Comments for John, Elton, Madman across the Water

Elton has been quoted as saying he couldn't listen to this album for years because he thought his vocals were awful. While the vocals aren't always the best, the writing sometimes is, and it is here we see the beginnings of the Elton we all learned to love. A good addition to a serious catalog.

This album is not as tight as most of Elton's work from this time period, but it is a must for any EJ collection. Most of the tracks on this album, especially the underrated "Tiny Dancer" are masterpieces. Paul Buckmaster's orchestra work gives the album a distinct feel, especially on tracks such as the title song. The one problem with this album is that it sounds as if it were hastily done. The presence of vocal errors and some poor band mixing do allow for a pleasantly rough sound at times, but for the most part they only detract from this particular album.

This album is one of Eltons best! I love Levon, it's one of my favorite songs! Madman Across the Water, Indian Sunset, and Tiny Dancer are also great! I highly recomend this album! I'd give it a 10!

I loved this album growing up....and continue to love it today....I have named my homepage Tiny Dancer's Auditorium in tribute to it. I am currently searching the web for the midi of Tiny Dancer to add to my homepage. While I have found several Elton John midi's, Tiny Dancer is never one of them. Please if you know where I could find it....or when this midi would be available it would be GREATLY appreciated. Visit my homepage at, http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/3802 Thank you for the space to vent....Kitty

The song "Tiny Dancer" was enough to turn me into a die-hard Elton fan at the age of seven. This album kicks butt, no matter how the vocals sound. In fact, I've never really noticed them until now. Give the man a break everyone, he was experimenting!!! A loveable release, although the jacket cover and back were not all that inviting...

I can't believe that this album didn't make the UK top 40 when it was released! What was everyone doing when it came out?! If you haven't got a copy, it's well worth tracking down, as there are two unforgettable tracks here - "Levon" and "Tiny dancer". The rest of the album is pretty good too, although Elton's vocals do sound a bit strange! Ross Mackie, Cambridge

Tiny Dancer? Good song, but Indian Sunset and Goodbye are masterpieces

This is definitely a classic album. If you are lucky enough to own a copy of the vinyl record on the UNI label as I do, you can experience a richly textured sound unattainable on those "sterile" sounding cds. My favorite track from the album is "Holiday Inn". I dont know why this was never released as a single. The mandolin playing is gorgeous on this track. The last song, "Goodbye", seems to have a depressingly sad quality about it, possibly reflecting Eltons downward spiral into drug abuse at the time, although Im glad to hear that he has since cleaned up. Well, gotta run. Im going to see Reginald in concert tommorrow night. I cant wait.

I am a big Elton John fan I own almost all of his albums and this was I think one of his greatest albums! Ashley

side one (songs one through four for you cd owners) is the second best album side that elton ever put out .only side one of yellow brick road is better. side two is a mess. indian sunset is comical in both it's overstatement and it's anachronism. holiday inn does include some nice acoustic guitar/ mandolin interplay from davey johnstone and caleb quaye (see rock of the westies)bbut the rest of the side is retched in a way that elton wasn't able to duplicate until blue moves some five years later.not only that the classic years version does't include any bonus tracks when quite a few were available. save this one for one of your last purchases of the classic years collection

Hey, "kevinking@prodigy.net"....Brush up on your Elton history, fool! Elton started to use drugs during the ''Rock Of the Westies'' album sessions, not during "Madman"!!! ...You and that twerp back at "The Fox" album page should lay off the crack.

His best work and what about Paul Buckmasters arrangments - simply superb. Listen to Caleb Quayes guitar work and B.J. Coles steel guitar on Tiny Dancer , classic track. Superb musicianship and production. They don;t make music like this any more!