As previously reported, Elton John is commemorating the 40th anniversary of his classic album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by reissuing it as a “Super Deluxe” edition. In addition to a fully remastered album and rare demos and outtakes, the collection features a second disc of contemporary covers from Fall Out Boy, Emeli Sandé, Hunter Hayes, and Miguel, who teams up with Wale to cover “Bennie and the Jets”.
On the surface, it’s an odd choice for the normally sensuous Miguel, as the original “Bennie” is a quirky ballad marked by the syncopated piano line and infectious, can’t-help-but-shout-along chorus. For better or worse, Miguel doesn’t attempt to recreate the original, instead delivering something more serious than playful, taking shreds of the infamous piano and spinning into a groove somewhere between synth-rock and dreamy pop ballad. As for Wale’s oddly menacing verse, let’s just say we’ve heard worse.
Listen in below (via RapRadar).
Fall Out Boy put their own spin on “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting”, while Sheeran tackles the ballad “Candle In the Wind”. Sandé contributes a cover of “All The Girls Love Alice” and Hunter Hayes gives his own rendition of the title track.
The Super Deluxe edition also comes with exclusive concert footage from Elton John’s 1973 performance at the Hammersmith Odean in London, the documentary Elton John and Bernie Taupin Say Goodbye To Norma Jean and Other Things, and a beautiful 100-page book.
The Goodbye Yellow Brick Road reissue is due out March 25th via Island. Pre-order the entire package here.
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road [Super Deluxe edition] Tracklist:
Disc One:
01. Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding
02. Candle In The Wind
03. Bennie And The Jets
04. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
05. This Song Has No Title
06. Grey Seal
07. Jamaica Jerk Off
08. I’ve Seen that Movie Too
09. Sweet Painted Lady
10. The Ballad Of Danny Bailey (1909-34)
11. Dirty Little Girl
12. All the Girls Love Alice
13. Your Sister Can’t Twist (But She Can Rock’n’Roll)
14. Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting
15. Roy Rogers
16. Social Disease
17. Harmony
Disc Two:
01. Candle In The Wind – Ed Sheeran (3:22)
02. Bennie and the Jets – Miguel (5:10)
03. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Hunter Hayes (3:15)
04. Grey Seal – The Band Perry (3:48)
05. Sweet Painted Lady – John Grant (3:58)
06. All The Girls Love Alice – Emili Sande (3:40)
07. Your Sister Can’t Twist (But She Can Rock And Roll) – Imelda May (2:51)
08. Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting – Fall Out Boy (3:42)
09. Harmony – Zac Brown Band (2:55)
10. Grey Seal (piano demo) – Elton John (3:20)
11. Grey Seal (1970 Original) – Elton John (3:37)
12. Jack Rabbit – Elton John (1:51)
13. Whenever You’re Ready (We’ll Go Steady) – Elton John (2:52)
14. Screw You (Young Man Blues) – Elton John (4:43)
15. Candle In The Wind (Acoustic) – Elton John (3:52)
16. Step Into Christmas – Elton John (4:10)
17. Ho Ho Ho (Who’d Be A Turkey At Christmas?) (4:04)
18. Philadelphia Freedom – Elton John (5:21)
19. Pinball Wizard – Elton John (5:15)
Disc 3: BBC Elton John Hammersmith Odeon 22nd December 1973
01. Funeral For A Friend
02. Love Lies Bleeding
03. Candle In The Wind
04. Hercules
05. Rocket Man
06. Bennie And The Jets
07. Daniel
08. This Song Has No Title
09. Honky Cat
Disc 4: BBC Elton John Hammersmith Odeon 22nd December 1973
01. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
02. The Ballad Of Danny Bailey
03. Elderberry Wine
04. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
05. I’ve Seen That Movie Too
06. All The Girls Love Alice
07. Crocodile Rock
08. Your Song
09. Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting
DVD Disc 5:
Bryan Forbes’ 1973 film Elton John and Bernie Taupin Say Goodbye To Norma Jean and Other Things (45 minutes)
