Madman Across The Water

Dammit Elton John, why don't I like you? Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of glam, even gaudy, music. But for some reason I'm just not connecting. Maybe it's your ballad structure, piano forwardness, love of california? Maybe you're too bombastic? Maybe your music feels both too sincere and not sincere enough? Maybe it's the thinness of your drum in the mix or that so many sound like You. Maybe your songs go on far too long, loitering far past their welcome? I don't know. Maybe one day I will. But not today.

“Madman across the Water” by Elton John (1971) Long familiarity with this album, which I owned on cassette tape and listened to endlessly on a mono portable deck. Bernie Taupin wrote the excellent lyrics, Elton John composed brilliant melodies and performed the songs with passion, while producer, arrangers, studio musicians, choir, orchestra, and engineers put together one fine collaborative audio production. This one of the earliest albums where the mixing board becomes a musical instrument on its own (the producer, Gus Dudgeon, knew exactly when to ‘tell’ the piano to sit back and let the backing musicians take over). If it weren’t for a couple of clunkers (“Razor Face” and “Rotten Peaches”), this album could’ve been a classic. Elton John has characterized himself as a pianist: “I’m a pounder.” He’s right. He never developed his left hand, and his right hand is chord-heavy. But his piano/vocal composition, dynamic synchronization, and blend are magical. His vocal melodies are enthralling. As an experiment, try to listen to just the melody, while filtering out the vocal trills, runs, and stylings. Then also filter out the chords and background musicians, and you should touch greatness. Sequences of cascading and unanticipated intervals, always leading home to the anxiously expected tonic, frequently supplied only by the instrumentals. The melodies of “Tiny Dancer”and “Levon” will live forever. In terms of psychological horror, the title track “Madman across the Water” is profoundly angry, and fittingly under appreciated. Taupin shines (“Is it in your conscience that you’re after another glimpse of the madman across the water?”), while Sir Elton’s melody and vocal performance scares the hell out of you. And the social justice sensitivity of the sad and angry ballad “Indian Sunset” moves to tears (even if it’s tainted by a historically uninformed and anachronistic confusion of the plights of Iroquois, Sioux, and Apache cultures). I can’t listen to the line “Peace comes with a bullet hole” without a tissue. Fine album. 4/5

To be honest, I've always cared about Elton John's music about as much as the current economic situation of the Marshall Islands. This is a really good album though, so maybe I should look into the Marshall Islands more. As it turns out, 77% of their exports are passenger and cargo ships. Also this is my 365th album. Thanks for a great year! This site really made each day a bit brighter and I look forward to roughly 2 more years of great (or at least interesting) music! :)

Hard to follow an opening track like "Tiny Dancer" but, with one exception, it's a great album. "Indian Sunset" is a real stinker of a track. I mean... why? What would possess you to write a song like that? Why do you think that's okay? Taupin really screwed that one up hard. Minus one star for culturally insensitive and historically inaccurate appropriative "story telling". The rest of the album is quite nice, though.

Enjoyed the classic that is Tiny Dancer, rest was meh

I enjoyed the theatricality so much more than I thought I would. A classic with a lot of sincerity, but Indian Sunset certainly does not stand up.

Man this guy can sing! Loved it, and found some songs to be way more gospel-like than I expected but I dig it

A bunch of random stories, album wasn't cohesive. A lot of songs sounded the same. Ghetto Gospel sampled Indian Summer Favorite songs - Tiny Dancer, Levon

A pretty solid (and dare I say “proggy”? Prog-ish?) release from Elton John. First half of the record was better than the back half. Tbh, Indian Sunset was where I started losing interest and Rotten Peaches was laughably dumb.

I think this may be my favorite Elton John album. Perhaps because it contains "Levon," the first track of his to ever really capture my imagination. His creative collaboration with Bernie Taupin is incredible. Elton John is certainly a very talented musician and performer but honestly I think it is the poetic imagery and mysterious fractured glimpses of implied storytelling in Taupin's lyrics that really draws me in. "Rotten Peaches" is my second favorite track on the album.

Love me some classic Elton but this doesn't really make the cut. First two are great, rest is typical '70s Reg - clumsy but oddly endearing lyrics and some pleasant tunes. Broken record on this topic, but Tumbleweed Connection is the forgotten masterpiece!

