Record Reviews

ELTON JOHN ~ GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD (40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION) MERCURY 602537534807 (Barcode: 602537534807) ~ UK ~ Classic Pop Recorded: 1973 Released: 2014 This is a Box Set edition of the milestone seventh album by Pop legend Elton JohnFind albums by this artist. It includes the original double album remastered with a whole bunch of bonus material, including the entire BBC live recording of a concert at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1973, documentary film about Elton, his lyricist Bernie TaupinFind albums by this artist and his group and a hardcover book full of photographs documenting the period when this music was recorded as well as an informative essay. All together this Box Set includes 4 CDs, 1 DVD and a book. It is hard to believe that this music is forty years old; I distinctly remember listening to it for the first time and being honestly impressed, although my musical inclination at the time was immersed in Progressive Rock and Free Jazz – some albums are simply too good to be ignored, regardless of their stylistic background. Elton of course started his road to fame and glory a few years earlier, producing one great album after another and with the help of Taupin created some of the most remarkable Pop anthems in history. Elton was of course always different; the fact that he used the acoustic piano as his weapon of choice, in a world of screaming electric guitars, was just one aspect of his uniqueness. Then there was his sweet, crooner like voice which could melt ice and those meaningful lyrics that popped out of Taupin´s head, which used imagery and sophistication way beyond your usual Pop song. Top all that with Elton´s extravagant costumes and stage appearance and you get a true Star, one of those greater than life figures that left our world for good. But most importantly there was the magic ability to write beautifully melodic tunes, which were catchy like hell but were never trivial, used strange chord changes and included a myriad of clever bits and odds originating in Blues, Jazz, Vaudeville and Cabaret, and were way more sophisticated that what most people considered as Pop. This was Elton´s magic and the reason why this music remains perfect exactly as it was forty years ago, untouchable by time. The live recordings included here prove that Elton was not only a great songwriter but also a superb performer; behind the vale of flashy costumes and early Glam era mannerisms there was a wonderful singer and excellent piano player, an touching actor, in short a great Artist. We old farts, who experienced this music in real time, need no convincing; we know this is good music. But you, poor souls, born long after this music was created, get yer ya-ya´s out and give it a listen rather than keep poisoning your wretched souls by contemporary bullshit. You have been warned!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD+DVD 5 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend