Madman Across The Water

Really good. Some songs didn’t age well

Rollicking. Like any Elton John album... sometimes a lil too rollicking...

Was ok 3.4

Well mixed, overall a pleasant listen that wasn't for me (yet at least). Loved the build on all you nasties, I'm a sucker for a good choir part.

Elton John. What more needs to be said. Tiny dancer is a hit. 3/5 for me.

Il y a une coupe de bonnes trucs, genee Tiny Dancer et Madman Across the Water. Mais Elton John j'ai essayé souvent sans succès (Honky Chateau et Yellow Brick Road). Ça me semble plus un serial one-hit wonder man. Quand même dans les meilleures tounes de Disney (avec Tarzan), alors respect Sir!

the cheese is strong in this one. still, enigmatic in its own way. there's "Madman Across The Water" which stands out for me.

.

Good album, just not for me

In the present day, Elton John kind of suffers from being one of those musicians who is really thought of as a celebrity before a musician. Sure, everyone knows songs like Rocket Man, Tiny Dancer, and Candle In The Wind, but it kind of feels like he is a little under-listened as far as full albums go. Going into this, I too mostly just knew some of the singles, but I am pleased to report that this has some real highlights on it. The first thing that stuck out to me here is that this is the one with Tiny Dancer, a fantastic song. You've probably heard it: grand and patient and tender. It's worth noting at this point that this phase of Elton John's career can be most helpfully thought of a collaborative effort between himself and lyricist Bernie Taupin. Elton John's songwriting ear, and Taupin's talent for lyrics is a pretty formidible one here. Tiny Dancer is a great example of the fruits of this creative partnership. Miraculously, the rest of side one more or less keeps up with Tiny Dancer's quality. Levon has anpther fantastic chorus, some great piano and some really amazing lyrics. Razor face brings some really cool alternative instrumentation to the mix. And Madman Across The Water (the title track) takes Elton John's glam sound into a darker, proggier space, and the result is really compelling. Unfortunately Side 2 can't quite keep up. Holiday Inn is just fine, and I can take or leave Rotten Peaches and All The Nasties, but the remaining two tracks are worth discussing. Firstly, let us discuss Indian Sunset, and the mess it makes me navigate. Firstly, the *sound* of this song is really good, it is another in a proggier pocket like the title track, and the string arrangements work really well, but none of that is the big thing with this song, let's talk lyrics. So, listening to this, it is clear that it is being written from a well meaning place, and as far as the poetic devices, pacing, and tension goes, it is actually pretty well executed, as in, this is *theoretically* well written. **However** the core narrative concept of this song is such a *fantastically* bad idea that these positives barely matter. Upon seeing this on the tracklist I figured we were in for another 70's and 80's "well meaning but ill advised song about the wrongs leveled against Native Americans (a weirdly common song type for this era). And on some level, it is this, but it is also so much more jaw-dropping. I would honestly urge you to read the lyrics yourself. All I will say is that I'm glad that Bernie Taupin is free from whatever force in his life convinced him that he *needed* to write a song in which Elton John theatrically portrays a young Native American warrior. The last song I would like to discuss here is Goodbye, which is a truly fantastic closer. However it commits the cardinal sin of being unconscionably short. As a whole, I thought this was a little uneven, but it has some really amazing highs and I enjoyed the experience in general.

meh

No ecactly my type, a bit sad

Not a huge piano rock person. The performances shine through that bias, and some of Elton John's best performances are here. I probably won't revisit, but is still worth your time.

Haven't finished it but it was ok, I appreciate the art but isn't really my thing

Terrible cover art. :) Couple great songs, but I wasn't thrilled with all of it. Levon and Tiny Dancer carry. 3.5/5

• 3/5 • A good listen, but far from Elton’s best. Tiny Dancer is great, Levon is good, the rest are forgettable (except Indian Sunset, which is affirmatively bad)

This Elton John album is frontloaded with the hits--the rest of it is pretty meandering. These songs go on for a bit.

Yep !

I'm not an Elton John fan, but I enjoyed this album far more than I had expected.

'Tiny Dancer' is an epically great song and worth 3 stars on its own. The rest of the album is fine.

Starts off extremely well but from there seems to be a collection of too similar sounding songs? Perhaps should give it a few additional listens to appreciate the deeper cuts.

Decent. Not a big ej fan bit this was alright

I think I genuinely need to know more about how music is made to appreciate why this album is special. I had a hard time understanding the words due to the vocalist's enunciation while singing. 5/10. Mediocre to my ears.

Unless the last track is good I think this is a 2/5 deserved the spot on the list given the 1-2 punch of Tiny Dancer and Levon, but the rest does not reach that standard, I also felt like it needed a Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting to give a bit of more life. I liked the ending on All The Nasties so bumping it up to a 3/5 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0a9QlmXzJUA

Ahhh. This felt like 45 minutes of Tiny Dancer. Every song on this sounds the same.

Tiny Dancer is a banger

First of all, the previous auto-generated album was Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. I think there should be a break between Elton John albums. So the question remains, is Elton John just a hit maker, or was he known for his full albums. It seems like time and time again, we get albums that have a few hits and then the rest is a bunch of filler. Elton seems to be pretty successful at getting all his hits at the beginning of the album. I feel like we are not getting albums for the albums as a whole. Oh well, its Elton, and hard knock him for being a hit maker. If it wasn't for this list I would have never heard songs like Razor Face, Rotten Peaches, and All the Nasties. Didn't love it and didn't hate it!

It’s a really good album, but I just don’t think it’s enough to be great. The hits are like, iconic, but the rest of the album tracks are just ok. Not necessarily misses, except maybe the one about the Indians, but just “good”. But overall a good album and experience.

Kicking off with potentially his best ever song (almost feel like it should have been a closer). Rolls into Zevon (never heard before - also great), and then fades into oblivion for me even after multiple listens.

★★★½

To be honest, I found this album fairly boring. Not really bad, just not all that interesting to me. There were a few songs I liked, but really not enough there to make me consider it a particularly good album. I kept zoning out and nothing about it really did much to pull me back in. I'm not the biggest fan of Elton John or his genre, so I'm sure that played a role. I think the similarity in the style for all the songs was part of that too. I can't say there was anything there that I thought was worse than fine. Still, I'm not sure why it's something I need to hear before I die. It was more just OK to me. Overall: 2.8/5

I liked this a little more than Goodbye Yellow Brick Road as it was interesting to see Elton John exploring some darker themes. However, I'm not sure it completely works - Indian Sunset in particular, whilst I'm sure was well intentioned, comes across very poorly. That said the title track and Levon were the real highlights for me.

Strong opening to this album with Tiny Dancer and Levon. I enjoy Elton John's style, and this album is full of it. I saw the album described as done in a prog rock style, and I can hear it, especially in Madman Across the Water. Second half of the album didn't do as much for me, although "All the Nasties" was decent.

This is the one with "Tiny Dancer". Madman Across the Water also features the song "Levon" which I only recognized by the chorus. Yes, you know it, and would agree it's a jam. Aside from the hits, I'm mostly unfamiliar with this album, but Elton John continues to sound like Elton John (good 👍). The performances are great, the lyricism varies ("Indian Sunset") I cannot deny the Elton John is good, but this album hasn't made me a fan.

