Madman Across The Water

3.5

Obviously Tiny Dancer is one of Elton John's best songs, but I don't think the rest of the album quite followed it

can truly never go wrong with Sir Elton John. This album has got some bangers on it, hoping that "Honkeytonk Chateau" is on this list somewhere - my personal fav Elton album

I was really shocked for how much variety there was on this album. When I think of Elton John I usually think of him wailing on a piano and singing his heart out for an hour plus- and there was a lot of that. But there was also a lot of really unique instrumentation that I wasn't expecting. He had a damn sitar! On top of that it's the standard praise of Elton John, crazy talented song writer and very soulful voice. Great listen.

A small collection of ballads and prog rock tracks. It’s pretty good actually. My only issue is that it can drag in a few songs. Other than that, great record with good writing from Elton. Very good.

Not a great fan of Elton John and I don't think I ever heard any of this before but it was pretty good.

Classic Elton John.

"Tiny Dancer" soars. The others are less familiar to me so it takes a second to get the narratives, since they're fairly dense, actually. I think I get it, though. Yes.

so nostalgic

Can’t go wrong with Elton John.

It’s Elton, lovely voice lovely music. Not like that interesting or whatever, a few absolute bangers, def 4.5 but not quite 5

3.5

Not Elton's strongest work, but there's still that magical story telling you can only get from Bernie and Elton in their prime. Still a meticulously crafted effort, the band as usual is on point and the production is nearly flawless.

Some legendary songs on here: "Tiny Dancer", "Levon", "Razor Face", and the eponymous title track. The end kind of drags down a bit, and is a bit too over the top and/or repetitive for me ("All the Nasties"), but there's not a bad song on here. (By the way, I think Blind Melon took some cues from "Holiday Inn".) Giving this a 4/5 (really 4.4999), since Elton John has (even) better records. For anyone else this would've been an easy 5/5.

A fun little collection of songs, featuring Elton John's signature janky piano playing. He really doesn't vary his playing style much, so while it sounds pretty darn great (especially in combination with his voice) it makes many of the tracks sound very similar to one another. This, along with a marked decrease in songwriting quality throughout the album, explains why side 1 is much stronger than side 2. Indian Sunset, Rotten Peaches, and All The Nasties are lyrically very odd and incongruous with the remainder of the album. And sonically, they aren't any better, replacing the emotional grandeur of Tiny Dancer and Levon with a more acoustic, country-ish style that doesn't suit Elton's singing as well. It's hard to explain. However, the two opening tracks – Tiny Dancer and Levon – are so darn great that they very nearly justify a 5-star rating by themselves. They're essentially a one-two punch version of Bowie's "Life On Mars?" released the same year. (Dang. 1971 was fantastic for music.) Texturally, the combination of strings, light drumming, and piano playing self-described by Elton as "pound[ing]" makes for some really exhilarating accompaniment to the vocal, which is strong and unfaltering. Definitely adding these two (and a few others) to my playlist. Key tracks: Tiny Dancer, Levon, Madman Across The Water, Holiday Inn Side 1: 5/5 Side 2: 3/5 Total: 8/5 Adjusted total: 4/5

Love me some Elton John and really enjoyed this album. Obviously starts with one of his best songs, Tiny Dancer, and it's hard to beat that one. Like others have pointed out, Indian Sunset is a pretty cringe song but at least I learned where the samples for Ghetto Gospel came from! Love the theatricality of Elton's music.

Great album, tiny dancer such a classic

It was good.

Best song - Tiny Dancer

Hard to say if this was a 3 or a 4. Elton's unique songwriting is certainly prevalent in this album, and manifests well in some songs, and poorly in others.

no oczywiscie super album eltona lovciam

I'd never really listened to an Elton John album front to back before. Really enjoyed this one, comes hot out the gates with one of the best songs of all time and the quality barely drops from there. Looking forward to more Elton albums!

didnt know all the songs and really enjoyed this

Good album

Even if you didn't know who Elton John was, you could tell why these songs were popular back in the day. The only one that was familiar was the first one in the album. I am happy with this album, and given that this was released in 1971, this was massive back then.

Known this one on vinyl. Good album. Tiny dancer being the highlight

One of my favorite Elton movie moments is the bus scene from Almost Famous....released in 2000. Goes to show these songs are timeless! I was impressed with the songs (most of them, Indian sunset not so much)I hadn't heard and how they still seem relevant and listenable in 2024.

Elton is always fantastic. Indian Sunset and Rotten Peaches could have been left behind but the rest of the album is better than good.

A nice album full of ballads, nothing significant except for "Tiny Dancer". A few songs sound similar to each other but it's ok. I've got a cold right now so I can't enjoy to its fullest. Elton and Bernie are a great writing duo. I'll give it 4 stars.

One of my favorite Elton albums. Bright and earnest collection of songs, with the most famous of couse being track #1. Instrumentation and vocals all meld together so excellently to make a near perfect elton album.

Camp fun, slides down the ears.

Beautiful album. Got weird in a good way. But as I have some distance all I remember are the two hits.

Classic!

Very solid album throughout.

He’s good. Never really listened to him via albums so I’m not sure where this stacks up against other ones. 3-4 songs I really like. Another one I want a half star system on. Rounding up from 3.5 to 4.

It’s more than just the one song. The rest very much enjoyable.

I enjoyed this one a lot more than I did Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. The songs are all long, but they’re filled with great instrumentation and arrangement, and Elton John’s voice is as good as ever. I even enjoyed Indian Sunset, not knowing enough about Native American history to recognise which bits were historically inaccurate which seems to be the main complaint

My first thoughts on seeing this album come up were "oh no! another Elton John album". I had been assigned Goodbye Yellow Brick Road last week and didn't feel ready for another album, even though I had enjoyed that one and rated it four stars. I had considered that must be the high point of Elton's career and anything else would be a disappointment. I was wrong. I think I hadn't truly appreciated just how prolific Elton was in the 1970s and 1980s (over 20 albums pumped out over those two decades). I tend to think of him in terms of his greatest hits, after all there are plenty of those to consider. I even saw the biopic a few years back; also concentrating on his hits mainly. This album had one song I thought I knew, listened to and realised I didn't know that well, and then remembered the end bit. Every other song was entirely new to me. Although this is not the sort of music I would actively seek out, I can see the charm, appreciate the craft, and love the fact that the songs here a totally different feel to the other material I've listened to. I'm going to give this four stars, mainly because it's taught me a valuable lesson about making assumptions, but also because of the sheer quality and talent on display here.

#150. I'm sorry, I can't concentrate. Rock stars have kidnapped my son! 4/5: lovely

Elton John was an artist I devoured as a wee one. Tiny Dancer and Levon are all time classics for me but I never saw much in the rest of this album then. Now I appreciate it more. With the exception of Indian Sunset which aged terribly, Madman showcases a lot of what makes John great.

