Elton John - Levon - Radio Paradise -Internet Radio - Radio Paradise

Elton John — Levon

Madman Across The Water (1971)

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120 comments for this song:

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NeuroGeek (Just Way Out There)	Posted: May 10, 2013 - 14:08 scott_bruce wrote: OK Trailhub, I have to hoist the Bullshit flag on this one. Roughly how often DO you hear Levon being played on mainstream radio there in St Louis? If the definition of "mainstream" includes your run-of-the-mill typical annoying classic rock station and even the lame midwestern definition of progressive rock radio (and my definition includes both), then yes, you will hear it all the time. No offense to Elton. Much respect is due. Just burned out on this. Even after a decade+ of eschewing FM.
coloradojohn (A Mile High and then some, Cherry Creek, Denver)	Posted: Apr 09, 2013 - 10:20 I hear ya! This was indeed a golden period of creativity for Elton, and I vividly recall my mother shaking her head in amazement and disbelief as she was talking with a fellow shopper in the check-out line about the cover story on all the tabloids — "Elton John a Multi-Millionnaire Rock Star!" at the local grocery store in '73 or 4... She and the other lady were saying, "He's so GOOFY!" and "—My land, yes, all those crazy glasses and get-ups!" They may have been in disbelief, shock and denial at his newfound riches, but there was no denying the fact that his songs were all over the radio and TV at the time, and he and Bernie T. definitely ruled the Pop Charts! On_The_Beach wrote: From '70 - '75 EJ & Bernie put together an almost unbelievable string of classic albums . . . 1970 Elton John 1970 Tumbleweed Connection 1971 Madman Across The Water 1972 Honky Chateau 1973 Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player 1973 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 1974 Caribou 1975 Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy 1975 Rock Of The Westies . . . but all good things must come to an end.
ch83575	Posted: Apr 09, 2013 - 10:02 Im listening on good headphones, and I thought to myself: "thats odd, ive never heard that irritating howling noise in the background of this song before." Turns out they were testing the emergency sirens in my neighborhood. Carry on.
drivingunit103 (around the 4 western provinces)	Posted: Apr 09, 2013 - 10:02 ...19 years old - running produce from Nogales, AZ to Calgary,AB when this first aired - boy do some of these songs make me old...
BKardon (Louisville, CO)	Posted: Mar 08, 2013 - 22:18 Over the years this has grown to be my favorite Elton John song. Just something about it...
milleronic	Posted: Mar 08, 2013 - 22:13 Ugh. Please stop playing this song. Please. I turn the station (ANY station) that plays this.
ProjectGemini07 (SC)	Posted: Feb 05, 2013 - 14:29 scott_bruce wrote: OK Trailhub, I have to hoist the Bullshit flag on this one. Roughly how often DO you hear Levon being played on mainstream radio there in St Louis? St. Louis is a noted Elton John hotbed...
scott_bruce (Southern Maryland)	Posted: Jan 05, 2013 - 06:25 trailhub wrote: Gawd I'm sick of hearing this song (on mainstream radio, not here). But have to admit that it really is a good song, overplayed or not. OK Trailhub, I have to hoist the Bullshit flag on this one. Roughly how often DO you hear Levon being played on mainstream radio there in St Louis?
trailhub (St Louis)	Posted: Jan 05, 2013 - 06:18 Gawd I'm sick of hearing this song (on mainstream radio, not here). But have to admit that it really is a good song, overplayed or not.
