Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

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This article is about the Elton John album. For the single of the same name, see Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (song).
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Studio album by Elton John
Released 5 October 1973
Recorded Château d'Hérouville, Hérouville, France, May 1973
Genre Rock, glam rock, soft rock
Length 76:20
89:38 (30th Anniversary Edition)
Label MCA Records
(US/Canada)
DJM Records
Producer Gus Dudgeon
Elton John chronology
Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player
(1973)		 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
(1973)		 Caribou
(1974)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 4.5/5 stars.... [1]
Robert Christgau (B) [2]
Rolling Stone (unfavourable) [3]
 ;;Rolling Stone (2004) 5/5 stars.... [4]

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is the seventh studio album by British singer-songwriter Elton John. Released in 1973, it has come to be regarded as his best and most popular album,[5] and is his best selling studio album with worldwide sales of at least 15 million copies.

Recorded at the Château d'Hérouville, the album contains the Marilyn Monroe tribute, "Candle in the Wind", as well as three successful singles: "Bennie and the Jets", "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", and "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting".

The album was ranked #91 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time,[6] and #59 in Channel 4's 2009 list of 100 Greatest Albums.[7]

Contents

[edit] Production

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 music in three days while staying at the Pink Flamingo Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica.[5] He had wanted to go to Jamaica he has said, in part, because the Rolling Stones had just recorded Goats Head Soup there. [8] Production on the album was started in Jamaica in January 1973, though after difficulties with the sound system and the studio piano, coupled with disturbance due to the Joe Frazier and George Foreman boxing match taking place in Kingston, and violent political tension due to the poor economic situation, the band decided to move before any productive work was done.[5][9] Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was recorded in two weeks at the Château d'Hérouville in France, where John had previously recorded Honky Château and Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player.[5] Only a version of "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" was recorded in Jamaica, but that recording was discarded and the final, released version of the song came from the sessions at the Château.

According to the album's producer, Gus Dudgeon, the album wasn't planned as a two-record collection. In total, John and Taupin composed 22 tracks for the album,[5] of which 18 (if one includes both "Funeral for a Friend" and "Love Lies Bleeding") were used, enough that it was released as a double album, John's first (three more such albums would follow up to 2011). The songs, mostly around the theme of nostalgia for a more humble childhood and an older American culture as seen through eyes of the movies,[5][10] included "Bennie and the Jets", "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting", using memories of a Market Rasen pub Taupin frequented when younger,[11] the 11-minute "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding", and the Marilyn Monroe tribute, "Candle in the Wind". "Grey Seal" was previously a B-side of the 1970 single, "Rock n' Roll Madonna", and was re-recorded for the album.[12]

"Harmony", the album's final track, was considered as a fourth single, but was not issued because the chart longevity of the album and its singles brought it too close to the upcoming releases of Caribou and its proposed accompanying singles. It was, however, popular on FM playlists of the day, especially Boston's WBZ-FM, whose top 40 chart allowed for the inclusion of LP cuts and B-sides as voted for by listeners. "Harmony" spent three weeks at #1 on WBZ-FM's chart in June 1974 and ranked #6 for the year, with "Bennie and the Jets" at #1 and "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" behind "Harmony" at #7. "Harmony" was released as a single in Britain in 1980 and failed to chart, but has emerged as a fan favourite. John has been known to play it live on occasion.

[edit] Release

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The original 1973 LP, when released on CD, were released on two discs, while the 1995 CD remaster put the album on one disc as it was slightly less than 80 minutes. 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. The album has also been released by Mobile Fidelity as a single disc 24 karat gold CD. The album (including all four bonus tracks) was released on SACD (2003) and DVD-Audio (2004). These high resolution releases included the original stereo mixes, as well as 5.1 remixes produced and engineered by Greg Penny.

[edit] Reception

Initially regarded as having some good tracks, but being too diverse, not holding together, and being too long and patchy,[13][14][15] Goodbye Yellow Brick Road has come to be regarded as John's best and most popular album,[5] and is his best selling studio album with worldwide sales of at least 15 million copies. Three singles were released in the US: "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "Bennie and the Jets", and "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting".

