I'll skip right over the CD and SACD stereo layers and move right to a review of the 5.1 mix. This is an extraordinary mix. EJ's vocal is anchored in the center channel, with some bleed into the FL and FR, and unlike a lot of the early 5.1 mixes I've heard, his voice isn't overwelmed by the other speakers, but instead stands at the front of the mix just as it should. Davey Johnstone's legendary guitar sound is given a lot of space through the fronts and surrounds, Nigel Olsson's drums are more distinct and real than previous releases and the late, great Dee Murray gives the LFE channel a work out with his fluid bass lines. Add to that the ambient crowd noise on Bennie & the Jets and the until now indecipherable Jamaican dialogue on Jamaican Jerk-Off, and all-in-all you have a magnificent example of what 5.1 SACD can bring to the table.

I use this disc to show off my 5.1 system, especially for folks who are familiar with the album, and I have yet to find anyone who isn't impressed with the sound of the SACD. Buy it!!!

p.s. I have the version with the bonus DVD. It's interesting, but not worth the extra [money]. Only for the real EJ freaks like me.


The best, even better!   February 19, 2007
Benjamin (Chicago, IL USA)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

This is a celebration for music fans. The best CD by Elton John, even better. One of the best albums of all times and among my Top 20 favorite albums of all time. The album hit #1 in the Billboard Pop List in 1973. This is the Deluxe edition on SACD Surround Sound. The remaster of the audio is outstanding and will blow you away! This edition comes with a DVD (The Making of GYBR) that lasts about 50 minutes. This is the film that was previously published on DVD in the collection Classic Albums. If you already have this DVD, you can buy the CD SACD separately for $29,00. If you don't, I strongly recommend you to get the "whole package." The film tells the inside story of the making of this classic album with archive footage and interviews from Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Davey Johnstone, Nigel Olsson, Gus Dudgeon (producer of the original album), etc. The documentary has many terrific moments. To me, the best one is when Elton John is singing Candle in the Wind in honor of the Princess Diana. GYBR was released as a double album. CD1 contains the first 8 songs of LP1. CD2 contains the other 9, plus 4 bonus tracks, one of them Candle in the Wind acoustic, previously unreleased. The packaging is gorgeous with a booklet that contains a presentation by John Tobler, the original art work with lyrics, and some drafts of some lyrics. I had the original album on CD already, but went ahead and bought this edition and I am completely and absolutely satisfied. No regrets! The only problem is that this is expensive. But honestly, I am a collector and I appreciate the record company for releasing this so beautifully. If we don't buy this gems, record companies will stop doing this and then we'll go back to the complaints that the music industry sucks today. This is how CD's should be. Great music, great lyrics, great art work, packaging and sound! This is a MUST for any collector. 5 Stars, 10 over 10!
P.S. If you like my review vote YES. You can read all my other reviews if you wish to. I modestly write them to help people form an opinion about movies, music and books, but if nobody reads them (if you don't vote I do not know if you did) there is no point in writing them.


Phenominal Sound. A Must Have.   January 5, 2004
Robert Bauer (Astoria, N.Y. USA)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

This is one of the greatest sounding cd's I have ever heard. It has been beautifully mixed into 5.1 surround sound, and is so clean it is like hearing a brand new recording. Usually the new SACD surround cd's sound good to excellent but this one is the best I have heard (so far). Songs like the title track, Benny And The Jets, Grey Seal, and Jamaica Jerk Off (which is so clear and defined that the Jamaican dialogue is finally heard and adds a freshness that never had been reached on the standard versions of the L.P.). I always loved this album, which by far is Elton's best, but now it is 100 times better. Only one drawback. In the bonus section of songs, you get another version of Candle In The Wind. Now, I have always loved this song, but this is an acoustic version. It has the exact same lead vocal by Elton, and the exact same backing vocals by his band. All of the instrumentation has been taken out and has been replaced by an acoustic guitar. The 1980's version was good, and even the mid 1990's rewritten version which he sang and recorded after Princess Diana's funeral was touching, but enough is enough. Let the original stand on it's own merits. Otherwise a perfect job, and a perfect excuse to get that new SACD player thats out there.


Stunned at how good the sound on this SACD   December 3, 2003
Ricky G. Turner (Big Spring, Texas United States)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

I have many SACDs and DVD Audio discs but none hit me as hard as this one did. I was floored at the sound quality and the perfection of the mixing job for a 5.1 system. I never appreciated this album fully until now. Please get full range speakers for all 5 speakers to truly benefit from these SACD's.