Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Music, Elton John (1947–); words, Bernie Taupin (1950–)

I have deep gratitude for this song. In 1972, the rest of the Rounders moved to Portland, Oregon, and by 1973 the band I had formed when they left, The Hootchie Kootchie Dream Band, had fallen apart. The only musical compensations that remained, besides speed-binging music sessions with Antonia (our personal best: two full weeks without sleep), were multi-day speed-fueled music binges with Karen Dalton and friends. But attempts to perform with Karen kept being sabotaged when gig days arrived with Karen speed-crashing and unable to get out of bed. After the third time in a row this happened, I gave up on performing with her, although our multi-day speed/music binges continued for a few more years. Fortunately I had a job doing customer relations and promotional writing for Electro-Harmonix, a manufacturer of sound-altering devices for amplified instruments, so I could support Antonia and myself. But my performing dreams had all been smashed. I was going through the worst depression of my life. But…whenever I heard “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”, my depression would lift for three minutes and fourteen seconds. Relief as sweet as it was brief. I don’t think I have to tell anyone anything about Elton John that they don’t know, except Antonia and I saw him on the same bill as Leon Russell in 1970 at the Fillmore East.