| Honky Chateau | 
 enlarge | Artist: Elton John
Label: Island
Category: Music
List Price: $11.98
Buy New: $5.32
You Save: $6.66 (56%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $3.60
Avg. Customer Rating:   (63 reviews)
Sales Rank: 2461
Format: Original Recording Reissued, Original Recording Remastered
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 528162
UPC: 731452816221
EAN: 0731452816221
ASIN: B000001EGE
Release Date: May 14, 1996
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
| Tracks:
| • | Honky Cat | | • | Mellow | | • | I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself | | • | Susie (Dramas) | | • | Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time) | | • | Salvation | | • | Slave | | • | Amy | | • | Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters | | • | Hercules | | • | Slave |
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
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.
Amazon.com essential recording
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 Chateau 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
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 58 more reviews...
 Honky Chataeu December 11, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
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 November 3, 2008
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.
Elton John - Turn Around And Say Good Morning To The Night October 23, 2008
By the time Elton release "Honky Chateau" in 1972 he and co songwriter Bernie Taupin had several albums under their belts and had become a cohesive team. This album would go straight to the top of the charts with its huge hit singles "Honkey Cat", "Rocket Man", and the AOR favorite "Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters". Elton tried a little bit of everything on this album and for the most part it all worked. This would also be the first album to feature the backing band of Olsen, Murray, and Johnstone who would stay with Elton off and on through the rest of his career. Violist Jon Luc Ponty also is on hand prior to the launching of his own instrumental solo career. This album is somewhat inconsistent and leaned towards a generally more commercial sound. Songs like "Mellow", "I Think I'm Gonna Kill Myself", and "Slave" only half work, but overall this is a good Elton John record and his first of many to go to number one on the charts.
Change is gonna do me good... September 11, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
As one reviewer wrote of Elton's next album, "Don't Shoot Me...," at that point in his career the brooding singer-songwriter Elton had "left the building," but the fresh, new talented pop star Elton had taken his place, and the change would prove more than equitable going forward from there. Well, a few months earlier, with "Honky Chateau," singer-songwriter Elton opened the door to that building and put his first foot through it on his way out, saying hello to his pop star alter ego making his entrance.
Gone were the darker, somber songs and arrangements, as well as the assembly of studio musicians. Elton put his creative foot down and insisted his road band play on the album, thus beginning the amazing run of the original Elton John Band that would garner so much praise and fandom during the next few years.
Elton and Bernie wrote their most funky stuff to date, and even if it wasn't all perfect, it was damn close. Rockers strutted and stolled, ballads such as "Rocket Man" (the first to get backing vocals by Davey, Dee and Nigel) were beautiful and more electric than previous works. Only "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" bore any resemblance to "Madman..." and earlier recordings, but even that was a departure for John & Taupin. Songs like "Amy" were completely out of the norm to that point; that tune and "Honky Cat," "Hercules" and "Mellow" helped at last launch Elton as a recording "rock star," to equal his already established concert reputation as a rocker.
"One of his very best!" July 31, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The first Elton John album I ever bought, shortly following its release in the early 1970s. It sounded terrific then, and has held up to the test of time. In addition to the classics from this LP (Honky Cat and Rocket Man), there is not even a near clunker here. Very thoughtful lyrics on "Salvation" and "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters." Really, a fine, enjoyable album from beginning to end. Next to "Madman Across the Water," I think this is his best effort.
|
|
|
