Madman Across the Water is the fourth studio album by British musician Elton John, released on 5 November 1971 by DJM and Uni Records. The album was his third album to be released in 1971, at which point John had been rising to prominence as a popular music artist. John's first progressive rock album, Madman Across the Water contains nine tracks, each composed and performed by John and with lyrics written by songwriting partner Bernie Taupin. Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman plays Hammond organ on two songs.
There were two singles released from Madman Across the Water, "Levon" and "Tiny Dancer". The album was certified gold by the RIAA in February 1972, followed by platinum in March 1993, 2× platinum in August 1998, and 3× platinum in December 2024. The album was included in Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. On 10 June 2022, the album was reissued as a deluxe edition for its 50th anniversary, featuring 18 unreleased tracks including demos, outtakes and alternate takes, as well as a 40-page book detailing the album's creation with notes from John and Taupin.
History
The nine tracks were each composed and performed by John and with lyrics written by songwriting partner Bernie Taupin as with his previous material. Like John's other studio albums up to this point, only one song on Madman featured John's touring band (which consisted of bassist Dee Murray and drummer Nigel Olsson), due to producer Gus Dudgeon's lack of faith in the group for studio recordings. Instead, most of the tracks were backed by studio players and string arrangements put together by Paul Buckmaster. Davey Johnstone, who had previously worked with Dudgeon as a part of Magna Carta, was also put on as the main guitarist. Percussionist and later band member Ray Cooper made his first appearance with this album, which was John's last to be recorded at London's Trident Studios, although subsequent albums would be remixed or overdubbed there. Caleb Quaye and Roger Pope would not play with John again until Rock of the Westies in 1975, following Murray and Olsson's departure from the band.
Title
The album's title song was initially set to be released on John's previous album, Tumbleweed Connection, featuring guitarist Mick Ronson; however, that version was set aside and the song was re-recorded for this album, with Johnstone on guitar.
Album artwork
The album cover for Madman Across the Water was embroidered over two weeks by Janis Larkham, wife of the album art director David Larkham. She used the back of an old Levi's jacket, and the original was gifted to John. There was no initial run of expensive album covers with similar embroidery, nor embossed versions; it was flat printed, though it did include a lavish booklet. Janis chose to credit herself as "Yanis" for this artwork.
Reception
Madman Across the Water was one of John's lowest-charting album efforts. It continued a streak of mediocre performance in the UK for John, peaking at No. 41 on the UK Albums Chart
The album was certified Gold by the RIAA in February 1972, achieving $1 million in sales at wholesale value just in the United States. In 1993, the album was certified Platinum, representing shipments of more than one million units in the US. Penny Valentine in Sounds magazine was more positive, describing John as "a music man of immense feeling and power" and full of unexplored talent.
When it was released in The Classic Years collection, it was the first album not to feature any bonus tracks. One known track recorded at the time, "Rock Me When He's Gone", was released on the 1992 compilation Rare Masters. The song was written for and recorded by one of John's long-time friends, Long John Baldry. It was later remastered for the 50th anniversary deluxe edition.
Madman was John's first foray into progressive rock, and it did not sell well. Madman was helped in North America by FM radio deejays willing to play the lengthy singles, unlike BBC Radio 1.
Track listing
Original release
Note
- The SACD version of the album contained a longer version of "Razor Face", which extended the song-ending jam to 6:42 instead of the early fade on the original album. This extended version can only be heard in the 5.1 surround mix, or on the 50th Anniversary reissue of the album.
50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
Note
- The live radio broadcast of "Indian Sunset" is from November 17, 1970, and edits out the last verse of the song. The full version of the song (without John's intro) is on the expanded edition of 11-17-70+.
Personnel
Track numbers refer to CD and digital releases of the album.
- Elton John – vocals, acoustic piano
- Brian Dee – harmonium (2)
- Rick Wakeman – Hammond organ (3 & 7)
- Jack Emblow – accordion (3)
- Diana Lewis – ARP synthesizer (4, 7)
- Caleb Quaye – electric guitar (1, 2, 3), acoustic guitar (6)
- B. J. Cole – steel guitar (1)
- Davey Johnstone – acoustic guitar (1, 4, 7), mandolin (6), sitar (6)
- Chris Spedding – electric guitar (4), slide guitar (7)
- David Glover – bass guitar (1, 3, 6)
- Brian Odgers – bass guitar (2)
- Herbie Flowers – bass guitar (4, 5, 7)
- Chris Laurence – double bass (5)
- Dee Murray – bass guitar (8), backing vocals (1, 6, 7)
- Roger Pope – drums (1, 3, 6)
- Barry Morgan – drums (2)
- Terry Cox – drums (4, 5, 7)
- Nigel Olsson – drums (8), backing vocals (1, 6, 7)
- Ray Cooper – percussion (4), tambourine (7, 8)
- Paul Buckmaster – orchestral arrangements and conductor (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9)
- David Katz – orchestra contractor (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9)
- Tony Burrows – backing vocals (1, 6, 7)
- Roger Cook – backing vocals (1, 6, 7)
- Lesley Duncan – backing vocals (1, 6, 7)
- Barry St. John – backing vocals (1, 6, 7)
- Terry Steele – backing vocals (1, 6, 7)
- Liza Strike – backing vocals (1, 6, 7)
- Sue and Sunny – backing vocals (1, 6, 7)
- Cantores em Ecclesia Choir – choir (8)
- Robert Kirby – choir director (5, 8)
Technical
- Gus Dudgeon – producer, liner notes
- Robin Geoffrey Cable – engineer
- Tony Cousins – remastering
- Gus Skinas – editing SACD release
- Ricky Graham – digital transfers
- Greg Penny – surround mix
- Crispin Murray – assistant
- David Larkham – art direction, design, illustrations, photography, cover photo
- Gill – artwork
- Yanis – artwork
- Bob Gruen – photography
- John Tobler – liner notes
Charts
Weekly charts
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1972)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
| align="center"| 8
|-
|-
! scope="row"|Italian Albums (Musica e Dischi)
| align="center"| 14
|-
!scope="row"|Japanese Albums (Oricon)
| align="center"| 13
|-
!scope="row"|Spanish Albums (Spanish Albums Chart)
| align="center"| 11
|-
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 2022 chart performance for Madman Across the Water
! scope="col"| Chart (2022)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|}
Year-end charts
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1972)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"|U.S. Top Pop Albums
| align="center"| 10
|}