Elton John - Honky Château’
by Nick Dent-Robinson
published: 26 / 5 / 2023
Label:
Select Label
Format: N/A
intro
Nick Dent-Robinson listens to the reissue of ’Honky Château’, the 1972 album that sent Elton John’s career into the stratosphere.
Now on the last leg of his farewell tour and with this summer's Glastonbury Festival on the horizon, Elton John has released a deluxe version of his fifth studio album ‘Honky Château’, marking its 50th anniversary. Originally issued in 1972, this record was Elton’s first American number one, and it marked the turning point at which the Rocket Man's career truly went into orbit. The album was completed within two weeks at the famous Château d'Herouville studio near Paris, a venue allegedly haunted by the ghost of Chopin. Working quickly came easily to Elton after his earlier years as a studio session player, and on this record he opted to strip away the opulent orchestration of his preceding album ‘Madman Across The Water’ which had been released just six months previously. Instead he chose to highlight the soulful playing of a tight and accomplished small band including drummer Nigel Olsson and guitarist Davey Johnstone, both of whom are still working with him today. The album, which feels intimate and spontaneous, is now expanded to two discs with the addition of some fine demos and a 1972 live show recorded at the Royal Festival Hall. ‘Honky Tonk’ – not one of Elton's most successful singles – is an attractive track with its hard-to-resist New Orleans spirit. ‘I Think I'm Going To Kill Myself’ comes across as strangely upbeat given its troubling subject - but the 1950s pastiche ‘Hercules’ is enjoyable and clearly led the way for “Crocodile Rock” which was to follow just five months later. There are also two classic tracks: ‘Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters’ was lyricist Bernie Taupin's take on an English boy's first visit to New York City, and ‘Rocket Man’ – which Elton says he wrote in under thirty minutes over breakfast one morning at the Château – has become so ubiquitous it topped the charts again as recently as 2021 after it featured on ‘Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)’, Elton John's collaboration with Dua Lipa. ‘Honky Château (50th Anniversary Edition)’ will please many Elton John aficionados - and it is yet another reminder of the man’s virtuosity, both as a performer and as a writer.
Track Listing:-
Band Links:-
https://www.eltonjohn.com/https://www.facebook.com/EltonJohn
https://twitter.com/eltonofficial
Play in YouTube:-
Picture Gallery:-
most viewed articles
current edition
The Church - Interview with Steve KilbeyIn Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.
Simon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
Secret Shine - Interview
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Flaming Stars - Interview
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPPrisoners - Interview
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Allan Clarke - Interview
Michael Lindsay Hogg - Interview
Jimmy Nail - Interview
Jonny Fluffypunk - Interview
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Bluebells - Interview with Ken McCluskey
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for BreadIan Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Inutili - A Love Supreme
Kula Shaker - Natural Magick
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart