Elton John - Ballad of Danny Bailey (Yellow Brick Road 10 of 21)

[aherman0609]

No better  singer and song writer combo ever than Elton and Bernie Taupin !!! To me Taupin is the greatest song writer ever.

[MsJune54]

the arrangement on this song is incredible, LOVE IT....thanks so much for posting

[Drakoneiros]

Incredibly underrated song.

[auggiedoggy]

Love the orchestral arrangement on this one. Best album ever IMHO.

[Remulakmarty]

My early days....when there was music..

[Carauthor]

Elton in his prime!!! Awesome!!!!!

[lanzila]

Chiroquacker- Your a gutless asshole!

[hooeybrown]

Paul Buckmaster did a lot of orchestral arrangements for EJ in the early years, but the choice of Del Newman for GYBR was an excellent choice, as evidenced by this song.

[lavalp]

@hooeybrown I absolutely love what Del Newman did for songs like this one on GBYBR - just amazing and delightful orchestration.

[Lemonhead87]

I heard that Elton John actually doesn't like this song, or at least playing it anymore.... any credence to that? But regardless, this is one of my favorite songs of his.

[sknyrd77]

@Lemonhead87 I highly doubt this. If youv'e seen the documentary "Goodbye Norma Jean"... you will see Elton really rocking out while listening to the playback of this recording. As far as "playing it anymore" Elton nowadays pretty much stays with the same setlist ("give the people what they want-and know) and rarely plays any "deep" cuts from the 70's.

[lavalp]

@Lemonhead87 Not that I have ever heard of him saying. He has played it in concert although not much. Couple of live recordings on youtube that I know of '74 & '88.

[AKRockinMamma]

I was 5 when this came out. Fortunately, my has good taste in music too. She bought this album as soon as it came out. I would put it on our awesome stereo console. Which, I thought was really cool because is had everything in it: record player, radio and 8-track. I played this album way more than my mom did. I knew/know the words to Goodbye yellow brick road and more by heart by the age 6. Still every time I hear these songs the memories come flooding back. What a great decade in music!

[Mr1989myutube]

All i can say is AMAZING

[lanzila]

I've personally made Elton wealthy since I was 13 in 73' !  Still my personal fav. album of his ! 73 was an excellent year for classic rock music !!

[ChiroQuacker]

@lanzila

what you paid for wouldn't get elton thru 2 minutes of his jet set lifestyle

frig off chump change ...you and your meager few sheckles is like a pimple on my ass u poof

[AlbertoRoa38]

I'm amazed at how these artists can still appeal to children of generations beyond those of his time like me.

[MrExeter123]

The greatest album of all time...Every song except one is fantastic...Forever a part of my youth.

[TheTherese3]

Tough to to say ,truly Fragile and Close To The Edge both surpass this album,but Yellow does make an imprint bigger than any other album of my youth!

[deejaydan313]

3 of your uploaded albums have largely built my EJ list. I'm quite grateful. Thanks for knowing the good stuff.

[TheTherese3]

When one revisites a masterpiece like Fragile or Trilogy one understands Goodbye Yellow Brick Road a bit better.Hats off to Bernie!

[garyw930]

May I recommend the book 'An Essential Guide To Music In The 1970s' by Johnny Zero. The author is a big fan of this track.

[TheTherese3]

It's interesting how John signposted Harmony,but gave Melody top credits...just thinkin'.

[sweetjunegirl]

My favorite album of all time. No question.

[clubhouseme]

ok so Paul ,Elton,Gaye,Bowie,Murcury,Rodg­ers,Anderson,Plant,and a billion others had great voices, all huge pop stars, but mj gets the nod because of a sparkly glove and shiny dances.There are 2nd tier stars like Prince,Ritchie,Joel,all of them had a Ton more music than mj so what is it? a backwards dance and a cool hat?king of nothing!

[HeavyMetalTerrier]

@clubhouseme I agree. I believe the Scissor Sisters made greater pop than MJ, let alone the great Elton John!

[Fred50099]

Thanks!

[Capcoor]

@HeavyMetalTerrier Excuse me? "Take Your Mama Out" SOUNDS like Elton John.

[HeavyMetalTerrier]

@Capcoor They learnt from the best.

[BigDaveMcConnell]

Don't forget that Bernie Taupin was the genius writing the lyrics. These took two to tango, just like Lennon and McCartney.

[clubhouseme]

How come nobody ever mentions Elton as the King of pop? I hate it that the press hand it over to Mj who didn't write most of his stuff and doesn't come close to the sheer volume that somebody like Mccartney or Joel or Elton does.How could anybody ever rank ahead of the Beatles or Elton as Kings of POP?

[Simon4642]

@clubhouseme elton is fantastic....but for the live of all sanity...dont label him with that stipid king of pop!!!tou know better...or

[Disco32er]

@clubhouseme Because like Paul or Elton most of their stuff was rock mixed with some pop, and MJ was all pure pop, and the reason he is the king, is becuase he had an amazing voice.