Elton’s attempt at a country album? First two tracks are classics and the rest is good enough. Got kind of weird with the Indian song. Overall a quality album.

Elton John is great but somehow this isn’t a 5 star for me. Maybe I’ll get roasted. It’s great but not a top album for me

A really, really good early EJ album that includes 3 phenomenal songs -- Tiny Dancer, Levon and Madman Across the Water. The rest is good but just not up to that standard, which keeps this at a 4 for me.

Obviously this album starts out with two absolute heaters, catapulting it into a minimum 4, but the rest of the album does not get it to a 5 for me. I'm hearing lots of gospel influences on the non hits (especially the piano and choral background of "Rotten Peaches"). "Indian Sunset" was an interesting artistic choice, though one he and Bernie probably wouldn't make today. As weird and possibly problematic asc it is, the lyrics were super evocative and detailed.

You know, I feel like it's been a while since I've gotten an album from a truly legendary artist. I've gotten albums recently from artists or groups that I'd consider "iconic", but no one that I've gotten in the past 10 days or so is anyone that I would consider as legendary as Elton John. The guy's just awesome, and so is this album. It's really good! The album opens with one of his most well known songs, "Tiny Dancer". Needless to say, it's a great song. The rest of the songs are also great. The sound on this album is very pleasant to listen to. Elton John's singing is just phenomenal. The instrumentation is very good. Elton John's piano work in particular is always great. The writing is solid. Overall, this is a great album from a truly iconic artist. 4/5.

Elton is always a great listen. I want to spend more time in his discography. This album also starts with Tiny Dancer, one of the most iconic. I will be back. 4/5

I feel like I’m mixed on Elton John, but this album was pretty good.

Listening to Elton just makes me happy. I love the musicality. Dug the long instrumental exit on Holiday Inn. Indian Sunset is beautiful if you take away or don't listen to the lyrics. I don't think I'd heard the title song before, but I liked it.

I mean...it's Elton John! I feel like a few of the ballads are odd choices for subject matter...didn't age too well.

Enjoyable to listen to front to back. Tiny Dancer may be the perfect song.

Really good. I think Yellowbrick Road is a better album but most things like Elton John are unbeatable

Kinda didn't realize there was so much steel guitar in tiny dancer. Levon is SAD RAZORface?!?! Makes me think of Guardians of the Galaxy Madman Across the water made me put my headphones on right. Liked it lots. This was good. Showed a bit of it's time.

Tiny Dancer is a special song. Not Elton’s best, but definitely a good one.

What a beautiful record. Hadn’t listened to this in its entirety but Sir Elton John has always been an artist I’ve admired; this record further solidifies that. The mood that the songwriting and instrumentation brings is heartfelt, fun, and nostalgic. It’s records like this that make me happy to be a part of this project.

I've always liked Elton John in a Greatest Hits and "I enjoyed his Muppet Show appearance" kind of way but I never listened to a whole album. I have to say I really enjoyed it, it's clear why he is an icon in the music industry. 4 stars for me and I will be revisiting this some day.

Well gosh dang, that was pretty good! I don't know if I'd ever heard any of these songs beyond Tiny Dancer, but that was a largely enjoyable experience. I think this Mr. John guy has some potential.

This was good. Very epic album. Tiny Dancer is the best track

I liked this album a lot more than I expected to. Tiny dancer is a stand out but there are a bunch of other interesting tracks like Levon and Madman Across the Water. Great to hear Elton experimenting with prog rock.

Inventive and pleasant

Tiny Dancer is a true classic and a great song, Levon was good, Razor Face was kinda mid for me, Madman Across the Water was a really good song, Indian Sunset was like a 7.5/10 for me. I liked the repeated or more in context sections from Tiny Dancer but just wasn't my complete favorite overall. I did not really like the rest of the songs. Overall, the first half was very good but I didn't end up liking the second. Favorite song was definitely Madman across the Water and least favorite was probably Goodbye. Whole album 7.5/10

Great record!

Only knowing Elton by reputation and overplayed hits, I had preconceived notions and was anticipating something fun and more bombastic than this. Well this album soon changed my mind. Ballads with a prog rock edge and a darkness that I wasn't expecting. Just nine songs showed me facets of Elton that I didn't know existed, but I'm glad that I do now. There's a couple of songs that don't quite hit the mark but this is a solid album.

I haven't listened to an entire Elton John album before and I was pleasantly surprised. Elton John, like David Bowie, seems to have get command over the highest quality studio musicians. A truly great album.

Очень приятно

A pretty solid album from a pretty solid singer/songwriter.

Tiny Dancer Levon

ig: @musicwithnessa

Very good album Standout songs: Madman Across the Water Rotten Peaches Goodbye

Great album which I have not listened to fully for around 50 years. Possibly his best.

Schön!

Finally another good album, Elton John is a favorite of mine. Easy to rate because it's just damn good music.

Hard to follow Yellow Brick

I don't know exactly when Elton John started to suck, but this album is still mostly awesome. It's no Tumbleweed Connection, but the opening 1-2 of Tiny Dancer and Levon is incredible. What a great album.

Come a long way on Elton, my taste with him is evolving. Great performer, pairs lyrics with some fantastic arrangements and this backing band is completely in the pocket. Can't beat the Tiny Dancer opener, even if I've heard it 1000 times. Especially on headphones. 3rd release of '71 and that shows a little. This is about 3 clunker songs from peefect.

When I watched the Farewell Concert I was really enjoying it til I saw it was over 3 hours long. That's too much Elton John. This was the perfect amount of Elton John. A couple hits (Levon has been in my head all night) a couple decent deep tracks. Boy that Indian song is cringey now. I know his heart was in the right place, but hoofadoof. Anyway, not bad. Wouldn't be opposed to listening to it again sometime. Songs added to Spotify: 1

Elton John is fantastic and this album did not disappoint. A bunch of these songs were new to me. This was a great album!

7.5/10 This one really did it for me, lush with good vibes Surprised to see it classified as prog rock, felt more like fairly standard bluesy rock with orchestral/chamber pop elements The orchestration was excellent, good use of strings, liked it when a choir popped up Nice to listen to an album by a famous singles artist with only one song I knew on it! Best: Indian Sunset

Can't deny it is a good album, it's not particularly my taste, but its an impressive collection of songs

Amazing

A classic album really, but the first two tracks are heads and tails better than the rest - better songwriting and lyrics.

ta fiera el elton Tiene un anillo de pito de diamante, fun fact

Good album!

