Index > What's Spinning - March 2024 > A three-CD version of "Madman Across The Water"?!?
Posted by Trung (@trung) on April 3, 2024, 9:20 p.m.
The 50th Anniversary of Madman was release in 2022.
3CD - First CD is the album with some bonus tracks. Second CD is demo recordings of the entire album so mostly Elton John solo piano. Third CD is a BBC live session
There is a highlight of the bonus track of recording of the title track with Mick Ronson but the bonus tracks are unremarkable.
Madman Across The Water, I would give it a 10/15. I like the first 4 songs of the album but the rest of the album is quite average although not provoking negative feelings. However I don’t think Elton John ever wrote a consistent album from start to finish (IMO Ben Folds Five albums is far more consistent). Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is his best studio album however the second disc of the double album is much weaker than the first disc. I also think Blue Moves is underrated and I think Elton John missed his calling as an art rocker/prog rocker.
The most frustrating type of albums is an otherwise mediocre/bad album containing great songs and Elton John has a lot of them where there are 2 great singles and everything else is forgettable, I mean Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me is a bloody great song and it really annoying that it is in a mediocre album of Caribou.
IMO Elton John is best listen via live albums which mitigates the inconsistent songwriting as the setlist allows a defacto greatest hits. Live In Moscow 1979 is by far the best recording of Elton John career and would be my pick as his best overall album. Great setlist with Elton John playing solo piano and the second half of the concert have Elton John accompanied by a percussionist created a quite a unique arrangements.
Live In Hammersmith (Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 4CD deluxe box set), 17-11-70 Plus, BBC Sessions 22 May 1970 , Here And There, Live In Australia with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra are all worthy listen.