This was my first time listening to an Elton John album in full and my man knows how to make good music

"Tiny Dancer" might have one of the greatest build ups of all time. Over 2:30 to get to the chorus! Unreal restraint and talent on display here. And then Elton outdoes himself and goes straight into "Levon". The record loses a little steam with "Razor Face" but bounces back with the title track, which is heavier and more atmospheric than I expected. This album almost gets a five from me for its first two tracks alone. It feels like a classic, near-masterpiece to me. "Indian Sunset" is compellingly cinematic if you can ignore the stereotypical representation of an Indigenous warrior written by a white British dude with very little in the way of meaningful perspective or insight. It's not particularly problematic, but it hasn't aged well. I can't quite bring myself to give the record a five, but it's a worthy inclusion and I really enjoy how dark and introspective Elton gets here. Especially "Goodbye". Chills. Rating: 4.5/5 Favourite tracks: Tiny Dancer, Levon, Madman Across the Water, Holiday Inn, Goodbye

if you can overlook the 7 minutes of whitesplaining the native american plight, what you've got here is elton's first genuine banger of an album. nowhere near the heights he'd reach in the next few years but a great album in its own right.

Selling Americana to the Americans is never easy. This does it superbly.

Another brilliant one in my eyes. It's no Yellow Brick Road but what a way to start the album with Tiny Dancer. I also didn't realise that Indian Sunset was the 'those who wish, to follow me' song. A fantastic tune that gives me the rising ballad feeling that I so adore. Long may the hairs stand tall on the back of my neck. I was pleasantly surprised when Levon came on after the classic opener. Straight into another ballad type song but I suppose that is the bread and butter of Elton John if we're honest. Just to confirm: I really enjoyed Levon. Only listened to this all the way through once but I will almost certainly be listening again. I enjoyed the feel of the entire album, very ballad-heavy which is right up my street; however, I was hoping for a 'Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting' type tune to burst out of nowhere. Despite that, really good stuff.

With most songs clocking in around five minutes, the record feels like a major work, and in many ways it is. Madman Across the Water begins to fall apart toward the end, but the record remains an ambitious and rewarding work, and John never attained its darkly introspective atmosphere again.

Just not my thing. I find Elton John quite annoying when it’s not a song I know well. Gave up halfway through.

The second Elton John album I've listened to as part of this project. And again I'm quite taken with it. I had already forgotten the piece "Tiny Dancer". It was nice to hear it again. I think I will listen to this album again. Will I become a fan of Elton John? Probably not, but I will probably give up my previously rather negative attitude. 5/5

I used to think the title was some kind of marketing ploy aimed at Elton John himself. Now I think maybe it refers to longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin, whose lyrics are completely bananas. Is there a luckier man to ever exist, who responded to the same newspaper ad the same time as the only person alive with enough talent and charisma to turn his words into magic? Anyway, Elton John is incredible despite whatever nonsense Taupin makes him sing about.

I don’t know if I can give an honest review of this album without the color of sentiment. This the epitome of early Elton John. His bright, young, expressive voice takes center stage of every song. He sings with enthusiasm and never just recites the words. Every song is easy on the ears with no unnecessary noise. Every instrument is brought in and faded out with purpose. Of course the piano lays the foundation. But horns, strings, and even an accordion take their place in the songs. This album is often overshadowed by later ones. But this brings out the early talent and lays out musical elements that show up in later albums.

That Tony Danza song really tugs at the heart. Had no idea Elton was gay, and his love for Tony was surprising to hear about!

Classic, sort of cozy

‘Indian Sunset’ is probably the only real misstep here, but Elton still manages to salvage Bernie Taupin’s lyrics with a wonderful arrangement. Everything else works, from everybody’s favourite ‘Tiny Dancer’ to the awesome title track, to (surprisingly) ‘All The Nasties’ and on. I can’t quite bring myself to give this is a 5, on account of ‘Indian Sunset’, but it’s a very, very close-run thing. ‘Madman Across The Water’ is a mostly excellent album and one I look forward to re-visiting often, a new favourite.

A swell time.

Tiny Dancer = Humongous Banger Reste de l’album = Ouain cool, mérite une deuxième écoute

Eher schwacher Title Track, aber Tiny Dancer/Levon/Razorface ist ein wundervoller Start. Die restlichen Lieder überzeugen mich zwar nicht ganz, der Gesang bleibt aber über das ganze Album erstklassig, demnach gebe ich knappe vier Sterne.

If you can get past the Album cover then you’re in for a good listen. I don’t know, there’s something about the album cover that just puts me off. This isn’t “1001 Album covers you must see before you die” after all.

it seems silly to write that the piano stood out for me on this album, considering it's elton john. but it did! it's no wonder his piano playing is so renowned and respected. the piano was beautiful and commanding in every song. the piano in "tiny dancer" (while a great song) is what allows the listener to become destroyed. and i must bring up bernie taupin! elton gets a lot of well deserved credit, but this album is filled with beautiful lyrics. while the "madman across the water" song has a soaring piano, the lyric of "is the nightmare really black/or are the windows painted" is what makes the song into an epic masterpiece. all this to say, john and taupin make a great team. a super enjoyable listen.

