“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” by Elton John
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of this 70s classic.
Hello! 😊👋
Welcome to a new edition of the Daily Music Picks newsletter!
Today’s music pick commemorates the 50th anniversary of a 70s classic from one of rock’s true giants.
Genre: Rock, Pop
Label: DJM
Release Date: October 5, 1973
Vibe: 😍
If I had to attach a single descriptor to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, it would be “operatic.” From the first note to the last, its cup runneth over with the kind of melodramatic fantasy you’d associate with the most elaborate stage productions. As I worked my way through a relisten, I was struck by how Elton’s behemoth of a double album had more than a few things in common with the likes of “Madama Butterfly” or “Phantom of the Opera,” distracting you from the clunkier moments (yes, the song “Jamaica Jerk-Off” is as bad as it sounds) with a breathless, tireless compulsion to entertain. In that sense, the LP showcases Elton the performer at his absolute peak, embracing excess and soulfulness in equal measure. It’s also as exhaustive a document of his ability to transform camp into something approaching high art as you’ll likely find in his discography.
The greatest hits on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (among them: “Bennie and the Jets,” “Candle in the Wind,” and “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting”) are ubiquitous to the point of me not needing to sell them to you. Instead, I’d rather focus on the lesser-known but no less-brilliant gems, such as the gorgeous ballad “I’ve Seen That Movie Too” and the 70s pop perfection that is “Grey Seal.” However, all those tracks pale in comparison to what is arguably the best Elton John song of all time, the ferocious opener “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding.” Like all of his classic epics, it’s a slow burn, starting out appropriately dirge-like before exploding into a prog-rock masterpiece that turns the theatricality to 11. I remember the first time I heard it, eyes closed and heart pounding as the final refrain screamed through the speakers in my cheap headphones.
Regardless of how or when I listen to that song, I still get goosebumps. If you’ve never heard it, you will too.
👉 Don’t forget to click the album image to stream the album on your favorite platform 👈
That's for reminding us of the 50th anniversary of Elton John's Yellow Brick Road. I still remember the subway ride to the Toronto record store ( Sam the Record Man ). The album purchase. Ride home. And continuous play. I sensed the " giving" on that album. Effort, perfection.
Will stream one song.
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