Holiday Inn - Elton John (Madman Across the Water 6 of 10)

[holtrlouque]

Bernie Taupin wrote most of the songs on Tumleweed Connection and collaborated on this album...

[onemanband75to82]

i played this song in houston in the 70'z.for those of you who don't know --this is the way it was going on the holiday tour.you babyboomers know sir elton john best best

[steed3902]

i forgot how much i loved this song!! esp at the 1:47 mark........true classic!!

[TheClassicrocker67]

oh, and three people forgot to make reservatoins lol.

[TheClassicrocker67]

i love how there are a lot of people out there that will say they love elton because of bennie and the jets, or candle in the wind, or hell, even can you feel the love tonight?. however, when you ask them if they've ever listend to this song or most anything off of madman across the water for that matter, most will just look at you wierd because they have no clue what you're talking about. yeah, i pitty those people.

[FrankyDooDy0]

This album is nice (this tune and a lot of others are beautiful), but in its whole, it doesn't surpass "Honky Château" (in my opinion! XD)

[Andy1Emcee]

The music and the lyrics are both spectacular. This album is very, very underrated.

[gerry13079]

this is 4 u tommy thank u

[alane011]

poorly regarded what? the album is classic period Elton at it's best!

[alane011]

porrly regarded what? the album is classic period Elton at it's best!

[pixiepancake]

Sometimes I think about buying a little Airstream trailer, then buy an old LTD, listening to only seventies music and watching reruns of Rockford Files and the like and just letting the world go to complete hell on its own...

[pipesofpeace1]

@pixiepancake my thoughts exactly. i long for a simpler time.

[pixiepancake]

Great little obscure Elton John song, have always loved it...

[robertams54]

Fabulous album. Memories, across the great waters of the earth. Loved this as we prepped shuttle for launch in the OPF. Hail madmen and NASA!

[MisterEvasion]

This song has all the characteristics of the Gus Dudgeon touch. The Dudgeon years contain by far the most finely crafted and best songs of Elton John.

[bpmcl]

No matter who you are, or how big you'll be, in the early days you have to write a song about the trials of touring in order to make your record company happy.

[catster57]

The lyrics, the music all a classic! Probably one of the best B sides ------ in the world!

[MrPieman1011]

All time Elton John favorite album. Yellow Brick Road was great , too.

[SomethingQueer]

Love love loveeee this song

[leeleebaby2100]

Haven't heard this in a hundred years. I'm glad my music choices have held up over time. Wasn't as poorly regarded as you say. Loved Elton's stuff much more before the onslaught of his superstardom. Yellow Brick Road was masterpiece yet downfall.

[Molly8887]

Another underrated Elton classic. Quite a performer. Great memories.

[primeholyassasin20]

What i like about this album is that from front to back, it plays like a sweeping epic journey across the west and the wilderness, from Tiny dancer to the powerful epic Indian sunset, with fine tunes like this one filling the spaces inbetween. It almost feels like an unintentional precursor to U2's the joshua tree, with it's journeying, sweeping feel. Even Elton's other classic albums don't have that sweeping feel to them, it's unique to this one alone.

[uclrichard]

@primeholyassasin20 what most people forget, old boy, is that elton had one of best voices of any rock singer ever...and incredible high tenor register which could effortlessly drop into an amazing bass tone...the sincerity and subtletly was a feature of all albums in the early to mid 70s - and, remarkably (although without the high tenor) on his most recent work. sexuality has nothing to with it...it's all about inate talent. happy xmas, too....i live in freezing england and i have a bad cold..

[MusicMadMaurice]

@primeholyassasin20 Well put. The whole album seems like a continuous story, this track being about the tribulations of touring.

[michaelsmorrison]

Tomb Raider

As I make my way

to the back of the room

With nothing more to say

in the shadows that play

in the dust and the light

of the last empty tomb...

M. S. Morrison

[mizofan]

More than other albums since the 70s the new album The Union with Leon Russell may please fans of early Elton.

[rhorton3]

How many of you think of this song when flying to Boston?

[latta4]

@rhorton3 Brilliant EJ tune. I sing it every time I fly into Boise & Boston.

[THESOULbornold]

cherishable, this is for grownups the imature need not apply real feeling raw emotion mystical and even spiritual. ill keep elton alive and hell keep me alive.

[ErieBoy62]

This is a really great tune. I love the "String Solo" from 1:46 to 2:17, especially the way it ends in the final few seconds.

[smartass111]

Sitar!

[cheflbi]

i was 10 when this came out. shame there is no good music anymore. just profits.

