An absolute masterpiece. In my humble opinion this is Elton John's finest song.

@keithb.9189

11 ай бұрын

Totally agree!

@kirksmith2051

11 ай бұрын

I couldn't agree more.

@freebirdtony

11 ай бұрын

@@kirksmith2051 I was taken aback on their reaction to the "Love Lies Bleeding" segment.

@dheiserable

11 ай бұрын

I was given this Lp for Christmas 1973. I was 22 years old and already a EJ fan. Of course we all knew the GBYBR was on the airwaves for a long time. When I played the FFAF/LLB I was hooked and considered it to be one of Elton’s greatest. Oh yea, I still have that original LP.

@Greg-io1ip

11 ай бұрын

Elton was mired in pressure NOT TO COME OUT. By England's Royal Monarchy and Trump. Elton John was a member of Trump's clubs going way back. Roy Cohn's Bottom Boy Cadet TwinkySpurs been swappin dude slobber for decades. Ask KGB agent daughter Melania. Elton John was being manipulated not to come out. That's why long before he came out he wore all that flamboyant stuff, to scare Trump and English royals. Elton John could only get concert venues affiliated with Sinatra Mafia fruits if he agreed to stay in the closet. More to the story, but someday Elton John has a tell all book ending Blue Bloods.

Old school Elton is the best. The Elton John/Bernie Taupin years were the great!

@nickozzy

11 ай бұрын

Right I forgot Bernie...sorry guys..

@fridaylong2812

11 ай бұрын

Define old school? How many of EJ's first albums have you heard? With songs like 'Burn down the Mission', Honky Chateau, Daniel, Elderberry Wine, Levon, Madman Across the Water......

@richardkafka5625

11 ай бұрын

@@fridaylong2812 All of them. Own them all as well. Madman Across the Water is perfect start to finish!

Thanks guys!! Goodbye Yellow brick Road is an Epic Album from the beginning, this song, to the end!! Masterpiece! ❤

@laurakali6522

11 ай бұрын

Desert island album for me.

@greekadmirer2204

11 ай бұрын

Well said Wendy and Laura . Beautiful album ❤️❤️😘😘

Elton John’s progressive rock masterwork Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding was from a time when great artists were experimenting with sounds and pushing out of genres in a exploration of music. The seventies were priceless…

YES!!!! Been waiting on this one!😊 when I saw him in the 70s, the stage was completely black. This music started and as the music got louder and faster, the lights started getting brighter and brighter until THERE HE WAS! What a FANTASTIC show! An incredible showman as well as an incredible musician.

This song came out when I was a senior in high school. We were BIG Elton fans and this blew our socks off. My circle of friends promised each other that we would play this at our funerals. At the grave site, when everyone else has gone, the cassette player comes out and we keep our promise. Only two of us left now.

@hklinker

11 ай бұрын

Good on you for following through.

@alicericcardi3199

4 ай бұрын

Bless you and bless Elton John.

What a great time to grow up ! We had Pink Floyd , Elton John , Led Zeppelin, lol my 10 year old brain soaked it all in , still my favorites to this day , I’m 60

“All the Girls Love Alice” is badass on this album

The way he plays the piano…..❤️🎶❤️

Back in the day, if you had a good stereo system, this was the music to show that it could bring it.

Can only use words of others . A Masterpiece. ❤❤They don’t make albums like this anymore..Thank you guys ..

@tonygreene3941

11 ай бұрын

And this was just another release in the 70’s. We were sooo spoiled

If you didn't really like this, neither did I when I first heard it, but it grew on me BIGTIME the more I heard it. And hear I am again. That's the ticket to this one.

Today nobody would sit through such a long build up of an intro........They would be on their phones already checking out the newest cat memes.......LOL.......

@vicprovost2561

11 ай бұрын

21st century listeners are amazed at the grest, long and complex songs made in the lady century. They often ask, what happened to mudic? Try Generation X and the Millenials for some of the blame, at least the Gen Z folks seem to understand what good music wad and still is. We listened to music, not so much dancing to it. Music meant way more when I was young...

The album that this song is from, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road which is a double album, has 17 tracks and was written and recorded in 2 weeks. Written and recorded! The band with only hear the song in the morning and have it fleshed out and recorded by afternoon and they would do this two, three, four times a day. Just incredible.