3.5

Ergh okay. Diana (RIP) loved Elton so I guess I'll give it a bloody try. I did already know I like 'Tiny Dancer', so a fantastic opening track to an album I am a little bit apprehensive about. Madman across the Water showcases the best of Elton's piano playing, and good god is he talented. The issue I have with this album is, the lyrics are obtuse, meaningless and all round not at all compelling. HOWEVER, Elton does a fantastic job of at least making them sound the complete opposite. The whole album follows this theme, because frankly what the fuck is he banging on about. The ONLY song on this album that isn't hobbled by god awful lyricism is 'Tiny Dancer'. Easily the best song on the album and , the strings are powerful and beautiful, and an example to why Elton John was such an unstoppable force in the 70's. Sidenote, why is Jesus brought up so often in this album ? “Jesus freaks out in the street” and “He calls his child Jesus/’Cause he likes the name” and “Jesus he wants to go to Venus” and “Mercy I’m a criminal Jesus I’m the one/Rotting peaches rotting in the sun”, it feels gimmicky and just all round cheap .For me, “Tiny Dancer”, “Levon”, and “Madman Across the Water” are the only songs on the album really worth listening to. For the rest, the lyrics are so uninteresting, and even just fucking atrocious. However, I am astounded at some of the melodic wonders and breath-taking arrangements on Madman Across the Water, musically it's astounding. I did a bit of research into the album to discover (unsurprisingly), the culprit is Bernie Taupin, 'We Built This City' is just one appalling example of all round wank words spouting from that mans metaphorical pen. I wouldn't bother listening to the whole album again. 2.5/5. - HF x Elton John, whilst I know the classics including the opening track of this album, Tiny Dancer, can't say I can remember the last time I listened to a full album. Tiny Dancer speaks for itself, beautiful chord progressions backed by an orchestra of strings and the occasional sharp clean guitar licks, it all coming together for a brilliant chorus, excellent track. Tracks like Levon keep the same energy, leaning on the heavy strings section, verses building up to a big and epic chorus. Razor Face has more of a bluesy feel to it, a welcome addition to prevent the album from sounding too samesy, the addition of bluesy guitar riffs and an electric organ solo make this one of the stand out tracks for me. The albums title track takes the mixture of the strings with distorted heavy guitar cutting through adding a dark melancholy to the chord progression. The rest of the album stays consistent, following the same Elton formula, quiet beginning with the first verse used to build and build up to a large epic chorus, with the occasional drop down to just the base instruments only to pop back up to an epic finale. It's a good album, definitely worth multiple listens, however to put it simply, it's Elton John, you know exactly what you're going to get. 3.2/5 MTW One of my top 3 Elton albums (I believe I covered the other two on the by-numbers Billy Joel record) - this was the first record EJ really started to make waves as a recording artist to be taken seriously. The title track from this one is also my favourite Elton song, so I knew I was going to enjoy having another listen to this after a few years, the last time being the week I went to see the lil fella in Dublin. I find the concept of someone presenting you with lyrics they've written and putting the music to it interesting and often flawed. Whereas bands often bring lyrics to the table either through a main lyricist or as a collective, this songwriting partnership should have more of a divide in it. Taupin's lyrics range from straight forward ('Seamstress for the band' - his first wife was Elton's seamstress) to the downright mysterious throughout. But I'm more of a music & melody man so what I get out of Big Reggie D on this record is a man coming into his own as a composer. From the beautiful string arrangements on Tiny Dancer and Madman, to the hammond organ on the more bluesy-prog numbers like Razor Face and Rotten Peaches (Rick Wakeman if I'm not mistaken), it's a record of it's time but a record in which Elton really starts to strut his stuff. Not his best record, but an enjoyable revisit and a sign of things to come. 3.7/5.

This was a surprisingly enjoyable listen. It’s seems clear George Michael was raised on / influenced by Elton John as several songs the vocal styling could easily pass for later GM. Every time I listen to these albums from the 1960s and 70s I’m reminded how nice songs shaped around a story or narrative can be - reference Indian Sunset. Of course Tiny Dancer. Levon, Madman, and Indian Sunset also strong favorites. Razor Face was trash; All the Nasties also a bit trite. Solid album though. 3/5

Typical Elton John, great songs, good vocals, basic classic rock but in a pleasant way

I always thought his albums were nothing but hits. Kind of surprised me listening to the album. The hits are truly amazing but the album is just ok.

Meh. Three big hits on here. But it all sounds like a dramatic musical then a great album.

It’s so weird to me that Elton John is successful as he is. I can’t imagine hearing this and thinking it would appeal to the masses. Shows what I know. (I really like Elton John and I’m not saying he’s bad at all! I’m just saying people surprise you sometimes.)

3/5 Tiny Dancer, Razor Face, and Madman are very enjoyable, rest of the album is mid to me

Listened while cleaning. Not much to say about this one

Well written, some classics in there but not really anything super special

It's just fine. I appreciate Elton John as an all time great, and he has some fun songs, but they do nothing for me. Pleasant listening. perhaps one day I'll realise exactly what I'm missing out on.

DNF. Tiny dancer is a classic

i think elton john is more of a watch his performances instead of just listening to his music kinda guy. good album but he definitely has better ones. 3.5/5

has its highs and lows but overall quite okay

Who doesn’t love Tiny Dancer? The one problem with this record is that the best 2 songs lead off and the rest just don’t hit the same.

Quintessentially Elton

Couple of great songs in here with tiny dancer and rotten peaches, but everything else mostly melds together into one for me.

All good. Most pretty same-y. Didn’t do a whole lot for me, but the closing of “All the Nasties” caught my attention and was pretty cool. 2.7 / 5

Good stuff but not quite his best

Classic EJ but a little repetitive

As Em pointed out, the song content is a little strange with rotten peaches and razor face, but it's certainly easy listening.

Pretty strong album with a classic opener. It does get same-y though, and Indian Sunset had me rolling my eyes. Best song: Tiny Dancer

Tiny Dancer, title song, Indian Sunset are the standouts.

‘tiny dancer’ will always make me want to throw up and cry because it reminds me of that one scene in "almost famous". i think that really is the best context for elton john’s music—when it provides an opportunity for a lovely kind of camaraderie in which we can all pretend this is good music together<3 i like that he named a song after levon helm because he had a crush on him....in another world elton john was my tumblr mutual. elton you would love to read about the gay sex these people are imagining levon helm having. anyway overall this was actually fine. i’m still not an elton fan but this wasn’t unbearable. not exactly a ringing endorsement, but there you go.

This record starts with 2 fantastic tracks then slopes downward from there.

The first two singles were pretty good. The rest of the album is what I would expect from Elton John.

It had its moments

The album is pretty good, didn’t realize Elton went prog for any of his albums. This one had those elements and i can vibe with the whole thing, but the only Standout tracks personally were Tiny Dance, Levon, and goodbye. Enjoyable but not his best, but I’d listen if it was on. 3 stars seems fair

Elton not my jam, but the album is actually pretty fire.

Tiny Dancer is an obvious hit, and I even forgot how much I've liked that song. How it takes so long to get into a chorus. However, the rest of the album doesn't quite hit the high standards set by the opener. Not to say they're bad, but I don't feel interested in them, so much that I feel like I can't complete this album.