From what I have heard of his solo work, this seems to be his transition into more progressive rock, I think the fact that this album is so front heavy is what holds it back here. However, this album deff gets shadowed by some of his other works in the 70’s. This is a good record.

Elton John può non piacere come genere, ma questo album è indubbiamente di gran qualità

Starts especially strong with Tiny Dancer. Levon is decent but it’s never been my fave. Then more prog rocky.

Impressive vocals, storytelling and piano play. Most songs sound a bit samey to me though.

Good solid rock album

Madman Across the Water is Elton John's fourth album, which includes a few of his early hits, like "Tiny Dancer" and "Levon." This was early in the very productive period of John's career; through the 70's, he released at least an album per year, and they all met with at least modest success. Elton John's songs are beautiful, piano-based songs, showcasing his skill on the piano and his rich, expressive voice. His songs tell poignant stories, which are the product of John's lyricist/songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin. John's skills brought Taupin's stories to life, making the songs a part of the soundtrack of the 70's and 80's, and made Elton John one of the biggest stars of modern popular music.

The man

Buen pop, bonitas melodías y bonito piano, un buen disco, 4

Este album es en mi opinión mucho mejor, tonos más armónicos y melodías memorables. Las canciones en general son agradables de escuchar, sobretodo con los cascos ya que está grabado en estereo dando diferentes sonidos en cada punto, dando una sensación de estar rodeado de los diferentes instrumentos.

Favorite songs were Indian Sunset, Madman Across the Water and of course, Tiny Dancer. Loved the piano and string instruments on the album.

Elton John is interesting and without a doubt extremely influential. Never really listened to his music much and I've yet to find a big like for the sound he has, but overall not bad. I think with time I might actually start enjoying his music more so I'm glad for this recommendation. 7/10

I had casual mixed feelings about Elton John before this, loving Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road but super annoyed by I'm Still Standing. Now I'm realizing how good his music actually is. Hesn't quite my usual thing but giving it an up thumbs.

got bangers. we stan elton john

A nice album, my favorite song on it was Tiny Dancer.

Levon and tiny dancer are classics, the rest, not so much

I remember when this came out. Now they overplay Tiny dancer and Levon on classic rock radio stations, and I hardly ever hear Madman Across the water. Great song - Loved the strings arrangement of this one.

Really good album. I love the lyrics for this album and the feeling of it.

I could spend all day listening to early Elton John. Amazing melodies and great music. Solid album.

This album starts out good with familiar tracks and gets weird. It sounds good throughout but some of the lyrics are kind of depressing.

If you don't get the feels with this first track you're either completely jaded or a Nick Cave fan. This first side (first 4 songs) you could call a master class in pop songwriting. "Levon" always kinda made me either sad or slightly uneasy as a kid - maybe it's the "Jesus - he wants to go to Venus" line which is hilariously weird. But to be fair, the second side/half isn't nearly as good - how could it be - and for years have tried to like it more than I do. There are no truly bad songs, just fewer memorable ones and a severe lack of big hooks. I was trying to think this morning why this album took me longer to jump into (as a fan of early EJ) and along with the side 2 slump I think it's that it is much more dense an album than the releases on either side of this; i.e. aside from the obvious catchy "Tiny Dancer" there are fewer of those immediately-accessible Elton tunes ... which isn't necessarily a bad thing but the title track isn't immediately accessible and is a classic... Speaking of which - "Madman..." is probably the highlight of the album, although not naming "Tiny Dancer" also ignores how much that song eventually permeated pop culture. Kind of impressive that I'd say this dramatic and melodic album isn't his best - shows how unmatched Elton's ~5/6 year (1970-75) recording period truly was - not sure there was anyone else who had a massive and incredible pop output to this extent (maybe Stevie Wonder). Wavering between 4 and 5 and it feels like 1 more killer song would have put it in the pantheon. 8/10 4 stars.

My favorite Elton John album.. Side 1 is nearly perfect; Tiny Dancer, Levon and then culminating in his most emotionally charged song ever, Madman Across the Water. The 2nd side is not quite up to side 1 but still quite listenable. A great album that would have received 5 stars if side 2 were a little bit more memorable. 4.5

Two legendary songs and some very typical Elton John tunes

TENES QUE CERRAR EL ESTADIO, LOS GENIOS HACEN ESTO.

It's always interesting jumping right into the middle of someone's discography. Especially when you jump into their creativity arc, because you can tell that the artist coming to terms to themselves while also growing into the amazing artist that you know them to be. I know what it sounds when Elton John has been at his peak, this album is on the way there. He's having fun and it seems almost effortless how he's able to construct an earworm of a melody. This is really good but I cheated myself by knowing that he can (and will) be better. 4 out of 5 stars.

Tiny Dancer en daarna nog acht keer Tiny Dancer maar dan net iets anders. Dramatische strijkers, de heldere stem van ome Elton, een duidelijk aanwezige piano en af en toe een gek instrumentje zoals een trekzak. Regelmatig geserveerd met een klein blaadje cuntry-twang. Productie prima, zang prima... Dat geldt voor zo'n 40% van de albums op deze lijst niet dus ik ben tevreden. De 5 tikt het niet aan, maar het is wel goeie toelie.

Classic!

Not my usual vibe, but he's clearly a master at what he's doing here.

I like Elton john but I've only ever really heard the hits. This album was great, I enjoyed it front to back

Tiny dancer so amazing, the rest very good

1971. 9/10

I was skeptical at first because I think Elton John is way overplayed. I was happy to see that this album started with Tiny Dancer and Levon, two actually good songs. As I listened, I was pleasantly surprised. The piano bangers on this album hit hard, especially the title track. Really enjoyed.

Very very close to a 5.

Very good

Tiny Dancer - one of the most popular Elton John songs. (3/5 not my favorite Elton John song. it feels like classic Elton though so it's not bad) Levon - a slower song. i feel like Elton John just has this Bon Jovi sound that mixes country with the performative piano pop and it sounds good. (3/5 the issue is it is not for me. Go to Venus to get more Penus) Razor Face - this has a bit more of that blues sound. still a slow song [(3/5 i feel really bad cause this is not the Elton John i enjoy but i like Elton John) jk 4/5 for the accordion solo?] Madman Across the Water - it's that slow country rock sound. it includes some of that grandness that he brings (4/5 i like this one a bit more) Indian Sunset - a good song but nothing crazy (3/5) Holiday Inn - i think that's a sitar? (4/5 giving the instrumental from Virus Alert by Weird Al) Rotten Peaches - a plinky upbeat piano tavern song (3/5 this is what makes it not for me) All the Nasties - i don't think i like this either. (2/5 glad when it ended) Goodbye - it's an outro :) (3/5) my favorite song is I'm Still Standing because i'm gay or something. this is a good album but it doesn't match my taste, which is 80s Elton John i guess. but to be fair to it being a good album 4/5 woo.

