Elton's early stuff, in the '70s, was high quality. This song is an example.

You guys REALLY need to dig into all of EJ’s 1970’s work. He became a bit of a commercial muffin after a while, but his earlier years are a treasure unto themselves.

No other musician except Elton could have taken Bernie Taupin’s strange, elaborate lyrics (really a poem) and created a song like this. This is why they are among the top handful of song writing duos in history.

Thanks for bringing this song to the channel. This is one of EJ's most overlooked songs by reactors and definitely needs more attention. So glad you enjoyed it!

Mona Lisa's & Madhatters is great too

This is one of those songs that never gets old.

Love it!!! This album also gave us “Tiny Dancer” and “Levon”. 70s Elton John was the mountain top. Definitely have to check out Tumbleweed Connection for “Ballad of a well known gun” and “My Father’s Gun”. True genius. ❤️🥰

Early seventies Elton John is excellent.

This song is one of my favorite Elton John songs. I never get sick of it...the best song on the album. Thank you for appreciating it. ❤

The dude who did the string arrangements on this track is brilliant.

hands down his greatest era, his first few albums were in a different level. respect to Bernie as well for the great songs he wrote.

Gentleman, On KZfaq check out Madman Across the Water performance on BBC Sounds For Saturday 1971. Elton and his band turns this brilliant song into a jazz masterpiece. It’s a spellbinding performance. It’s a live performance with his band, Nigel Olsson on drums and Dee Murray on Bass.

My favorite Elton song!

All The Young Girls love Alice, Bennie And The Jets, Someone Saved My Life tonight, Levon, Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding, Your Song, Tiny Dancer..... Just so many. If you do decide to listen, make sure to download the lyrics. They are as important as the music with Elton John songs.

The Live version from the BBC - Elton changes the composition into a jazz number. It’s Elton, his drummer and bassist. Y’all would enjoy it very much.

Between this album, Honky Chateau, Tumbleweed Connection and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road there’s not a bad song. My favorite songs Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters and Burn Down the Mission.

Kudos to Paul Buckmaster's orchestral arrangements on this entire album and how it elevates every song rather than distract from them. There is a completely different version of this song as an added track to the Tumbleweed Connection extended album with no orchestration, but killer guitar work by Mick Ronson. Definitely worth a listen.

"All The Young Girls Love Alice " Hell Yeah... Sir Elton has a fairly large catalog.

Hope you two get to Funeral For A Friend by Elton John. It’s a masterpiece 😎👍

Nothing like Old School Elton and Bernie Taupin! I've listened to this album more times than I can remember, and love it everytime!

Elton has made a giant contribution to music, never to be be forgotten.🤩

I agree! Elton was at his BEST in his early days! This whole album was fantastic! And several albums after this.

AND ( GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD ) WAS ELTON & BERNIE'S EPIC ( 73 ) DOUBLE LP 😊 AND THE LEADOFF TRACK WHICH HAS BEEN MY FAVORITE ROCK SONG OF ALLLLLL TIME FOR 50 YEARS NOW YEAH WHICH IS : FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND / LOVE LIES BLEEDING 😊 IT'S 11:07 LONG AND JUST A GREAT AND OF COURSE HIM BEING MY FAVORITE, HE NEVERRRR HAD A BAD SONG IS WHAT I ALWAYS SAY TO PEOPLE AND HAD SO SO MANY BIG HITS IN 50 YEARS PLUS💯

There is so much Elton John to enjoy.. Burn Down the Mission comes to mind as something you'd never expect.

Gentlemen, Go Down the Rabbit Hole that is EJ! Entire Yellow Brick Road album. I know you'd thoroughly enjoy "I've Seen That Movie Too" and "All The Young Girl Love Alice"....for starters. "Funeral For A Friend" is a must. Thanx soooo much for your reactions - your listening is truly appreciated. - Suz

Funeral for a Friend is gorgeous as well

In its totality, Madman Across the Water is my favorite album of Elton John’s. Not a lot of his most famous songs, but I love the blues/gospel influences in the album.

An all time favorite song MADMAN ACROSS THE WATER. And to think the iconic TINY DANCER and LEVON are also on this album. You gentleman will, in time, be listening to cuts from the TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION album. Check out all artists between 1970 and 1975 for unbelievable music.

You guys need to discover Leon Russell. (Gotta catch Leon's set on George Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh!!!) He was Elton's hero and Elton brought him back to life with their collaboration on "The Union". Early Elton is phenomenal. ALL of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"...

My favorite EJ song and just another great song from 1971...the best year in music

A beautiful treasure this song is and this us EJ. Listen to his first album.

My favorite cut from Elton John. So haunting.

My fav!!💗 I adore Elton, I treasure the early years, and the writing duo of Elton and Bernie Taupin. He'd said Bernie would hand him sheets/scraps of lyrics, and he'd lock himself up in studio with his piano. ADORE!! 😊

Thank you so much for doing this song. This album has other gems on it. I'd like to see you react to Mona Lisas and Madhatters off the Honky Chatuea album. You really can't go wrong with Elton.

"Honky Cat" is a top favorite Elton song for me.