Saturday Night’s all Right for Fighting. Check it out. In 1968-69 a very young session pianist named Reginald Dwight worked on the last two Beatles albums. He later changed his name to Elton John. This album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, was probably the pinnacle of his creative period.

@Greg-io1ip

11 ай бұрын

Great album. Just so much dirty British Royals meddling and here in the states dirty Mafia so worried a gay guy would get popular. Elton John hid in the closet with Trump off and on. Sad facts about Roy Cohn's Bottom Boy Cadet TwinkySpurs.

I was in grammar school when this came out , the school library used to get in albums and we would take turns listening on headphones, it was magical!

The greatest thing about Elton John is not only is he one of the greatest pianist in our modern day but his voice is also one of the greatest instrument of modern day. Combined he is truly an amazing artist and a legend.

When I was a teen, the radio station I listened to would play this often starting at midnight. I'd be secretly listening to my radio under my pillow, and this song always let me know I was up too late, lol. Love it.

It’s funny: There are some Elton songs that everyone seems to love that just don’t speak to me. I liked this one from the first time I heard it and was surprised that it wasn’t more popular. 🤷‍♂️. Go figure. It’s like - I’ll always go for blue cheese with my chicken wings, while everyone else seems to like ranch. But Elton is undoubtedly one of the greats. Thanks for reacting to this song. 👍

@Greg-io1ip

11 ай бұрын

My only thing on Elton isn't his homosexual history and so slow to be brave enough to come out, but he's been a Maralago member since it began. Trump as you may know was David Geovanis and Roy Cohn's former lover, as well as Roger Stone and Barry Diller. Among dozens more. Ivana leaked it after Trump beat her, but E Jean Carroll had been documenting Trump's homosexual lovers and that Elton John was around Trump any time he was in the states. Of course Rush Limbaugh also a homosexual, and Elton John sang at Limbaugh's fake NDA marriages. And I believe he did some of Trump's fake straight props chicks. Roy Cohn was the same gender identity as Trumpedo and Elton John. Elton John shouldn't have been around these creeps unless Elton had kid fetishes, which was the rumor back in the day. I suppose I was bothered knowing before Elton came out that he was gay. But I did like some of his songs. Not like I couldn't live without them but he was a good song writer and composer. It only mattered he is gay because he hung out with Trump and Epstein. And Limbaugh in the MaraLardo Gay Sauna, literally. Didn't know all that then, but did see him kissing up to Mafia trash. That's what matters. Not who he loves. And if Elton was hanging around on Trump Princess yacht (purchased from Jamal Kashoggi's uncles, the Wapo reporter killed by MBS hit team, and Lady Di's boyfriend Dodi's cousin), the yacht Trump hosted Prince Andrew onboard with young Ghislaine Maxwell bringing her underaged school girls to meet a prince... Elton knows a lot. Just a candle in the wind for doing nothing.

The 70s were incredible!..this song is a masterpiece.

This is album rock of the 70's. One of the great slow build openers to one of the best albums ever.

This was recorded when Elton and Bernie were absolutely at the top of their game! Just a wonderful piece of music that starts off this fabulous album.

I was lucky enough to see Elton and the boys a couple of times. This collection of musicians was IMO the finest he ever assembled. Davey Johnstone on guitar, Nigel Olsson on drums, Ray Cooper on percussion and the late, great Dee Murray on bass

He's opened with this song at all 5 solo concerts I've seen. Never gets old.

I saw him 3 times and this was always the opening!

One of the best double albums of all time. This album and especially these tracks were his besr work.

Its an experience for sure. Excellent.

I saw him in Seattle when this album dropped. They opened with this and proceeded to play the whole double album non-stop! The rest of the show was Elton's Greatest Hits - 4 hours no breaks. Absolutely magical!!

By 2023, we have heard music played in just about every way possible. Remember that back in the 60's and 70' s we were hearing all this new and for the first time. It was very exciting wondering what would come out next.

Thank you!!!!! My hero for life. Nobody can touch his genius or skills ❤❤❤❤❤

David Johnstone is the guitarist and co writer of the most iconic songs..also touring with Elton more 3000 shows 👏

@chaosandcreation4118

11 ай бұрын

DJ was his best guitarist by far, but he never wrote anything. Everything was composed by EJ to Bernie Taupin lyrics up to Blue Moves. By then DJ was not rehired same time EJ changed lyricists and went down hill overall.

