Song has no Title"...
The ARP synth intro and on the track was played by Studio engineer David Hentschel who went on to work with Genesis from Trick of the Tail in 76 through to Duke in 1970
A contender to best double album ever, the whole album is a masterpiece. This track is extraordinary, moving from the epic start (Sir Elton going prog) to the following infectuous rocker. The rest of the album keeps this stellar standard (with the arguable exception of... ehm... Bennie and the Jets, and that says all).
@@Katehowe3010Agreed. And I would also add Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life.
@@mariosandri4010 For me when it comes to double albums it's neither the one nor the other, but rather Quadrophenia by The Who, Genesis' The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, Mike Oldfield's Incantations and David Sylvian's Gone to Earth.
@@a.k.1740 Different people have different tastes, and that's what makes the world interesting. For me Quadrophenia and Tommy are close to the top, Lamb has fantastic music but negligible lyrics, while Incantantions (Oldfield in general) and Gone to Earth (my least favourite of the early solo period) never really grabbed me.
Yes…I actually think Bennie is my least favorite track on this album.
The album was produced by David Hentschel, who produced Trick of the Tail, Wind and Wuthering, Second's Out, And Then There Were Three, and Duke by Genesis.
Is there a better album opener? Everything is so perfectly produced, every sound is just naturally where it should be. And as much as i love the first part when Eltons voice comes in i'm always so happy and think "Go get 'em tiger!". Maybe Eltons best song but who wants to pick. Also the first part could also an album closer. Almost like black and white, death and life in one song combined... but maybe i'm talking out of my ass. :D Elton 4 Ever