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Madman Across The Water |  | Artist: Elton John
Label: Mercury Records Ltd (London)
Category: Music
List Price: £8.99
Buy New: £2.94
as of 21/11/2009 23:05 GMT details
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New (41) Used (9) from £2.94
Seller: through-the-post
Rating:  14 reviews
Sales Rank: 5840
Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Running Time: 45 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 528161
UPC: 731452816122
EAN: 0731452816122
ASIN: B000001EGC
Release Date: July 31, 1995
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Tiny Dancer | | • | Levon | | • | Razor Face | | • | Madman Across The Water | | • | Indian Sunset | | • | Holiday Inn | | • | Rotten Peaches | | • | All The Nasties | | • | Goodbye |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
Named for a cut that originally appeared on his iTumbleweed Connection/i album, iMadman Across the Water/i yielded some of Elton John's earliest AOR staples. "Tiny Dancer", like the previous "Your Song", was introduced and carried by John's masterful piano composition. The song's sense of longing also employed the falsetto chorus that would become as much of a trademark as his costumes. "Levon", another entry into the John/Taupin "ballad of" category, is one of their finest pieces. The orchestration gives the song not only its sense of foreboding, but also its release of tension as the song ends. "Rotten Peaches" became a favourite, as did "Holiday Inn". There's also a different interpretation of the title track than appeared on iTumbleweed Connection/i. i--Steve Gdula/i
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 14
 A beautiful album January 29, 2003
13 out of 13 found this review helpful
This really is one of Elton's finest albums. The beautiful 'Tiny Dancer'opens the album, full of superb orchestrations. It's good to see that this timeless classic is featured on the new 'Greatest Hits 1970-2002' compilation. The title track is also a masterpiece, (hear an early version on the remastered 'Tumbleweed Connection') as is the rarely mentioned 'Indian Sunset'. brThis is no pop album, but if you like classic rock with a touch of blues and some classical touches, this is a must.
When quality songwriting existed March 1, 2002
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
One of Elton's finest works. It contains some of the best lyrics Taupin ever produced, and they were crafted by Elton into musical gems not crass commercial pop music.br'Tiny Dancer' is a wonderful tribute to Bernie's then wife, Maxine. A song so simple and beautiful that it will stay forever as one of Elton's very best.brThis is not a pop album, but it's far better than the more successful albums that followed, though maybe not always easy to listen to.brNot until 'Blue Moves' would Elton and Bernie write such beautiful music.
Last of an indispensable trilogy of orchestrated albums August 10, 2001
hindburn@btinternet.com (Church Stretton, Shropshire)
13 out of 14 found this review helpful
'Madman across the water', issued in late 1971, is the third and last of the series of three highly orchestrated, dramatic albums produced by Elton John just as his career was taking off in America and before he became well known in Britain. The black 'Elton John' album established him as a major talent and this reputation was consolidated and developed in 'Tumbleweed connection' with its many references to the American 'wild west'. 'Madman' sees Elton consolidating his musical identity, as established in the previous two albums, rather than developing it in new directions, and if it has a theme it is more one of contemporary, rather than 19th century, America. Several songs relate to characters in modern urban settings, and there are two about Elton's recent experiences of life on the road as a musician. By contrast, however, 'Indian sunset' returns to the theme of the 'frontier', whilst the brief closing track contains almost biblical poetic references.pThe musical style throughout the record is the archetypal early-period Elton - medium tempo, with piano, bass and drums as the principal instruments, and Paul Buckmaster's grandiose string arrangements very prominent. It could be argued that there is too little variety of style, but the songs are distinctive enough to hold their own, and this very consistency of sound demonstrates Elton and Bernie Taupin's wish to be true to their musical vision and not to compromise for the sake of commercial success. No doubt their work on the early recordings such as 'Madman' established the basis (particularly in America) for their subsequent commercial success, although on the albums following 'Madman' the musical style changed somewhat, with the establishment of the regular four-piece Elton John Band, the more prominent use of Davey Johnstone's guitar work, and the reduction in orchestration.pIts complete lack of British hit singles might lead the uninitiated to regard 'Madman' as an obscure, insignificant album, but it is in fact indispensable for EJ aficionados. The recognized classics on this album include the title song, 'Tiny dancer', 'Levon' and 'Indian sunset', but another track of particular interest is 'Holiday Inn', which is characterized by the unusual combination of mandolin and sitar alongside the more conventional instruments. And after the energy and complexity of the songs preceding it, the simple, reflective 'Goodbye' is a very apt way to end the album.
Possibly one of the greatest albums of all time!!!! March 14, 2006
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Being born in 1976 I have to give credit to my Dad for getting me in to Elton John although it was somewhat subliminal as it was played a lot through my childhood during the late seventies and early eighties. However I picked up this little gem one day when I was around 17, 1993, I had never actually heard it. Dad had it on vinyl but I don#8217;t recall him ever playing it, but for some reason it really grew on me. It got me through some bad times, and when I listen to it now it brings back warm memories of my teen years. It is defiantly one of the best albums I have ever heard, touching, magical, warm, and dramatic and an absolute masterpiece. Possibly one of Elton#8217;s finest works of music, although for some reason it is less well known? There is not one song on this album that I don#8217;t like, right from the melodious "Tiny dancer" (which I recently had played on piano at my wedding) to the melodramatic #8220;Indian Sunset", #8220;Levon#8221; and #8220;Razorface#8221; It just has to be listened form beginning to end! If you like Elton just buy this album, you will not be disappointed!!!pThanks Elton for some warm memories, oh and my Dad:)x
Still my runaway choice for the best early Elton John album May 18, 2005
Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota)
16 out of 18 found this review helpful
When I was going through my 1000+ CDs to look for ideas for the Music unit of the Popular Culture class I teach, I have come to the conclusion that "Madman Across the Water" was a seminal album in my life. I seriously started listening to FM radio in the early Seventies because that was the only place to hear "Levon," which was my favorite song for about half a year (I believe it was replaced by "Knife's Edge" by Emerson, Lake Palmer). Consequently, the shift in my musical appreciation from Top Forty to more sophisticated musical forms can be traced to this particular song Elton John song and this special album. pOf course, once I had enough loose change I bought the album and promptly proceeded to play the first side about five times as often as I flipped it over and played side two; having the CD means I tend to listen to the whole thing all the way through. I would argue that "Tiny Dancer," "Levon," "Razor Face," and "Madman Across the Water" equals the best side of any Elton John record. I also used the title track as part of a poetry unit for English class (ah, those liberal days of yore). The movie "Almost Famous" has made "Tiny Dancer" popular again, but anybody who listens to this CD is going to find out there are some other great songs too. In addition to John's music and Bernie Taupin's lyrics, I think credit has to be given to Paul Buckmaster, whose sweeping string arrangements never worked better in giving John's songs color and depth. "Madman Acros the Water" is Elton John's darkest album, although it is more a sense of brooding and forboding rather than anger. p"Madman Across the Water" made it to #8 on the Billboard album chart. Since most of the songs were five minutes or longer, this was really the last Elton John album before he started turning out a string of Top 40 hits. But the best albums on any Elton John album were almost always the songs you never heard on AM radio. Ironically, given its place in my musical history, "Levon" made its way onto the third volume of Elton John's greatest hits collection even though it only made it to #24 on the single charts in 1972 ("Tiny Dancer" made it to only #41). Just another example of the cherished memories of our youth turning out to be phantasms when seen in the harsh light of day (or commercial music industry interests).
Showing reviews 1-5 of 14
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