Elton John: Madman Across The Water

Madman Across the Water: The Definitive Audiophile Pressing by DCC

Elton John's fourth studio album, "Madman Across the Water," holds a unique place in his discography. Released in 1971 (his third album that year), it represented both a commercial anomaly and an artistic pivot. Despite its initially modest chart performance—making it one of John's lowest-charting early releases—the album marked a significant stylistic shift toward progressive rock that would influence his later work.

Commercial Journey
The album spawned two singles that would eventually become classics in the Elton John canon: "Levon" and "Tiny Dancer." While "Madman" achieved gold certification ($1 million in sales) by February 1972, its commercial journey was unusually gradual. It wouldn't reach platinum status ($2 million in sales) until March 1993—more than two decades after its release. This slow-burning success story speaks to how the album's reputation and appreciation grew substantially over time. (It's worth noting that the gold record certification criteria changed in 1975 to include a units sold requirement of 500,000.)

The DCC Remaster: A Sonic Revelation
In 1994, audiophile label DCC Compact Classics, under the direction of Steve Hoffman, released what many consider the definitive version of this album. Remastered by renowned audiophile engineer Kevin Gray using an All Vacuum-tube Cutting System, this pressing transformed a notoriously poor-mastered album into an audiophile treasure.

The sonic improvements are immediately apparent. Pressed on virgin vinyl, the DCC version offers a quiet background with exceptional balance, detail, and dynamic range that the original UK release by DJM simply couldn't match. Perhaps most importantly, John's vocals are rendered with remarkable clarity, largely free from the distortion and sibilance that plague other pressings.

The Vinyl Verdict
If you're searching for what remains, even at the time of this review, the definitive version of "Madman Across the Water," the 1994 DCC Compact Classic stands as the uncontested champion. While the 1971 DJM original release might be the next best option for collectors and purists, it simply doesn't achieve the level of fidelity that Hoffman and Gray delivered with their meticulous remastering.

For serious audiophiles and Elton John enthusiasts alike, tracking down this DCC pressing should be considered essential—it's the rare case where a reissue decisively outperforms the original in every sonic aspect while remaining faithful to the artistic intent of the recording. 💰

💰 Invest
💵 Consider
💸 Pass