Although this album was the fourth  Elton John studio album, it was also the third album released in 1971.  John had released a film soundtrack album and a live album previously in the year.  Madman Across the Water is a more progressive album than his previous outings, containing nine tracks with all but the final track exceeding four minutes.  Elton John also had Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman sit in on the sessions for two of the tracks, playing Hammond organ.  

Although it went to number 8 on the US Billboard 200 chart, it did not do as well in his native UK.  The mediocre results in England may be partly explained by the song lengths not fitting nicely into the 3-minute span typical of singles.  Nevertheless, the album contains two singles which would prove to be amongst John's greatest hits. 

Contemporary critics had mixed reactions to the prog rock bent of the album, with some finding the lyrics confusing and the album as a whole too deep for new fans.  As with much of the discography of music icons like Elton John, reviews would trend more positive over time. 

Madman Across the Water finds Elton John on the cusp of his ascent to superstardom, when his next several albums would trend towards a glam rock approach and would start regularly topping the charts.

Original host Brian Dickhute returns to "What the Riff" studios to help us finish off our podcast series focusing on the Months from 1965 to 1995.

Tiny Dancer
The lead off track takes its inspiration from two places.  Generally, it is inspired by the spirit of the women Bernie Taupin met in California, and how their styles contrasted with those in the U.K at the time.  More specifically it references Maxine Feibelman, who really was the "seamstress for the band," and supported John's elaborate stage costume style.  Feibelman and Taupin were married in March 1971, with Elton John serving as best man.

Levon
The first single from the album tells the story of Levon, a man who is successful in the family business, but trapped in his lifestyle.  "Levon wears his war wound like a crown."  This symphonic piece uses a backing orchestra written, arranged, and conducted by Paul Buckmaster.  

Madman Across the Water
The title track to the album was originally supposed to be a track on John's previous studio album, but it was rearranged for this album.  The lyrics are about a man in a coastal mental institution who doesn't know if he belongs there or not.  Many have speculated that Taupin wrote this about then President Richard Nixon, speculation to which Taupin responds, "That is genius.  I could never have thought of that."

Indian Sunset
The story about an American Indian warrior on the verge of defeat was inspired by Frederic Remington painting and/or a visit that Bernie Taupin paid to a reservation.  John has stated that the song is not a protest song, but a story.  The opening acapella verse sets the wistful tone of the rest of the song.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Main theme from the children's television series “Electric Company"
"Hey you guys!"  This children's educational show debuted in 1971.  

STAFF PICKS:

Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey by Paul and Linda McCartney
Bruce begins the staff picks with a song from "Ram," the only album attributed to Paul and Linda McCartney.  It reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 1971, making it the first post-Beatles McCartney single to top the US charts.  It is actually a compilation of several song fragments assembled by engineer Eirik Wangberg.  The lyric "hands across the water/heads across the sky" refers to Linda and Paul being American and British.

Rain Dance by the Guess Who
Rob brings us a song penned by Burton Cummings and Kurt Winter which was the lead-off track from the Guess Who's eighth studio album, "So Long, Bannatyne."  Randy Bachman had departed the band by this time.  Many of the lyrics reference landmarks or businesses in their native Winnipeg, Canada.  

You Say It by Al Green
Wayne's staff pick is a fusion of funk and soul off Al Green's third studio album.  Green got his start at the age of nine in a gospel quartet. The lyrics from this song discuss the difficulties a guy has in picking up the phone to call his girl.  Al Green became a minister in 1976 and returned to gospel music in the mid-80's.

I'd Love to Change the World by Ten Years After
Lynch features a song that is the sole top-40 single from the British blues rock group in the U.S., peaking at number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.  The lyrics express the frustration of the counter culture movement in wanting to change the world, but realizing that solutions are harder to reach than thought.

Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves by Cher
Brian finishes out the episode with a story from Cher. The lyrics are told from the perspective of a Gypsy girl born to a dancer in a traveling show.  When she is 16, she becomes pregnant from a young stranger who runs off, leaving her to raise a baby girl in the same situation as her mother raised her.

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