Classic Albums - Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Starring:Elton John, Classic Albums
Studio: Eye/Pioneer
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
This installment of the Classic Albums series, in which rock stars talk about the creation of their albums, focuses on the making of what may have been Elton John's seminal record, Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road. John, lyricist Bernie Taupin, producer Gus Dudgeon, and the members of John's band discuss the writing and recording process of such hits as "Benny and the Jets," "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting," and, of course, "Candle in the Wind." The drawback of this track-by-track deconstruction is that you only get snippets of the songs (performed in archival footage), interspersed with interviews in which the participants recall its origins. Also, true fans may feel that they don't get nearly enough of the Elton John interview, but they'll revel in the old films of him in some of his most outlandish stage finery. DVD bonus interviews discuss the beginnings of John's career. --Marshall Fine
Description
GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD gave Elton John his second number one album in both the American and British charts and provided him with four top ten singles. Interviews with Elton John himself, as well as with songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, there are contributions from musicians Davey Johnstone and Nigel Olsson, Gus Dudgeon (producer), David Hentschel (engineer), Del Newman (orchestral arranger) along with comments from Sir Tim Rice and Paul Gambaccini amongst others.

Amazon.com

This installment of the Classic Albums series, in which rock stars talk about the creation of their albums, focuses on the making of what may have been Elton John's seminal record, Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road. John, lyricist Bernie Taupin, producer Gus Dudgeon, and the members of John's band discuss the writing and recording process of such hits as "Benny and the Jets," "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting," and, of course, "Candle in the Wind." The drawback of this track-by-track deconstruction is that you only get snippets of the songs (performed in archival footage), interspersed with interviews in which the participants recall its origins. Also, true fans may feel that they don't get nearly enough of the Elton John interview, but they'll revel in the old films of him in some of his most outlandish stage finery. DVD bonus interviews discuss the beginnings of John's career. --Marshall Fine

Description

GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD gave Elton John his second number one album in both the American and British charts and provided him with four top ten singles. Interviews with Elton John himself, as well as with songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, there are contributions from musicians Davey Johnstone and Nigel Olsson, Gus Dudgeon (producer), David Hentschel (engineer), Del Newman (orchestral arranger) along with comments from Sir Tim Rice and Paul Gambaccini amongst others.

Customer Reviews:

Vintage E.J.!!!.......2007-03-28

Being a die hard EJ'ER: I was REALLY happy to see most of this Docu as it borrows heavily from the ABC broadcast of "EJ & BT say Goodbye Norma Jean & other Things" during the zenith of EJ Mania! It's a bittersweet tribute to 1 of the BEST LPS ever made (IMOP!) because Dee, Gus & others are'nt with us anymore & we can never relive that moment in time. As I 1st recorded an audio version with 1 of the dozen cassette recorders I've owned during my near half a century of life on this planet! "Danny Bailey" is epic! EJ is 60???? Where is the time going? GET THIS! U will NOT regret it! Especially if you're an EJ fan!

Very enjoyable.......2007-01-10

We bought this one as well as the Dark Side of the Moon Classic DVD. We enjoy how anything is created especially when it comes to our favorite albums. Very interesting...we'll watch it again and again.

It's Never Enough of Elton John!.......2006-12-29

Classic album DVD's are a real delight and this one is no exception. Not only does Elton give ample time to explain the escapades of recording in England, Jamaica and France, but also we hear a lot from Bernie Taupin on his songwriting. Producer Gus Dudgeon does many analyses of songs by showing how each track was laid out separately giving an entirely new meaning to the creation of a song through his mixer. Davey Johnstone does great famous riffs from the album and it is interspersed with the actual song with neat segues. The concert footage is a bit fuzzy, but the showmanship and the songs are displayed with great affection. Some fans might complain that only about a half-dozen songs are analyzed with a back-up story, but it is well worth hearing these tales. The DVD bonus interviews are priceless. Buy this entire album on DVD sound if you have the system!

Hello, Yellow Brock Road.......2006-10-05

The music of the 1970's has brought out some of the most dynamic and universal records ever. It was much harder though for double albums to be as univeral masterpieces than, as much as it is now. Although there are few that stand out like Pink Floyd's The Wall, Billy Joel's Greatest Hits Volumes I & II, and The Beatles White Album. For a living legend like Elton John, he has had so many different double albums from Blue Moves in 1976, and Here & There in 1975. Although those records have shined, his masterpiece Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is still the prime record of his career. Although he has made so many, this was the breakthrough one, that still remains his highest-selling one.

Classic Albums: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, is a comprehensive documentary describing the highs and lows of what made Elton's 1973 classic, a standard in music today. This documentary highlights the hindrances, and achievements with footage from Elton through his live performances from his career from his classic landmark show at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, to his intimate rendition of Candle In The Wind from his 1986 Live In Austrailia conert, with each track shown in reminicing stories. This documentary shows how sessions inspired tracks from Jamaican Jerk-off, to Bennie & The Jets, and the somber Roy Rogers which songwriter Bernie Taupin claimed as a childhood hero. You also see the late Gus Dudgeon, who sadly was killed in a car accident in 2003, and how he fused each track, and even early versions of tracks such as Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding and Harmony. The documentary is very gripping, and makes you wonder why very few artists have really made the achievement and magic appeal Elton John and Bernie Taupin accomplished.

All in all, Classic Albums: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is a very detailed documentary that is not just enjoyable, it captures the imagination of one of the best recorded and definitive albums ever. I loved watching this documentary recently on the VH1 Classic channel, and it was just a real treat. If you haven't seen this one, you realy don't know what you are missing. I recommend this for any die hard fan of Elton's, and a owner of the yellow brick road.

DVD Cover: B

Price: B

Mastering: A

Extras: B-

Overall: B 1/2+

If you like the record, you will love the DVD.......2006-09-09

At one point, this record was in the Guiness Book of World Records. Not for sales or revenue, etc. But because the entire record was **written, recorded and produced over a 2 week span**. When you put that in present-day context, that makes this a milestone, IMHO, not to mention even trying to contrast it with the stuff that comes out these days. This record gives me chills, and there is one thing I could never figure out about Ej and Bernie Taupin, and would love someone to explain it to me. How could two *very very* english guys write so effectively about such american topics as cowboys (Roy Rogers) gangsters (Danny Bailey), Wizard of Oz, Maralyn Monroe, etc.? I for one never thought for a minute that these guys were from another country. MOre credit to them.

Anyway, love the production, lyrics and melodies. This for me is truly a desert island disc.

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