Classic Albums (TV Series) Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (2001) User Reviews

Uh, It's not about the famous album

[labcbaker-25410 · 7/10 · 24 January 2024]

First, I enjoyed this low budget documentary. The interviewees are delightful. Elton himself is amazingiy generous to Bernie and his bandmates as he looks back on his career. While a serious fan will not likely learn much about Elton's explosion into superstardom and the torrent of pop hits unleashed by the John/Taupin team, I enjoyed hearing it described by a wide variety of people who witnessed it first hand. But here's the thing, this film is only marginally about "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." Yes, some of the hit songs were featured, but were pretty much divorced from the album as an organic whole. They pretty much say, oh yea, we knocked it out in a few weeks. One talking head says it was Elton's "Sergeant Pepper" or "Pet Sounds." That is not far-fetched as a final product but no information in the documentary suggests that anyone in the group was trying to create artist ALBUM in the same way as the Beatles or Brian Wilson. I was in college when it came out and a friend at the dorm played it endlessly. And I didn't mind. It really rocks in a way much of his other music doesn't. Oh well, I recommend giving it a look on FreeVee, but don't expect a close inspection of the album.

Entertaining Look at Brick

[Michael_Elliott · 26 July 2012]

Classic Albums: Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (2001)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Davey Johnstone and various others are interviewed about the making of the classic album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, which featured a number of hits and is considered by many to be one of the greatest albums of the decade. Once again the "Classic Albums" series provides for a big entertainment and unlike so many other documentaries, this one here contains the real music so you really get a full overview of the album. As usual, the documentary covers just about every aspect of the album from the writing of the songs to the recording of the material and the eventual release of the album. Fans of John or rock music in general should really be entertained by this documentary because it really does deliver on all levels and by the time its over with you'll feel as if you know the album a lot better. As with other episodes, one of the highlights here is getting to sit at the sound mixer and hear various songs broken apart. In some cases we'll hear the vocal by itself or in other spots we'll hear just the piano or just the guitar. By doing this it's interesting to hear the various decisions that went on for the final mix and we even get to hear an early version of 'Bennie and the Jets.' Also discussed here is John and Taupin's working relationship, the rise to fame and a now famous show done at the Hollywood Bowl. Fans should be entertained by this short and those unfamiliar with the album will get to see how many great classics are there.

Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is a fascinating document about the making of that legendary album

[tavm · 10/10 · 16 June 2020]

I randomly watched this on Amazon Prime Video just now. It tells of Elton John's recording of perhaps one of his most famous of albums-the double record of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Besides the title song, other tunes showcased include "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting", "Benny and the Jets", and "Candle in the Wind". Besides John, his co-writer Bernie Taupin, and various members of his band are also interviewed as well as some of his record executives and a member of his fan club! This was quite a fascinating doc of one of Sir Elton John's most popular albums so that's a high recommendation!