Customer Reviews: Read 13 more reviews...
 A mad revelation on SACD... November 18, 2004
peteyspambucket (New York, NY)
27 out of 27 found this review helpful
A revelation. For newcomers and fans of Elton John's music, this album and the self-titled are MUST HAVES. The 5.1 mix is so amazing that it reveals and clears up lots of sections and instrumentations. The performances are still the great landmark performances that I've loved since 1973 when my brother came back from Korea with a cassette of this album. The only piece that has changed, for me, due to the remix, is INDIAN SUNSET (just before "I take only what is mine, Lord"), because there is a part where the celli and bass sound louder than the piano, whereas they were barely audible in older mixes. It changes the song at that moment for me.
The sound, the sound, the sound.... I never thought I would hear the strings this clearly. In some songs, I could clearly tell that it is maybe two or four violins, 2 cellos, 2 violas, and 2 bass. And the old sound, would have me believe it were an entire orchestra --- "reverb" can be a wonderfully useful effect. As you may expect, Elton and his piano are anchored in the center channel, and they are both very crisp and clear. The backing vocals are often in the rear channels, as are the orchestra. The guitars, acoustic and electric, are so clear and isolated, that I am finally getting a great appreciation of the size of his band. Percussion like bongo drums, and tambourines, and synthesizer effects are clearer than ever and very realistic. The duelling banjos in HOLIDAY INN have NEVER sounded so good. I could keep going on with superlatives, but I will simply say that the sound is better than most modern rock SACDs (the Bon Jovi ones, for instance, and also 3 Doors Down). There is NO harsh tape hiss to be heard, it's just the music. The subwoofer channel is very tastefully subtle, and you will barely notice it's supportive effects (unless you turn it up!).
I've always considered this album on of Elton's first truly great albums, and this SACD has me listening to it over and over in the past week. I must have heard it 20 times already, and still counting. Someone at UNIVERSAL loves me, because with all 6 of these Elton SACDs, I will be listening and writing reviews for a while. :-) (BTW, can you just imagine what they might be able to do with The Beatles?????)
Do I have to say it? HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -- my first desert island SACD
A blueprint for what 5.1 SACD should be December 20, 2004
Illinois Music Fan (Illim=nois)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Peteyspambucket has pretty well summed up what John has done with this 5.1 mix in more detail than I ever could. I can only add on songs when John uses an orchestra, the sound level of his vocals seem more realistic in relation to the size of orchestra.
John has set the blueprint for what a 5.1 SACD should be. It is simply amazing. Perfect separation and clarity without being gimmicky. While other 5.1 mixes may simply use the rear channels for echo or effect, John perfectly places instruments in each giving a true surround sound effect. John truly shows the potential for SACD 5.1 when in the right hands. Like Peteyspamucket, I too wonder what it would sound like if Greg Penny who did the 5.1 mix on this and Tumbleweed Connection would get his hands on the master tapes for other artists. Imagine a Hendrix, or period Beatles or Stones, it boggles the mind.
Still my clear choice for the best of the early Elton John albums December 17, 2005
Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
When I was going through my 1000+ CDs to look for ideas for the Music unit of the Popular Culture class I teach, I have come to the conclusion that "Madman Across the Water" was a seminal album in my life. I seriously started listening to FM radio in the early Seventies because that was the only place to hear "Levon," which was my favorite song for about half a year (I believe it was replaced by "Knife's Edge" by Emerson, Lake & Palmer). Consequently, the shift in my musical appreciation from Top Forty to more sophisticated musical forms can be traced to this particular song Elton John song and this special album.
Of course, once I had enough loose change I bought the album and promptly proceeded to play the first side about five times as often as I flipped it over and played side two; having the CD means I tend to listen to the whole thing all the way through. I would argue that "Tiny Dancer," "Levon," "Razor Face," and "Madman Across the Water" equals the best side of any Elton John record. I also used the title track as part of a poetry unit for English class (ah, those liberal days of yore). The movie "Almost Famous" has made "Tiny Dancer" popular again, but anybody who listens to this CD is going to find out there are some other great songs too. In addition to John's music and Bernie Taupin's lyrics, I think credit has to be given to Paul Buckmaster, whose sweeping string arrangements never worked better in giving John's songs color and depth. "Madman Acros the Water" is Elton John's darkest album, although it is more a sense of brooding and forboding rather than anger.
"Madman Across the Water" made it to #8 on the Billboard album chart. Since most of the songs were five minutes or longer, this was really the last Elton John album before he started turning out a string of Top 40 hits. But the best albums on any Elton John album were almost always the songs you never heard on AM radio. Ironically, given its place in my musical history, "Levon" made its way onto the third volume of Elton John's greatest hits collection even though it only made it to #24 on the single charts in 1972 ("Tiny Dancer" made it to only #41). Just another example of the cherished memories of our youth turning out to be phantasms when seen in the harsh light of day (or commercial music industry interests).
Elton John's Defining Masterpiece March 27, 2005
HUGO (HOUSTON, TEXAS United States)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Of all the "two-per-year" albums Elton John's contractual agreement imposed he deliver during his initial 1970's sojourn - considered his finest era as an artist, and most certainly his most fertile and organic creative period - MADMAN ACROSS THE WATER remains, without a doubt, his crown jewel and flawlessly overshadows his entire four decade [ongoing] catalogue. The magnificently haunting and brilliant masterpiece title track alone is worth seeking out and purchasing on the various compact disc original/"remastered"/alternative version(demos; etc.)issues/and most definitely this[sonic wonder]SACD version, for the irressistable sounds within justifies one's curiosity beyond comprehension. This entire album is Elton John's finest moment ever - regardless of the ongoing disputes as to which album from this period is the best. MADMAN ACROSS THE WATER is a rare breathtaking vocal/orchestral/singer-songwriter's[accidentally innocent]life's work[in a panoramic view]realized to utmost perfection. He covers more ground on this disc alone than he does during his entire career! The two majestic standards["Tiny Dancer/Levon"] which initially propelled this incredible recording to stratospheric selling status upon its release are merely surface hints of Elton John's musical genius, which lies within the remainder of this stupendous album's remainding tracks - it's unbelievable that none of these became hit singles in the wake of "MADMAN's" popularity, but still, they have become Classic Rock radio playlist staples in their own right through the ages. MADMAN ACROSS THE WATER has aged genuinely well and remains a mesmerizing classic amongst the most supreme albums in Rock history. Thirty some odd years later, currently in the next millenium, Elton John remains a rarily gifted artist whose current musical creations continue to capture the imagination of unsuspecting listeners' ears and draw new admirers to the circle of his magical allure.
 musically 5 stars, sonically (at times) 3 stars. April 15, 2009
Richie Rich (Burlington, Vt.)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I agree with the gentleman from San Francisco re:the SACD version, i.e., great album, horribly mastered! The drums sound like they were recorded in a dumpster and as soon as they kick in, I skip to the next track. Still, an undeniable masterpiece!
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