It was certified gold on 12 October 1973, platinum through 5x platinum on 23 March 1993, 6x platinum on 11 September 1995 and 7x platinum on 26 August 1998 by the RIAA.

The album was ranked #91 on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.[6] It was also placed at #59 in Channel 4's 2009 list of 100 Greatest Albums.[7]

[edit] Track listing

All songs written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin.

[edit] Disc one

Side one
No. Title Length
1. "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding"   11:09
2. "Candle in the Wind"   3:50
3. "Bennie and the Jets"   5:23
Side two
No. Title Length
4. "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"   3:13
5. "This Song Has No Title"   2:23
6. "Grey Seal"   4:00
7. "Jamaica Jerk-Off"   3:39
8. "I've Seen That Movie Too"   5:59

[edit] Disc two

Side three
No. Title Length
9. "Sweet Painted Lady"   3:54
10. "The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909–34)"   4:23
11. "Dirty Little Girl"   5:00
12. "All the Girls Love Alice"   5:09
Side four
No. Title Length
13. "Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'n' Roll)"   2:42
14. "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"   4:57
15. "Roy Rogers"   4:07
16. "Social Disease"   3:42
17. "Harmony"   2:46

[edit] Bonus tracks (2003 Deluxe edition)

[edit] Personnel

According to the album's liner notes:

Musicians
Additional Musicians
  • Dee Murray, Davey Johnstone, Nigel Olsson – backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 10, 13, 17)
  • Del Newman – orchestral arrangement (4, 8-10, 15, 17)
  • Leroy Gomez – saxophone solo on "Social Disease"
  • David Hentschel – ARP synthesiser (1, 12)
  • Kiki Dee – backing vocals on "All the Girls Love Alice"
Production
  • 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 Tobler

[edit] Charts

[edit] Chart positions

Chart Peak position
Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart[16] 1
Canadian RPM Albums Chart[17] 1
Danish Albums Chart[18] 4
Italian Albums Chart[19] 5
Japanese Oricon LP Chart[20] 22
Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart[21] 5
Spanish Albums Chart[22] 8
Swedish Albums Chart[18] 7
UK Albums Chart[23] 1
U.S. Billboard 200 [24] 1
West German Media Control Albums Chart[25] 41

[edit] Year-end charts

Chart (1973) Position
Italian Albums Chart[19] 36
Chart (1974) Position
Australian Albums Chart[16] 2
Canadian Albums Chart[26] 37
UK Albums Chart[27] 7
U.S. Billboard Year-End[28] 1

[edit] Certifications

Region Certification
United Kingdom (BPI)[29] Platinum
United States (RIAA)[30] 7× Platinum

[edit] Chart procession and succession

Preceded by
Goats Head Soup
by The Rolling Stones		 Canadian RPM number-one album
3 November – 1 December 1973		 Succeeded by
You Don't Mess Around with Jim
by Jim Croce
US Billboard 200 number-one album
10 November 1973 – 4 January 1974		 Succeeded by
The Singles: 1969-1973 by The Carpenters
Preceded by
Dreams Are Nuthin' More Than Wishes by David Cassidy		 UK number-one album
22–29 December 1973		 Succeeded by
Tales from Topographic Oceans by Yes
Preceded by
Jonathan Livingston Seagull (soundtrack)
by Neil Diamond		 Australian Kent Music Report number-one album
18 March – 7 April 1974		 Succeeded by
Band on the Run
by Paul McCartney & Wings