@MrRondonmon

11 ай бұрын

@@chaosandcreation4118 He got a credit for I guess that's why they call it the Blues, that is about it with Elton, however he has written songs other people have covered.

@mikewoodrow5878

11 ай бұрын

DJ also used to tour with Alice Cooper when Elton was between albums and tours.

He has used this song as the opener for his concerts for years. Definitely gets the crowd ready.

Elton is one talented guy, so is his "crew", longevity, what you see is what you get, just a huge influence on music for about a half a century...like him, tolerate him or love him.

I agree, a masterpiece and by far the best Elton John ever wrote, and the performance will blow you away. Imagine yourself at the actual funeral of a friend.

Elton started out with a kind of a large ensemble band, with a lot of strings which were usually arranged by Paul Buckmaster. He kind of gradually migrated towards more of a mix of studio musicians and background singers,, many of whom played on one or a few songs on an album. He had a few albums where he did not seem to have any set band as such, with different people playing on each song and sometimes certain people who were only on one or two of his albums. But he kind of gradually he gradually started doing more and more tunes with a different group of bandmates, than any of the ones who appeared on his early work. This eventually fell into place, as he became more of a pop rock musician and less of a folk rock one, as his core band of Davie Johnston on guitars, Nigel Olsson on drums, and Dee Murrey on Bass, and those same three doing most of the backing vocals too. Those are the guys you hear on this tune. He still used plenty of studio musicians, as he never really stopped doing some big compositions with a lot of different instruments. But definitely he came to have a pretty much set band along with additional players as needed. Some of the additional hands and voices were recurring players, like Ray Cooper, and Dave Hentschel.

I was14 when this album came out and I played the hell out it! My turquoise portable record player blasting tunes that I’m sure the whole neighborhood could hear…great times 👍🏻

So glad that I had older siblings that bought all the cool albums of the day❤ Great memories of jamming out to this masterpiece in our basement!

I listened to this on New Years Eve 74'....afternoon getting ready for my bartending gig at a big club. It really stuck with me...as New Years is a big moment of reflection and emotions. If you work in clubs...its amateur nite with great tips...fun work. But a little separated from the party. By accident, this was the interesting, complex accompianment....It worked for me all these years...kind of echoing in the background of every NYE.

Masterpiece!

The album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" is Sir Elton's Magnum Opus. He hits all the high and low notes, and everything in between. He misses nothing here.

Love Lies Bleeding is the name of a type of flower in case anyone doesn’t know. Clever how he used that name so effectively !

Fantabulous. Thank you for your reaction. Classic masterpiece

The entire GYR album is for me a masterpiece. It will take you on a journey. Unparalleled lyrics by Bernie Taupin & of course, music by Elton John & band. Thanks for all your great reactions. Please keep them coming

This is a masterpiece. 1973. Ther wasn't anything out there like this. The entire Goodbye Yellow Brick Road double album is an all-timer.

Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson on bass and drums were awesome. So was Davey Johnston on guitar. Listening to this when came out on head phones exposed me to this great band.

Cool they mention how tight the band sounds. A couple of years after this song came out Elton was in Tommy of course and when tasked with redoing Pinball Wizard he accepted but passed on The Who as the backing band, preferring his own. The Who were no slouches of course, fresh of the Quadrophonic album and tour on the heels of Who's Next, arguably at the top of *their* game too. Elton knew what he had; he could do no wrong with his band and stuck with them and it paid off. Such a great cover. Yes, the early '70's pre-disco/pre-punk were an amazing time for rock.

Elton is definitely one of my favs Saw him a few times in concert You guys might like the song Take me to the pilot. He also did a concert in Australia where he played with a symphony Most of the songs a re a bit slower but really beautiful. I'm so happy to see you enjoying all this music and appreciating the instruments which are very rare to find in today's music You can't beat the talent from the 60s to the early 2000s

This is a work of art, a masterpiece

Can't always LOVE a song. Me personally I love this song and sits up there in my top three easily. But bottom line, the talent can't be denied. He came to my hometown for the first time a few years back. Me and my now ex wife were scurrying to get to our seats. Right when we got to our seats, the house lights went down and this was the FIRST song. I could've gone home after that. Keep digging into his body of work. You'll REALLY love it. Man if I was there with you guys, we'd dissect all of his 70s catalog.

I want this BLASTED at my celebration of life!

