Customer Reviews

Honky Château

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This is my favorite Elton John album. It was also his first U.S. No. 1 album, and the first time he used his touring band of Nigel Olsson (drums), Dee Murray (guitar) and Davey Johnstone (bass) as a recording unit.

Along with lyricist Bernie Taupin, Elton presents a joyous--even fun--collection of songs. Even when the subject is suicide ("I Think I'm Going To Kill Myslef"), the music is upbeat. You have to love a song with a tap dance solo! [Favorite line: "If you want to save my life/Brigitte Bardot gotta come and see me every night."]

Of course there were the hits: "Honky Cat" and "Rocket Man." But each song bristles with energy, like "Hercules," "Amy" and "Susie (Dramas)." Of course, there are a handful of ballads, like "Salvation" and "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" just to mix things up a bit.

In addition, Elton tried some new things on this album. Electric violinist Jean-Luc Ponty is brought on board for a couple tracks ("Mellow" and "Amy"). And in addition to playing guitar, Davey Johnstone plays banjo on "Rocket Man" as well as mandolin on "Mona Lisa and Mad Hatters." And there are no drums on this latter track. The only bonus track is an absurdly fast version of "Slave."

While Elton would go on to have even bigger hits and better selling albums, this is the one I return to time and again. ESSENTIAL

This is where Elton's legendary string of hits began. "Honky Chateau" would become the first of 7 straight #1 albums to hit the charts between 1972-1975: a truly dizzying output of music given its overall popularity and quality. And to think, Elton was prepared to hang up his recording career if this album failed...

Davey Johnstone formally joined Dee and Nigel in Elton's band. Jean-Luc Ponty added his string arrangements and Gus Dudgeon acted as producer. They recorded this album in a castle in France named the Chateau d'Herouville. Curiously, the music that emanated from those session had nothing to do with the lofty orchestral arrangements of previous efforts like "Madman" or "Elton John". This album was a pure rocker, many of the tracks invested with a Southern rock feel, only more streamlined and radio-friendly.

Elton's piano work on "Honky Cat" is masterful. "I Think I'm Gonna Kill Myself" is both comical and melodramatic as Elton's shifts between the sorrowful lament of the chorus to ragtime and tap-dancing. "Salvation" comes as close to an anthem as anything Elton's ever written. Then there are tremendous rock songs on here, like "Susie" and the powerful "Hercules". The bonus track of "Slave" invests the original laid-back country recording with pure fire on the piano.

But what most people will no doubt remember most on this album is the classic hit "Rocketman" and the lesser-known and absolutely beautiful "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters". This album was the emergence of Elton as the greatest singer/songwriter of his day.

One of the true classics of Elton's prolific early period and one of the greatest piano records in all of Pop, HONKY CHATEAU has stood the test of time, remaining fresh and less dated than many of its contemporaries.

Except for "Mellow." Yech.

But the high points of this CD are many: "Honky Cat," "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters," the always fantastic "Rocket Man," and the overlooked "Hercules," which really would have fit in better on DON'T SHOOT ME I'M ONLY THE PIANO PLAYER.

At this point in his career Elton could have had hits (and good ones at that) if he'd been singing the phone book. Luckily for us Bernie Taupin was writing great lyrics. Taupin gets the occasional jab from rock critics; I couldn't disagree with them more. Taupin knew how to touch people (people my age anyway) with a few carefully chosen phrases. Did he spell it out like Lennon or Townshend? No. Did he know how to speak to his audience? Obviously, yes.

A great LP.

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.

Honky Chateau was the first album to finally contain an identifiable "sound" for Elton John. Elton's previous albums meandered from country rock to gospel to symphonic to hard rock to pop...it was hard to tell just what type of music Elton was trying to sing. However, with Honky Chateau Elton defined a style that was to be his, and which I think is still his style today, evolved with time and skill.

Another of Elton's albums that went to number 1 on the album charts, this one was filled with gems that set a new personal standard for Elton, and gave rock music that would one day be classics.

"Honky Cat" was infused with a bit of jazz and had a fast beat, and has some thematic similarity to "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road". Similar to the latter song "Honky Cat" charted as a single, and began to establish Elton as a pop star.