[cherinfo100]

Hoist a glass and a toast......"THIS MUSIC,FOR ALL TIME"

[MrMarkbennett]

I played this album from start to finish a thousand times and never get tired of it.

[nomibe2911]

Elton John is a genius. This man has made some of the best music that are made to soothe aching ears. Whenever I feel down and out I put on some Elton and it never fails me.

[kayzi17]

my mum still gt original double vinyl lp in mint condition,i was born in 73 but i remember this lp well, love it

[superunt43]

@kayzi17 Tell your mom I still have it as well, my most cherished possesion of sorts.

[MIMYZOU]

je pense : le meilleur album d'ELTON J ,il y à des perles dedans !

l’hommage a Maryline M.

[MIMYZOU]

je pense : le meilleur album d'ELTON J ,il y à des perles dedans !<3<3<3

[SunnyDays951]

Damn good song. Still relevant. lovely track.

[superunt43]

@SunnyDays951 Check "Mad man across the water"

[aDevons3]

Love the piano solo in this song! One of my favorites!

[ajjy502]

Friends, Captain Fantastic, Caribou, Yellow Brick Road, Tumbleweed, Don't Shoot The Piano Player, Madman Across The Water. I had all of his albums, I was 13 when I fell in love with Elton and Bernie, I knew all the lyrics to all the songs, I would shut myself in my room and listen to them over and over again, seen him in concert @ the Iowa State Fair in the 70's. I was heartbroken to find out the man I loved was gay! LOL It doesn't change my love for him and my memories of that time in my life

[LoneStarBenF1995]

A song about american villians- set to a pure orchestral English sound (starts at 2:46) - this song is one of Eltons most underated-his piano bashing style is killer in this masterpiece of genius-Love it !

BenE.F.

[tmac052558]

One of the greatest rock albums ever made, hands down.

[Perfidia4ever]

Elton ancora credibile ma sempre meno legato alla vera Musica di qualche Lp precedente, qui i suoi delfini eseguono e interpretano con gusto la vena "nuova" e dichiaratamente meno pesante del suo talento insuperabile.Canzoni e solo canzoni: ma che straordinarie armonie e melodie create. La strada dei mattoni gialli rimane a buon diritto il suo lavoro più fruibile ma ancora credibile.

[pactis11]

i agree, I loved Dee

[TheVincent68]

Ah, a simpler time. Saving all summer long to buy an LP and listening to it with the humongous earphone while looking at the album art and this album had a treasure trove of art. Call me crazy but I think it would be interesting if Kid Rock covered this song. Nah, never mind.

[BriansIronCladBabe]

This song give me chills........

[motorsportsgarage]

almost sounds like John Dillinger and they even mentioned Dillinger in the song

[PURPLEBEATTIE1]

A great song from of the greatest of all albums

[Daze042881]

They dont make the like this anymore

[JamesG1256]

I still wonder if this song is about a real person, was there an actual Danny Bailey or is he made up?

[JPStrikesBack]

@JamesG1256 All of reality is made up. Einstein proved that in the 1920's.

[chapaev36]

@JPStrikesBack This is so laughably untrue I don't even know where to begin.

[JPStrikesBack]

@chapaev36 Well, your position is well articulated and thoughtful, and I can't dispute your claim that you don't know where to begin.

[chapaev36]

@JPStrikesBack I don't really have a position here; I'm just expressing amusement at what you said. I wasn't sure whether you were serious; now it appears not only were you serious you also believe the statement to be profound. The fact that you used the word "proof" is funny enough.

[JPStrikesBack]

@JamesG1256 All of reality is made up. Einstein proved that when started analyzing time and space.

[Bradley8787]

Fantastic song!

[ajacoub]

The whole album in a pair with Captain Fantastic are rare masterpiece in Rock anthology and best works of EJ. I am addicted to them from my early age, they to me are like great classic literature.

[mizofan]

@ajacoub I agree this album and Capt Fantastic are career peaks, (i like Tumbleweed Connection a lot too) but the new album The Union is the best since.

[Lazarusb]

Dee is perhaps the most overlooked bass player ever!

[poodle720]

@Lazarusb  amen brother

[tsardooka]

i guess the cops won again.

[kezadrone]

The Bass Is kind of drowned out with the huge production on the Orchestrals. But I prefer those anyway.

[photog1150gs]

I agree -- Dee Murray's work was superb. I can't believe how old this album is, and how wonderful it still sounds....just like when I first heard it so many years ago.

[77edster]

@photog1150gs sure is

[freddeegee]

hello yellow brick road ! i don't have the albums or cassettes anymore, but thank the creators for 'you tube'.

[freddeegee]

hello yellow brick road ! i don't have the albums or cassettes anymore, but thank god for 'you tube'

[MsMusicfairy]

love and always will.from the first time in 70s to now it can't be beat,the power.

