Search - Classic Albums - Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road on DVD

We're Not In Kansas Anymore, Toto!

Mike King | Taunton, MA United States | 12/31/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have the Classic Albums video of "Aja" by Steely Dan, so I expected the Elton John DVD to stick to the same formula - which it did. Contemporary interviews are interspersed with archival footage of the recording sessions. Elton discusses various aspects of the songwriting process, and which songs should or should not have been released as singles. At the time, he fought against "Bennie And The Jets" being released as a single, but thankfully the record company prevailed and it became a #1 hit. He regrets that by the time "Harmony" would have been issued as a 45, "Caribou" had been released and "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" was issued as the next single to promote that album. Bernie Taupin talks about the inspiration and meaning of his lyrics. He reveals that "Candle In The Wind" wasn't just about Marilyn Monroe but is representative of anyone who dies young and at the peak of their career, mentioning James Dean and Jim Morrison as examples. The core Elton John band members finally get their due. Nigel Olsson discusses not only his drumming duties but his background singing as well. As he admits, his voice was so loud that he sometimes had to sing with his back to the microphone! Davey Johnstone demonstrates some excellent guitar riffs. He mentions that he came up with the classic, rocking intro to "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting." Dee Murray, Elton's bass player, unfortunately passed away, but is fondly remembered. It's interesting to examine all of the elements that went into the making of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," one of the few double albums to reach number one in both the American and English charts."

Great Insight Into an Amazing Album

Ren | Knoxville, TN United States | 09/02/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road introduced a lot of people to Elton John in 1973; it was his first really successful album (though it wasn't the first to hit number one). It propelled him into superstardom, and this DVD is a great "Behind-the-Scenes" look at it. It provides interviews from everyone involved with this album, including Elton John himself, lyricist Bernie Taupin, guitarist Dave Johnstone, drummer Nigel Olsson, Producer Gus Dudgeon, and string arranger Del Newman. They all discuss what was going on at the time of recording some songs; they even discuss some of the songs themselves, such as "Funeral For a Friend" and "The Ballad of Danny Bailey". It helps me appreciate the album more because of all the musicianship that was dedicated to it (great string arrangements, backing vocals, etc.). I really recommend this to anyone who wants to know more about "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" or Elton John; it says much more than the liner notes of the album and provides great information as to the atmosphere and way of life the Elton John Band was undergoing in 1973."

Elton's first American DVD is excellent!

LEONARD HERMAN | 11/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This DVD is interspersed with archival footage (much of it from Bryan Forbe's 1973 documentary Elton John & Bernie Taupin Say Goodbye To Norma Jean & Other things) and modern interviews with Gus Dugfeon, Del Neuman, Nigel Olsen, Davey Johnstone, Tim Rice, Bernie Taupin, and Sir Elton himself to offer a look into this classic album.Footage of a 1973 Elton seemlessly blends into the Elton of today as he sits at his piano and performs Funeral For A Friend.I couldn't get enough of this DVD which only runs around 90 minutes. Now if they would only release the original Bryan Forbes documentary on DVD!"

Behind the yellow brick road...

David Sigler | Baltimore, Maryland | 02/23/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Don't miss this opportunity to explore the songwriting process of what became a landmark pop album of the '70s. Elton John and Bernie Taupin were truly at their creative peak when this double album was released. Song by song, these tunes should be required listening for anyone remotely interested in pop music. Not only have these songs stood the test of time but continue to be the bench mark upon all future releases the dynamic duo would be judged. Hey, they almost pulled it off again two years later with '75's Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. But the latter was less commercial in it's approach and told a more personal story of their humble beginnings.Wanna know why Elton John is important? Buy this dvd and see. And hear. Together with virtually everyone involved (excluding bassist Dee Murray who died of cancer in '92), you won't miss a single detail about how this album was crafted. This "music factory" was basically, Elton, Taupin, the band and producer Gus Dudgeon (who also has died since this was taped). Together they were responsible for the string of classic Elton John albums and singles from 1970-1975. From Elton's ability to easily craft melodies from Taupin's story book lyrics, the deft hand of Gus Dudgeon guiding the process, and the incredible band that took each song to new heights (not to mention the soaring backing vocals), you'll find yourself buying the cd immediately if you don't already own it."