Elton
John: Madman Across The Water
(1971/50th
Anniversary 2-CD Set/Rocket Records/Universal Music)
Sound:
B Extras: B Album: A-
With
all the classic movies coming out in 4K Blu-ray editions all the time
now and allowing us to revisit cinema's great classics and other big
hits, it is a treat when we can revisit a classic album that not only
holds up well, but actually seems to get better with age. In 2004,
as higher resolution formats were arriving for music, some great
classic albums were reissued and in some cases, key sets of the
catalogs of several major artists. Of several of Elton John's early
classics, Madman Across The Water (1971) was one of the best
from what I felt was the best of all the collections of major artists
who saw their works get such deluxe treatment. Here's what I had to
say about the album and that amazing Super Audio Compact Disc (aka
SACD or SA-CD) with its still-stunning 5.1 mix:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/2403/Elton+John+-+Madman+Across+The+Water+(SACD
Well,
18 years later, it is the 50th
Anniversary of this classic, which has only grown more popular and
even more people have discovered it. It has also aged very, very
well. A vinyl set has been issued, as well as a Blu-ray version with
3 CDs, the Blu-ray of which has two new 5.1 mixes we look forward to
hearing. In the meantime, this is the 2-CD Set and here are its
tracks:
CD
1
Tiny
Dancer (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster)
Levon
(2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster)
Razor
Face (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster)
Madman
Across The Water (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster)
Indian
Sunset (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster)
Holiday
Inn (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster)
Rotten
Peaches (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster)
All
The Nasties (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster)
Goodbye
(2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster)
Indian
Sunset (Live Radio Broadcast)
Madman
Across The Water (Original Version, featuring Mick Ronson)
Rock
Me When He's Gone
Levon
(Mono Single Version)
Razor
Face (Extended Version)
CD
2
Madman
Across The Water (1970 Piano Demo)
Tiny
Dancer (Piano Demo)
Levon
(Piano Demo)
Razor
Face (Piano Demo)
Madman
Across The Water (1971 Piano Demo)
Indian
Sunset (Piano Demo)
Holiday
Inn (Piano Demo)
Rotten
Peaches (Piano Demo)
All
The Nasties (Piano Demo)
Goodbye
(Piano Demo)
Rock
Me When He's Gone (Piano Demo)
Rock
Me When He's Gone (Full Version)
Needless
to say this is the first time I have heard the Ludwig versions, at
least in stereo and they are not bad, but nothing shocking or
dramatic. I will have to hear the 5.1 mixes to really have a final
opinion on them, but they're fine. That leaves the bonus tracks, all
of which are worth hearing, including what is apparently a song that
did not make the final album in Rock Me (When He's Gone) which
is not bad and would have fit the album, but only so memorable.
The
live and alternate versions of the rest re all a pleasure to hear,
but its some of the demo tracks on CD 2 that sound good and in the
case of Levon, Holiday Inn, Rotten Peaches and
the title song, you can hear how good the songs are even when he,
Bernie Taupin, Gus Dudgeon and Paul Buckmaster had not settled the
final cuts. Most of these demo tracks have never before been
released, so they are worth going out of your way for.
It
all makes you want to hear more, which does exist on the Blu-ray set.
In the meantime, it just gives you the idea how high the creative
level that all were working on and on a personal note, think it is
great that Rick Wakeman, one of the geniuses from the brilliant
progressive rock Yes plays on three songs on the album: Razor
Face, Rotten Peaches and the title song. That just
further adds to the albums greatness.
As
for playback quality, the
PCM 2.0 16bit/44.1 kHz Stereo sounds good on the newly remastered
tracks, but a little better on the bonus material for whatever
reasons. They all pale to the insanely excellent sound quality on
the older Super Audio CD, but sound fine for the format.
Outside
of the extra tracks, the only bonus is the solid 40-page booklet on
the album, including the new tracks and how the album was made, with
plenty of key illustrations and tech information. Let's hope the
rest of Elton's catalog gets this treatment!
-
Nicholas Sheffo
