Back in the early 70's there were a dozen or so LP's that were found in every serious collection, and "Madman" was one of them. The piano, the voice, the arrangements, the lyrics told us a new major talent was emerging from his chrysalis. The texture of the entire LP was serious and professional. All the FM stations were playing "Tiny Dancer" (you could find her in every town from the east coast to the west coast in the early 70's), "Levon" (one of Elton's most significant social statements), and "Madman Across The Water" (hauntingly and poignantly beautiful). I especially like "Razor Face" and "All The Nasties" (strange title for such a beautiful song). "Goodbye" is too short for such a lovely song.  Like many of his early fans I too wish he had not turned into such a stageman. He had so much talent and so much to say with his music. "Bennie and the Jets" might be a fun concert song but I can't nor could I ever play this on my stereo. "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" would have been his masterpiece had he held it to one LP with just the serious songs (which were plentiful at this point). With that said, very few come close to the talent, music and humanity of his thirty years in the public arena.