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r10462. Retrieved January 6, 2012. 
  2. ^ "CG: elton john". Robert Christgau. http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=elton+john. Retrieved 2012-01-06. 
  3. ^ By Stephen Davis (1973-11-22). "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road | Album Reviews". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/reviews/album/2747/20972. Retrieved 2012-01-06. 
  4. ^ "Elton John: Album Guide | Rolling Stone Music". Rollingstone.com. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/elton-john/albumguide. Retrieved 2012-01-06. 
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Claude Bernardin, Tom Stanton (1996). Rocket man: Elton John from A-Z. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 123. ISBN 0275956989. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=eJGcZSyBflwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=elton+john&hl=en&ei=BF4cTb2ZJoq7hAeS4vi2Dg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Goodbye%20Yellow%20Brick%20Road&f=false. Retrieved 30 December 2010. 
  6. ^ a b "500 Greatest Albums of All Time: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John". www.rollingstone.com. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/goodbye-yellow-brick-road-elton-john-19691231. Retrieved 30 December 2010. 
  7. ^ a b "The 100 Greatest Albums – Features – The Results – Channel 4". www.channel4.com. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-100-greatest-albums/articles/the-results. Retrieved 30 December 2010. 
  8. ^ Radio Two: Johnnie Walkers Long Players, February 2012
  9. ^ Documentary Classic Albums: Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. UK: ISIS Productions, Eagle Rock Entertainment. 2001. Event occurs at. http://imdb.com/title/tt0829122/medium Documentary. Retrieved 24 December 2007. 
  10. ^ "Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road". www.superseventies.com. http://www.superseventies.com/johnelton6.html. Retrieved 30 December 2010. 
  11. ^ "THE Aston Arms in Market Rasen has been singled out as a top spot for drinkers by Scottish whisky brand The Famous Grouse.". www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk. http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/news/Pub-famous-100/article-2947134-detail/article.html. Retrieved 30 December 2010. 
  12. ^ Claude Bernardin, Tom Stanton (1996). Rocket man: Elton John from A-Z. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 177. ISBN 0275956989. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=eJGcZSyBflwC&pg=PA117&dq=Grey+Seal+elton+john&hl=en&ei=cqkcTc_jJIPMhAexr_W2Dg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Grey%20Seal%20elton%20john&f=false. Retrieved 30 December 2010. 
  13. ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: elton john". www.robertchristgau.com. http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=elton+john. Retrieved 30 December 2010. 
  14. ^ "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John". www.rollingstone.com. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/goodbye-yellow-brick-road-19731122. Retrieved 30 December 2010. 
  15. ^ "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John". www.allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r10462. Retrieved 30 December 2010. 
  16. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0646119176. 
  17. ^ Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2011-10-29
  18. ^ a b Billboard - 24 November - 1973. http://books.google.co.jp/books?id=EwkEAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Goodbye+yellow+Brick+Road. Retrieved 2012-02-12. 
  19. ^ a b "Hit Parade Italia - Gli album più venduti del 1973" (in Italian). hitparadeitalia.it. http://www.hitparadeitalia.it/hp_yenda/lpe1973.htm. Retrieved 2011-10-03. 
  20. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4871310779. 
  21. ^ "norwegiancharts.com Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (ASP). Hung Medien. VG-lista. http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Elton+John&titel=Goodbye+Yellow+Brick+Road&cat=a. Retrieved 2011-10-29. 
  22. ^ Billboard - 23 December - 1973. http://books.google.co.jp/books?id=CgkEAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=goodbye+yellow+Brick+Road. Retrieved 2012-02-12. 
  23. ^ "Chart Stats - Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (PHP). UK Albums Chart. http://www.chartstats.com/release.php?release=37611. Retrieved 2011-10-29. 
  24. ^ "allmusic ((( Goodbye Yellow Brick Road > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r10462/charts-awards. Retrieved 2011-10-29. 
  25. ^ "Album Search: Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (in German). Media Control. http://www.charts.de/album.asp?artist=Elton+John&title=Goodbye+Yellow+Brick+Road&cat=a&country=de. Retrieved 2011-10-29. 
  26. ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1974". RPM. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.3891&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062. Retrieved 2011-10-03. 
  27. ^ "The Official UK Charts Company : ALBUM CHART HISTORY". Archived from the original on 2010-08-13. http://web.archive.org/web/20071217020447/www.theofficialcharts.com/album_chart_history_1974.php. Retrieved 2007-12-17. 
  28. ^ "Billboard.com - Year End Charts - Year-end Albums - The Billboard 200". Archived from the original on 2010-08-13. http://web.archive.org/web/20071011114007/http://billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1974. Retrieved 2007-10-11. 
  29. ^ "British album certifications – Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road". British Phonographic Industry. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx.  Enter Goodbye Yellow Brick Road in the field Search. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Click Go
  30. ^ "American album certifications – Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Goodbye+Yellow+Brick+Road%22.  If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
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