Product Details

• Actors: Elton John, Classic Albums
• Format: Color, Widescreen, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Eagle Rock Ent
• VHS Release Date: November 6, 2001
• Run Time: 50 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005Q2ZI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #314,928 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

VHS video tape

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We're Not In Kansas Anymore, Toto!, December 30, 2001

By 

Mike King "Mike Vegas King" (Taunton, MA United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Classic Albums: Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (DVD)

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.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Elton's first American DVD is excellent!, November 7, 2001

By 

LEONARD HERMAN - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Classic Albums: Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (DVD)

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!

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Insight Into an Amazing Album, September 2, 2002

By 

Ren (Knoxville, TN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Classic Albums: Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (DVD)

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.