On_The_Beach (The Blue Planet)	Posted: Sep 01, 2012 - 14:43 jersey_birdman wrote: Madman, Tumbleweed Connection and Honkey Chateau: what a run of work.... From '70 - '75 EJ & Bernie put together an almost unbelievable string of classic albums . . . 1970 Elton John 1970 Tumbleweed Connection 1971 Madman Across The Water 1972 Honky Chateau 1973 Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player 1973 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 1974 Caribou 1975 Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy 1975 Rock Of The Westies . . . but all good things must come to an end.
nigelr (Coffs Harbour, Australia)	Posted: Apr 28, 2012 - 02:48 listen_n_sf wrote: How fortunate for me. To be a kid discovering music on an AM clock radio when this was new. close, my tranny was hidden under my pillow, lest 'the oldies' heard.....
oldman (Lost in Northern Virginia)	Posted: Mar 27, 2012 - 09:29 gemtag wrote: Definitely his best album and imo his best song. He and Taupin made a great team. This is how I will always remember Elton John. A young brash kid with a song and an attitude. Don't forget Gus Dudgeon, very instrumental in his early sound and production incredible juncture of talent.
shellbella (so california)	Posted: Mar 27, 2012 - 09:22 I wouldn't have survived growing up without Elton John's music. The first album I ever bought was Captain Fantastic. I used to be so in love with him growing up!! I shoulda known right then I'd have trouble with men!! Still love him!!
GuiltyFeat (Ra'anana)	Posted: Mar 27, 2012 - 09:21 I grew up in the 80s and always considered myself aware of Elton John and his sound, but I recently went back and listened to this album for the first time and was blown away by its groovy sophistication. Well played Messrs Dwight and Taupin!
helenofjoy (Lincoln, Nebraska)	Posted: Dec 23, 2011 - 06:13 This man is a genius.
kaybee (Lost in the Wilds of Toronto)	Posted: Nov 21, 2011 - 16:39 rdo wrote: What about the play on words? "He shall Believe On" Never noticed that before...thanks for pointing it out rdo.
gemtag (Texas)	Posted: Nov 21, 2011 - 12:38 Definitely his best album and imo his best song. He and Taupin made a great team. This is how I will always remember Elton John. A young brash kid with a song and an attitude.
catnip (mostly wearing lard)	Posted: Jul 18, 2011 - 12:57 I don't like the idea of Elton John. I don't like the glam, the ridiculous outfits, the shoes which should never have even been imagined, the crap glasses, the sad haircuts (and the sadder hair transplant). I don't like the chirpy 80s superstar in a boater, the Candle in the Wind tortured mourner, the trashy 70s glitter-bedecked Pinball eejit, the various attempts to come back with an album of meaningful songs. But the first two or three albums are utter genius, cracking song-writing, great orchestration, good musicianship (even if the drummer were once accused of sounding like he is slapping a frankfurter against a bucket). Brilliant stuff, and this is one of the best. Ho hum.
rdo (DC)	Posted: Jul 18, 2011 - 12:52 Art_Carnage wrote: The meaning is pretty obvious. It's about how wealth destroys the Tostig family over three generations. Alvin Tostig has nothing, but when his child arrives, he decides it's time to make his fortune, which he does. His son is raised in an environment of wealth and privilege, but still has a sense of duty. But later in life he became consumed with money, and went a bit mad. His own child feels abandoned, and hates his father. You know, it's pretty much the George H. W. Bush story. What about the play on words? "He shall Believe On"
muzik (Montana)	Posted: Jul 18, 2011 - 12:49 Had no idea how much I loved EJ until I saw him in concert last spring. 2 hours and 45 minutes of solid playing and probably 3-4 songs were unbeknownst to me.
Art_Carnage (DeepintheheartofTexas)	Posted: Jun 16, 2011 - 20:19 The meaning is pretty obvious. It's about how wealth destroys the Tostig family over three generations. Alvin Tostig has nothing, but when his child arrives, he decides it's time to make his fortune, which he does. His son is raised in an environment of wealth and privilege, but still has a sense of duty. But later in life he became consumed with money, and went a bit mad. His own child feels abandoned, and hates his father. You know, it's pretty much the George H. W. Bush story.
rathersnappish (5363 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)	Posted: May 16, 2011 - 05:42 I bought this album two or three years ago to get Tiny Dancer and love every song on it, it's one of my favourite albums now. Early Elton really was great stuff.
