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Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by  Released5 October 1973RecordedMay 1973 using a  Studio, , France; remixed and overdubbed at , London, , Length76:20 (US),  (UK) chronology
(1973)Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
(1973)
(1974) from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road ""
Released: 29 June 1973 ""
Released: 7 September 1973 ""
Released: 4 February 1974 ""
Released: 22 February 1974

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is the seventh studio album by English singer-songwriter , first released in 1973 as a . The album has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide and is widely regarded as John's . Among the 17 tracks, the album contains the hits "", "", "" and "" plus live favourites "" and "".

It was recorded at the Studio d'enregistrement  at the  in France after problems recording at the intended location in Jamaica. The move provided John and his band with a great deal of creative inspiration and an abundance of quality material was produced, leading to the decision to release the work as a  (LP).

In 2003 and 2012, the album was ranked number 91 on  magazine's list of , and re-ranked number 112 in a 2020 revised list. It was also ranked number 59 in 's 2009 list of 100 Greatest Albums.

In 2003, the album was inducted into the . The album was also included in the book .

Production

Under the working titles of Vodka and Tonics and Silent Movies, Talking Pictures,  wrote the lyrics in two and a half weeks, with John composing most of the music in three days while staying at the Pink Flamingo Hotel in . John had wanted to go to Jamaica, in part because  had just recorded  there.

Production on the album was started in Jamaica in January 1973, but due to difficulties with the sound system and the studio piano, logistical issues arising from the - boxing match taking place in Kingston, and protests over the , the band decided to move before any productive work was done.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was recorded in two weeks at the Studio d'enregistrement , at the  near , in France, where John had previously recorded  and . While a version of "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" was recorded in Jamaica, that recording was discarded; the released version of the song came from the sessions at the Château.

According to the album's producer, , the album was not planned as a two-record collection. John and Taupin composed a total of 22 tracks for the album, of which 18 (counting "Funeral for a Friend" and "Love Lies Bleeding" as two distinct tracks) were used, enough that it was released as a double album, John's first (three more such albums followed up to 2011). Through the medium of cinematic metaphor, the album builds on nostalgia for a childhood and culture left in the past. Tracks include "", "", the 11-minute "", and the  tribute "". "" was inspired by memories of a  pub Taupin frequented when younger. "Grey Seal", previously the B-side of the 1970 single "", was re-recorded for the album.

"Harmony", the album's final track, was considered as a fourth single, but was not issued at the time because the chart longevity of the album and its singles brought it too close to the upcoming releases of  and its proposed accompanying singles. It was, however, used as the B-side of the American release of the "Bennie and the Jets" single, and was popular on FM playlists of the day, especially  in Boston, whose top 40 chart allowed for the inclusion of  cuts and B-sides as voted for by listeners. "Harmony" spent three weeks at no. 1 on WBZ-FM's chart in June 1974 and ranked no. 6 for the year, with "Bennie and the Jets" at no. 1 and "" behind "Harmony" at no. 7. "Harmony" was released as a single in Britain in 1980 and failed to chart.

Release

The album was released on 5 October 1973 as a double LP, with cover art by illustrator  depicting John stepping into a poster.

The original 1973 LP, when released on CD, was released on two discs, while the 1992 and 1995 CD remasters put the album on one disc as it was slightly less than 80 minutes.

Reception Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingB(negative)The Daily VaultA

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is widely regarded as John's best album, and is one of his most popular; it is his best-selling studio album. Three singles were released in the US: "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "Bennie and the Jets" and "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting". In the UK, "Candle in the Wind" was released as a single instead of "Bennie and the Jets," which was used as the B-side.

In the US it was certified gold on 12 October 1973 (just days after release), 5× platinum in March 1993, and eventually 8× platinum in February 2014 by the .

Legacy

In 2003, the album was inducted into the . The album was also included in the book .

In 2003 and 2012, the album was ranked number 91 on  magazine's list of , and re-ranked number 112 in a 2020 revised list. It was also ranked number 59 in 's 2009 list of 100 Greatest Albums.

Track listing

All tracks are written by  and .

Side oneNo.TitleLength1.""11:092.""3:503.""5:23Side twoNo.TitleLength1.""3:132."This Song Has No Title"2:233."Grey Seal"4:004."Jamaica Jerk-Off"3:395."I've Seen That Movie Too"5:59Side threeNo.TitleLength1."Sweet Painted Lady"3:542."The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909–34)"4:233."Dirty Little Girl"5:004."All the Girls Love Alice"5:09Side fourNo.TitleLength1."Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'n Roll)"2:422.""4:573."Roy Rogers"4:074."Social Disease"3:425.""2:46Total length:76:20