Tiny Dancer is obviously iconic. Don’t really listen to Elton much but he has some strong hits. Impactful. Most songs sound similar, but a cohesive album.

No està mal però tampoc té cap tema super memorable.

Tiny dancer and levon are great. But I gotta say...kinda sounds rhe same by the end. A bit surprising

The first half of this album is really great. The second half is fine. Tiny Dancer is a great opener. The emotions he puts into the title track are great. The ideas in Indian Sunset are interesting but the lyrics somewhat drag it down. Not quite on the same level as the behemoth that was Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, but still good in its own way. Favorites were Tiny Dancer, Levon, and Madman Across The Water.

3/5

Thankfully not too much of his cheesy shit on this one

I know he's legend, but this is not my cup of tea.

Easy listening, but not something I'd reach for

Hold me closer Tiny Dancer!!! Highlight of the album, by far! Rest of the songs don't live up to this standard, which is no shame :-)

No me impresionó más de lo que sabe hacer. Glam. Y a veces creo que lo que va a tocar ya lo oí, si es predecible, muy predecible, no hay sorpresas

As high as Tiny Dancer flies, Indian Sunset sinks as low. What a dumb song.

I like Elton John as much as the next guy, but let's be real with ourselves; if "Tiny Dancer" weren't on this album, would it be on this list? I think not. It's not a bad album though. "Tiny Dancer" is obviously a classic and the most notable track on the album, and the following track "Levon" is also very good. The next two tracks are a bit meh. Starting off the second side we have a cinematic ballad about the plight of the native Americans. This comes across as heartfelt but perhaps a bit tone deaf, especially when the next song begins with how nice it is to be picked up in a limo from the Boston airport on your way to the Holiday Inn. Later on side 2 we get "Rotten Peaches", which I did quite like. This one seems to be a tale of an escaped prisoner on the run lamenting his past mistakes and time wasted in the pen. This feels to be in the same vein as "Indian Sunset" to me but more successful, imo. An enjoyable listen overall with the undeniable charm and excellent talents of Sir Elton John evident throughout the album, although on no track to do they shine so much as on "Tiny Dancer". Beyond that, "Levon" and "Rotten Peaches" stand out for me. Mixed results on the rest. 6.5/10

I’m not a huge Elton John fan to be honest, but I did enjoy some of this album. Favourite track: Tiny Dancer

With one exception, I feel like Elton is more of a singles artist than a album artist however I was decently surprised by this. Nothing groundbreaking but still very enjoyable. Favorite track: Tiny Dancer 3.5/5

2.8 1x catchup 5/28

Started off pleasant enough, the rest drifted into the background until I was jolted to alertness by the lyrics to that Indian Sunset song -yikes!

Just plain ole meh, but giving a 3/5 just for Tiny Dancer

I feel really weird giving this a "mid" review, because it has a couple great songs on it, but other than "Tiny Dancer" and "Levon" nothing else really gripped me. It wasn't that it was "bad" music, just didn't get the same jolt and excitement from the rest of the music. It was just "there". Worked as background music but not something that kept me focused on the songs themselves. Elton's got a fantastic voice, and is definitely one of the all-time greats, but this album as a whole just didn't pull me in the way I expected.

gostei bastante

3/5 I love Elton John, and “Tiny Dancer” is one of my favorites, but I’m not thrilled with a lot of the songs and you just know there are better albums to come.

a good listen, some classic songs.

Feels a bit like a musical soundtrack or rock opera

Nothing really stood out to me aside from Tiny Dancer and a lot of it blurred into one.

Tiny Dancer hits so hard; the rest of the album is okay.

What a start! Two instantly recognizable classics to kick things off though for me things tend to quiet down from there. Love the recording of the piano.

Not his finest, felt like it was Tiny Dancer then a bunch of worse versions of Tiny Dancer

I liked this better than the last Elton John album listened too (Goodbye Yellow Brick Road) but still found it to be overproduced. A couple of the songs are great (Tiny Dancer, Levon) but after getting through those two right off the bat, it sort of feels like listening to a Disney soundtrack.

Great songwriting, great piano playing, a few major standout tracks. Overall, a pretty great album, but by the end I was getting a little tired of the whole Elton John piano ballad thing. Favourite tracks: Tiny Dancer, Madman Across Water

Not as good as I expected but decent

Very good first have the second is just alright 7/10

Jó lemez végig, ezen van a tiny dancer

Very theatrical but Elton John is so good. 3

Some great strings and production that really help some of the strongest (and most ominous) songs shine.

The bulk of these songs are meh, besides the obvious two bangers on the beginning of the album.

My First Elton John album ever! I enjoyed tracks 1, 3, 4, and 5 the most. His use of orchestral instruments is my favorite thing, I think. I admire a less traditional (if you can even say that) approach to pop. There are beautiful elements and details in a lot of the songs, specifically thinking of the little organ in Razor Face or the strings in Indian Sunset. I feel like I got a little lost in the second half, something was missing for me and I can't put my finger on what. Regardless, Elton John is an iconic name, and I can start to see why. There is grandeur behind his songs, AND he seems to be a big personality with great fashion taste. That is going to breed a powerful celebrity!

Hold Me Closer, Tiny Dancer; Count The Headlights On The Highway 1001 Albums Generator 22 (05/02/2025) Madman Across The Water is the fourth studio album by British pianist, singer, and songwriter Elton John. It was far from hit when it released, peaking at #41 in John's home country of the UK, although it did perform significantly better in the US, peaking at #8. Although Wikipedia repeatedly refers to this album as prog rock, I have trouble seeing it. While it does feature elements of progressive pop, I do not see much in common with this album and yesterday's album, In The Court Of The Crimson King, which is pretty much the quintessential prog rock album. Genre labels aside, I was not familiar with this album, other than the marvelous Tiny Dancer, so I was excited to get into it and listen to my first Elton John album. This album is quite top-heavy. The first two songs (which were also the two singles released before the album) are pretty much the two strongest songs here. Tiny Dancer, the opener, is obviously a classic for a reason. I love that it takes so long to get the the first chorus, going through an intro, two verses, a middle 8, and a pre-chorus before finally getting to it. This song was actually a slow-burn single, not reaching high levels of popularity right away, in part due to this strange structure and relatively long run time. Recall, this was 4 years before Queen revolutionized what a rock single could be with Bohemian Rhapsody. Anyway, Tiny Dancer exemplifies the strengths of this album: great piano playing and singing from Elton, fun soft rock slide guitar, and lush baroque orchestration. Side note: I heard a shitty remix of this song at the gym and it killed me as all the tension that builds in the original was completely vanquished. The second single, Levon, while not as strong, is much of the same. The ending of this song is just epic and feels more like the ending of an album than the second song on one. By the way, we are 11 and a half minutes in and I haven't heard a second of prog rock. Wikipedia, what are you doing? The rest of the album is not near the quality of its first two tracks. The rest of the A side is okay, with Razor Face having a bit of a tedious tempo but featuring cool organ work from the talented Rick Wakeman and an accordion solo and the title track having some interesting guitar work but not much else going for it. Indian Sunset is another interesting point in the album. Although it is also slower, it features a good structure and tells the story of an American Indian who is at war with some unnamed white European. This is by far the closest the album gets to prog, but I would still argue it's with a distinctly pop flavor. The rest of the album kind of washes over me. Nothing in the last four songs stuck out, and this is emblematic of an issue that I have with piano-led rock music in general. I play both piano and guitar (and I love both), but I think that the guitar, in general, is a more diverse instrument. This is obviously no fault of Elton John, who is able to make the piano his bitch with the best of them, but it is truly just personal preference. Madman Across The Water was my first Elton John album, and with such a strong opening, it felt like a great way to start my journey into his discography. However a lackluster second half prevents the album from greatness. 3/5. Favs: Tiny Dancer Levon Madman Across The Water Least Fav: Rotten Peaches

Good album, a bit slow at points. But proggy in the way of slow Supertramp ballads on Crime. 3.5

This was a solid album and is a good album for this list, considering Elton John's influence on pop music, as a whole. Elton John isn't exactly *my* style of music but I can appreciate the talent.

