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US AND THEM - 1973
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"...Dogs Of Society Howl..."
I
hesitate to think of the number of times Elton John's 1973 magnum opus
"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" has been reissued on CD since 1984 – what
is it by now – 6 thousand or 6 million. But all numeric puns aside – this 2014
Universal/Mercury version with a brand new and comprehensive BOB LUDWIG
Remaster is way out in front of them all. And I'd argue that the 'single disc'
variant at under a fiver is all the audio love you'll ever need...
Fans
will know that there's the Deluxe Edition with an Extra Disc of the whole album
re-interpreted into modern day duets – and a 5-disc Super Deluxe Variant that
gives us previously live shows, the duets set and DVD stuff too. But is all
that fluff actually necessary - especially when you have to pay a pretty penny
for it? I'd argue no - sometimes less is more. Let's get to the Norma Jeans,
Bennie and His Jets and some sociable Fighting on a Saturday Night...
UK
and US released 24 March 2014 – "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" by ELTON
JOHN on Universal/Mercury 375 858-9 (Barcode 602537585892) is a '40th
Anniversary' single disc CD Remaster of the original 17-track 1973 double-album
and plays out as follows (76:11 minutes):
1.
(a) Funeral For A Friend (b) Love Lies Bleeding [Side 1]
2.
Candle In The Wind
3.
Bennie And The Jets
4.
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road [Side 2]
5.
This Song Has No Title
6.
Grey Seal
7.
Jamaica Jerk-Off
8.
I've Seen That Movie Too
9.
Sweet Painted Lady [Side 3]
10.
The Ballad Of Danny Bailey (1909-34)
11.
Dirty Little Girl
12.
All The Girls Love Alice
13.
Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'n' Roll) [Side 4]
14.
Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting
15.
Roy Rogers
16.
Social Disease
17.
Harmony
Tracks
1 to 17 are his 9th album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" – a double-LP
set released October 1973 in the UK on DJM Records DJLPD 1001 and in the USA on
MCA Records MCA2-10003. All tracks were written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin
– David Hentschel (Dave Henschel) was the Engineer and Gus Dudgeon Produced.
Del Newman did Orchestral Arrangements on Tracks 4, 8, 9, 10, 15 and 17. The
core band was Elton John on all Keyboards and Lead Vocals, Davey Johnstone on
All Guitars and Backing Vocals, Dee Murray on Bass and backing Vocals and Nigel
Olsson on Drums and Backing Vocals. David Hentschel plays A.R.P. Synth on
"Funeral For A Friend" and "All The Girls Love Alice". the
2LP set "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" hit the No. 1 spot on both the UK
and USA LP charts in October 1973.
The
12-page booklet features the same layout as the Gus Dudgeon 1995 remaster in
that it reproduces the inner tri-gatefold of the original vinyl double album
with Ian Beck's lovely artwork as well as David Larkham and Michael Ross's
illustrations and lyrics. There's no liner notes per say and basic credits.
Long-time tape supremo BOB LUDWIG has handled the new 2014 Remaster. Fans will
know that the 2003 DELUXE EDITION double had stunning remasters from Andy
Strange, Chris Bellman and Tony Cousins – so is this version any better? I
don’t know if better is the word – more 'equal too'. I like both - but there's
something about this new go at it that sounds just that little bit more
nuanced...
1973
was a huge year for Elton. Along with Bernie Taupin his lyricist – their
collaborative songwriting mojo seemed to be not just on fire but blazing. His
8th album the beautifully and elaborately packaged "Don't Shoot Me I'm
Only The Piano Player" with the big hits "Daniel" and "Crocodile
Rock" had gone to No. 1 in both Blighty and The States in February - and
no sooner had the public drawn breath then they were hit with his double-album
meisterwerk in October 1973 – "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (another
Number 1 winner). It opens with the eleven-minute magnificence of "Funeral
For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" – a two-part almost Prog monster that
rocks, rolls and sweeps for the whole of its brilliant duration. It proved such
a winner with fans that DJM Records couldn't resist actually releasing its
eleven minutes as the A-side to a 12" Single EP in September 1978 in a
unique Picture Sleeve (DJT 15000). The hero of the hour is surely Davey
Johnstone and his stunning axework that seems to be everywhere in your
speakers. It's followed by the album's most iconic song "Candle In The
Wind" – a love song and homage to the sad demise of Hollywood legend
Marilyn Monroe – later reprised by Elton to reflect the world's sadness at
Diana Spencer's loss in 1997 – another princess taken too soon. There's real
warmth in this transfer and the song is still touching. The 'live' feel to
"Bennie And The Jets" comes over like a football anthem – those
punched piano riffs are in your face and threatening to smash the cocktail
glasses over the hotel waiter's head.
Another
hero of the album is the Jazz sleaze shuffle of "I've Seen That Movie
Too" – here in gorgeous Audio (Drums, Bass and Piano all shining) – the
whole thing elevated into a thing of musical beauty by Del Newman's
complimentary string arrangements. Its cleverly followed by another forgotten
Elton sweetie - "Sweet Painted Lady" - and to this day I don't know
whose playing the Accordion or Tuba (all part of Del Newman’s strings)? The
transfer of "Danny Bailey..." gives more muscle to those Backing
Vocals and Strings - while Davey's lowdown and snotty Guitar sound on
"Dirty Little Girl" gives the 'hasn't had a bath in years' tune real
anger and attack. Speaking of Blistering Guitar parts – the sexually knowing
"All The Girls Love Alice" rocks like a mother – Davey ripping it up
while David Hentschel bottoms the chorus with that clever ARP Synth fill. The
faster-than-anything-else bubblegum pop of the souped-up "Your Sister
Can't Twist..." sounds utterly amazing but actually leaves me cold. You
can't say the same of the 'belly full of beer' rocker "Saturday Night's
Alright For Fighting" leaping out of your speakers like a boot boy intent
on damaging private property (what a tune this is).
Side
4 winds down with "Roy Rogers" – the dynamic duo's obsession with all
things Wild West surfacing once again. The overall soundstage is full and
incredibly alive – those strings and pedal steel wrapping themselves around
Elton's vocals. The twittering birds and bulldog barks of "Social
Disease" start to increase in Volume as the song progresses – and again
the Remaster is fantastic - highlighting Elton's Piano and Davey's Banjo
plucking. It ends on the surprisingly upbeat "Harmony" and there's
amazing clarity on the Acoustic Guitars and those layered backing vocals.
Re-listening
to 1973's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" in its entirety in 2016 and
you're struck by its track-after-track brilliance – a genuine 1970s Classic
Rock LP masterpiece. My only fidget would be that there's a truly gorgeous
'Acoustic Mix' of "Candle In The Wind" on the 2003 Deluxe Edition
that would have made the most perfect singular additional Bonus Track on here –
ending the whole thing on a reminder of just how touching Elton’s songwriting
chops were/still are (but alas).
"...Never
knowing who to cling to when the rain set in..." - Elton sang sadly on
"Candle In The Wind". Well if you're in a nostalgic mood - start your
journey back down the Yellow Brick Road right here. And remember - this
gorgeous Audio '40th Anniversary' trek won't cost you a flight to Vegas or a
night at Caesars Palace either...but I suspect it'll feel just as good...
