Goodbye Yellow Brick Road [VINYL]

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Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding has to be one of the greatest lead-off songs in all of recorded music history.

It’s one of John’s many hidden gems with its infectious melody and strong vocal performance contributing to its allure. It’s a rather simplified composition, but when you have a vocalist like John, sometimes you don't need much more than a piano and a minor musical accompaniment.The yellow copy sounds nice, but it really couldn't compete on the overall soundstage - especially noticeable on The Ballad of Danny Beiley. Under the working titles of Vodka and Tonics and Silent Movies, Talking Pictures, Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics in two and a half weeks, with John composing most of the melodies in three days while staying at the Pink Flamingo Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica. Production on the album was started in Jamaica in January 1973, but due to difficulties with the sound system and the studio piano, logistical issues arising from the Joe Frazier– George Foreman boxing match taking place in Kingston, and protests over the political and economic situation in the country, the band decided to move before any productive work was done.

Through the medium of cinematic metaphor, the album builds on nostalgia for a childhood and culture left in the past. From the first piano bars to John’s emotive vocals and Taupin’s poignant lyrics, to the backing band’s extraordinary playing, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is a quintessential timeless ballad. It was, however, used as the B-side of the American release of the "Bennie and the Jets" single, and was popular on FM playlists of the day, especially WBZ-FM in Boston, whose top 40 chart allowed for the inclusion of LP cuts and B-sides as voted for by listeners. The 30th anniversary edition followed the original format, splitting the album across two discs to allow the inclusion of the bonus tracks, while a DVD on the making of the album was also included.However, apart from the aforementioned gripe, I can still confirm that the sound on this reissue is very very good and should still be considered, but do bear in mind my comments on Funeral For A Friend. When the ARP Synthesiser starts playing the dramatic chords, the overall sound should completely envelope the listener. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is the seventh studio album by English singer, pianist, and composer Elton John, first released on 5 October 1973 as a double LP. Released in 1973, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, John’s seventh studio album,is a blend of rock, pop, and ballads, combined with Bernie Taupin's poignant lyrics, resulting in a timeless masterpiece that continues to captivate listeners. Bennie and the Jets" was released as a single in the US, and it topped the Billboard Hot 100 for one week in 1974.

Update : I've had a rethink over my review and, while I still agree with myself to a certain extent, one thing that does seem to be lacking is the intro to Funeral For A Friend. mixes from Greg Penny, along with the same stereo remastering delivered via Apple Music, but I can’t listen to it everywhere and anywhere, hence the stream is more than adequate for the needs of this modern listener. The original 1973 LP, when released on CD, was released on two discs, while the 1992 and 1995 CD remasters put the album on one disc as it was slightly less than 80 minutes. The Aston Arms in Market Rasen has been singled out as a top spot for drinkers by Scottish whisky brand The Famous Grouse".Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'N Roll) is a brief and upbeat track that adds a touch of rockabilly to the album's sonic palette; it’s a fun little tune! Among the 17 tracks, the album contains the hits " Candle in the Wind," US number-one single " Bennie and the Jets," " Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and " Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" plus live favourite " Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding. Admittedly, this opening tune could be considered as two unique songs but the combining of them, into an epic 11-minute medley, was the work of pure genius as the song seamlessly transitions from a sombre piano-led funeral dirge into a vibrant rock anthem.