A fine album from Elton that contained elements of what would carry him to his imperial phase later on in the decade. The first four songs load the album with consistent hooks and catchy melodies, the middle portion is a little forgettable and the last two songs end the album out with great ease. One of the few worthwhile introductions to Elton around this time if you want to get ahold of what he was about. Favorites: Tiny Dancer, Levon, Razorblade, Madman Across the Water, All the Nasties.

Indian Sunset is the only blemish on an otherwise perfect album, but boy, what a blemish it is. Best track: Levon

Only song i was familiar with before listening with Tiny Dancer, so that was a good start (Also not having Tony Danza in a single scene in Rocket Man was a missed opportunity) To me this is a prime era of Elton John Madman across the Water is another stand out track, almost verging into proggy territory. Rotten Peaches was the only real meh track to me, rest of the album was pretty solid

I was quite familiar with this album. It has a very American barroom feel. The standouts were Tiny Dancer, Levon, and the title track. Some of the songs drag a bit

Jumps from the sublime to the absurd, but even Bernie Taupin's well meaning (but essentially racist) lyrics about native Americans can't stop this album being fantastic. Best tracks: Tiny Dancer, Levon, All The Nasties

Here we go with my first Elton John album! It's a collection of piano ballads (which is what you would expect from Elton John), the music is pleasing but the most inspired aspect of these songs is the lyrical content, with Elton John being more of a storyteller here (looked at the Wikipedia page and I guess the one I should shout out is Bernie Taupin). Some tracks stood out to me (and I put those in the "favorite songs" section), but this is not really up my sleeve, the songs are all pretty similar. Favorite songs: Tiny Dancer, Levon, Madman Across The Water, Indian Sunset, Goodbye Would I listen to it again? I don't really feel like it, but it might be worthwhile as this one could be one of those albums that grows on you. 7/10

Not mind-blowing. Tiny Dancer is a classic and the rest is forgettable but comforting.

It isn’t love it isn’t hate it’s just indifference.

Such a great album, first in a series of incredible stuff from one of the best. Elton’s ability to sing on top of the complex piano parts he carries always impresses me.

I Think that I love Elton John’s music

Another masterpiece by the master.

Great

Brilliant

Elton’s voice is extremely beautiful right from the start with Tiny Dancer. His voice is majestic and I love the chorus. The second song, Levon, continues the momentum. I’m loving the album. I want more from the album! It was phenomenal.

Captain Fantastic does it again

great album, great songs,

Hoy toca el segundo disco que aparece en el reto de éste artista, una bestia de la música. Era imposible que Elton John pasara desapercibido en su época (y en cualquiera) con la dulzura de su voz y sus ambientaciones. Se lo siente como un Bowie pero más pop. Pasional, sus canciones tienen una épica y son todos hits. Notó sutiles aires a Genesis, también. Hasta el lunes y muchas gracias.

Perfection. Not a single bad track on this album.

Unbelievable!

Bardzo dobre 5/5

yet to listen to him. recovering from the concert, now transitioning onto the pracs that are tomorrow yikesssss

Love this album. The production is incredible, it’s such a full sound. Some may say too over produced but I’m okay with it. Amazing songs, even the lesser known titles. It’s a very emotional album, pretty dark at times. Exceptional song writing and execution.

Don't think I've ever listened to Madman Across The Water front-to-back before - ridiculous! Elton John, the piano man, plays his heart out on fairly complex compositions without ever losing a grasp on his signature storytelling. Low-key blown away by this.

Madman Across The Water is one of Elton John’s more complex albums - it’s also a strong contender for his greatest album in a world where Goodbye Yellow Brick Road didn’t exist.

Listened Before? N A master in his prime produces masterpieces. This one is no exception. There are no bad songs on this album, and the mood is spectacular. Added to Library? Y Songs added to playlist: Levon

I get it now

Wow, it was beautiful. His amazing skills made it so wonderful to listen to.

Hold me closer, Tony Danza! It’s amazing to me that “Tiny Dancer” wasn’t a huge hit upon its release and that it took a perfectly written scene in “Almost Famous” for it to be rediscovered and universally beloved. Sir Elton owes a debt to Cameron Crowe. I was definitely born in the wrong generation.

Отличный альбом

Love, love, love this album. Early Elton John is just so fucking good. Nothing more to say. Loved this album for a long time and will continue to love it into the future.

fantastic. until i listened to this album, i hated elton john. i will have to go and listen to all of his albums.👍

Every song is great.

Every song is fantastic, and the hits are hits for a reason. Maybe "Indian Sunset" is a well written metaphor. Thinking of it that way helps me listen to it, otherwise it kind of fails. And that would make it the single sour thing on the album. Because this is so... beautiful. I just don't have another word that fits. For me Elton's early stuff is brilliant in every way, touches me, pulls my attention and keeps me in it beginning to end. The background vox on this are worth 5 stars alone. I love the sincerity, reaching for Americana in the way all those British blues guys did. THis is successful, unlike so much - even the Stones are treating the country and bluegrass styles like it's a posh joke. Elton makes it his own. It's good music, well recorded, executed perfectly, with far-reaching lyrics sung by one of the greatest.