"Rocket Man" is a pop ballad that is one of Elton's most requested songs, both in concert and on the radio. Certainly one of the most memorable space songs, along with "Space Oddity" by David Bowie. The nearly humorous lyrics ("...Mar ain't the kind of place to raise your kids...") belie the very serious nature of the song.

"Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" is another mellow pop song, with beautiful harmonies. Underappreciated though very well performed.

There is a lot of quality in the other songs. "I Think I'm Gonna Kill Myself" is ironic in that the song is about death, but the music maintains a fast tempo and sounds upbeat. When I listen to this song I tend to ignore that the song is about suicide because the music just sounds so positive.

"Mellow" has moments of musical interest as the music breaks from the expected path and explores side paths. Elton John tries to inject progressive elements into his music?

"Hercules" has been a sort of theme song for Elton himself. During a 1975 concert in Denver Elton's band played Hercules for a very lengthy period of time as Elton walked around the stage and shook hands with as many fans as he could reach. He calls himself Elton Hercules John, of course. Rocking song that he seems to want to use to identify himself.

"Salvation" has the potential to be a gospel song, but it really doesn't sound very gospel. "All the Nasties" from "Madman Across the Water" has a much stronger gospel sound, which was less strong than the previous "Border Song". Elton has used gospel elements in a few songs, but as he progressed in his career the gospel elements became weaker and weaker. On his next album, "Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player", the gospel element was essentially non-existent.

Every song on this CD is at least good, and range up to great. The only song I had trouble with on this version was the hyper version of "Slave" added as a bonus track. I guess after getting accustomed to the released version the hyper version sounds like the original speeded up, a lot.

"Honky Chateau" is classic Elton. Still not commercial. He'd just found a sound that was all his. He was maturing as a singer and song writer. With this album it was evident to even the most cynical critic that Elton was a force to be reckoned with in the music world. However, even given Elton's growing track record, no one could have predicted the power house that he was yet to be; but you know, listening to this album that was released before his peak...

Without question, "Honky Chateau" has to be regarded as one of Elton John's finest albums, even if it's not as good as his masterpiece "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road". The first of several albums recorded in an old French chateau - hence the album's title - it is Elton John's and Bernie Taupin's last major foray into American folk rock. And it's an album where every tune still sounds as fresh and vibrant now; there's no obvious filler material here, though "Susie (Dramas)" and "Hercules" come close. Aside from the hits "Honky Chateau" and "Rocket Man", there are several great tunes which should be regarded as among the Elton's best, with great melodies and splendid lyrics from Bernie Taupin: "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters", "Mellow", "Think I'm Gonna Kill Myself" and "Slave". Jean Luc-Ponty's splendid electronic violin solo is heard in "Mellow", and is among the reasons why "Honky Chateau is an essential Elton John album. As an added bonus is an alternative version of "Slave", which valiantly tries to come across as Elton's rock and roll take on The Band's music. The album's original producer, Gus Dudgeon, and his team have done a fantastic job in remixing the album using the latest digital image bit technology.