Some absolute classics on here with some middling tunes filling the gaps. Listened on a bus at 3.30am so may have been a bit emotional but really enjoyed it.

"Madman Across the Water" is the fourth studio album by English musician Elton John and his third album in 1971. The genre listed and referred to is progressive rock. Yes keyboardist Rick Wakemen does play organ on two songs which does give it that prog rock street cred but calling it prog rock is pushing it for me. Bernie Taupin did write all the lyrics. Interestingly, it faired much better in the US, hitting #8, than in the UK where it hit #41. The album received mixed reviews. The piano lines, "Blue Jean baby, LA Lady" and we're into "Tiny Dancer." Nice slide guitar. Taupin wrote this about his wife and contrasting with California women. Oh, yeah, and that scene in "Almost Famous." Elton delivers some great vocals in "Levon." The strings make this more dramatic. Levon was born poor, now sells balloons. It's not about Band drummer Levon Helm. The dramatic music continues in "Madman Across the Water." Piano, guitar and strings. This one is not about Richard Nixon. Is it about Elton? Do yourself a favor and listen to the version with Mick Ronson on guitar. It takes it to another level. "Indian Sunset" was written after Elton and Bernie visited a Indian reservation and about an unnamed Indian warrior. Elton starts out a capella before the music kicks in. There are questions on the truthfulness of some of the lyrics but...The album ends with "Goodbye." A big symphony. Sad. Melancholy. A nice way to end. I can't say I'm a big Elton John fan but I like some of his songs and this album contains three really good ones. The musicianship is top notched. The drama with the symphony. I'm sure everyone knows where they stand with Elton but this is probably one of his best.

Banger

Banger, Banger, Banger

Great songs from start to finish, maybe one questionable for dated content.

A very classy collection of songs from my favourite Elton John era. Tiny Dancer, Levon, Razor Face and Holiday Inn stand comparison with his best songs and all are testimony to Bernie Taupins' talent as a lyricist. The quality of musicianship is first rate. The album as a whole could be judged to be a little one-paced, but overall this is a great collection.

bought used vinyl from half price books in 1994

There's a lot right with Elton John's music. His piano work is always excellent. The instrumentation with strings, brass, and woodwinds. His voice is also distinct and wonderful.

great killer singles

Indian sunset was one of those tracks that I had in my head since my childhood (listening to Ghetto Gospel back then), and never made the effort to search for the original. What a great album.

Everyone knows his piano is amazing but damn the drums on this album

tiny dancer - obviously a classic, that chorus is so good even if it is drilled into listeners an insane extent. very beautifully written levon - more folk-ish song, i loved the orchestral elements near the end, felt like such a great way to compliment the build-up razor face - kind of boring + has a weird chorus, felt very generic madman across the water - a very cool ballad, i like the repeated guitar motif in the middle a lot and how it fades into the second part of the song. the writing is so god damn good. indian desert - this is literally a word painting. it feels so anxious and suspensful, i LOVE the different parts of this song. the writing is absolutely gorgeous, so poetic and something you can really think about. elton and bernie are really good at these longer, more intense songs holiday inn - the twang on this song is extremely noticeable and i do not know how i feel about it. very generic and notably shorter than everything else here rotten peaches - okay this is just proto bruce springsteen with gospel vocals. this just feels corny though. all the nasties - slow, but it was pretty good! i hate chanting endings and this one felt corny with the backing choir. otherwise i didnt mind it, the country fit elton this time goodbye - delightfully melodramatic closer. nice and spiffy way to close this album. gives me similar vibes to "nevermore" by queen in the absolutely gorgeous piano playing and melancholic vibe. overall, this album is very pretty and nice to listen to. elton and bernie taupin's lyrics are absolutely wonderful, the instrumentals are generally excellent performed and his voice sounds great. although the album dramatically slows down in its last four tracks with the more country-inspired feel to it, i still feel like this deserves the praise it gets. 3.5/5

nice album some hits - pretty mellow

Man, the highs on this album are really extraordinary. And that makes the misses on this album stand out and maybe even seem weaker than they are. That's my general take on Elton John's catalog (I'm not an expert, but I own and have listened to a bunch of his albums) — his good material is better than good, it's exceptional. The rest of the material is not nearly as compelling, and it makes for an uneven listening experience. I think my takeaway from this listen is that it's the nature of daring creativity. Sometimes the oddball lyrical messages transcend (Tiny Dancer, Madman Across the Water for starters) and sometimes they just miss the mark (Razor Face, Rotten Peaches). Same with the arrangements on this album. The brilliant tracks are all exquisitely arranged, the clunkers make you wonder if maybe they found an accordion in the corner and decided, "what the hell? why not?" So, a 5 for the genius tracks on this album, a 3 for the others.

Rating: 8.5/10 Great album, really enjoyed the progressive elements implemented on here. Elton John takes his time more on this album and lets the songs develop more, most songs are over 5 minutes and usually have long intros, which are done very well. Usually I do not love Elton's piano playing, I think he recycles ideas a lot on his songs but it was great on this album, the orchestral and rock elements were also great. Pretty cohesive overall, I think it is more consistent than Yellow Brick Road although it does not have as many hits. Favorite songs: Tiny Dancer, Levon, Madman Across the Water, Indian Sunset, Holiday Inn. Least favorite song: Rotten Peaches.

I mean it's Elton John he just undeniably had the juice

3.5

Sometimes mucks it up lyrically or emotionally (namely indian skies, with its misguided lyric and poorly delivered intent), but thankfully the melodies and arrangements are so gorgeous its difficult to care too much. The album is perfectly delivered, even if the raw material isn't as strong as it could be. The production is clean as a whistle and Elton is endearing as ever, with the whole record being excellently paced too.

Great composed songs. Classic Elton John. First two songs make the album : Tiny Dancer and Levin. Edit : Madman Across the Water great too - 4/5

Fun album, I love Tiny Dancer. Indian Sunset is a huge blemish though.

Pretty good stuff here. 4 out of 5.

Elton has one of the great iconic voices, up there with Freddie and Michael. I would listen to this even if it was fully acapella. I think Indian sunset might be a song that has aged out in the modern era, especially when sung by a British man. Still overall a great album. Favorite track was the titular madman across the water.

One Man Show.

I enjoyed this album. I already enjoy a few Elton John songs, and this album is no different. It's a nice slow rock/pop rock kind of album. I enjoyed most of the songs on the album, but nothing really stood out to me like "wow". 4/5 Favorite song: Madman Across The Water Worst song: All The Nasties

Good, but not Elton's best

Good album.