It’s like if tiny dancer was an entire album. 6/10

Who doesn't like Elton John?

It’s good have a few hits

Grandeur AND subtlety! My first time listening to an Elton John album. Loved the string arrangements. Never noticed the country-isms in Elton’s voice before.

I like Sir Elton. I didn’t think this was that great.

I am an Elton fan and I’m perplexed by this album’s inclusion. For an artist to have multiple entries, they should all be exceptional works and this one doesn’t have the qualities of a Goodbye Yellow Brick Road for me. It’s not a bad album, just not a transcendent one. Tiny Dancer and Levon are incredible songs that anybody would make lifelong careers if those were the only hit songs they had.

I gave it 3 stars due to Tiny Dancer. It says that this is his prog album but I’m not hearing much of that genre.

Great retrospective of the depth of talent Elton is

Why did I assume this was going to be a 5 star album? Good, but not 5 stars.

Started strong

Nigdy nie będę jego wielkim fanem po za kilkoma utworami

Tiny dancer has been stuck in my head since. Always makes me think of that scene in Almost Famous. Levon also stood out

Not huge on Sir Elton Hercules John, so wasn't expecting a lot from a whole album by him and his voice. It turns out I was pleasantly surprised though. It goes a bit wrong after the boring and racially clumsy 'Indian Sunset', but the first leg was great!

I've read a lot of negative reviews for this album being simply too Elton John-y. I'm not a regular listener of Elton's work either but I think the wrap this album gets doesn't lend much of any credit that it's due. While I don't think it necessarily deserves high critical acclaim for lyricism or concept, I do think it's a pretty killer track list. What I'd say it has going for it is belt-ability. If you don't sing the chorus of Tiny Dancer at top volume any time it's on, I'm thinking one of two things, you're either completely tone deaf or you're a clinical psychopath. Maybe that's just me but that tune absolutely slaps. To be fair, most critics of this album ultimately give credit to the one hit single. Credit is also due for Levon.

i don’t think he has the ability to make a bad song fav song: tiny dancer duh

It's alright! But I'm missing some of the passion and energy that Elton John is known for. It's like he's keeping his power under control.

Comparing only to yellow brick road, I think this one is slightly less good. The power ballad really needs oompf and here there is less of that. Great opener, Elton can definitely sing and play. Then there's Indian summer making a flawed if still rightfully tragic representationof the subject matter. But all throughout I was never annoyed so an ok rating it is.

Couple of good tunes but not much more. Inoffensive but not particularly interesting

I don't know why Elton doesn't fully move me. I like "Tiny Dancer" and the sound of a few others on here, like "Razor Face," "Rotten Peaches", "All the Nasties." But overall I don't feel too connected to these songs, and while I like the piano, in general I don't feel too inspired by this album.

I'm not a huge Elton John fan. I like the orchestration.

Amin my youth, I really enjoyed Elton John. That opinion has waned over the years with exposure to more music as well as natural shifts in interests. Levon will always be a jam though.

Love Elton John but this one ran out of gas quick. "Tiny Dancer" and "Levon" saved this from being a two. (Would have given an extra star if the lyrics had actually included "Tony Danza".)

Agree with all of the above. A few great songs stand out…the rest just fade into the background.

A tale of two sides. Side one is great. Tiny Dancer, Levon and MMATW are head and shoulders above anything else on the album. Once they turn the corner you got a lot of stock Elton Johnisms, mediocre melodies and the worst tendencies of Bernie Taupin - what the hell is he talking about? The lyric free LA LA LAS that end Rotten Peaches are the highpoint. The great tracks lift this album but no classic this...

авторские от 71, смежные от 95 и это прикольно, т к более менее свежий звук. в остальном скучная попсовая фигня, но качественная

Another solid record. Starts strong kinda gets repetitive as it goes on.

45/1001 Much like Billy Joel, Elton John is an artist where I own his albums, understand his popularity, but only like a selection of tracks. Enough to make a decent greatest hits, but not enough to enjoy most of his albums from start to finish. This is definitely one of his best long players, maybe just behind Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, but listening to it again, I think I've worked out why Elton never really clicked for me. It's the "I just do the music, he does the lyrics" thing. He could be singing a shopping list, the end result would ultimately be the same - there's a subtle disconnect between the artist and the song that I pick up on, that makes it all seem a bit sterile and false. He's great at what he does - and who can't warm just a little bit to the likes of Tiny Dancer? - but there is always just that special something missing for me. It becomes very samey the further you delve - the arrangements lose their impact when you imagine they are all just "things bolted on to a guy sat singing at a piano" to make it more interesting rather than some grand vision which was seen through from conception to production (disclaimer: I may be wrong, but that is how it always feels to me). Decent, but ultimately a bit bland for my taste - I'm feeling generous because the sun is shining so I'll give it a three.

Just didn’t grab me.

I've always thought of Elton John as a "greatest hits" kind of artist and this album didn't dissuade me from that. It's solid, but I can't see myself coming back to this on a regular basis except to listen to Tiny Dancer and Levon.

הפקה פצצה, תזמור מדהים כן הרגשתי רפטטיביות

Has some charm have to say. Bit same-y with the song. John was clearly a pianist. Loved the bit more epic pieces. 'Indian sunset' was a facinating song. Need to learn the story behind the song if there is one. Has a good singing voice.

Tiny Dancer // Levon // Indian Sunset // All The Nasties // 3.5/5

Have on vinyl: No Rating: 8 Fav Song: Tiny Dancer Notes: Indian Sunset...did not age well

Tiny Dancer, all time great track. Great musicality throughout. Although probably not an album that would find itself in a regular rotation for me, I appreciate the quality. I never have to hear Indian Sunset again.

Decent album, love tiny dancer 6/10

My second Elton John album. It was good, but I found myself liking it a little less than Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Overall- still a good album

5/10

Not my favorite. Some good singles.

2.5/5 I like Elton John and Tiny Dancer is a wonderful song. But the rest didn’t cut it for me. I can’t say it’s bad or that I hated it. It just felt un cohesive and all a bit the same. Not the worst album in this list, but I was expecting a bit better from him.

I had only heard Tiny Dancer from this album before and nothing else. And it's now no longer my fave track from the album. That honor now goes to the title track. Rotten Peaches was another standout too.