"Burn Down the Mission" is one of Elton's best songs

.there is Elton John u hear on The radio and then there is ELTON JOHN the truth

OKAYYYYYYYY, NOWWWW WE'RE TALKING YOU GUYS! 😊THE BEST OF THE BEST, THE CREAM OF THE CROP IN ROCK MUSIC AND SO SO VERSATILE! 💯😊 ONLYYYYYY 52 YEARS AGO THIS WAS LAH AND CHE, LISTEN TO ALL THOSE SOUNDS, INCREDIBLE! 👍

Elton in this era was just brilliant, Taupin is a master -this album was always playing at my house , even my dad loved it and Honky Chateau

I like a lot of Elton John's music, but this song is by far his best imo ... great reaction

"Tiny Dancer" & "Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues"

Growing up in the early 70s.. I remember as a little kid my mom cranking Elton john, Billy joel, Barbara streisand, Neil Diamond and Classical records on the turn-table while cleaning the house.. Elton is forever imprinted in my musical brain 😊

My fav of his.

Utterly classic song, this is a mood and vibe like no other. There is an extended, alternate version with a tremendous Mick Ronson (David Bowie and the Spiders from Mars) guitar solo. That is also very much worth a listen. More Elton, Enjoy! 🎵🎹🎤🎸🎶

i've always like the early days, tumbleweed connection.

Paul Buckmaster arranged the strings. So brilliant

I still have my LP from 1972 in almost perfect condition. My favorite by him.

Elton's first three albums were spectacular. 👍

Early 70's Elton!!!

One of Elton's greatest, but you rarely heard it on the radio back then. Maybe that's why I still love it. Had both Madman Across the Water and Honky Chateau albums. Elton's voice was at its best. Sure glad you appreciate my generation's music.

Yes, it was a real orchestra, and famous percussionist Ray Cooper played here, and Rick Wakeman of Yes was on organ.

You will love "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding"

I’m not the biggest Elton fan, with that being said. I definitely respect his talent. This song, and Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me are both on my playlist. Great review guys.

This is the real deal, as you say. BT and EJ making beautiful music. This is what it was like in the "olden days"! We didn't have to suffer through Disney movie theme songs.

My favourite Elton song.

The period beginning in the late '60's was such a watershed for popular music. Every artist was leaving everything they had to give on tape and we as an audience were rewarded with just a treasure trove of GREAT music. At the time, none of us really understood that, we were just young, living our lives and this was the soundtrack of it. I know that I for one thought it would last forever. It's only now in my late, middle age that I understand just what we had and channels such as yours, as well as many others are learning what we were fortunate enough have and how it really has informed and influenced contemporary pop.

OMG. What an amazing song

Elton John and Commercial Radio created a huge pet peeve for me since about 1975. Elton John has recorded about 600 to 700 songs, maybe more, but since about 1975 all we ever hear are 5 or 6 of his songs, and people request those same songs for reaction videos; for the most part. This happens with almost every band or solo artist. It Drives Me Crazy. My favorite band is The Zombies, founded in 1961. They had 3 hits in the 1960's. Those are the songs that reactors react to, when they had another 150 songs they recorded during that era. The Zombies reconstituted in 1999 and have been writing new songs and releasing new albums ever since, and they're Great. People talk about the good old days of their youth, yet we have The Zombies writing, recording, touring and playing songs from their 1960's hey day and their recent songs, but no one requests that their new music be reacted too, except me, and I simply gave up 2 years ago. I'm all worked up now and need to chill out. One of The Zombies songs from THIS CENTURY that helps me chill is their song, "Breathe Out, Breathe In " from the Album of the same name. The Audio version from their KZfaq Channel is the best. You'd be the first reactors to react to a Zombies song from the 21st century, if you do it. You won't be disappointed. Search The Zombies Music on KZfaq or go too thezombiesmusic.com, find the KZfaq ikon and you will find a KZfaq version of Breathe In, Breathe Out that won't be blocked. They don't block their music on KZfaq. Thanks for reacting to an Elton John Song I haven't heard a MILLION F**KING TIMES Already. ✌💖👉🇨🇦

Watch him play this live in his early 20's, just plain brilliant !

An iconic song from 1971….52 years now….I was 17 then..still a top notch song from the genius of Messers Taupin & John…their foray into prog rock….seen him twice, first time was the iconic Dodger Stadium concert of 1975…and again jn 2014..both outstanding. Seems y’all enjoyed it too!😊

My favorite Elton John song. Awesome.

Elton John was like a machine, up till about the mid 70s, cranking out hit after hit.

My Top 5 Tunes from...Sir Elton Hercules John CH CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) ...."Empty Garden"... "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding".... "Mad Man Across The Water"... "I've Seen That Movie Too"... "I Believe In Love'

A true winner of an album…And you guys get it.Thank you.

One of my favorite Elton John songs, but almost no one is aware of it.

I’m not a big Elton John fan, but Madman Across the Water is one of my favorite albums of all time. It’s a masterpiece and most people don’t know it at all for some strange reason, just the few singles the album spawned.