Not my cup of tea

Tiny Dancer holds some weird nostalgia. Getting to hear it pumped out on classic rock radio in my teens, misheard lyrics, that one scene from Almost Famous, ...Mark Kozelek...Thinking about it...It's not impossible to think he likes this album as it harnesses a bit of murkiness and is quite an emotional showcase which may have influenced the Painters slightly. Anyway, a lot of solid stuff which was good to hear beyond Tiny Dancer and Levon. The latter I still think is one of the saddest songs I've ever heard for various reasons. This album is really good due to its overall quality in musicianship, songcraft, and ambition. The second half is a bit weaker but it closes out nicely.

lovely album. Levon such a beautiful song, and Tiny Dancer of course.

Got some huge pop classics but some weak parts. Great album overall.

Tiny Dancer bumps the rating up 1 spot by itself. That scene in Almost Famous was fantastic.

Very enjoyable album. Every song flows nicely into the next. I appreciated the use of orchestral instrumentation. This was a casual listen while I worked, but this album deserves a more thorough analysis of lyrics than I could do today.

He probably could have had a lot more hits if they just released more songs.

Solid album. Indian Sunset seems a bit dated, but I still own two copies on vinyl.

Hehe this was really good. Can’t believe the Gnomeo and Juliet guy does his own music Top Tracks: 1) Tiny Dancer 2) Madman Across the Water 3) Levon 4) Holiday Inn 5) All the Nasties

-LOOOOVE elton john -have listened to albums of his before but not for this list and not this album -TINY DANCER!!!!! WHAT A START TO AN ALBUM!!!! -genuinely a beautiful song -razor face is a funky song -eltons voice!!!!! god i just love it -you Are a rock and roll man elton you tell em! -this definitely isn’t eltons best album -but tiny dancer is on this album which is iconic in its own right. so its getting a 4

Elton john general, some good songs, relatively long but enjoyable to listen to

Toujours voulu écouter la légende Elton sans jamais savoir par quel bout m’y prendre. Cet album m’a donc poussé dans le vide. Et quel album. On sent direct qu’il a marqué une époque, une génération. L’album culte de Elton John à coup sûr. J’ai bien aimé.

Rick Beato What Makes This Song Great: Tiny Dancer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dijrGXvSS-g

Four stars because Tiny Dancer and Levon….otherwise it’s kinda mid

Elég jó, nagyon vibe zene, olyan 3.7et adnék

надо уже всего Элтона внимательно послушать! пока так и не отличаю но красиво

Alright

Tiny dancer.

Orchestration on this album is top tier. The singles are so universally known, they overshadow the sleeper tracks by a lot, which makes it feel lopsided. It's all tight, and Bernie Taupin made some really interesting lyrical choices.

For the most part it's an excellent album except for a few duds. They're not bad just not as good as the rest. Tiny Dancer really is a classic and probably a song that will be remembered for decades to come.

Pretty good, it's Elton John after all.

Classic, classic, and classic.

Ok on entend que chaque son c'est un banger quand même. Vu que c'est la musique que ma grandmère écoute je pensais que ça serait bof mais lourd en vrai. Un peu supertramp vibes parfois.

Nice album

While good there's some lyrical choices that seem a bit much and almost over rode the music and song. Good album and wouldn't have an issue going back through it!

Hyper-dramatic, so gay, deeply enjoyable. I should listen to more Elton John records.

Very theatrical, but I love the piano so much that it saves (nearly) anything for me. I liked the general vibes of the music here, and I'd need to give it more listens to maybe "connect" more with the songs. However, I liked what I heard on 1st listen.

Great opening song. Whole album is short but very enjoyable. Elton is very good at painting images of personas.

Tiny Dancer is incredible. The rest was mostly good, with a couple of exceptions (The lyrics of “Indian Sunset” and “Rotten Peaches” were each dreadful in very different ways, though Elton’s singing and arrangement remained excellent).

no one has the audacity to slay like this anymore

4.5, very good and unique sound and man

Didn't dislike any songs ... though Razor Face comes close.

Classics but you know, still piano ballads

That was a solid record with a couple of familiar radio hits, along with a just a great collection of songs. Highly enjoyable.

Listen again

Okay yeah Tiny Dancer and Levon are bangers don't get me wrong (obviously you have to sing the chorus of Tiny Dancer) but RAZOR FACE. Rick Wakeman always eats. And the HARMONIES. I really like Rotten Peaches as well, not as catchy as some other Elton songs but goes hard nonetheless. Rest of the album is pretty decent.

Album #15 Elton John is another artist on my long list (an actual real list) whose discography I would like to explore, so I greeted this album with a smile on my face. I wasn't expecting to be hit right off the bat with one of his biggest songs, "Tiny Dancer". This was followed by "Levon" and it was then when I realized that the lyrics are a little confusing at times. As I have previously mentioned, I have difficulty interpreting lyrics and poetry at times. I had never heard the title track and found it be a standout track, until the song, "Indian Sunset" blew it away. That song told a very powerful and emotional story in under 7 minutes. I've seen 2 hour movies that couldn't tell a story that we'll. "Holiday Inn" sounded like it could've been a single. After that the album starts to just fade a bit. I also didn't like the first half of "All the Nasties", but thought it did start to pick up at the end. "Goodbye" was an excellent closer, and just long enough to let the message sit with you. It was interesting to hear a more progressive sound from Elton John, as I'm used to the glam rock and ballads. I enjoyed the album, but it wasn't consistent. 3.5* rounded up to 4*

This one rates a 4 for me, though I think there are a couple of tracks that are a bit weaker and would drag it down to a 3 for most people. I really love the title track and I think it's one of those fantastic examples of Bernie and Elton really clicking on an idea. It's not a hit for sure but it's one of my favourite Elton John songs. The same thing goes for Holiday Inn which is one of my favourites ever also. Davey Johnstone on guitar is a really awesome part of this record also and a signature part of what makes an Elton John record really sound like one.

Elegant and graceful album, just like Elton John and his music in general. Interesting thing is, that the music really is secondary every time Elton is singing, he is just that good. I have to watch Rocketman soon, so I will have a better knowledge of his history and background. But the album was a treat for sure!

"Madman Across the Water" by Elton John is a complex and ambitious album that showcases his musical versatility and storytelling prowess. Released in 1971, it's a fusion of rock, pop, and orchestral elements that highlight John's distinctive piano-driven sound. Tracks like "Tiny Dancer" and the title track capture his emotive vocals and Bernie Taupin's evocative lyrics. The album's production, enhanced by Paul Buckmaster's orchestral arrangements, adds a grand and cinematic quality. "Madman Across the Water" remains a testament to John's artistic exploration and stands as a snapshot of his creativity during this era.