Tiny Dancer is damned near a perfect song. And straight into Levon in a quick 1-2 punch out of the gate. Indian Sunset is a great centerpiece here. I kept feeling like the piano plonk on All The Nasties was going to drop back into Tiny Dancer with the familiar melody. Ultimately this is a fine album with some high quality songs inside of it. Elton's voice is a natural beauty and easy on the ears. That said, a lot of this one falls into a space of indifference for me. So for my personal interest this is a low 3.

Starting w/ Tiny Dancer is a move. Feel like it should be a closer but not complaining. Whoa I've heard Indian Sunset on the Tupac song Ghetto Gospel. Never knew it was from this! That's fun. Not a whole lot stood out on this one minus Tiny Dancer, but it was all pretty enjoyable.

Surprisingly underwhelmed

A nice record that stands the test of time. Maybe some topics are a bit outdated but the music is great.

Ihan kelpoa musiikkia, Tiny Danceria voinee kuunnella toistekin, mutta muuten aika taustamusiikiksi jäi omalla kohdalla muu kokonaisuus.

Its Elton so pretty good but not his best album

Some good piano ballads, unsurprisingly, but didn't really grab or move me beyond the first song or two..

good listen

A little less rocky than I expected, but enjoyed it.

I wanted to like this more than I found I did. If halves were an option it'd be 3.5.

Pretty good, I enjoyed working while listening to this

Decent.

Pretty solid.

A little disappointed tbh! Good stuff but didn’t blow me away by any means.

She just died? Wow. I didn't know that. You're telling me now for the first time. She led an amazing life. What else can you say? She was an amazing woman. Whether you agreed or not, she was an amazing woman who led an amazing life. I'm actually saddened to hear that. I am sadden to hear that. Thank you very much.

I really know only the hits of Elton John, but I like them all moderately well. They do sound pretty same-y to me though. Pretty impressive that he managed to sound basically the same for so long! Highlights: 'Tiny Dancer' (with thanks for giving us a classic mondegreen example), 'All the Nasties'

Rokahtavaa poppia. Aika perus sillein, ei oikein keksi muuta. Parhaat: Tiny Dancer, Levon

This was good. Tiny Dancer and Levon are all timers for sure. The rest of the songs are all pretty solid, but except Indian Sunset, that one wasn’t great.

Listenable, certainly, but not exciting. Very apt for a European listener in February 2025, though.

First time listening to this one, apart from “Tiny Dancer”. Must say that I didn’t find the rest of the album to be that great or interesting.

If Tiny Dancer was extended into an LP. Exactly 7/10

The album intros with a giant classic that everyone knows the first line of, "Tiny Dancer" is just 70's singer/songwriter royalty. (I own the book "Hold Me Closer, Tony Danza" which is about misheard lyrics). Then you roll into "Levon", which is one of those songs that just has something, it makes you curious about the title character & it's so easy to sing along with. "Madman Across The Water" is another radio staple, completing the hit song trifecta. The glue songs, many of which are longer tracks at over 5-6 mins, range from the catchy "Razor Face" to the solemn "Indian Sunset" and the coulda-been-a-hit "Rotten Peaches". Not sure this would make my Top 1001 but I enjoyed hearing it all, no bad tracks. 3.5 Stars

Listening to this brings back memories of being a wee lad.

Surprised by a few bangers. But the album overall...mids.

A few cracking songs on this. A little samey though.

3 out of 5. Solid album, very fantastic.

Sir Elton is obviously a great singer and musician and Bernie Taupin's lyrics are good, mostly. Tiny Dancer is a classic track with or without Almost Famous. Levon is also good. The rest of the album is OK.

"Tiny Dancer" and "Levon" are both bangers that are a little too long. The next two songs are pretty good and also a little too long. "Indian Sunset" is one of the most jarring, bewildering listening experiences I've had in a minute. And it's too long. Taupin will write some evocative, interesting lines, but I found a lot of the lyrics on this album opaque and strange as a whole. Elton gives it his all on vocals and piano, although I'd like more variety in the instrumentation. And almost all of the songs are too long.

I’ve only ever really listened to Elton Johns greatest hits and his well known stuff. It was nice to listen to some of his discography in entirety very refreshing

a peculiar group of songs, though they're pleasant and tiny dancer is great closing track was pretty too

Some good songs on here, but overall it passed me by without any 'wow' moments.

Some good tunes, and a lot that didn't really hit the spot. Nothing I actively disliked though.

Sounded good a few highlights But a Bit repetetive

Hold me closer, Tony Danza

Yaaay elton

Elton John's 1971 album *Madman Across the Water* remains a fascinating artifact of his early career, bridging his transition from cult singer-songwriter to global superstar. While not an immediate commercial success, the album has since been reappraised as a pivotal work that showcases John’s burgeoning artistry alongside lyricist Bernie Taupin. Below, we dissect the album’s lyrical content, musical innovation, production choices, thematic depth, and enduring influence, while weighing its strengths and weaknesses. --- ## **Lyrics: A Mixed Bag of Poetry and Obtuseness** Bernie Taupin’s lyrics on *Madman Across the Water* polarize listeners. Critics often deride them as pretentious or nonsensical, exemplified by lines like *“Is the nightmare black or are the windows painted?”* from the title track [1][4]. Tracks such as *“Rotten Peaches”* and *“Razor Face”* suffer from clumsy phrasing (e.g., *“Razor face, amazing grace”*) that even Elton’s vocal charisma struggles to redeem [4][8]. However, Taupin occasionally strikes gold: *“Levon”* poignantly explores generational conflict (*“He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas Day / When the New York Times said God is dead”*) [8][9], while *“Indian Sunset”* ambitiously narrates Indigenous displacement, despite historical inaccuracies [4][8]. Taupin’s tendency toward abstraction—dubbed “jibber jabber” by detractors—dominates much of the album [4]. Yet, John’s emotive delivery often elevates these lyrics, as in *“Tiny Dancer,”* where vague imagery (*“Blue-jean baby, L.A. lady”*) becomes hauntingly evocative through melody [6][7]. --- ## **Music: Baroque Grandeur Meets Raw Emotion** Musically, *Madman Across the Water* blends orchestral grandeur with rock and country flourishes. The album opens with *“Tiny Dancer,”* a piano-driven ballad enriched by Paul Buckmaster’s lush strings, which frame John’s soaring vocals [6][7]. The title track stands out for its brooding acoustic guitar foundation and dramatic crescendos, a departure from John’s usual piano-centric style [1][2]. Highlights include: - **“Levon”**: A gospel-tinged anthem with a cascading piano riff and Rick Wakeman’s Hammond organ accents [7][9]. - **“Indian Sunset”**: A six-minute epic blending operatic vocals, tribal rhythms, and cinematic orchestration [4][8]. However, the album’s second half falters. *“Holiday Inn”* and *“Goodbye”* feel underdeveloped, with repetitive melodies that lack the spark of earlier tracks [3][5]. *“All the Nasties”*—a choral critique of critics—comes across as self-indulgent [8]. --- ## **Production: Orchestral Ambition and Experimental Flair** Produced by Gus Dudgeon, *Madman* is defined by its lavish arrangements. Paul Buckmaster’s strings and synthesizers add theatricality, particularly on *“Madman Across the Water”* and *“Indian Sunset”* [1][7]. The decision to prioritize acoustic guitar on the title track created a haunting, textured soundscape that remains unique in John’s catalog [1][2]. That said, the production occasionally overwhelms. The orchestration on *“Tiny Dancer”* borders on saccharine, and the extended jam on *“Razor Face”* (included in later reissues) disrupts the album’s flow [7][9]. The 2022 50th Anniversary Edition remaster improves clarity, revealing subtleties in the original recording [10]. --- ## **Themes: Paranoia, Identity, and Dislocation** The album delves into dark, introspective themes: - **Isolation**: The titular *“Madman”* embodies existential dread, with John singing from the perspective of a societal outcast [1][7]. - **Cultural Erasure**: *“Indian Sunset”* critiques colonialism, albeit through a flawed, romanticized lens [4][8]. - **Artistic Struggle**: *“Levon”* and *“All the Nasties”* reflect Taupin and John’s frustrations with fame and criticism [8][9]. These themes resonate with the early ’70s zeitgeist, capturing post-’60s disillusionment and the search for identity [2][6]. --- ## **Influence: A Stepping Stone to Stardom** Though initially a commercial disappointment (peaking at No. 41 in the UK), *Madman* laid groundwork for John’s ’70s dominance. Its orchestral-rock hybrid influenced later works like *Goodbye Yellow Brick Road*, while *“Tiny Dancer”* became a cultural touchstone, featured in films and tours decades later [6][7]. The album also marked John’s final collaboration with producer Dudgeon before transitioning to a more band-oriented sound on *Honky Château* [2][8]. --- ## **Pros and Cons** **Pros**: - **Timeless Tracks**: *“Tiny Dancer,”* *“Levon,”* and *“Madman Across the Water”* are career-defining masterpieces [6][7][9]. - **Orchestral Innovation**: Buckmaster’s arrangements remain daring and influential [1][7]. - **Emotional Depth**: John’s vocal performances convey raw vulnerability, elevating Taupin’s uneven lyrics [4][8]. **Cons**: - **Lyrical Inconsistency**: Taupin’s abstract wordplay often alienates rather than enchants [4][8]. - **Filler Tracks**: The second half lacks the cohesion and energy of Side One [3][5]. - **Overproduction**: Some songs drown in excessive orchestration [9][10]. --- ## **Legacy** *Madman Across the Water* endures as a flawed but essential chapter in Elton John’s discography. Its bold experimentation paved the way for his ’70s triumphs, while its standout tracks remain concert staples. The 2022 reissue reaffirms its status, offering fans deeper insight into its creation [6][10]. For all its imperfections, the album captures a pivotal artist on the cusp of greatness, unafraid to take risks—even when they don’t fully pay off.

