Maps of Music

Madman Across the Water (1971)

Where the lyrics of Madman Across the Water take you, and where it was really made.

The title song was first recorded for another album, and listeners later read it as a song about Richard Nixon, a reading its lyricist dismissed.

Key places

Trident Studios, London (1971)

Recording site Trident Studios — This was John's last album recorded at London's Trident Studios. Ray Cooper made his first appearance with this album, and later albums were remixed or overdubbed there. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Madman Across the Water: fourth studio album by Elton John
• Released 5 November 1971 by DJM and Uni Records
• Third album John released in 1971
• John's first progressive rock album
• Nine tracks, each composed and performed by John, with lyrics by Bernie Taupin
• Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman plays Hammond organ on two songs
• Two singles: "Levon" and "Tiny Dancer"

Background

• John was rising to prominence as a popular music artist when the album came out
• Only one song featured John's touring band, which included Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson
• Producer Gus Dudgeon lacked faith in the group for studio recordings
• Most tracks were backed by studio players and string arrangements by Paul Buckmaster
• Davey Johnstone, who had worked with Dudgeon in Magna Carta, was the main guitarist
• Title song was first set for Tumbleweed Connection with Mick Ronson, then set aside and re-recorded for this album with Johnstone on guitar
• Percussionist Ray Cooper made his first appearance on this album

Recording

• This was John's last album recorded at London's Trident Studios
• Later albums were remixed or overdubbed at Trident

Cover

• Cover embroidered over two weeks by Janis Larkham, wife of art director David Larkham
• She used the back of an old Levi's jacket; the original was gifted to John
• Flat printed, with a lavish booklet; no embroidered, embossed, or early expensive runs
• Janis credited herself as "Yanis" for the artwork

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in Pinner, Middlesex, on 25 March 1947.
• Won a junior scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at age 11.
• Formed the blues band Bluesology in 1962; took the name Elton John in 1967.
• Joined DJM Records as a staff songwriter with lyricist Bernie Taupin in 1968.

Members

• Partnered with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967; Taupin writes lyrics and John composes the music.
• Backing band over the years included Davey Johnstone, Nigel Olsson, Dee Murray and Ray Cooper.

Career

• Debut album Empty Sky (1969); Honky Château (1972) became his first US number-one album.
• Seven consecutive US number-one albums between 1972 and 1975.
• Composed The Lion King and Aida with Tim Rice; won Academy Awards and a Tony Award.
• Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour (2018–2023) was the highest-grossing tour at the time.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Rolling Stone: Alex Dubro was not especially enthusiastic and judged the album inferior to its two predecessors
• Rolling Stone: Dubro praised "Tiny Dancer" and "Levon" but found the lyrics across the record confusing
• Rolling Stone: Dubro called it a difficult, sometimes very dense record that would not upset John's current fans but would not gain new ones
• Sounds: Penny Valentine was more positive and described John as a musician of great feeling and power, full of unexplored talent

Records

• UK Albums Chart: peaked at No. 41 and spent two weeks there
• US Billboard Top Pop Albums: peaked at No. 8; No. 10 on the 1972 year-end list
• RIAA: Gold in February 1972, with $1 million in wholesale sales in the US alone
• RIAA: Platinum in 1993, representing more than one million shipped units in the US
• RIAA: Multi-Platinum in 1998, representing more than two million shipped units in the US
• BPI: Silver in May 2017 for 60,000 units
• Madman was helped in North America by FM radio deejays who played the lengthy singles

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Rumours linked the title song's lyric to then US President Richard Nixon, and Bernie Taupin dismissed them
• "Rock Me When He's Gone" was written for and recorded by John's long-time friend Long John Baldry; it appeared on the 1992 compilation Rare Masters and was later remastered for the deluxe edition
• This was the first album in The Classic Years collection without bonus tracks
• Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains covered the closing track "Goodbye" on his solo album Brighten, with John's approval
• The 10 June 2022 50th anniversary deluxe edition added 18 unreleased tracks and a 40-page book with notes from John and Taupin
• Cover artist Janis Larkham embroidered the cover on the back of an old Levi's jacket over two weeks

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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