Dee Murray was Elton's long time bassist, who is no longer with us, and Davey Johnstone is his guitarist. This is the opening to one of the finest albums ever. I love playing air guitar to this song!!

Such a timeless classic, this whole album, every single note is perfection.

You are so right about his backing band. They are the best backing band ever. Not only are they masters at their instruments, but are amazing backing vocalists.

Don't forget the awesome talent of Nigel Olson. There's a reason this is the album he did his final tour

This song cranked to 11 back in the day was 🔥 Good opener for Elton’s best album. There are some all time bangers on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

The term "genius" is thrown around way too often...but Elton John is truly a musical genius!

His live rendition from his 60th birthday concert at MSG is epic. I usually don't prefer live performances but the energy and joy in that performance is truly impressive. Such talent and skill.

@hklinker

11 ай бұрын

Is that the show where they open with this? Then through the rest of the night there are a bunch of guests?

My absolute favorite Elton John song. Unbelievable sound, a technically perfect recording. Love this song. One of my go to pieces of music when I am sad. But will jam with it anytime. Thanks for this. You guys are awesome!

Elton said at his peak he and Bernie Taupin could write songs in 20-30 minutes. I’ve seen his show 3 times, the most recent last year in Phoenix. Elton’s original drummer and guitarist were playing in the band. He needed a cane to walk and won’t be touring anymore.

Phenomenal album. Every tune.

"This band is amazing...." is so right on. One of the best rock quartets ever. They always leave space for each other and respect each other. Amazing.

I saw Sir Elton last year at Gillette Stadium with my daughter for his farewell tour and he played this and my God it was amazing...I wept

Elton John is amazing and this is one of his great songs. Thanks for reviewing it and reacting to it.

Always listened to this laying on the floor in between two speakers sound all the way up. Masterpiece.

I was lucky enough to go see him four times through years always a great show.

BROS, I was lucky enough to see Elton live at the St. Paul Civic Center, St Paul Mn. The seats were first come first served, and we ran up to the front of the stage where we stood. When the lights came up here comes Elton with a really long cape or whatever, wearing feathered glasses and sitting down on his bejeweled huge grand piano. The opening refrains of "Funeral For A Friend" played while he walked out. One of the best concerts I've witnessed. And thanks to an Army Sergeant for allowing me the night over instead of rushing back.

I had never considered myself an EJ fan until I saw him live in the mid-70’s performing this tour, he’s a class act!

This is one of Elton's most popular tunes and another listening may help you feel it. My favorite Elton John song is "Ticking" from Caribou, but no one ever reacts to it. It is the best example of Bernie Taupin's storytelling and Elton's best piano playing. It is just piano and vocals, but a powerful story with some of Elton's best vocals.

@jono10531089

11 ай бұрын

Couldn't agree with you more. The song 'Ticking' is very underrated. Superb piano playing and haunting lyrics.

@danielhkhk7283

10 ай бұрын

Agree, love Ticking!

Promised a friend in Jr high school we would play this at each other’s funeral. We reconnected on Facebook and laughed, so glad we’re still alive!!

This whole double album was an experience of rock excellence from this intro to the last track. So many classics! For me, his apex.

Glad u mentioned his band, ty! Nigel Olsson-drums, Dee Wallace-bass, and Davey Johnstone-guitar, some toured w/him on farewell tour. With Bernie writing lyrics and Elton setting the music, this album is sublime. I treasure Elton's early years.

I saw an interview at Elton John where he talked about prior to this album used to tell the guys in the band what to play and how they play it and then he realize he went out and had gotten the best players he could get and to let them play, and that’s when they became a real band

An amazing start to an amazing album

My uncle bought “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” for me on my 11th birthday. I know every song by heart, the entire double album. The whole thing is a masterpiece.

@laurabrevitz3944

11 ай бұрын

Cool uncle! 😎

I saw him in Cleveland perform this in the 70’s.. what an entertainer.. all over that piano, crazy glasses and outfits!!!

SOMEONE SAVED MY LIFE TONIGHT ELTON JOHN

My personal favorite Elton Album

Gents! thank you for this reaction. This is a song (or songs) that in many ways can be difficult to get into on a first listen in spite of how brilliant the musicianship is. It was originally recorded as two separate songs but then melded into one epic combo. Once you give it a few listens, you may change your perception, specially about 'Love Lies Bleeding' which has some of the most brilliant groove rhythm in a rock song with Nigel Olsson on drums and Dee Murray on bass (listen to the tone on it.) Thanks again

@CuriousGeorge1111

11 ай бұрын

I gotta agree. After multiple listenings, Love Lies Bleeding becomes a shot of adrenaline.