I really enjoyed this album; it was a pleasant listen with some great lyrics and melodies. It will be listened to again. I felt it lacked a couple of killer hits for it to be anything more than a 3/5 Favourite song: Tiny Dancer is a belter. Least favourite: "All the nasties" was a bit naff Album artwork: Cool cover.

A few great songs and a few forgettable ones

Other than the specular opener which is iconic, the rest of the album is more of a run of the mill output from Sir Elton.

A fun listen but other than Tiny Dancer and the title track nothing really grabbed my attention

Not a huge fan of Elton John mainly because, as with Elvis Costello, I don't like his voice. 1971 was clearly a prolific year for EJ with this being his 3rd album that year. Favourite tracks are Tiny Dancer and Madman Across the Water. For me the musicians who contribute to this album bump up the overall score, most notably Rick Wakeman and the exquisite bass playing of the now late Herbie Flowers. Obviously some dodgy numbers e.g. Indian Summer. But overall some good tracks make it a 3 1/2 for me.

My issue with Elton John continues: I can appreciate the skill (tiny dancer especially) but it’s just not for me

Tiny Dancer, what a song. At album length, the piano ham-fisting is too much for me though.

Decent sounding gospel record from Elton John. That's not alot of stuff I could say about it other than it being just a collection of songs that displayed alot of Ellton's songwriting craft. It had alot of soul and gospel elements and ranged a bunch of stories of different varieties. It's not something i care for but its still a decent record

Elton is a great artist and has such a smooth voice. Tiny Dancer alone might have pushed this to 4 but I think its just generally good and not all the way up there as a whole

Fine, guys a beast - I'm meh on the whole piano thing

Nice album - Tiny Dancer the obvious high point.

Good. Not my style though.

Starts off with Tiny Dancer, a classic. As a reluctant Elton John listener, it feels karmic that I’d be served up one of his albums first. Only 9 songs. Will listen on the way to work and throughout the day!

Peak Elton John. Not exactly my type of music -- some great songs and some absolute dudes ("Rotten Peaches" sounds like a Dana Carver impersonation)

“Indian Sunset“ and “Tiny Dancerl were highlights, also the backing vocals on "All the Nasties".

tiny dancer <3

Litt tregt, men bra komponert!

Some perfectly good stuff; some bizarre things like "Rotten Peaches."

eh

There are obviously some classics on here but it's just not really my thing

Elton John is great. Bernie Taupin is a horrible lyricist.

What a way to start an album! Really liked the orchestral elements on the titular track, Madman Across the Water. Guy just knows how to belt a tune. Fav Tracks: Tiny Dancer, Madman Across the Water Least Fav Tracks: Levon, All the Nasties

I am aware of the historical impact of this album for Elton John and enjoyed it as this was my first listen (other than the hit singles obviously). Not one I would add to my vinyl collection though it was interesting

A good listen, but the entire album felt a little basic for Elton. Putting Tiny Dancer first track in the album didn’t do this album any justice either. Nothing else felt like it could rise to the same greatness of that song. I come away being rather neutral on this specific album.

Not his best album

Klassisk feelgood album. Solid start med Tiny Dancer og Levon, men falle litt etter det for min del. Vil gjerne like det, men ikke helt min greie

260/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

Heard it before. Tiny Dancer is an absolute classic and makes me emotional, one of my favourite songs by Elton. The title track is another highlight of the album. Overall a nice album. 3/5

Tiny Dancer and some other tunes that can play in a smokey bar.

falleg lög. dansarinn ber af. 3,5.

Have listened to this before, just relistened to my favorites a few weeks ago. Some of his best songs are on here, unfortunately they're all in the 1st half. Levon, Tiny Dancer and the title track all go so hard, but I feel like the deep cuts on this don't really shine. Razor Face and Holiday Inn are just ok. I have a soft spot for Indian Sunset but it hasn't aged well. Rotten Peaches is classic bad-Elton: overlong, corny, and melodramatic. Still, the man can play a piano

catchy pop but not songs that particularly spoke to me or even really were earworms. i had to put on antony and the johnsons (or just ANOHNI) for what a good catchy piaano ballad was for me.

La droga ha fatto un sacco di lavoro qua

A very dense album. No fluff or filler. A little melancholy for my taste. But a good album lverall

This album and I did not vibe. Good album tho.

