Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was recorded in two weeks at the Studio d'enregistrement Michel Magne, at the Château d'Hérouville near Pontoise, in France, where John had previously recorded Honky Château and Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player. The album was released on 5 October 1973 as a double LP, with cover art by illustrator Ian Beck depicting John stepping into a poster. It debuted at number 17 on the Billboard 200 and quickly rose to number one on its fourth week on the chart, where it stayed for eight consecutive weeks. It was the best-selling album in the US in 1974.

The album was a strong commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart, as well as also topping album charts in the UK, Australia, and Canada (five weeks at number one); it has since sold more than 20 million copies worldwide and is widely regarded as John's magnum opus. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003, and continues to be highly regarded in various rankings.

TRACKLIST

Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
Candle In The Wind
Bennie And The Jets

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
This Song Has No Title
Grey Seal
Jamaica Jerk-Off
I've Seen That Movie Too

Sweet Painted Lady
The Ballad Of Danny Bailey (1909-34)
Dirty Little Girl
All The Girls Love Alice

Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock n' Roll)
Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting
Roy Rodgers
Social Disease
Harmony