Businessgypsy (Deepest, Darkest Florida)	Posted: Apr 14, 2011 - 16:02 jbtidwell wrote: But what is this song about? This doesn't make sense, either, but I still like it.
robco1 (Chicago, IL)	Posted: Apr 14, 2011 - 15:58 Great song, and very interesting comments thread. Thanks to all, especially B & R for bringing a smile to my neck of the woods.
heliosweb (New Mexico USA)	Posted: Apr 14, 2011 - 15:58 Cynaera wrote: ... Listening to this song just pulls things back into focus for me. I can't save all the animals suffering at the hands of humans. I can only do what I can do. Music gives me strength to try, and this song, among others, helps me to keep my focus on making the world a better place. Please refrain from condemnation. Just listen to the music and appreciate it. And if it motivates you to do good things, DO them. Love that sentiment, Cynaera. Your admonition reminds me of a personal motto of a former colleague: "Do what's right. Do it right. Do it right now." This song is just fantastic. It changes my mood (for the better) the minute it comes on. Right on, Elton!
Businessgypsy (Deepest, Darkest Florida)	Posted: Apr 14, 2011 - 15:57 listen_n_sf wrote: How fortunate for me. To be a kid discovering music on an AM clock radio when this was new. Sneaking into my older sister's room to play the vinyl on a portable Magnavox while she's on a date.
rdo (DC)	Posted: Apr 14, 2011 - 15:57 handyrae wrote: I was at my dentist and heard this song, so I tried to pay attention to the lyrics (better than paying attention to having my teeth cleaned). I couldn't figure it out so I looked up the lyrics online. They still didn't make sense. But they sound meaningful. I'm glad I'm not the only person who has no idea what they mean. I was stuck in bumper to bumper traffic the other day and had to listen closely to these lyrics because this was on the station I was listening to. Pure idiocy. Not a bad tune though.
jersey_birdman	Posted: Apr 14, 2011 - 15:56 Madman, Tumbleweed Connection and Honkey Chateau: what a run of work....
sirdroseph (Yes)	Posted: Mar 14, 2011 - 04:50 Another shining ship in the fleet of masterpieces put out by Elton and Bernie!
Cynaera (South of Neanderthal)	Posted: Feb 10, 2011 - 20:12 I'm slogging through e-mails about abandoned dogs and cats, animals that have been doused in gas and burned, animals that have been dumped by the side of the road, animals that have been starved to the point of death..... Yeah, I get this every day. Listening to this song just pulls things back into focus for me. I can't save all the animals suffering at the hands of humans. I can only do what I can do. Music gives me strength to try, and this song, among others, helps me to keep my focus on making the world a better place. Please refrain from condemnation. Just listen to the music and appreciate it. And if it motivates you to do good things, DO them.
plaice3	Posted: Feb 10, 2011 - 20:03 obscure lyrics, yes, but the best Elton John song ever imho
cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.)	Posted: Jan 10, 2011 - 13:38 Baby_M wrote: As a piece of music, I've always liked this one. I'll confess, though, that the lyrics come off pretentious and a touch incoherent to me. An apt description of Bernie's lyrics.
quesarah (Minneapolis, MN)	Posted: Jan 10, 2011 - 13:36 Elton's son: Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, born 12/25/2010 Named after Levon Helm.
michaelgmitchell (Belleville, ON)	Posted: Jan 10, 2011 - 13:34 As with others here, I feel damn lucky I was around for this era of John's career. Genuis, indeed.
