Elton John - Madman across the water

Im sorry for duplicate threads.. There is a thread for this album ON THIS BASE but its locked

Anyway........

I just got the cassette of this album and I love it! (Its the original 1971 UNI release (No dolby,etc))

Sounds goregous


I had a newer record several months ago of it .. It was a 1977 re-issue and I didnt like the sound really... (I got rid of it)..... This cassette is goregous and exactly how the music sounded when that album came out

I would say this is his BEST album!!


Any other fans of this fine album? (This was his last diverse album)

 

I like the album, maybe my favorite of his although I only own a few. I started with the CD remaster, then acquired an original MCA CD, and finally splurged for the Mobile Fidelity gold CD. It was pricy, I think around $50 or $60, but worth it and easily the best sounding version I have heard!

 

Ya sometimes money isnt a big deal if ya really like something!!!


Good for you buddy

 

Believe me I don't make a lot of money, but sometimes I can't resist buying the best version of an album I like. One of life's few pleasures.

 

I think it's his best album, closely followed by Captain Fantastic. The 2017 vinyl re-issue is really well done, best I've heard it. The latest 2018 vinyl reissue has inferior packaging but is still supposed to sound as good too. Tiny Dancer alone makes this an Elton "must have".

 

Great album. Not my favorite of his, but close.

 

I feel much of his 70's work runs so utterly close in greatness that it begs a completeness of listening few artists can claim.

 

Arguably his best album, although there are a few contenders.

 

It's been my favourite Elton album forever. That said, everything he released from 1970 to 1975 was brilliant and I can understand anyone who picks another of his classic albums as their favourite.

 

The DJM cd sounds pretty sweet, and I like the SACD for the extended Razor Face. Elton is similar to The Beatles and Genesis for me as I can’t pick a favourite. But Madman is sublime.

 

Cassette?

 

It wasnt for me. Might need to revisit. Tiny dancer was the only song I really liked on it.

For me his best period was honky chateau>cpt fantastic
interstingly, this period was when his live band was also used to record his studio albums.
bass: dee murray
drums:nigel olssen
guitar: davey johnstone

After cpt fantastic he fired them? well, except davey.

 

Very good album.

GYBR is still my fav.

Madman would be top 3 for sure.

 

One of my favorite albums.

The only problem I have with it is Tiny Dancer is way too long. Shortened by 3 min, it'd be great but I get tired real fast of it in its almost 7 min running time. I feel it doesn't have the musical depth to warrant that long a running time. Harmony from GYBR? Yes! Way too short. But TD? Good song but too long and it hurts it in my eyes.

 

Indeed.... Not a bad song on it!!!

 

Love this album. Levon is probably a top 5 Elton song for me.

 

Side 1 is great. Side 2 not so much so. I really hate Indian Sunset.

 

Agree. I posted something similar in another thread. These days Elton is seen as a "singles" artist, but that's missing out on some great ALBUMS! He was untouchable in the early to mid '70's.

I probably listen to Tumbleweed and Don't Shoot the most.

 

I don't hate that song, but it is one of my least favorites from this period. Too long.

 

It kills the album for me. You know it’s there, lurking. Just waiting to ruin the flow of the album

 

Brilliant album!

The magnificent music just flows from Elton in this period. Some of the best music ever made IMO. Even Indian Sunset evolves to a mighty fine tune (after the intro).

 

Yeah, it’s certainly one of Elton’s and Bernie’s high water marks. (Along with “Tiny Dancer” and “Levon”, he’s been performing “Indian Sunset” on his current tour.)

The original CD release of this was very good. If an LP version is under consideration, then an original DJM, DCC, or the recent Mercury reissue is the go to. Frankly, I can’t imagine a cassette bettering the good vinyl or CD reissues.

 

That’s my favorite on the album!

“All the Nasties” gets my vote as the lone clunker.

It’s a great album but the lack of true rockers on it diminishes it a little bit in my eyes as compared to his next few LPs. Thankfully he would ditch the heavy orchestrations for his next album and would only use them sparingly afterward.

 

I would argue that this album is way more diverse, though not necessarily as good. But in terms of sound it definitely is; Madman is very streamlined in terms of sound all the way through, and makes for a very cohesive listen. Truly one of Elton's best. His best ballads (Tiny Dancer, Goodbye), his best country rockers (Razor Face, Rotten Peaches) and his finest big works (Levon, Indian Sunset, Holiday Inn, the title track) all under one roof. But all have a sound that is definitely of the album.

Sad somehow there was no room for this on the record... It really cooks:



Maybe would have fit better on Tumbleweed? Though same can be said for a handful of songs on Madman.

 

I bought this album when I was 12 , I made my own weekly charts back then and Indian sunset was #1 for a very long time , it actually made song of the year if I correctly - different strokes I guess