Madman Across the Water

Kinda surprised Tiny Dancer was the leadoff track. Seems more like a track 5 or 6. Indian Sunset is a real clunker. The whole album is a bit too grandiose and overwrought. If I wanted that, I would listen to Mickey Newbury's 'Frisco Mabel Joy from the same year.

I knew Tiny Dancer prior to listening to this album obviously and I do really like that song, but the rest of the album was kinda meh. Maybe it's just cause I don't really get the Elton John hype? I'm just not the biggest fan of his stuff. Razor face felt like a dumb song and the rhyming felt cheesy. I'm thinking that appeal that's in the appeal of him for people though, the songwriting? I dunno. I did like the end of the album kinda though. It was chill and nice sounding but nothing caught my attention as "Oh, I wanna listen to that later". Maybe I will return to this album in the future and relisten and will like it more? I hope so because I want to get the hype about Mr. Elton John

Starting with the legendary, slow burn build of "Tiny Dancer" and moving straight into the soulful narrative of "Levon", the album establishes an atmosphere that is both grand and deeply personal. The second half loses a bit of that initial momentum, particularly with "Indian Sunset" despite its gorgeous melody. However, the sheer vocal power displayed in the title track and the hauntingly simple closer, "Goodbye", more than compensate for these lulls.

It’s a rewarding listen that captures the artist perfectly.

Early 70s Elton John (his 4th album already!!), with a fantastic opening track in 'Tiny Dancer'. The rest is not as amazing as that, but still has a lot to offer. Lots of lovely piano melodies, even some piano accordion and mandolin on the later tracks. Background vocals amounting to a choir, to carry these pop tunes across to the listener. Indian Sunset suffers in the modern glare of history, but the rest is mostly vidid, personal tales of characters, from Levon to Razor Face and even the Madman Across the Water.

It's all well played and written. It's just not my thing. I love a lot of Elton's singles and the world could do with more Elton Johns but I don't click with this. Maybe the songs are too dramatic and grand.

This album makes its case early and confidently. “Tiny Dancer” and “Levon” are absolute gems, the kind of songs that justify an artist’s reputation all by themselves. The melodies are generous, the arrangements are rich without being suffocating, and Elton sounds fully locked into that sweet spot between intimacy and grandeur.

After that opening stretch, things get more uneven. A few tracks feel like they’re reaching a little too hard for epic status. “Holiday Inn” and “Indian Sunset” have ambition but don’t quite land, and while “Rotten Peaches” works musically, some of the lyrical imagery veers into territory that feels more awkward than evocative. And yes, “All the Nasties” is one of those moments where you can almost hear someone needing to tell Bernie Taupin to maybe put the pen down for a second.

Still, the highs here matter. When this album works, it works beautifully, and even the missteps come from a place of excess rather than emptiness. This is an artist swinging big, sometimes overreaching, but often connecting.

For me, this lands at a solid four stars. Not flawless, not consistently great front to back, but anchored by songs strong enough to keep the whole thing standing tall.

Good prog rock tones and some real bangers.

Never heard of this album … assuming there is more Elton on the list. It was fine . Tiny dancer obviously stands out. Won’t rush to listen again.

I tend to think that this was just a bit of an overreach after two other albums in the same year. Three of these are just classics in every sense. Another couple are musically and performance strong, but the drop off feels pretty bad. That close to one of the best albums of all time. 4/5

'Jesus freaks, out in the street / Handing tickets out for God.' I'd be lying & inconsistent if I said I didn't value 'Tiny Dancer,' one of those inane classics that oughtn't work but do and there's not much else to say 'bout it. 'Levon' is a noble second helping of that seminal track, continuing the odd tributes to Jesus + Americana: I never knew Elton John was essentially a Brit doing some kind of prog-country act. By the time 'Razor Face' starts, however, I no longer care for the orchestral pretensions, the melodramatic storytelling (the nadir being 'Indian Sunset'), or John's bright mundanities. Things are slightly bettered on 'Holiday Inn' - 'Slow down Joe, I'm a rock and roll man' - but if there's genius on this record, it's privileged on the first two tracks.

Elton John is absolutely phenomenal on this album (most albums). His singing and piano are so good its hard to really overstate. Tiny Dancer is about as good as a song can get.

The only reason I deduct a star is that Bernie Taupin is one of the worst lyricists in history. There, I said it! I know that they have this legendary song writing legacy but I just don't get it. His horrible lyrics drag down Elton. And this album is one of the worst cases. There are so many attempts at 'American' themes on this record but they just aren't believable through his words.

Sorry Sir Elton.

This is a good album, it's just that I like other Elton John records a lot more. This one is great because of Tiny Dancer, but it's hard to have other songs as great to follow when you have that one as an opener. But it's a good album nonetheless.

Great songs. Starts with one of his best, Tiny Dancer, but everything on here is quality. This is hungry Elton. Before he became fat comfortable Elton.

Favorite track(s): Tiny Dancer, Madman Across The Water, Indian Sunset

As with any Elton John album there are SPECTACULAR high points on this album. There is also more than a fair share of "meh". The good far outweighs the bad.

easiest listen yet. not bad though

Pretty good. NGL, I've never listened to Elton John's music. I know he's a musician, but I just never bothered with it...

It was a matter of time before I got an Elton John record. The songwriting partnership he's had with Bernie Taupin led to some of the most innovative piano-driven music during the 1970s. Madman Across the Water was released towards the beginning of that successful run and is solid in its own right.

The obvious highlight of this record is the opening two singles, "Tiny Dancer" and "Levon". Those two songs alone are some of the most enduring classics in Elton's discography. In fact, I'd say side one as a whole is a rather song half, with the endearing ballad "Razor Face" and the sinister slow-burner that is the title track.

As for side two, things start to falter a bit in the songwriting. I wasn't into the Native American stereotypes leaned on for "Indian Sunset", even if there was good sentiment in writing about their displacement. The quality picks up with Elton's road song in "Holiday Inn", followed by the plight of the prisoner in "Rotten Peaches", and the choir accompaniment on "All the Nasties" as Elton confronted his sexuality. A rather short goodbye follows this, and the album ends as I'm admittedly left wanting more. It's certainly not a bad problem to have, but it feels like the album peaked with the first half, as the rest was good but not quite up to par with what was offered earlier.

Madman Across the Water is a record that is on the cusp of greatness. I know Elton and Bernie's songwriting will continue to improve as the style shifts towards glam rock, and I look forward to hearing how this change unfolded.

First artist to be encountered twice on this list. Very grandiose and more orchestral sounding than I figured it would be, and Elton sounds amazing. Favorite track: Tiny Dancer

Thanks to Almost Famous Tiny Dancer is my favourite Elton John track and i can only picture being sung by a coach full of people, so is a great start to the album.

Unfortunately the rest of the album gets nowhere near this level and elements of most songs feel like they are comprised of offcuts from the same song. It’s just a bit too samey.