@taradevine6026

11 ай бұрын

Alex and Andy weren't moved the first listen, but when they did the entire album, they were like WTH!? How did we get this wrong! Your honesty is always appreciated. That's why we love you guys. ❤

I think this is his best piece period! This was the best era of Elton. The band was on fire ,magnificent arrangement , stellar production and Davey Johnston's guitar tone! It doesn't get much better than this . I guess some people just can't feel it. Oh well.......

What a great suite from him and the band, one of the pinnacles of Elton's entire career. Try Everyone Loves Alice from the same great album, it is another banger. Enjoy! 🎶🎹🎤🎸🎶

@suesebree8670

11 ай бұрын

How about Social Disease?

@suesebree8670

11 ай бұрын

All The Young Girls Love Alice

@brandonboucher7090

11 ай бұрын

“tender young Alice they say…”

I saw The Elton John Band in 1972. To date the best rock concert I ever seen and I've attended over 200 plus shows. The Band were killer on instruments and harmonies.

The whole album needs to be listened to from beginning to end. Back in the 70's we used that double album for learning the lyrics and cleaning our stash.😅

Absolute masterpiece. I’ve seen him 5x in concert. Always would open with this and gave me chills and tears every time. The sound is magnificent in a large venue.

Every time I hear this, I can picture David, Dee, and Nigel gathered around a mic laying down those harmonies. Bands like this just don’t exist anymore.

This music and this album celebrate 50 year's now. 1973--2023. It's incredible to know that in ours lives we've lived through musical artist like Elton, and so many others. These songs and so many others from the latter part of the 20th century will be loved for hundreds of years after were gone. ❤️. I enjoyed watching you guys. Your comments and analysis were fantastic to lsten to.

One of my all time favorites. I have told many people I want this played at my funeral.❤

Saw this in the 70s at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia. When Funeral started three hearses came down the racetracks main straight in the dark with only the headlights on. When Love lies Bleeding starts, the lights come up and there's Elton sitting at his piano covered in luminescent coloured bouncing balls - just brilliant

I've seen Elton a few times. He always opened the show with this song.

"all the girls love Alice" spotlights the band and has powerful lyrics.

Love lies bleeding is my most favorite Elton song. He’s fantastic live. Nice reaction.

Masterpiece. Saw him play this live, twice in the 1980's in NYC.....and saw his final tour last year in MA.....and he played it as well as he ever has. TY Elton.

What an outstanding album this is. I wore it out when it was released! Couldn't get enough of it. All the lyrics were on the inside of this double album. Amazing work fellows!!!

A big part of this amazing sound is the band too. Elton would write the basic song and play it to the band on his piano. The band would create their own parts, head into the studio and just...play the song. Elton would not give direction...each member would do whatever they felt would work...and it did. That's also why the songs have such a smooth but odd feel to them. This is live playing, and very organic, from band members that know their shit, know how to play various musical genres, and know each other well enough to know where things are going to go. And that's the band doing those amazing backing vocals. It also made the live shows so amazing. Elton and the band members would improvise out of the blue, and the band would follow that lead. And with how fast they created new music (on average four songs a day in the studio, and about two albums a year) they would insert songs on the upcoming album, as a treat for the fans. Even older Elton, with the original drummer and guitarist (Nigel Olsson and Davey Johnstone) the concerts were 3+ hours long...with no breaks.

@cindyp1033

11 ай бұрын

Can you please get a “love” button? This was so unique when it came out. I do love his old stuff❤

They were a real band back then. Great sounding backing vocals too. They were with Elton for years.

This is song is epic!!! Whole album is a masterpiece!

The Classic Albums documentary on this album is also very interesting. His backing band desrves a lot of credit for his success. Which can be said about a lot of solo artists. The un-sung hero's of all this wonderful music we listen to.

I was Elton in concert in Philly, April 1971, Tumbleweed Connection tour. Blown away.

This is one of my favorite songs from Sir Elton John I never got to see him live even though I always wanted to. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is one those must have albums in everyone's collection.

Two great songs that are back to back. Can not listen to just one. Great reaction fellas. Appreciate you 🙏 ❤

I still get chills every time I hear this song 😮