Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

by Elton John

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: 5 October 1973
  • Label: DJM
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Length: 1:16:00
  • Community rating: 4.21/5 from 20 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

The sprawling double album 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' stands as a pinnacle of 1970s pop-rock, showcasing the John-Taupin songwriting partnership's vast stylistic range, from glam and progressive rock to soulful ballads. Gus Dudgeon’s rich production, recorded at the Château d'Hérouville, envelops lyrical themes of nostalgia and disillusionment with fame, using the central cinematic metaphor of abandoning a fantasy world for one's roots. Containing career-defining hits like the title track, "Bennie and the Jets," and "Candle in the Wind," the album's blend of showmanship and introspection cemented its status as Elton John's magnum opus.

Genres

Descriptors: conceptual, piano, theatrical, ambitious, melodic

Tracklist

  1. Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding (11:06)
  2. Candle In The Wind (03:48)
  3. Bennie And The Jets (05:22)
  4. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (03:12)
  5. This Song Has No Title (02:23)
  6. Grey Seal (04:00)
  7. Jamaica Jerk (03:38)
  8. I've Seen That Movie Too (05:57)
  9. Sweet Painted Lady (03:54)
  10. The Ballad Of Danny Bailey (1909 (04:23)
  11. Dirty Little Girl (05:00)
  12. All The Girls Love Alice (05:08)
  13. Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock'n' Roll) (02:41)
  14. Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting) (04:55)
  15. Roy Rogers (04:07)
  16. Social Disease (03:42)
  17. Harmony (02:44)

Credits

  • Elton John - vocals, acoustic piano (1–6, 8–10, 12–17), fender rhodes (5, 6), farfisa organ (3, 5, 7, 13), mellotron (5, 6, 11)
  • David Hentschel - arp synthesizer (1, 12), engineer
  • Davey Johnstone - acoustic guitar, electric guitar, leslie guitar, slide guitar, steel guitar, banjo, backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 10, 13, 17)
  • Dee Murray - bass guitar, backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 10, 13, 17)
  • Nigel Olsson - drums, congas, tambourine, backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 10, 13, 17), car effects (12)
  • Ray Cooper - tambourine (12)
  • Del Newman - orchestral arrangements (4, 8–10, 15, 17)
  • David Katz - orchestra contractor (4, 8–10, 15, 17)
  • Gus Dudgeon - producer, liner notes
  • Peter Kelsey - assistant engineer
  • Andy Scott - assistant engineer
  • Barry Sage - tape operator
  • David Larkham - art direction, artwork
  • Michael Ross - art direction, artwork
  • Ian Beck - artwork
  • Bernie Taupin - lyrics by

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