During 1971 alone, four new Elton John albums made their appearance on Billboard's album chart. The western-themed ‘Tumbleweed Connection’, the soundtrack to an obscure film, ‘Friends’, the live album 17-11-70, (recorded on that date at a New York radio station’s studio), and ‘Madman Across the Water’, which contained the favourites “Tiny Dancer” and “Levon”.
‘Honky Chateau’, which appeared in 1972, was top-heavy with classic tracks, including “Honky Cat” and “Rocket Man.” The latter was “…a profound match of words and music that used space travel as a metaphor for spiritual isolation” (The Rock Hall of Fame). On January 23, 1971, Elton reached #8 with "Your Song". It is the first in a string of 60 hit singles for Elton over the next three decades.

On January (4th) 1971, Tumbleweed Connection was released in the US on UNI 73096. It had the same songs as UK LP

January 7th 1971 was the UK release of the single Your Song. DJM DJS 233 reached number 7 and charted for 12 weeks. The B-Side was Into The Old Man's Shoes.

January 7th - UK single -Your Song- DJM DJS 233

At this time the local Watford Observer ran an article that Elton John has been acclaimed by music critics and disc jockeys as a superstar and the most exciting musical discovery since The Beatles.

In early February, Elton was in the studio doing sessions for Long John Baldry's “It Ain't Easy “album. This was produced by Elton at the IBC Studios, London. Later in the month he was recording his own song Goodbye at Trident Studios, London.

Also during February, Elton received an RIAA Gold Disc ($1 million sales) for the Elton John album

March saw the UK release of the movie “Friends”. The soundtrack features songs by Elton and Bernie. Following this the single is released in the US. UNI 55227 only reached number 34 and had the B-Side of “Honey Roll”.

Following the initial single release, the US album “Friends” was released. The Original Soundtrack from the Paramount picture (PAS-6004). The album was recorded at Trident Studios, London. April also saw the single (did not chart) and album (UK: #20) released in the UK.

April 23, 1971 – Friends/Honey Roll - DJM DJS244 - Trident Studios, London.

April 1971 - UK LP –Friends- SPFL 269 - Same songs as US LP

April 1971 - US Cassette –Friends MCA MCLC1749 - Same as US LP

The performances on Eltons next album release were recorded during a live radio concert, broadcast in New York by WABC-FM on November 17th, 1970. The broadcast originated at A&R Recording Studios, New York. The tapes were mixed at Trident Studios, London. Elton John: piano; Nigel Olsson: drums; Dee Murray: bass guitar.

April 1971 - UK LP -17-11-70- DJM DJLPS 414

April 1971 -17-11-70 - DJM ZCDJL 414

It was from this gig that some “other” vinyl recordings of Eltons performances had surfaced.

The US release was May 10th 1971 -17-11-70- UNI 93105 - Same as UK LP

In May 1971 there was a US LP Smiling Men with Bad reputations by Mike Heron
(Elektra EKS-74093) Mike Heron was essentially one half of The Incredible String Band. Elton played piano on a song called Make No Mistake, but it did not make the album. When the album was issued on CD, Make No Mistake was included as a bonus track.

June 10th -  Rolling Stone magazine featured Elton as the cover story - "Elton John - One Year On". Elton recalls: "Bernie and I do seem to attract weirdos. I don't know why, because we're not really weird ourselves. People give me pineapples, and some girl gave me her knickers. Yeah, in Scotland, some girl took off her knickers and threw them on stage - along with a bowler hat, can you get that one together?"

Another Elton appearance was in June on the US LP – Sing Children Sing by Lesley Duncan (Columbia C30663). It was the debut album for the rock singer/songwriter. Recorded with Elton on piano, guitar legend Chris Spedding and Pentangle's drummer Terry Cox, all on leave from recording Elton's Madman Across The Water album. Lesley Duncan first rose to prominence when Elton recorded her composition Love Song, for his Tumbleweed Connection album in 1970.

August saw Elton back in the studio (Trident Studios, London) to record songs for the Madman Across The Water album.

The September issue of  Melody Maker released it’s 1971 reader poll. Elton is 4th best male singer. Your Song  is 6th best single. In the international section, Elton is 3rd best pianist/organist and 6th best composer.

An amusing article appeared in the October 28th edition of the Rolling Stone.
"Elton was the latest of a series of freaks to be refused admission to Disneyland. Despite his short hair and the company of his Mum and Dad, Elton was turned out because of numerous patches on his jeans. But John convinced the guards that the Disneyland concessions sold patches, and was let back in."

November 5th was the release of the UK LP – Madman Across the Water. DJM DJLPH 420 reached number 41 for only 2 weeks. It featured the smash US hit Tiny Dancer

November 5th Madman Across the Water- DJM DJLPH 420 - Recorded at Trident Studios, London.

November 8th 1971 Paul Macartney launched his new group Wings
Elton is invited to the Empire Ballroom, Leicester Square London. Paul personally handwrote all the invitations to the costume gala. Elton meets up again with Paul's brother Mike McGear and is suprised that he still remembers Reg when he did session work for his group The Scaffold in March of 1969.

November  15th 1971 was the US release of Madman Across the Water. UNI 93120 reached number 8 in the Billboard chart (same songs as UK LP).

Soon afterwards, Elton performs Tiny Dancer and All The Nasties, on the UK TV show - Old Grey Whistle Test. Also in december Elton records a 47 minute show for an April 29 1972 broadcast of Sounds For Saturday. Elton plays the entire Madman Across The Water album, except for All The Nasties.

On December 20th 1971 'Top Of The Pops' record two Christmas specials.
T. Rex at BBC Lime Grove Studios, Shepherd's Bush, London featured Get It On - with Elton on piano. T. Rex filmed two songs: Hot Love which was broadcast on the December 25th edition and Get It On, featuring Elton, which was broadcast on the December 27th edition. Neither song was live in the studio, both being straight mimes to slightly different mixes of the original singles.

Xmas day 1971 – Billboard US chart analysis ranks Elton John as the 6th most successful artist of the year and US Magazine, Cashbox, shows Elton and James Taylor as joint top male vocalist.

Elton's songwriting was still as popular as ever and in 1971, Mr Bloe released a song writen by Elton titled 71-75 New Oxford Street. It was a song about Tin pan Alley and the offices that Elton frequented during his early days (released by DJM on DJS245).

Also, during 71, 'The Tide Will Turn For Rebecca' was released by Edward Woodward on DJM (DJS 232).