I mean come on. It’s Tiny Dancer

Beautiful orchestrations and I enjoy the eccentricity of it all. I may in the minority, but I prefer it to Yellow Brick Road.

Great album. There is a lot of variety in it and each song seems a lot different from the previous one, even though you still can feel the mark of the author in every track.

great. classic

Love this album, every song. Reminds me of youth

I have never heard the whole album before. Love it

Beautiful. Fun. Classic.

Great album.

Madman. Hitmaker. John Elton.

Nothing I didn’t like about this. Just flowed perfectly. I don’t absolutely love it but it feels like a near perfect album.

Elton John is what I'd describe as "A Showman". It's another way of saying, he's music is very theatrical. If I think about music that would best fit in a musical, he'd be the first person that comes to mind. This record takes time to digest. It's not filled with singles and ear worms and really requires actively listening to appreciate. I listened to it the first time, and I thought it was okay. I listened to it again, very actively. Listening to every element in each track. The drums, they're punchy when they need to be and adds a real rhythm to get your foot tapping. It's never in your face, and it's exactly what it needs to be in the context of the song. Masterfully crafted. The bass lines, are never bland. If you take the time to listen to what he's playing, it's fun. Rotten Peaches is a great example of this. Listen to it, it's a good track. Elton's singing and piano is absolutely where his theatrics shine. In "All The Nasties", Elton is singing with a choir behind him. Of course he is, he's theatrical. The instrumentation arrangements are interesting. It's not a record that you would get bored of for a really long time. Each song is different, but on a theme; each song has something that makes it unique, for example, an added instrument. I think the biggest takeaway I learned about listening to this, is this. Elton John doesn't write music to write singles, Elton John writes records. And this record, is incredible. 5/5

Overall a great album of 5 stars with a couple weaker songs that hold it to an A rather than A+.

Loved

Best album yet. Ballads. Straight jams. Some cultural virtue signaling and everything. Good stuff.

9/23/24. Nearly a flawless album by Elton John. Each song is engaging and passionate, and easily memorable. No wonder people consider this a classic!

I love this album, but if we can only have 2 Elton John albums on this list, which is apparently the case, aside from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, I would have chosen Honky Chateau over this. With that being said, this is still an amazing album. “Tiny Dancer” is a classic for a reason, “Levon” is probably one of my favorite songs of all time, and “Madman Across The Water” is absolute perfection. But then we get to “Indian Sunset.” While I really like this song and think it’s beautiful, it’s something that probably shouldn’t have been written by a white, British guy, let alone performed by a white, British guy. Times were different then. The album seems to peak there, however, and the latter half just can’t hold up to how strong the first half is. Still great overall and one of Elton’s best.

Holy crap that was amazing

This is amazing. Definitely the best Elton John album I've got yet. The passion in the vocals as well as the music is incredible.

Classic

My single favorite EJ LP.

A classic.

No bad songs and the first like 6 are all excellent. Levon is a classic

Side one couldn't be any better with probably 3 of the 5 or 6 best songs of his career on one album side.

A classic

Excellent album.

I was surprised by how much I liked this album. Elton is a legend but I only knew him from overplayed classics like "Tiny Dancer" and cornball singalongs like "Crocodile Rock" and "Candle in the Wind". Any of these tracks work on their own and they work even better together.

Almost Famous Movie - Tiny Dancer https://youtu.be/kgcD0XErPZo?feature=shared

Came into this only knowing Tiny Dancer but I left a fan. Elton's got a great voice, works his piano, and writes some awesome stuff. Here's hoping for another album.

Great

10/10. I was surprised how much I enjoyed the less popular songs of the album. Tiny Dancer is a great song and probably not in the top 3-4 songs. Added all but the last song to the playlist. Anyone who says this album isn’t great is clueless.

A masterpiece!

Timeless classic and over 50 years since release.

Endnu en på grænsen mellem 4 og 5, men jeg har simpelthen gåsehud under for mange af sangene til at give den lavere. Flot og dramatisk album

Love Tiny Dancer - the only song I recognize.

Elton John has got it. Bernie Taupin has got it. They're just one of the best ensemble projects, I think. It’s not your standard rock band; Elton always has the piano featured front and center and his voice is doing the most. You don’t get that in a lot of pop music, even from the 70s. This album, obviously, has a lot of his big hits on it, including one of my favorites, 'Tiny Dancer.' 'Indian Sunset' I liked a lot musically, but I wonder if they look back on the lyrics and cringe at all.

Love it. Not every song is a bangor, but they are all unique and there are lots of good'ns.

Love! peaceful

Great album!