Honky Château

Honky Château
Studio album by Elton John
Released	May 19, 1972
Recorded	Château d'Hérouville, Hérouville, France, January 1972
Genre	Rock
Length	45:15
Label	Uni (US/Canada) DJM Records
Producer	Gus Dudgeon
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Robert Christgau (A-) link Rolling Stone (favourable) link
Elton John chronology
Madman Across the Water (1971) Honky Château (1972) Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player (1973)

Honky Château is the fifth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1972. In 2003, the album was ranked number 357 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.^[1] This was the final Elton John album on the Uni label in the US and Canada before he was transferred to the MCA label. This and Elton's earlier Uni albums were reissued on the MCA label.

Music

This is the first album since John's debut (Empty Sky) not to feature strings on any songs, except for violinist Jean-Luc Ponty on "Mellow" and "Amy". It also marks the beginning of his transition from a singer/songwriter in the mould of James Taylor, Leon Russell, or Carole King to a rock style that would become more evident on such albums as Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Caribou and Rock of the Westies.

It was also the first album to feature Elton's road band of Dee Murray on bass and Nigel Olsson on drums (along with new member Davey Johnstone on guitars and other fretted instruments) as the sole core group of musicians. Previously, per his record label's insistence, Elton was limited using his road band for only one track each on "Tumbleweed Connection" and "Madman Across the Water." The rest of the songs on those two albums were done by various groupings of studio session players.

The opening track "Honky Cat" is a New Orleans funk track reminiscent of Dr. John and Allen Toussaint and features a four-piece horn section, arranged by Gus Dudgeon.

Critical appraisal

Jon Landau of Rolling Stone approved the original LP as "a rich, warm, satisfying album that stands head and shoulders above the morass of current releases".^[2] Other reviews were likewise mostly positive. More recently, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic confirms that the album has stood the test of time by proclaiming that "it plays as the most focused and accomplished set of songs Elton John and Bernie Taupin ever wrote".^[3]

Track listing

All songs written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin.

Side one

1. "Honky Cat" – 5:13
2. "Mellow" – 5:32
3. "I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself" – 3:35
4. "Susie (Dramas)" – 3:25
5. "Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)" – 6:24

Side two

1. "Salvation" – 3:58
2. "Slave" – 4:22
3. "Amy" – 4:03
4. "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" – 5:00
5. "Hercules" – 5:20

Bonus track (1995 Mercury and 1996 Rocket/Island reissue)

1. "Slave" [Alternate take] – 2:53

Personnel

• Elton John – vocals, electric and acoustic pianos, organ on 2
• Dee Murray – bass, backing vocals on 3 5 6 10
• Davey Johnstone – guitars, banjo on 1 , mandolins on 9 backing vocals on 3 5 6 10
• Nigel Olsson – drums, tambourine on 2 4, backing vocals on 3 5 6 10

Additional personnel

• Jacques Bolognesi – trombone on 1
• Ivan Julien – trumpet on 1
• Jean Louis Chautemps – saxophone on 1
• Alain Hatot – saxophone on 1
• Gus Dudgeon – brass arrangements on 1, rhino whistle on 11, backing vocals on 11
• Jean-Luc Ponty – electric violin on 2 8
• "Legs" Larry Smith – tap dance on 3
• David Hentschel]] – ARP synthesizer on 5,6
• Madeline Bell – backing vocals on 6
• Lisa Strike – backing vocals on 6
• Larry Steel – backing vocals on 6
• Tony Hazzard – backing vocals on 6
• Ray Cooper – congas on 8

Production

• Producer: Gus Dudgeon
• Engineer: Ken Scott
• Mastering engineer: Legs Larry Smith
• Remastering: Tony Cousins
• Editing: Gus Skinas
• Digital transfers: Ricky Graham
• Surround mix: Greg Penny
• Brass arrangement: Gus Dudgeon
• Cover photo: Ed Caraeff
• Liner notes: John Tobler

Charts

Album

Singles

Certifications

References