Very good, after all it’s Elton John.

solid album, love me some elton john. there were a few songs that didn’t really speak to me, but overall the album felt like a warm hug. perfect road trip music but i don’t know if i can see it going on my regular rotation otherwise

1st listen: Tiny Dancer - 9/10, classic, great song, really like the strings Levon - 8/10 Razor Face - 7/10, cool harmonica section Madman Across the Water - 8/10, nice production Indian Sunset- 8/10 Holiday Inn - 6/10, not a fan Rotten Peaches - 7.5, fun All the nasties - 7.5 Goodbye - 7.5, alright closer Overall: Good piano rock, 70

wow leading off with Tiny Dancer. Razor Face? the title track is good. They are all these really grand dramatic songs, which, idk sort of loses me because they all get to the same sorts of places.

Although I definitely enjoy some Elton John songs (and his image as a whole), I wasn't very drawn to this album. "Tiny Dancer" is a hard act to follow and remains my favorite song off the album. Honorable mentions to "All the Nasties" and "Rock Me When He's Gone" (which I think only got added when the Deluxe Edition was released). Who knows though, maybe it'll grow on me! And for whatever reason, I like the simplicity of the album cover.

Same as Neil Young, didn't like this when I was young but now I hear the quality in it

Very enjoyable…

Strong memories of this LP in my parents collection. Strong arrangements, strong performer, bit meh

Tiny Dancer and Levon are two great songs. The rest are kind average to poor.

Like I've stated before, Elton John has a whole load of hits under his belt, but his individual albums are fairly weak. I think this album is a good example of that. 'Tiny Dancer' is a really good song, and while the rest are not bad per-se, they are not anything that really takes your breath away.

Nothing against Elton John as an artist or piano-rock as a genre, I just wish every track on this album was as good as the opener. "Tiny Dancer" is remarkable, the rest is also good, just not great.

Tiny Dancer is a classic. But some of the other lyrics are so weirdly lacking in any engaging imagery or linguistic cleverness. Songs like Levon and Razor Face go all out with bombast, orchestral arrangements and Elton John howling and whatnot... but the words coming out just don't do anything. I get there are character driven storytelling songwriters, but these are just so utterly devoid of any captivating images or any perceivable meaning. I just can't think of any musical genius that could make me have an emotional response to the life of Levon - no matter how many times Elton John insists of the listener by the incessant repetition of his name. Tiny Dancer, title track and All the Nasties kind of make up for it.

It’s a great album. There are definitely a few in here that I could stand without. I prefer Goodbye Yellow Brick Road a bit more. 3.5/5

So wild that tiny dancer is the first track! I would have expected it to be the finale on an album or something. There are some other decent tracks on this one. I'm not a big Elton John fan but sometimes one of his tracks will hook you; tiny dancer had definitely done that, and i think some of the others on this album have the potential to. I particularly enjoyed Levon.

Nice chill feel good album fav song Levon

Yeah, yeah, I guess, Tiny Dancer is a five star song. The rest of the album didn’t grab me and was fine. Elton always seems to be around in pop culture in one way or another. Do I take them for granted? Maybe. Although one thing I love and respect about Elton is that they seem to genuinely be a fan of music in the context of a consumer/enjoyer of pop music (did I see that in a Tower Records documentary?).

Not the best Elton John, but still Elton John. Some good stuff here and also a long misguided song about an Indian.

I always thought that this was one of Elton’s least well regarded albums and his least personal favorite. But it’s got Tiny Dancer on it, so I guess it goes on the list. I was surprised to see this on here, and surprised it’s so highly rated. That being said, this was fine. Tony Dancer and a bunch of unremarkable songs that were all threes.

ok

It's OK, but not a great album as a whole - should be called "Tiny Dancer & other songs". I'm not a fan of Elton John as I find him too melodramatic and musical-theatre-like. Obviously Tiny Dancer is a classic. I liked the one about Rotten Peaches, but some of the lyrics about Native Americans on "Indian Sunset" don't hold up and the parts about a city boy becoming a city man on All The Nasties sounded sooo dramatic.

27/11/24 It wasn't great.

I didn’t get through all 3 discs but I don’t really need to hear all the piano demos to understand Elton John. A solid album, obviously Tiny Dancer is the main highlight, but Holiday Inn is another favorite.

Rolling like Thunder! Under the covors! *fjärtljud*

Pretty good, of course with Elton John this isn't surprising. A bit long and dragging at times, but it might just be because I'm not used to songs over 5 minutes anymore.

I like Elton's voice but for me the lp lacked a bit of edge

Bang on three, decent.

3.5 I feel like any early Elton album is at least this good just from his voice.. Piano parts feel perhaps slightly repetitive but the vocals drag this up.

I've never really considered myself an Elton fan and while this album has not changed that, I did really like a couple tracks. Tiny Dancer is a classic of course, and i liked Levon.

I got whiplash going from Pantera to Elton John. Tiny Dancer is a great opener, but I'm not sure the rest measures up to it. I like Elton, but this album didn't quite do it for me. Rotten peaches convinced me Elton can sing about anything.

Like the other Elton John album I listened to a while back, this is OK without really standing out in any way. Tiny Dancer reminds me of early Jackson Browne, which is no bad thing, but beyond that it’s all a bit bland. I can’t quite make up my mind about Indian Sunset. I suppose benefit of the doubt is reasonable, but it still feels a bit off 50 years later. Just a bit meh really

Pretty good album but not my favorite of his.

Killer opener. Can't argue. But genius over an entire album is tricky. Elton albums are different from Elton singles.

GOod music, but unfortunately boring.

'Tiny Dancer' is a great song, but listening to this album felt like repeatedly listening to 'Tiny Dancer', for better or worse. Many of these songs sort of groove the same way, with those light piano keys and the subtle touches of string that build alongside the tracks. 'Madman Across The Water' was a nice change of pace and 'Indian Sunset' was epic in stature, and has John shedding light on American atrocities towards the natives. 'All The Nasties' had a nice gospel passage closing it out - might be my favorite moment on the album. I do wish more songs stuck out, songs like 'Holiday Inn' and 'Razor Face', while nice on the ears, just tread the same water as many other songs here. I definitely enjoyed the diversity of an album like 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' more.

Looking over the tracklist, I was only familiar with one of the songs. This wasn't a good sign, as Elton John is all about the hits. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how well crafted and cohesive this album was. Not very many highlights, but a very good album listening experience. Key tracks: Tiny Dancer Indian Summer

Happy this is shorter than Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. First two songs are the ones to listen to, the rest is good if you like Elton, but meh for me.

