The Water Dancer

Elton John before his mid-'70s cloudburst of success is a fascinating aural adventure. After the tentative first step of Empty Sky, the muscular songwriting strength of Elton John, the countrified experimentalism of Tumbleweed Connection and the live energy bursting through 17-11-70, Madman Across The Water, now reissued with demos and live tracks for its 50th anniversary, is the first album in what would become an amazing four-year run of varied, resourceful, and artfully brilliant collaborations between John and Bernie Taupin. The pair's trajectory from this point shot skyward into considerable wealth and ever-expanding notoriety.

Elton John before his mid-'70s cloudburst of success is a fascinating aural adventure. After the tentative first step of Empty Sky, the muscular songwriting strength of Elton John, the countrified experimentalism of Tumbleweed Connection and the live energy bursting through 17-11-70, Madman Across The Water, now reissued with demos and live tracks for its 50th anniversary, is the first album in what would become an amazing four-year run of varied, resourceful, and artfully brilliant collaborations between John and Bernie Taupin. The pair's trajectory from this point shot skyward into considerable wealth and ever-expanding notoriety.

"Madman Across the Water" is the 4th studio album by Elton John, released in 1971. This was the last album to feature John's regular touring band (Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson) on only a single song. Later band member, percussionist Ray Cooper, makes his first appearance with this album. As with all John songs during this period, the lyrics were penned by his writing partner, Bernie Taupin. This was the last album to be recorded at London's Trident Studios, although subsequent albums would be remixed or overdubbed at Trident. 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. "Madman Across the Water" barely reached #41 on the UK Albums Chart, spending only two weeks there. It has been the lowest-charting album of his career to date. The album fared much better in North America, peaking at #8 on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums and placing at #10 on the year-end list of 1972.

Madman Across the Water is the fourth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John. The title song was set to be released on John's previous album Tumbleweed Connection. However, it was set aside and would eventually be re-recorded and serve as the title track of this album. 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.

"Madman Across the Water" is the 4th studio album by Elton John, released in 1971. This was the last album to feature John's regular touring band (Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson) on only a single song. Later band member, percussionist Ray Cooper, makes his first appearance with this album. As with all John songs during this period, the lyrics were penned by his writing partner, Bernie Taupin. This was the last album to be recorded at London's Trident Studios, although subsequent albums would be remixed or overdubbed at Trident. 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. "Madman Across the Water" barely reached #41 on the UK Albums Chart, spending only two weeks there. It has been the lowest-charting album of his career to date. The album fared much better in North America, peaking at #8 on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums and placing at #10 on the year-end list of 1972.

"Madman Across the Water" is the 4th studio album by Elton John, released in 1971. This was the last album to feature John's regular touring band (Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson) on only a single song. Later band member, percussionist Ray Cooper, makes his first appearance with this album. As with all John songs during this period, the lyrics were penned by his writing partner, Bernie Taupin. This was the last album to be recorded at London's Trident Studios, although subsequent albums would be remixed or overdubbed at Trident. 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. "Madman Across the Water" barely reached #41 on the UK Albums Chart, spending only two weeks there. It has been the lowest-charting album of his career to date. The album fared much better in North America, peaking at #8 on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums and placing at #10 on the year-end list of 1972.

Simon Okely, the Australian man behind the wide-ranging guitar-pop project Slow Dancer, has often mentioned his childhood enthusiasm for Wilson Pickett, the 1960s soul singer best known for his restless energy and sparkling smile. "In A Mood" is a collection of crooning seduction, pop songwriting, and lush production. The breezy spirit of Laurel Canyon hovers around the album in a powerful way.

Elton John's 1971 introspective masterpiece stands among the songwriter's most emotive and intimate work. The album reached #8 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1972. The intricacies of the string arrangements and brilliant recording quality can be heard more clearly than ever before with this Hi-Res release.