 | |
List Price: $6.98 | | Label: Polygram Records
Salesrank: 1388487
Released: May 14, 1996 |
|
|
|
| Media: Audio Cassette |
|
Honky Chateau Track Listing:
1. Honky Cat
2. Mellow
3. I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself
4. Susie (Dramas)
5. Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)
6. Salvation
7. Slave
8. Amy
9. Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters
10. Hercules
11. Slave [Alternate Take][*]
Editorial Review:
Japanese-only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD) paper sleeve pressing of this classic album from the British singer/songwriter and entertainer, originally released in 1972. SHM-CDs can be played on any audio player and delivers unbelievably high-quality sound. You won't believe it's the same CD! Includes one bonus track. Universal. 2008.
Description of Honky Chateau:
By 1972, Elton John was already a rising star in America, although most casual listeners still identified him as part of the singer/songwriter explosion, thanks to the success of "Your Song" and "Levon." Honky Château changed all that, beginning with the success of "Honky Cat," a rousing New Orleans-ish R&B powerhouse that kicks off this terrific collection of songs. This was the album that first revealed John as a pure-pop craftsman, and he's all over the musical map on this set, moving from country-ish rock to blues-based rockers. But the best things here still might be two gorgeous ballads: "Mona Lisas & Mad Hatters" (displaying the young vocalist at his best) and the hit single "Rocket Man" (which had many rock fans debating which was the better space odyssey of the day--this or Bowie's). And lyricist Bernie Taupin was revealing a new, slightly darker side here via tunes like "I Think I'm Gonna Kill Myself." --Bill Holdship
Honky Chateau Reviews:
ROCKET MAN 
2009-12-12 - To listen to some of the lyrics on this album, you can actually imagine some of the situations that made the music. Of course, Rocket man and honky cat will have you singing along, but for the more dedicated fan, mona lisa and mad hatters let you get lost in the words and music, A definite buy for the Elton fan.
A step forward in Elton's career
2009-05-23 - With two American top ten singles, one of which became his biggest British hit up to that point by peaking at number two, this album marked a major step forward in Elton's career.
The set opens with Honky cat, which was only a minor hit in Britain but much more successful in America. Next comes a wonderful romantic ballad (Mellow), followed by an up-tempo song with a very downbeat lyric (I think I'm gonna kill myself). Another up-tempo song (Susie) follows, but this time the tempo of the song reflects the lyrics. We then come to Rocket man, the most famous song on the album and still one of Elton's most recognizable songs.
The next track (Salvation) is about seeking spiritual help to overcome life's problems. A look at slavery from the victim's perspective (Slave) is performed at a slow tempo, having originally been recorded at a much faster pace. The faster version is included here as a bonus track. A song about infatuation (Amy) precedes an unflattering song about New York (Mona Lisas and mad hatters). The final track of the main album (Hercules) finds Elton musing about a woman. The only bonus track is that faster version of Slave, because there were no other unreleased tracks from the sessions.
This is one of many excellent Elton John albums, that all committed Elton fans should regard as essential.
No revues yet?!?
2009-02-01 - No one's reviewed this yet?
Good Lord, this is only one of the best EJ albums ever, one of his fine 70's records.
Get real folks. EJ may be "a bit much" these days, but back in the day he WAS popular music. He was redefining album sales figures, radio station play-lists, and our views like nobody's business.
And I'm the first person to comment on this? Unbelievable!
Honky Chataeu 
2008-12-11 - Elton John-Honky Chateau ****
By the release of Honky Chateau Elton John was still a young song bird just starving for stardom. He still meant the things he was singing about because he was actually feeling and going through them.
His confused sexuality comes through in tracks like 'Amy' as does 'Honky Cat' a song about a soulful boy who in one way or another is fed up with being concidered a black poser. But the scary thing is tracks like the satire fueled 'I Think I'm Going To Kill Myself' while meant to be upbeat, funny, and trite was eerily biographical of Eltons own thoughts at the time. Then there is 'Mellow' which might just be the best none single on the album. But it is the poetic beauty of Taupin's lyrics on 'Mona Lisa's And Mad Hatters' mixed with Eltons georgious melody and all time best vocal that carry the album to classic status.
While it might not be his best album ever, or ever his best from the time period, it might be his most personal even though he wrote none of the lyrics. Honky Chateau is a moment of beauty and despair for a true pop genius.
classic
2008-11-03 - i look at these reviews and i wonder about people who can rate this anything below five stars. this is a classic recording, right up there with american beauty, brothers and sisters, second helping. it does not get any better than this....sheesh.