"Honky Chateau" is an example of why Greatest Hits albums just do not work for great artists. This early Elton John effort is an example of when John and Taupin had some edge and grit to their songs with some western influence. The whole album seems interconnected with excellent music, vocals and words that bond to one of their greatest collaborations. "Rocket Man" was the big hit during the albums original debut but the many of the other songs were virtually bigger in quality and longevity. "Honky Cat" starts with a smart jazzy sound with Elton in a cocky voice talking about his "redneck ways" that jumps and hops but in the next song he steps down and eases into the song "Mellow", which slows up to a laid back story of love behind close doors with a lover that makes him sing in a tired but pleased voice "You make me mellow, oh you make me mellow" and the song does make you ease into feeling the mellow he sings about. I like the sound and lyrics of all the songs but the oddly up tempo song about a typical teenager being morose in "I think I am going to Kill Myself" is spritely entertaining sound of a youth complaining about small transgressions like not using the car then he downshifts suddenly down in a lyrical sound into a slowing middle eight of "Get a little headline news, I'd like to see what the papers say, On the state of teenage blues", particularly when Elton soulfully extends the word blues into a long bluesy wail that just puts this song in a unique category. Salvation is an almost gospel sounding song that starts off slow with "I have to say my friends, this road goes a long, long way" with great guitars and backing harmonies that is virtually uplifting in a sound that is optimistic in spite of the challenges exposed in the lyrics. "Amy" is just a fun tune that sounds like a young man teased by a wild and more mature woman and he sings with pain and but with optimism in his voice "Amy I may not be James Dean, Amy I may not be nineteen, And I may still be in romper boots and jeans, But Amy you're the girl that wrecks my dreams". One of the ultimate classics is "Mona Lisa" an up lifting song about a tough life in NY city that crosses the dimensions of different type of people, the poor and the affluent as Elton mournfully sings "Until you've seen this trash can dream come true, You stand at the edge while people run you through, And I thank the Lord there's people out there like you, I thank the Lord there's people out there like you" that in the end is uplifting, that he has found something and someone in a tough time and place. Finishing with a flourish, "Hercules" is a rollicking tune about being in love with a woman who is unfortunately in love with a muscleman, a "cat named Hercules". The song has John with an excellent vocal with backing vocals with a touch of beach boys' sound and although the song seems to end in defeat, it sounds like the man will persevere with a touch of humor. "Rocket Man" is the classic song that Elton used to sing for 20 minutes in concert and it is a great song about a man being a long way from home in a cold desolate environment but the whole album is full of great songs and perhaps this is the best John/Taupin collaboration. The additional alternate version of the western sounding "Slave" is more up tempo than the original and is very good but the core 10 songs are just wonderful and always memorable.

Like most other reviewers have said this is a great album.
Although Rocket Man and Honky Cat were big singles, I actually prefer some of the album tracks. Mellow is a great gospel influenced track. Hercules is cracking rock 'n' roll song. Its a very happy album, and there isn't really a poor track on it.
For me probably only beaten by Tumbleweed and Yellow Brick Road. Its probably also a good buy for anyone new to Elton's music as well, as there isn't the darkness of some of the earlier albums (which are very good as well but more of an aquired taste), or the sometimes overly MOR later albums.

And nobody knows it! My folks tell me I've been listening to Elton John since I was in the womb, and "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" has always been my favorite song. It is the most lyrical, wonderful piece of music Elton ever sang, and yet it has never gotten the recognition it deserves. I know you can't listen to a sample of it here (hello, Amazon.com!), but believe me, I'd buy the album on the strength of that song alone. Oh, yeah...and the rest of it was great, too.

The first three Elton John albums found many pegging him as a singer/songwriter, and the more straightforward songs among "Elton John," "Tumbleweed Connection" and "Madman Across the Water" were certainly easy to construe as such. But then came "Honky Chateau," where Elton's tentative steps into more rock territory found traction. Many of the trademarks of those early albums are still here (the naked emotionalism, the fascination with America's rural south), but he was also discovering the edge - like Jon Luc Ponty's violin solo on "Amy" -that concert goers had been buzzed with.

The first single, "Honky Cat," was the harbinger. Set more to a New Orleans piano roll than any previous song, it was poppier than any of his other singles. "Rocket Man" immediately raised the bar. Riding the same trail David Bowie and Major Tom did, "Rocket Man" followed a space oddity of an astronaut with job satisfaction issues; "It's just my job, five days a week." These two hits pushed Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin off and away from their past labels and moved then onto a fast lane towards rock stardom. Throughout the other songs on the album, Elton's strength for melodies was in full bloom and his confidence was growing, while Bernie's words were as oblique as ever (which was one of his strongest suites).

That motion was also significantly aided by the codification of Elton's band. Stalwarts Nigel Olsson, Dee Murray and Davey Johnston sounded terrific here, recording as Elton's backing for the first time. They matched Elton's flair, making songs like "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "I Think I'm Gonna Kill Myself" spark. Gus Dudgeon obviously understood what Elton was aiming for and kept his production to a more minimal level than on the other albums. The result was the first Elton John album to reflect the personality that would come to dominate the public image of his showmanship. It also became the first of Elton's seven consecutive #1 albums.