[misstheolddays1]

I don't have a favorite Elton John song, they are all to bloody good to choose from. His classical piano training is so evident in this music...Fuck he is good

[indiobagual]

This song is an everlasting prove of the talent of Dee Murray. The bass composition is really outstanding. Thanks Dee wherever you are.

[salawoh]

@indiobagual

Yes, it was a shame Elton let Dee and Nigel go after Captain Fantastic because he wanted to create a different sound. Unfortunately that different sound never came close to what they provided to the music. Dee died way too young at 45 and it really wakes you up to how dangerous skin cancer is.

[77edster]

Dee Murray - what an unknown legend of a bass player

[1967mustanggta]

This and Grey Seal were my favorites on this album. I was 10 or 11 at the time and just getting over my Jackson Five thing and with my brother's influence learning to like real music.

[Chronepsis5]

This goes straght to faves not enough E.J classics on my page.And I love singers no matter the style .Next stop Johny Cash.

[MsRuby44]

I know every word to every song on this entire album, I grew up with it and can't describe to you how much I love it. Best work EJ ever made.

[OrisLover]

There's no doubt about it...it's a great album!

[WheezerK9]

@MsRuby44 I too can claim knowledge of all lyrics on this album. I was 4 when this came out,I loved it so much I learned how to operate my dad's stereo just so I could hear it @ will.

[odie7]

One of the best bands that ever recorded together! RIP Dee, we all miss you!

[LWOPP]

Taupin's lyrics are sometimes just plain odd, but "A runnin' gun youngster in a sad, restless age" is a very good line which pretty much sums up the era of Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd, Bonnie and Clyde, and the fictional Danny Bailey.

[Cielodrive]

This entire album is a masterpiece and a fond reminder of my past.

[gtrdoug]

@Cielodrive I agree. This album was a gift from my sister and gave my ears serious training in modes and theory at the tender age of 8

[The1markymark]

@Cielodrive ditto, I was 17 and Black and this was one of my all time favorites.

[4everHarleys]

There isn't any other song that sounds like this one. It really is an amazing song.

[andypcorbett]

One of my favorite EJ songs mainly due to the fantastic bass work by the late Dee Murray. Too many musicians look to fill songs with clever little licks. Dee's approach was to create space in a tune, only comming when necessary with simple melodic riffs that helped set the mood for the song. A great talent sadly missed.

[scottslovegun]

you got that right!i dont know that much about bass but i think nigel is a great drummer also.great band and great times.

[RichYan33]

Good insight!

[mlmr11]

@andypcorbett

Eltons band was ridiculously immense.

These guys were real musicians with the understanding of the dynamics of the song.

I love the work that he does in Funeral for a friend. The work Johnstone does throughout the album is nothing short of brilliant.

[michaelp3138]

@andypcorbett - well said andy - i love Dee's sound and he's definitely one of my favorite bassists - his sound is immediately recognizable and distinguished - elton's band was never better than the period between "Honky Chateau" and "Captain Fantastic" when it was Nigel, Davey, and Dee

[saucersauce]

@andypcorbett Thank You!

[shjakes]

@andypcorbett Ain't it grand? I just wish they cut longer tracks back then. The orchestration on this one is an all-time classic.

[shjakes]

@andypcorbett Ain't it grand? I just wish they cut longer tracks back then. The orchestration on this one is an all-time classic.

[stormcats2]

@andypcorbett alrighty... love that bassist too ... bigtime!

[MrWhocares54321]

@andypcorbett you must like john mayer's guitar playing then...he's very conservative on the albums especially

[naughtmoses]

Echoing "mactheartofwarfare," Taupin deserves recognition as one of the =great= lyricists, as well. Most of his material is right there with Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Rick Davies, Roger Hodgson, Jeff Lynn, Justin Hayward, John Lennon and all four of the original writers in Ten CC, at least from that era.

[Chronepsis5]

4 Shure dude:)

[naughtmoses]

Reginald Dwight (Elton's real name), David Bowie, George O'Dowd, Roland Olazabal, Danny Elfman. Nerdy, odd, little, hiding-in-the-closet, music department schoolboys all. Look them up and see who they became. Arguably some of the =very= greatest composers and performers of all time.

[tabu42]

this is the shizzle

[thatshackinawsome]

my friend thinks that the beatles are better than elton john!we have been fighting over it for a couple of weeks now.lol its a war between us.you should here some of the shit she says about him and how much better they are then him.we should all get together and tell her off.

[thatshackinawsome]

it really makes you want to get up and start dancing!lol

[bonfim92015171]

sou apaixonada por esta musica eu volto ao tempos de minha adolecencia, amo este cantor extraordinário . Teresa Cristina

[jdupnrth]

Best.

[mactheartofwarfare]

The Greatest Melody Writer Ever In Popular Music

[paul607]

I love all the songs on this album.

[ncf1]

My favourite off the GBYR album... and the hardest album EVER to choose a favourite from.