[cheflbi]

I was 10 when this came out. And loved it then as much as now. It`s just a shame modern artists; and of course recoed companies, don`t want to put the effort behind good music. Just massive profits for mostly junk. just my opinion

[Pammykinns58]

I had this album when it first came out, but with so many moves over the years I lost so many precious things, all my record collection. Thank got for youtube!!!

[michaelsmorrison]

Lets Make the best of It...

[anthroscott]

wow!

[rowdymax1]

Good song about life on the road of a rocker. By the way Paul Buckmaster also did the string arrangements for a 1970's folkie named Shawn Phillips...give him a listen sometime...good stuff.

[kenv08]

Love your old songs, Bernie! Dave Lacks, New York, 08JAN2010

[longuylandboy]

Brings me back to a lot of memories, ones i cannot divulge

[reinereinereine]

ditto. It makes me remember laying down on my shag rug with two cheap speakers near my ears while the turntable spun :)

[alfredunhill]

this album is just classic.....a pure classic

[mandolinic]

This song was on the flip side of the Rocket Man single .. and made be buy the album and then my first mandolin. And after 35 years, I STILL can't play that beautiful mandolin solo.

[icestationn]

Best album ever....

[darkmoon123321]

why is everything upside down lol

[ellonysman]

Isn't it great to think back in the past to where you were when this was the latest....some good and some bad places...hope its good for you all..:)

[strummeresque]

You have a big heart

[stillspooky]

@ellonysman I've stayed at the Plaza and the Four Seasons, but these are my best memories.

[drjekyll66]

the best he ever done !!!!!!

[xrockangelx]

I love the mandolin. Ohgodsomuch! X)

The way this song feels is the way I've always wanted my life to feel.

[BigEltonFan]

I dont think this album is much of a lost one. I almost bought it but I bought Rocket Man Number Ones instead.

[uclrichard]

this forgotten album is probably his most consistently successful work. (it's better than 'honky chateau' - the lyrics are more arbitary, complex and less obviously trying to be america-friendly)

[Jwo32]

I cant believe this is his such a poorly regarded album....forget the lyrics, musically this is Elton at his most unstoppably creative, every song is a dynamite tune

[uclrichard]

i agree with you - on all points, my friend...!

'madman' came out in the same year as 'hunky dory', 'plastic ono band' and 'led zep IV'....what a year for music eh?? (i was six)

[fascistamericadotnet]

check out Billy Joels "Cold Spring Harbour" album also from '71 !

[piethingy7]

I love Billy Joel :) he lives down the street from me in oyster bay. Though now he is selling his house. Exspensive price to like 31 million. And cold spring harbour is the next town over from us :)

[walkingbear56]

Tapestry Carole King, Mud Slide Slim James Taylor... the smooth seventies.. singer songwriter boom. Heady days to be a teenager in.

Ahhhhh

[rmgj]

You are right, days never to be seen again, and yes I own all the albums you mentioned, wonderful music and wonderful artists, music could change the world, could not it?. cheers and all the best.

[walkingbear56]

Yep indeed; I hope I'm not turning into a "Victor Meldrew" person..who "cant believe" what passes for music these days.

Yes, music was still the sole passion of musicians and not the work of accountants and marketing men... and we thought that we could change the world.

It certainly changed me....even if not the world... for the better.

Thanks

[rmgj]

Oh, no you are not turning into that, I once red that Jim Morrison had stated that the sixties were like Europe at the end of the Plague, happy people wearing colourful clothes, engaging in creative activities again, those were very special times, we were very hopeful, as for today, well, the hope has dwindled, but, well again, we also saw Mother Theresa, so, let us pray something really big and good happens, and men lose their greed. cheers, and all the best.

[walkingbear56]

And there's another person who , sadly, we will never see the likes of again. We are in good company.

[rmgj]

Me friend, just commenting, the song is almost unbeliavebly sweet, and by God, the Paul Buckmaster's orchestra arrangement, (another genious) and the celestial interchanges between the mandolin, the sitar, the bass guitar & orchestra, outwordly experience indeed, please give "Blues for Baby & Me" a try, and see if you like it, cheers & good luck.

[iwsptm]

@Jwo32 you're right. imo, this IS elton.  excellence.

[Mishaxhi]

@Jwo32 I know, I can't see how people could ever dislike this. It's my favorite Elton john album by far

[grock4343]

@Jwo32 the lyrics were primitive but they both taupin and john say that on many occasions but the creative aspect of elton johns music at that time was genius pure and simple and that is why the music critics at that time said his music was the most refreshing thing to come along since the beatles and the were right

[candelise]

@uclrichard I think that Bernie Taupin has always had a love of American vernacular. It is no coincidence that he lives there.

[Loseirdo]

I love the guitar on this song. Which is weird to say since it's Elton John.