224: MADMAN ACROSS THE WATER | ELTON JOHN
The recording of Elton John’s album Madman Across the Water was a significant milestone in his musical career. The album was his third to be released in 1971, following his first US tour and his breakthrough success with Your Song1 The album was also his first to feature his future band members Davey Johnstone on guitar and Ray Cooper on percussion, as well as guest keyboardist Rick Wakeman from the progressive rock band Yes12
The album was produced by Gus Dudgeon, who had worked with John since his second album, Elton John. Dudgeon had a different vision for the album than John and his touring band, which consisted of bassist Dee Murray and drummer Nigel Olsson. Dudgeon preferred to use studio musicians and orchestral arrangements by Paul Buckmaster, who had also collaborated with John on previous albums23
The recording sessions took place at Trident Studios in London, where John had recorded most of his previous albums. The sessions lasted from February to August 1971, with some breaks in between1 The album consisted of nine songs, all written by John and his lyricist Bernie Taupin. Some of the songs were inspired by John’s personal life, such as Tiny Dancer, which was a tribute to his wife at the time, Maxine Feibelman, and Levon, which was based on a friend of Taupin’s24
One of the most notable songs on the album was the title track, Madman Across the Water, which was a dark and paranoid song about a madman who sees himself as a prophet or a messiah. The song had originally been recorded for John’s previous album, Tumbleweed Connection, with guitarist Mick Ronson from David Bowie’s band. However, that version was rejected and the song was re-recorded for this album with a different arrangement and guitar work by Johnstone13
Madman was released on November 5, 1971, through DJM and Uni Records. It received critical acclaim and was included in Robert Dimery’s 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die15 The album was also a commercial success, reaching number 8 on the US Billboard 200 and number 41 on the UK Albums Chart. It sold over two million copies in the US and was certified double platinum by the RIAA1
Madman Across the Water is considered to be one of Elton John’s best albums and one of the finest examples of progressive rock in the early 1970s. It showcased John’s musical versatility and lyrical creativity, as well as his collaboration with Taupin, Buckmaster, Dudgeon and other talented musicians. The album also reflected John’s personal struggles and ambitions at the time, as he was transitioning from being a session musician to a superstar. The album is widely regarded as a landmark in John’s career and a classic in rock history.