'Madman Across The Water'

The album cover was actually embroidered over a period of two weeks by the wife of the art director. It would've been a shame had she done all that work and they decided to go with something else.

The final product was given to Elton John.

It was John's four studio album and actually probably a bit of a disappointment. The previous three all went top 10 in the United States. It's predecessor -- Tumbleweed Connection -- peaked at No. 2 in the United Kingdom.

Then Madman ... was released and peaked at No. 41 in the United Kingdom before having three of the next four go No. 1 in the United Kingdom. The next six would go No. 1 in the United States.

Madman ... is good, but it's not radio friendly in the least. Its hits -- "Levon" and "Tiny Dancer" -- averaged almost six minutes a piece. And that's the front half of side 1. And those are kind of the best songs on the thing.

Very much a transitional album (artistically and commercially) for John.