Levon gives it an extra star

Klare aldri å bli heilt venn med Elton

eh. no real strong feelings. unfortunately the big song was right at the beginning, and you know how that goes!

eh, this one was fine. tiny dancer is a good song, levon and madman across the water were pretty good, and the rest ranged from uncomfortable to forgettable to bad. i didn't really grow up with elton john and trying to find an accessible way to enjoy his music in my 30s is tough. all these songs feel really similar and each one is about 2-3 minutes too long. i will say the album cover is pretty cool though. favorites: tiny dancer, levon, madman across the water

General impression: I love him, but as a whole, I only like this album. Detailed review: Let’s get this out of the way — there are three perfect, 5/5 songs on this album: “Tiny Dancer” (obviously), “Levon,” and “Madman Across the Water.” These songs rule. The other six tracks, though, while featuring great arrangements and great singing, are merely good. There aren’t many hooks. “Razor Face” is okay, “Holiday Inn” is pretty good, “Indian Sunset” is cringey as hell, and the rest are pretty forgettable. I think the Elton/Bernie combo increased their hit rate as time went on, writing more memorable melodies. They’re some of the best songwriters ever. But on this earlier release, the quality isn’t very consistent. Deeper thoughts (context): not really Score: 3 Number of albums left to review: 966 Number of albums from the list I’d consider “must-listens”: 19 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 16 (including this one) General impression: I love him, but as a whole, I only like this album. Detailed review: Let’s get this out of the way — there are three perfect, 5/5 songs on this album: “Tiny Dancer” (obviously), “Levon,” and “Madman Across the Water.” These songs rule. The other six tracks, though, while featuring great arrangements and great singing, are merely good. There aren’t many hooks. “Razor Face” is okay, “Holiday Inn” is pretty good, “Indian Sunset” is cringey as hell, and the rest are pretty forgettable. I think the Elton/Bernie combo increased their hit rate as time went on, writing more memorable melodies. They’re some of the best songwriters ever. But on this earlier release, the quality isn’t very consistent. Deeper thoughts (context): not really Score: 3 Number of albums left to review: 966 Number of albums from the list I’d consider “must-listens”: 19 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 16 (including this one)

Love Levon

Clean production nice vocals some cool instrumentation. Nothing too special but I enjoyed my time 7.2/10

got some real classics on here. makes you remember why someone is as well regarded as they are. didn't super jump out at me though, no offence

3.5

This album made me realise that Elton's voice is really the weak point in his music (for me). The musicality and of course the lyrics are excellent, but after a while his voice grates on me. Nice album but it felt all a bit same same and that's mostly due to his voice. I'll probably just stick to the greatest hits rather than listening to another of his albums end to end.

This is better than expected, but I still don’t love it. There’s a ton to like, loads of quality. This record follows the 70s epic story telling style of pop song. Similar to Billy Joel, but way, way, way more elaborate. I don’t dislike this. I just don’t enjoy listening to it all that much. Not really made for casual listening. There’s quality, it’s just very dramatic.

This album is carried by tiny dancer, but to be honest I think that’s enough for this to make the list.

Pleasant but I don’t really care.

Ignore that other review, this website does dumb things like keep previous reviews. EJ here starts his journey and I’m here for it.

Ho hum. This kind of album suffers from the other wonderful stuff that's around it.

Elton John has created some of my all time favorite songs. But his singles are often better than listening to his albums. At least in my opinion. So many forgettable tunes on this and one that’s embracing. But the bangers are just so good. 3.5/5

alright, has a lot of his iconic songs. kind of all over the place, but great nonetheless.

Good

Very samey sounding but the latter half is worth it. Still not a massive fan of Elton's voice. Pristine production

Kicsit kevesebb teatralitás lehet, jól tett volna neki...

szóval van rajta pár tényleg jó szám, de nekem olyan egyformának tűntek, hogy sokkal hosszabbnak éreztem az albumot mint amilyen.

3.5/5

The piano work is, obviously, top notch. Starts off with a banger, Tiny Dancer. Rest of the album is not bad, just ok. It's kind of a let down after the first track, though. Best song: Tiny Dancer

It was alright, probably merits a second listen

Great voice and lovely classic but not my favorite…

Opens with a banger Tiny Dancer. Nothing after that really made a mark in my memory. I liked the parts with backing vocals.

Think I expected more from an Elton John album? Not bad, but I usually like him more than I liked that album

Tiny dancer is worth three stars alone

This was a extremely strong 3, I'm only withholding a 4-5 because I'm sure I'll enjoy Elton's other albums even more (looking forward to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road!). There's a great mix of pop and rock on this album which is all accompanied by Elton's great vocals and even better piano playing; the lyrics themselves are also vivid and each song feels deliberately crafted. On the other hand there are a couple uninteresting spots on the album and the album became more dull as time went on.

Wasn't for me I'm afraid, Tiny Dancer is a banger. Just felt like the rest was just missing something from it.

I don't understand Elton John. Clearly, he is a very talented songwriter and performer, but I don't get the hype. The singles shine here, and the other songs are just what you'd expect... well composed filler.

This one to me was just good. I want to like it more because the songs tackle some tough topics (misaligned wealth, drugs, exterminating native populations, etc.) but for some reason they just miss slightly to me. Absolutely love Tiny Dancer!

I didn't care for this album as much as Yellow Brick Road. This is the more POETIC Elton John or something. The song writing is just not as catchy as Yellow Brick Road. It has two hits, Tiny Dancer and Levon. Neither of those are my favorite Elton John songs. Indian Sunset kinda comes off as a white British dude romantacising the wild west and maybe trying to make a statement about racial injustice? I would have to analyze it deeper. Rotten Peaches? Rotting in the sun? WTF? ... anyway... it would take me more than 1 or 2 listens to get into this album. Not his best.

haven’t listened yet

I appreciated the piano and Elton John is clearly very talented, but would not go out of my way to listen to this again other than Tiny Dancer.

From the pop legend himself I’ve only known one of these songs my whole life, glad that’s different now. More of a Too Low for Zero type guy. <<Tiny dancer, holiday inn, Levon

Elton John's music never really stood out to me. Don't get me wrong, I understand how big of a name he is and his influence, but his music never really... clicked. This album is no exception unfortunately; the only songs that stood out to me were Tiny Dancer and Indian Sunset (I know many people hate Indian Sunset but for some reason I loved its musical structure). I cannot really rate it anything more than 3/5, good album I guess but not interesting enough for me to remember.

The 3 hits are top-notch. No surprises otherwise.

Legendary singles artist but often uneven albums. This one comes out the gates blazing but loses steam fast.

Yeah it's an Elton John album

-well I’ll just start by saying that Tiny Dancer is definitely the best song on here and my favorite Elton John song period (though I haven’t exactly heard that many). The prog rock style is interesting and not what I was expecting. Overall a pretty solid album though maybe a bit too “samey” with some songs -Favorites are Tiny Dancer and Razor Face -Favorites are

3.5☆/5 09.13.2024

Mooolto meno catchy degli altri che sono apparsi in questo elenco

Incomparable highs, middling lows. A fine enough enjoyable adult contemporary (70s, that is) pop music.

There are artists who play a big part in the soundtrack to one's teen years and Elton John was one of mine. This album has two huge hits but there are still better Elton albums out there. 3.5/5

Никогда его раньше не слушал вот прямо альбомом. Альбом норм. Лучшая песня - Tiny Dancer.

Good first track. 3

The hits are great of course. But some of the songs aren't up to EJ standards.

Always been an Elton fan. But many of albums I've heard seem to have a bit of filler. This album seems to have more than a bit. It certainly starts off very strong with Tiny Dancer and Levon. I love the orchestral rock sound. But the rest of the album meanders somewhat aimlessly although Elton sells it with his classic pop singing style. But I'm not sure what makes this a candidate for the list.

This album was good. I wouldn’t call it anything special. Just good. Obviously it has the standout track, Tiny Dancer, and one of my personal favorite Elton John tracks, Levon. But the other songs on this just don’t standout. They’re good inside the album but I wouldn’t replay them much outside of it. Still a good Elton John album though. 6/10

Pretty solid glam rock album. Really liked tiny dancer,levon, razor face