Cool album, aantal chille nummers. Veel interessante nummers met leuke solos. Ik was niet fan van de melancholische koor stukken.

Interesting to hear earlier Elton John, and listen to a full album, since I only knew Tiny Dancer off this one. Overall, consistently good. BT - honestly any of them except holiday inn....

Gorgeous piano rock and lush instrumentation. Some songs sound a little too like others but it's an enjoyable listen all the way through.

It's Sir Elton! It's got Tiny Dancer! Pretty dang good.

Very solid album by one of the greatest musicians. I could have done without "Indian Sunset", but otherwise excellent!!

First listen was meh, liked this more and more in subsequent go rounds. All the songs have personality; I might argue with them, find them long-winded or daft ('Indian Sunset'), but they stick out, say their thing and don't pander.

Great first album!

An album which I'd never heard before, with the exception of "Tiny Dancer", and it probably benefits from that. I don't consider myself a fan, but Elton John's early output was consistently high.

Tiny Dancer opens this record, such a great song! Love Levon too.. the piano, strings, voice, drums are all just about perfect! Love the production. Kind of peaks on that second song though, title track not bad. The Indian song, interesting. Unfortunately, even though I really like EJ, I think this one is a 4.

It would have been a 5, but minus 1 for the world album cover art in this entire list.

Great album with a few of the classics on there.

Lush, fun piano pop. Elton John rules.

A surprising amount of drive behind this one despite being mostly slower, piano centric songs. Some parts were a little too slow and the vocals weren't as good on the climaxes, but I still enjoyed it

Good when you want to listen to Elton John

Wow, some really nice songs on this and I didn't expect the Indian Sunset

One of the best singer/songwriters of a generation. Amazing music.

I own this on vinyl! Which in my case typically denotes a fairly highly ranked album. And this certainly falls into that category. Great listen!

Its very good, it's my first real exposure to Elton John outside of Disney songs and the few hits. Tails off towards the end but mostly positive

Such talent

Although not quite as good as Yellow Brick Road in my opinion, it’s very close in quality. The piano is very prominent here and there are even some orchestral moments that are sometimes very prominent also. Tiny Dancer even features a steel guitar which I loved. I enjoyed the lyrics too with most of the songs having a storytelling element. There are just a couple of slightly weaker songs but I loved this album.

Het is gewoon een steengoede artiest. Het zal nooit mijn favoriete muziek worden, maar ik kan wel herkennen dat dit een goed album is.

One of Elton John's stronger albums. Although "Indian Sunset" is probably a bit cringe-y now, I'm sure it seemed good at the time. Honestly, if you told me one song had to go from the album, it would probably be "Rotten Peaches." That one seems kind of weak. That title track, man. It's just such a good rocking track. I think I heard it covered by Bruce Hornsby first. But the original is even better. Then there are the two well-known tracks. I mean, if I go another day and never hear "Tiny Dancer" I probably would be ok with that. It has been definitely been overplayed on the radio. "Levon" probably too, but those lyrics are so great. Kudos to Taupin here. The two clunkers make me pause, it's a real strong effort. But not every song is a winner. (Rotten Peaches and Indian Sunset).

So apparently this is Elton John doing prog rock. I think I get it on an individual song basis but as a collection it doesn't all quite fit. I would've thought there'd be a few more songs flowing from one into another. Still, there are some really good songs with introspective or deep lyrics and booming musical arrangements - Tiny Dancer (who doesn't love this song?), Levon (always one of my Elton John favorites and now I get where it came from - part of some proggy story), Indian Sunset (a new favorite - Bernie Taupin did well on the lyrics for a difficult subject), and All the Nasties (just something about it). Razor Face is solid but doesn't always make sense to me as I try to listen to the lyrics. Holiday Inn almost felt like it was an extension of Indian Sunset given its instrumentation; might've been even better if that was the point. This album made me realize I don't really know Elton John's work as much as I think I do but makes me want to go figure it out.

This album grew on me. I've never been huge into Elton John - his hits are good enough, but I never felt I needed to hear anything else. First few listens to this album didn't click either, but eventually I found it growing on me. Definitely a good album, but I don't know that it's one I will go out of my way to listen to again. That usually makes something a 3 in my book, but that doesn't feel right so I'll go with 4. Favorite tracks: Tiny Dancer, Levon, Madman Across the Water, All the Nasties.

Fantastic!! An Elton John album!! With Tiny Dancer and Levon as Tracks 1&2! This should be a good listen! This album moves further into the psychadelic rock genre, while keeping the big band/strings accompaniment. It is definately front loaded, with the back half of the album falling kind of flat. This album is the third of five albums that Elton John released in an 18 month period. Bernie Taupin would write the songs, and Elton would put them to music. I guess Elton was so good at scoring music that Bernie would give Elton lyrics, and within an hour or so Elton would have all of the musical accompaniment figured out. These guys were just a powerhouse duo. Song writing machines!! This record did terrible on the UK charts, and may have been his worst tracking record there. It did better in the US, however. The odd thing is that the song Tiny Dancer was not a single in the UK, and was a single that didn't do that good in the US. It didn't become a smash hit as we see it today until the year 2000, with the release of the movie Almost Famous. The inclusion of that song in this movie made everyone rediscover it again and realize that it was a fantastic song. Tiny Dancer is actually about songwriter Bernie Taupin's then wife Maxine Feibelmenn, who had started touring with them, and was Elton's costume designer: Blue jean baby, LA lady, Seamstress for the band Overall, an excellent Elton album! Dries up towards the end, but is still an excellently produced and scored album just the same! Listening to this album today introduced me to some of Elton's lesser known songs such as Indian Sunset, which is a phenomenal story!! Favourite songs: Tiny Dancer, Levon, Indian Sunset, Holiday Inn, Rotten Peaches Least favourite song: All the Nasties 4/5

There’s definitely a formula to Elton John’s music, but it works! A classic if it ain’t broke approach to song writing.

překvapivě dobré na eltona

Never been Elton John's biggest fan, but I really enjoyed this album quite a bit. The squeaky helium voice is pretty much nonexistent outside of Tiny Dancer, where it fits anyway. So it allowed me to focus on the superior arrangements and songwriting, and now I have a greater level of appreciation for him. Thank you, 1001 Albums. Favorite track: Indian Sunset

A strong album from Elton John with standouts in Tiny Dancer, Levon, Madman Across The Water and All The Nasties.

The distinct lack of helium-voice mode makes this my favorite Elton John studio album to date. It's nice to be able to evaluate him without nails on a chalkboard going on in my head. He's a fantastic storyteller and arranger. Favorite track: Indian Sunset

Tiny Dancer is my favorite Elton John song, and Levon is great. A solid album by one of my favorite artists.