(former member)	Posted: Jan 10, 2011 - 13:33 listen_n_sf wrote: How fortunate for me. To be a kid discovering music on an AM clock radio when this was new. Heh. My eyes tear up a little at how true this is. Elton, George Carlin's Hippy Dippy Weatherman, Riders on the Storm, 25 or 6 to 4, Green Eyed Lady... What a period.
listen_n_sf	Posted: Jan 10, 2011 - 13:31 How fortunate for me. To be a kid discovering music on an AM clock radio when this was new.
linzie	Posted: Aug 04, 2010 - 16:09 BKardon wrote: What a fantastic line. ...I'm just saying, is all.....
linzie	Posted: Aug 04, 2010 - 15:50 So the general consensus is that EJ's older stuff is his best stuff—-Is there any better example of that truth than this????
djake (Guilford, CT)	Posted: Jul 03, 2010 - 18:49 BKardon wrote: What a fantastic line. I must agree!!!
lee_sf (2nd floor, corner)	Posted: Jun 01, 2010 - 22:44 I wore this out on my first cassette player in my first car (upgraded from the factory 8-track). Hard to have perspective; the song is really probably just "pretty good", but it has that history…
BKardon (Boulder, CO by way of State and Madison)	Posted: Apr 02, 2010 - 17:01 linzie wrote: No need to comment about this classic stuff, if you have a poster of LL Cool J on your wall.... What a fantastic line.
Baby_M (a 100-year old building in downtown Akron, Ohio)	Posted: Mar 30, 2010 - 14:09 dkwalika wrote: Back when I was young and he still sang. He actually had some soul. As a piece of music, I've always liked this one. I'll confess, though, that the lyrics come off pretentious and a touch incoherent to me.
RedGuitar (Iowa, USA)	Posted: Mar 30, 2010 - 14:08 ambrebalte wrote: That is the Elton John I love, and not the one singing the thing with the candles. I'm with ya, but I did like the "first" Candle in the Wind on the Yellow Brick Road album. Yes, the early Elton stuff - never tire of it!
Imkirok (The Arctic Hinter Land)	Posted: Mar 30, 2010 - 14:03 I can name that song in 1 note. Classic!
lattalo (Beartooths)	Posted: Jan 26, 2010 - 13:02 One of the best albums of this century!
rtrudeau (Bay Area, California)	Posted: Jan 26, 2010 - 13:00 dkwalika wrote: Back when I was young and he still sang. He actually had some soul. Exactly, on all counts.
VicEdee (New York City)	Posted: Jan 26, 2010 - 12:59 outstanding early Elton John - Bernie Taupin, when they made good music.....!
dkwalika (Upper Midwest)	Posted: Jan 26, 2010 - 12:56 Back when I was young and he still sang. He actually had some soul.
ambrebalte (Beijing)	Posted: Dec 26, 2009 - 02:43 That is the Elton John I love, and not the one singing the thing with the candles.
WonderLizard (2,755.46 mi. due east of Paradise)	Posted: Dec 02, 2009 - 09:16 WonderLizard wrote: Ironically, on the way home I was listening to Levon Helm's Electric Dirt, a muscle bound marvel of an album. I've always wondered if—even secretly—this song wasn't about Helm ("he was a good man") or an eponymous avatar of sorts. With art anything is possible, eh? Don't get why anyone would want to trash Sir Elton. He's a good man and a fine performer. Think I'll repair to the music room and luxuriate in Tumbleweed Connection. On vinyl. Self-edit. While pondering the dialog between lmic and cc_rider below, especially the intriguing notion that Taupin's lyrics, like Costello's, sometimes have a somatic vs. intellectual resonance (if I may paraphrase), I looked it up. This is what I found at songmeanings.net, posted by RainbowDemon and chaoticone: "According to Gus Dudgeon, who produced Madman Across the Water and wrote an essay containing this information to accompany the remastered version, the name 'Levon' was inspired by Levon Helm, drummer, lead singer, and founder of The Band, <snip> ...apparently Elton John's and Bernie Taupin's favorite group in those days. <snip> 'Tracing the name 'Alvin Tostig' is fairly straightforward, but with a bit of a twist. Taupin has said the name was fictitious. But Taupin was from Wessex and there was a historical 'Tostig,' who was the Earl of Wessex back in the 1040s. So perhaps Taupin pulled the name out of history without realizing it."