Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
link*
Robert Christgau (B)
linkRolling Stone linkLast album = Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player
(1973) | This album = Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
(1973) | Next album = Caribou
(1974)
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is the eighth album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1973. It is regarded by many as his greatest effort.
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was recorded at the Château d'Hérouville, where he had previously recorded Honky Chateau and Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player. The amount of material was such that Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was released as a double album, his first.
In addition to the three successful singles released from this album (see below), many other cuts received substantial airplay at AOR stations when it was released, including "Harmony," the 11 minute epic, "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding," and his Marilyn Monroe tribute, "Candle in the Wind."All songs written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin.LP Disc one Side one#"Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" â€" 11:08#"Candle in the Wind" â€" 3:41#"Bennie and the Jets" â€" 5:23LP Disc one Side two#"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" â€" 3:14#"This Song Has No Title" â€" 2:23#"Grey Seal" â€" 3:58#"Jamaica Jerk Off" â€" 3:39#"I've Seen That Movie Too" â€" 5:59LP Disc two Side three#"Sweet Painted Lady" â€" 3:52#"The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909-34)" â€" 4:24#"Dirty Little Girl" â€" 5:01#"All the Girls Love Alice" â€" 5:08LP Disc two Side four#"Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'n Roll)" â€" 2:42#"Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" â€" 4:54#"Roy Rogers" â€" 4:08#"Social Disease" â€" 3:44#"Harmony" â€" 2:45Bonus tracks (2003 Deluxe Edition 30th Anniversary)#"Whenever You're Ready (We'll Go Steady Again)" â€" 2:51#"Jack Rabbit" â€" 1:52#"Screw You (Young Man's Blues)" - 4:44#"Candle in the Wind [Acoustic Version] " â€" 3:51Track note: While the LP was on two vinyl discs, the standard CD version fit on one CD as it was less than eighty minutes.*Elton John â€" organ, piano, keyboard, electric piano, vocals, mellotron, farfisa organ
*Davey Johnstone â€" synthesizer, acoustic guitar, guitar, electric guitar, vocals, background vocals, slide guitar, Leslie speaker
*Dee Murray â€" bass, background vocals
*Nigel Olsson â€" conga, drums, tambourine, background vocalsAdditional personnel*Ray Cooper â€" percussion, tambourine
*Kiki Dee â€" background vocals
*Leroy Gomez â€" saxophone
*David Hentschel â€" synthesizer, keyboard
*David Katz â€" violin
*Del Newman â€" orchestra
*Prince Rhino â€" speaker*Producer: Gus Dudgeon
*Engineer: David Hentschel
*Assistant engineers: Peter Kelsey, Andy Scott
*Tape operator: Barry Sage
*Orchestra contractor: David Katz
*Arranger: Del Newman
*Art direction: David Larkham, Michael Ross
*Artwork: David Larkham, Michael Ross, Ian Beck
*Liner notes: Gus Dudgeon, John ToblerAlbum| Year | Chart | Position | | 1973 | Billboard Pop Albums | 1 | | 1987 | The Billboard 200 | 114 | |
Singles| Year | Single | Chart | Position | | 1973 | "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" | Billboard Adult Contemporary | 7 | | 1973 | "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" | Billboard Pop Singles | 2 | | 1974 | "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting" | Billboard Pop Singles | 12 | | 1974 | "Bennie and The Jets" | Billboard Pop Singles | 1 | |
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