Every time I thought I was leaning towards giving this album 3 stars, Elton would hit me with another beautiful melody. He's an icon and you can't deny it. With that said, I may never listen to this again, but it's still extremely solid.

Anything by Elton is going to get 4 stars. Lots of fun.

Baladas de Elton John. Un megahit. Un 4.

Perhaps it's a bit repetitive, perhaps it's a bit corny, but I like it anyways. It sounds sonically pleasant, and is emotionally gratifying.

Jackson Pollock: I'm back baby after a long hiatus. Tiny dancer to start, ok holl up, let em cook. Ok Levon is really good as well so far. A bit overly dramatic in the chorus, what did I expect. Got a little annoying towards the end because of the over the top nature. Also a weird almost autotune vibe which is annoying. Not a fan of Razor face. Indian sunset is a bit more stripped back so far which is refreshing. Indian sunset good. Holiday inn varied. Best Songs: Tiny Dancer Indian sunset Goodbye Worst songs: Razor face Overall: Some really good tracks in this album. I would also say there is some great variation. Elton and Bernie still don't really resonate with me. Especially Elton who can be overly dramatic/glossy in his melodies/music which grates me over an album. Luckily this album had some change ups from this with Indian Sunset and Goodbye. Tiny Dancer is obviously a great song as well. I think this places the album between a 3 and a 4. To be honest its probably a low 7 which rounds up to a 4.

Pretty maximalist, indulgent arrangements (Gospel choruses, orchestral backing, etc), and leaning into progressive rock territory. Track durations are similarly indulgent, but for the most part are used well - the 2:30 long buildup to the chorus in Tiny Dancer is completely worthwhile. I think Goodbye Yellow Brick Road might be a better executed album, but despite some mid-album filler this album isn't a slouch. Highlights: Tiny Dancer, Levon, Indian Summer 3.75

A bit of a fan. Weak 4 maybe?

More solid than it has any right to be.

Levon never gets old. This is good album. I’m going to start rating stuff one star higher because I feel like I’m low balling everyone.

Great ballads. Elton in his best arrangements

What can I say? It's 1971... sophisticated album; many textures and things happening at the same time. Don't know if I'll repeat it one day, though.

The basic template is repeated throughout and thus grows quite a bit samey, though of course it all sounds softly and expansively pleasant. Mix of steel guitar and full string section on “Tiny Dancer” works well, if oddly. "Levon" is among his best songs. Title cut lacks the dramatic impact Elton seems to be going for, and while string section toward the end is the best part of the song, it manifests the general overreliance on the orchestral effect generally. The song about Native Americans is borderline embarrassing. And did we really need the chorale on “All the Nasties.” Lyrics seem sprawling, nonsensical, non-plausible character sketches. More than meh, but not by much.

Fantastic album. It was dense and I really enjoyed this more that I had anticipated. Good amount of variety to this one, Indian Sunset and Rotten Peaches both had a bit of a Country shine to them and Holiday Inn had a Gaelic/Sea Shanty shimmer to it. Tiny Dancer is obviously great but the title track was awesome as well. This was a nice surprise for me. 4 stars

It's good. Not great, but still solid.

This is just as the album that gave us "Tiny Dancer" and "Levon" should be. It's classic Elton John, and absolutely a nice listen for the day.

I see why people like Elton John now, but Indian Summer isn't an okay song.

LP

One of his finest moments. Kicking off with the all time singer/songwriter classics "Tiny Dancer" and "Levon" is wonderful. The title cut is never given enough love (so it seems) and the last two tracks are some of my favorites in his discography. Elton's singing is great throughout the record.

classic

Better than expected. Of course there’s the memorable Tiny Dancer to start it off. If there’s a theme here, it’s cast outs and lonely people. Excellent production makes each track a treat to listen to. Still not sure if I’m an Elton John fan, but I can understand why people are.

The moment Elton John finally ascended to pop royalty. Bernie Taupin delivers some of his richest, most emotional lyrics and they pair perfectly with Elton’s powerful delivery.

Love Tiny Dancer, and Indian Sunset is always a classic. I Love the piano and Elton John ... Sir Elton John is a treasure. 4/5

Elton John est tout simplement en feu sur cet album. Son implacable homosexualité y est utilisée au meilleur escient possible pour nous produire un projet irrésistible. Du grand Elton.

Elton John est absolument exceptionnel, son homosexualité prononcée lui permet de proposer des sonorités musicales tout bonnement sensationnelles, on t'adore Elton.

Another iconic album.Elton John is such an amazing artist

Always enjoyed Elton John’s music. A few greats on this album, but didn’t love all the songs.

Awesome album. What can go wrong after you start the album with Tiny dancer. Everything else on it might not even be there... but it is slightly lackluster compared to the incredible-super-popular opening hit. Still good, just does not leave such an impact.

good

p236. 1971. Elton before he started strangling his vowels. Great voice, great songs, great production. Still sounds fresh today. Point deducted for some tracks straying to the usual early 70s 5 minutes+ wankage.

Very good

Yapos!

Great!

Never listened to a full Elton John album before this project. He's really an incredible musician and pretty much all his songs are catchy. I thought I'd only heard his super hits but then you listen to an album and they're ALL super hits LOL

Classic

This is just one of several excellent albums that Elton John released in the 1970s. It's striking to see how creatively mature John and his band are, relatively early in their career at this point. I mean, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is 2 years and 3 albums away from Madman Across the Water, and it sounds like he has been doing this for 15 years. Side 1 is ridiculously good, with 3 of John's all time best songs on it ("Levon," "Madman Across the Water," "Tiny Dancer"). Credit where it is also due, to Bernie Taupin's eloquent yet winsome lyrics. For all his natural talent and charisma, the Elton John we all know and love doesn't exist without Taupin. The rest of the album is less spectacular, but how could it not be after those songs? None of John's albums are exactly perfect, but I think the minor flaws actually add to the charm of his music. This album never fails to be a unique and engaging listen, with some stellar deep tracks in the mix. I'm personally fond of "Rotten Peaches" and "Razor Face." He finishes the whole thing just gorgeously with "Goodbye." Fave Songs: Levon, Madman Across the Water, Tiny Dancer, Rotten Peaches, Razor Face, Goodbye

Great album, Elton John really was at the top of his game in the early 70s. Tiny Dancer an awesome song to kick the album off.

Early excellence from Reg

tiny dancer <3

Awesome songs all through this album, with Tiny Dancer obviously being the highlight, one of the greatest songs of all time. Only thing that holds back a 5 star rating for me is the album can get a tad repetitive towards the end.

Fun blend of pop and theatrical elements

Might be my first play through an entire Elton John album. Very impressed. The piano playing is great, and I like the storytelling of the songs.

