Honky Ch?teau

In 1972 I was 13 years old, and my scope of music had yet to extend beyond the limitations of my AM transistor radio. Prior to this album, I did not know who Elton John was, nor was I aware of any music outside the Top 40. All I knew was that “Rocket Man” sounded like something I never heard before, and when it played, it would have taken a crowbar to pull my ear away from my transistor.Shortly afterward I felt the same way about “Honky Cat,” a New Orleans-like song about a young man headed straight from the farm to the big city. This is the song that always made me wish I could play the piano, and it was the one that made me realize there was something special about this singer called Elton John.As young as I was, I wasn’t alone in my assessment, as Honky Chateau, named for its French recording studio, was the first of Elton John’s number one albums. It’s the one that took him from a hard to classify singer/songwriter to a full-fledged rock star. That may have been because this was the first album to fully feature the joint efforts of musicians Nigel Olsen, Dee Murray, and Davey Johnstone, who became key fixtures of the Elton John Band. This is where it came together and where the hits started rolling in; and for me it was the album that put Elton John on the map.Naturally I was thrilled to find both “Rocket Man” and “Honky Cat” on one musical production, but this was also the album where I learned there is more to life than just the hits, as the other eight songs also had a fresh and interesting appeal. Varied as they were, I wouldn’t classify any as fillers.“I Think I am Going to Kill Myself,” is similar to “Crippled Inside,” from John Lennon’s Imagine album. Both are catchy tunes about a serious topic, and while Lennon’s saloon-like piano song sounds like a tap dance, Elton’s song actually features a tap dance. That’s not typical for a suicidal mind-frame; but the song reflects the theatrics of teenage boredom rather than the grim aspects of actual suicide.One of Elton John’s more underrated songs is “Salvation,” which would have made a great theme song for the Salvation Army and could have easily been another hit to emerge from the era of peace, love, and brotherhood. The sensitivity of this song flows easily into “Slave,” which would also have fit in well on the prior Tumbleweed Connection album. In later years the CD version of Honky Chateau contained a bonus track of a speedier “Slave”; but the gentler recording is more riveting and the right choice for the original album.More powerful yet is “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters” a rather dark interpretation of New York City and the need to form strong personal connections to rise above it all. This remains among the best of Bernie Taupin’s lyrics, which says a lot considering he contributes half the success to the prolific John/Taupin songwriting team.Honky Chateau ends with “Hercules,” originally slated to be the third single from this album, but likely set aside to give way to all the other hits that rapidly followed. For Elton John, this was a definite turning point in his career, and for me, it was a turning point for my music preferences. It took Elton from the obscurity of critically acclaimed but under played albums to the hit parade and me from top 40 singles to the depths of full-length albums.

If you are looking to buy your first Elton John album, there are two ways to go about it: Play it safe and get his first Greatest Hits album, which has most of his classic singles from 1970-1974. Or be a little braver, and snag this, his most tuneful and enjoyable session workout, released in 1972. It's pop music ear candy that's good for the soul."Honky Château" has a lot of fans, and no wonder. It contains two of Elton's most enduring hits, the playful "Honky Cat" and the affectively yearning "Rocket Man," along with 8 other tracks that hardly sag by way of comparison. I revere this album because it represents Elton John at his poppy best, the way I came to love him on the radio when I was growing up in the 1970s. Other great songs like "Mellow," "Hercules," and "Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters" add to a rich blend of musical styles that make listening to the entire album a pleasant journey that never gets dull.Listen to the way the piano kicks in on "Honky Cat," the opening track. Elton's keyboard passages bounce from one wall to another and back again in unpredictable but clever rhythmic patterns, while a banjo throws out odd notes to add to the mix. The aural dynamics continue with each of the songs that follow, never in a bombastic way, but a very accomplished and relaxed manner that testifies to Elton's zooming artistic growth.Bernie Taupin's lyrics are funny and work either with or against the grain of the melody in each song in a way that adds to their signature diversity. "I Think I'm Going To Kill Myself" is a song that grabs attention for the wrong reason. It's actually about a self-dramatizing teen angry his parents won't let him use the car. His idea for suicide is laughable rather than horrific; he wants to hang around after he kills himself to see how everyone takes the bad news. If there's any lingering doubt about its seriousness, it's dispelled by the merry ragtime melody carrying it, complete with tap dancing. The song only works because the kid doesn't realize the gravity of what he's contemplating, because if he did he wouldn't be young and immature enough to think about doing it!Elsewhere on the album are some of Taupin's most famous lines, about "trying to drink whiskey from a bottle of wine," "turn around and say good morning to the night," and most memorably, "Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids/In fact it's cold as hell." Man, did you think Taupin was writing that one about the street you were growing up on, too? Even when the lyrics are goofier, they still work, like his words to the nasty dreamwrecker "Amy": "You're far out, you're fab and insane/A woman of the world it's quite plain." Elton delivers that one with the right gravelly intonation, all sleazy and '70s glam, which along with the dire yet funky piano accompaniment makes "Amy" my call for Honky Chât's sleeper track.The music is ultimately what makes the songs so good. Every song feels very unique, and none of it like filler. Filler is not a bad thing in and of itself; I define "filler" as being songs that either work or don't in the context of an album but not outside of it. But you can pull any one of these songs out on its own, and it won't wilt in isolation. "Slave" and "Salvation" may be my least favorite tracks, but both are solid tunes I can hum to myself days after last hearing them.My favorite on this album has to be "Honky Cat," the sorta title track. I can listen to that forever. It really defines who Elton is on this album; carefree, amiable, willing to laugh at himself. I kind of picture him chained to a whorehouse piano playing that one, trying to make eye contact over his cokebottle glasses with all the wicked women because he wasn't out of the closet yet.Other Elton albums may lay greater claim to being art, but this was Elton's best pop record, and his most enjoyable moment on wax. "Honky Château" is a gem worth having for your record collection.

The vinyl arrived in perfect condition, and the delivery was right on time. To my surprise and delight, I also received a bonus Alicia Keys vinyl, which was an unexpected addition. As a fun of Alicia Keys, this gift made my purchase even more special. kudos to the seller for going the extra mile. Highly recommended. :)))))!!!!!!

If you are thinking about saving some money and getting the used record… DO IT!! It’s so nice and sounds great

Love this era from Elton John!Great songs and songwriting!

Disco de 1972 que contiene uno de sus temas míticos "Rocket Man" además de otros menos populares pero en mí opinión de no menor calidad como "Mellow", "Salvation" o "Mona Lisas and mad hatters". Sonido francamente bueno. Merece la pena tenerlo en la discoteca.

Remember this when it came out........ Great album!

Envoi conforme, bien protégé et dans les délais,A ce jour écoute toujours parfaite, je recommande pour les amateurs

Exquisito trabajo.