'70-'73 Elton is my fave🎶✨

Great reaction; Elton John is definitely a legend and this is one of my favorites

Glad you guys enjoyed my recommendation! Elton rules...

The slow patrs sound like waves lapping on a boat.

This is classic early Elton. That’s real strings and a Moog.

The Susie Dramas from Honky Chateau is fantastic. Mona Lisa's and Mad Hatters, Border Song, Take Me To the Pilot, The Bitch is Back. Dive right into the early 70's Elton John catalogue. He had the best band on the planet. Their version of the Rolling Stones song Honky Tonk Woman is great. You cannot miss with this band. Best of the best. Dee Murray on bass, Nigel Olsson on drums and Davey Johnstone on lead guitar. Elton, of course on keys.

Yes Iconic 70's songs from Elton..."All the young girls love Alice"........ The entire "Yellow Brick Road" album....."Honky Cat".... "Philadelphia Freedom"....." Somebody saved My Life"....." I guess that's why they call it the Blues"...." Tiny Dancer"...…"Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters ".

Ahh the seventies. ❤

Absolutely my favorite song by EJ. That is saying a lot considering his HOF catalog of songs. How it builds and slows down is just so engaging. The strings give it another very polished dimension.

Listen to every aspect of this recording. It is mind-bendingly perfect.

Tumbleweed connection. Country comforts.

This song struck deep when I heard it in 1971 at 15 years old. It perfectly captured how I felt and still does. I think you'd love and appreciate hearing the live performance of this song from the December 1986 concert in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. The entire album released in 1987 of this concert is stunning. Please treat yourselves!!

One of my favorite EJ songs! Levon and Tiny Dancer from the same album are great too!

Great album, and like most 70's albums, gotta listen to it start to finish!!!! Real music has real intentions!

GREAT album and Tiny Dancer still resonates with me off this album.

Funeral for a friend is an excellent song!

There is a great version of this song that is done by one of my favorite guitarists. Warren Haynes who fronts the band Gov’t Mule. Warren does a masterful guitar based cover. ✌🏼😎🇺🇸

The orchestral arrangements in Elton's early stuff were insanely great. Madman to this day remains my favorite album by him.

The STRINGS MOVE ME THRU AND THRU❤l

This has always been one of my favorite Elton songs

This is my favorite Elton John album, with Yellow Brick Road as 2nd. Spot on about the A1 top shelf production on this album. It is immaculate. This and Yellow Brick Road are worthy full album reactions, or just listens. They are both masterpices in engineering, production and songwriting. Just mind boggling this was recorded over 50 years ago. I still listen to this album at least once a month or so, to this day.

This was actually the very first Elton John album I ever bought. So intelligent and so emotional. Pop music? No. A trip through my heart. Yes. Thought fun. Indeed. Adult music and het so heartfelt. He helped me grow up. I was 23, been to Vietnam and thought I understood everything. This was part of my growing up time. Hope it touches you guys.

I've been listening to him for 52 years and I have always loved his early stuff over anything else ! His early stuff had so much grit and soul to it ! It was very untamed for a lack of better words ! I'd be curious to know why he wrote so many songs about ladies of the night ? You guys would really enjoy his song titled "I've seen that movie too " Off his Yellow Brick Road Album !

A great song on a great album by a great artist….

Love this song! You never forget it once you hear it. Haunting after all of these years.

This was when Elton was cool & more of a rocker b4 he went Disney on us lol 🤟

This is my favorite album of Elton's. Taupin's lyrics and Elton's music make for amazing songs. The production, instrumentation and arrangements are top notch. Indian Sunset will make you cry.

Like it was mentioned Mona Lisa’s and Madhatters and add Burn Down The Mission they don’t get much play

Honky Chateau was his seminal record. It brought in a new era. Madman was an early indication, and a lot of people love Yellow Brick, and it is great. But I always thought Honky Chateau was his "Rubber Soul" and Yellow Brick his White Album. Do yourselves a favor and go through all of Honky and see for yourself.

Echoing everyone else’s comments. The decade of the 1970’s was, for me, the best Elton. He just exploded on the scene and never stopped. Paul Buckmaster provided the string arrangements. This album, Honky Chateau, Elton John, Tumbleweed Connection, Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only The Piano Player, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Caribou, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy deserve the Led Zeppelin treatment. You don’t know Elton John unless you know these albums. Loved your reaction. ✌️

One of his best songs. The orchestral arrangement is brilliant. It’s so cinematic. Great choice, fellas!❤❤❤❤❤You react to the best!!!!!!

One of my favorite lines of all time, "Is the nghtmare black, or are the windows painted?"

There’s a rootedness in Elton’s creative peak, a soulfulness that other glam artists and contemporaries didn’t have. There was a certain dramatic conceit in guys like Bowie or T Rex, Lou Reed of that Transformer-Berlin period…somehow Elton just comes off as naturally elaborate? Hard to describe. There’s a little less archness, a little more earnestness and angst rather than bemusement. He does find that sort of “it’s all just a performance and aren’t I clever” groove IMO once he started letting Davey Johnstone’s guitar work take a big part of the songs, but this early piano based work is all heart IMO.

This entire album is special…as is his first one. ❤