Album of the Day — December 2
Elton John — Madman Across the Water
02.December.2020
Elton John
Madman Across the Water
1971
The run of commercial success that Elton John had in the early to mid-’70s was unparalleled by any of his contemporaries.
Madman Across the Water was John’s fourth studio album in two years. And once again, lyrics were by Bernie Taupin, music by Elton John, and the album was produced by Gus Dudgeon. Along with drummer Nigel Olsen and bass player Dee Murray, this was the nucleus of the Elton John Band that was behind his near decade long run.
And while Johnston, Olsen, and Murray played on Madman Across the Water, producer Dudgeon wasn’t quite sold on them, so many studio musicians were filtering in and out. Notably, Madman Across the Water is the first album where guitarist Davey Johnston became a fixture and influenced the core group.
The record opens with two fan favorites (or at least this fan), “Tiny Dancer” and “Levon” — the latter definitely being one of my favorite songs.
There is a lot of conjecture about the title track, “Madman Across the Water,” was about then-president Richard Nixon. Lyricist Taupin has repeatedly eschewed that idea saying:
