Review: Elton John: Captain Fantastic on the Yellow Brick Road

A beautifully produced celebration of the iconic and beloved rock star,  Elton John  features live onstage and candid offstage photography, an entertaining history, and gatefold timeline.

Few rock artists continue to gather more and more adulation with age than Sir Elton Hercules John. In this re-release of  Elton John at 75  (2022), veteran rock journalist Gillian Gaar provides a unique examination of Elton’s life and career through the lens of 75 career accomplishments and life events —from his first steps as a solo artist to the breakthrough album  Goodbye Yellow Brick Road to his flamboyant stage presence, and beyond.

Key studio albums are featured, of course, as are a curated selection of his earworm singles. But Gaar delves deeper to reveal the events that helped chart the course of Elton’s
 
Every page is illustrated with stunning photography , including gig posters , 7-inch picture sleeves , and more. This incredible package also includes a gatefold Elton John timeline .

The result is a fitting tribute to one of the most admired stars in rock.

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What I thought about
Elton John: Captain Fantastic on the Yellow Brick Road

This book was absolutely lovely! I wasn't sure what to expect. After reading Taupin's book of late last year, I was a bit leery that this might ruin what I consider to be some of the music that got me through my teen years. I was the person running to the store on release day to buy that EJ album and I still listen to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road on the regular.

I loved the format of this book. Short descriptive segments framed with some amazing photographs through the years. I think I loved the artwork the most, as it brought me back to the 70's when life was full of a promise for the future. I started reading this and didn't put it down until the very end. I read it cover to cover and I'm still thinking about it the next day. There were even some lovely tidbits of info that were new to me, which I also enjoyed.

This is a wonderful telling of Elton John's life story. While it focuses mostly on the musical side, there are some personal moments here that round out the picture of the man who gifted us with so much entertainment. I recommend this to new and old Elton John fans. It's a definite keeper for your personal library.