This album is that kind of stuff you know that is classical and important for music history, even being a little bit repetitive. I'm not an Elton John fan, but his talent is impossible to do not to remark on.

I really enjoyed this one. First good album I've listened to since I started this project.

One of the best

Yndisleg plata. Einfalt mál.

I never owned this album, but I knew a lot of the songs. There were just a few that I was not familiar with at all when I looked at his discography, it's hard to believe that he released two more albums after this before goodbye, yellow brick Road, which is one of my favorite all-time albums.

It’s not quite as good as goodbye yellow brick road but it was still better than almost every punk album I’ve ever gotten on this list. Tiny dancer (obviously) and Indian sunset were the standouts

Wow, this album starts strong with Tiny Dancer and Levon! I've never heard any of the other songs before, but they all have that distinctively catchy Elton flair. I had a fun time with this one today. Even though Elton will always be a greatest hits kind of artist for me, I enjoyed my time going a bit deeper into his catalogue.

Amazing but not my fav album by Reginald.

Hier merk je dan toch het verschil tussen de terecht in vergetelheid geraakte koekenbakkers die deze top-1001 vervuilen, en de echte muziekgrootheden. Van a tot z een fijne, warme en afwisselende luisterervaring. Het stijgt niet naar de vijf sterren van eeuwige genialiteit, maar ik kan me voorstellen dat er Elton John-albums zijn die dat wel doen. Wie weet heeft de buurvrouw van de ouders van Dunnen (waar Elton John altijd langs kwam om te blijven eten) nog luistertips.

Ik krijg deze de dag na George Michael. Leuk om deze twee naast elkaar te zetten. De heren kunnen beide prima zingen en muzikaal klopt het allemaal. Toch is het een easy win for Elton. Hij gebruikt in elk nummer zijn stem en de muziek veel veelzijdiger (zonder uit de band te vliegen). Het wordt hierdoor nooit saai. Het album van Elton is een stuk ouder dan dat van George, maar klinkt veel moderner. Een zeer bekende naam natuurlijk, maar eigenlijk toch een ontdekking voor mij.

Hadden we gisteren zijn makker Sjors, nu Sir Elten Jon zelf. Tot grote vreugde van de oude buurvrouw van Dunnen. Ik kende uiteraard alleen de hit Tiny Dancer. Maar er staan echt hele dikke prima tracks op, die zo op een bluesy of progrock album hadden gekund.

An easy and intimate Sunday morning album.

Great 70s rock 👍

Hyvää musiikkia! Atmosfääreilyssä.. ollaan onnistuneita..

Very good album, very powerful, deep and meaningful

Great album, love Elton. Musically complete, melodic, competent, distinct. Misses a bit of edge as you'd expect

I hadn't listened to this before, it's pretty good!

This is one of my favorite albums, mostly because of the centerpiece, “Indian Sunset”, and the deep cuts. “Madman” and “Tiny Dancer” are great songs, but “Indian Sunset” rises above the rest of this already perfect album. It’s not really what you think of when you think of an Elton song. It’s expansive, serious, and bittersweet, kind of like a grander “Skyline Pigeon” or “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters”. The delicate piano parts giving way to the orchestral finale perfectly evokes not only the sadness and solitude of the Native American warrior but his inevitable and glorious demise. Side B has the deep cuts worth every moment of your time, from “Holiday Inn” through the appropriately-titled final track, “Goodbye”. I just wrap up in this album like it’s a warm blanket.

HOLD ME CLOSER TINY DANCER!

Not as good as Honky Chatau, but fun and full of range

It's a nice album with two big hits in "Levan" and "Tiny Dancer". Rest was nice but didn't exactly pop or warrant a 5 star rating. 8/10.

Love me some Elton John

Tiny Dancer is an all time great banger. The rest of the album is also very strong even though I am not as familiar with the rest of the songs.

One of Elton's finest! For me, the middle child in his early more progressive output that doesn't follow the Americana theme of the other two. Honky Chateau and Tumbleweed Connection are dearer to my heart though. Tiny Dancer feels like the first show of Elton's future pop stardom, the rest of the album suggests a shift forward into this, just not quite yet.

Opening with one of Sir Elton’s best tracks this is prime ‘70s Elton John. Great song writing coupled with fast action pop choruses makes everything feel bigger and better.

It's pretty good, Elton is Elton, you know? Not like amazing but pretty good.

Very good!

This album is a nice change. It's not quite as good as Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, but there's still a lot of great, relatively-easy-listening soft rock going on here. Very piano-driven stuff, great lil melodies and harmony etc etc. I can't say it'd make regular rotation in my flat but it's still a 4/5.

What a great entry from Elton John! This album kicks off with one of Elton's greatest hits of all: Tiny Dancer. Generally speaking, this song is kind of a surprising opener, but it makes makes sense when looked at in the scope of the album. All of the songs on this album tell stories, something that Elton is well known for. The songs all have that signature Elton "flair", as well: a little pop, a little rock, some forward-facing piano, and a lot of glam. But in this era and on this album specifically, all of the songs have a bit of a piano ballad quality about them. While beautiful, I would not describe any of the songs as "fun" -- another adjective sometimes used to describe some of Elton John's later work. And so in this light, Tiny Dancer shines as an excellent album opener. The album has a very cohesive sound; one might even argue a little too cohesive, as a lot of the songs sound really similar. But honestly, for me, this doesn't take away from the enjoyment. The backing band's music is engaging and Elton is simply captivating.

Nice

Amazing voice Arrangements are detailed and complex

4/5 Fun to listen to. Great songs.

Fun times in elton land

An excellent Elton album. First 3 tracks were rocking.

Listened to this album on a run yesterday, and it was great to keep me going and distract me from the pain. Really enjoyed the first half with the obvious bangers, and liked "Indian Sunset" a lot as a more mellow and experimental vibe. Ends on a calming tone, great album

Very nice to hear the whole album at once.

Skrýtið að Tiny Dancer sé eina lagið sem er enn í umferð.

This is primo Elton - his piano playing, vocals, composition...however, I think equal tribute needs to be give to his writing partner Bernie Taupin for the amazing lyrics he writes that inspires Elton's melodies. "Levon" has soaring lines and that unusual word/name is apt for the take-off. The haunting closing track "Goodbye" is waiting for its cinematic moment.

listened to again it's great

Nice

Have heard a lot of 5he tracks. All good.

best - indian sunset worst - all the nasties

Good, but not as good as the first one

4.75

The orchestral arrangements are excellent, the vocals not so much. A few of the songs have a haunting quality.

Tykkään kyllä! Ei mee ykkäspaikalle eltonin levyissä mutta kyllä listaukseni kärkipäähän! 4/5