Madman Across the Water is the fourth studio album by English musician Elton John, released on 5 November 1971 by DJM and Uni Records.

[8][9] The nine tracks were each composed and performed by John and with lyrics written by songwriting partner Bernie Taupin as with his previous material.

Like John's other studio albums up to this point, Madman featured John's touring band (which consisted of bassist Dee Murray and drummer Nigel Olsson) on only a single song, due to producer Gus Dudgeon's lack of faith in the group for studio recordings.

Davey Johnstone, who had previously worked with Dudgeon as a part of Magna Carta, was also put on as the main guitarist.

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.

[citation needed] On release, Alex Dubro of Rolling Stone was not especially enthusiastic about the album and found it inferior to its two predecessors.

[17] Penny Valentine in Sounds magazine was more positive, however, describing John as "a music man of immense feeling and power" and full of unexplored talent.

[4][5] His next album, Honky Château, shifted gears to glam rock, beginning a string of more successful releases.

He told Wall of Sound that John gave him his approval for his rendition, revealing he said, "Absolutely you should put it on the record.