Elton John's Honky Château

Elton John's Honky Château is the fifth studio album by Elton John, released in 1972, and features the hit singles Honky Cat and Rocket Man. The album was recorded at the Château d'Hérouville in France, with Elton John on piano and vocals, Davey Johnstone on guitar, Dee Murray on bass guitar, and Nigel Olsson on drums. The album's production was handled by Gus Dudgeon, who had previously worked with Elton John on his earlier albums, including Elton John (album) and Tumbleweed Connection.

Background

The idea to record at the Château d'Hérouville was conceived by Gus Dudgeon and Elton John, who were looking for a unique and inspiring location to record the album. The Château d'Hérouville was a 18th-century castle located in the French countryside, and had previously been used as a recording studio by David Bowie, Marc Bolan, and T. Rex. The castle's atmosphere and surroundings had a significant influence on the album's sound and style, with Elton John drawing inspiration from the works of Leon Russell, The Band, and The Rolling Stones. The album's title, Honky Château, was a reference to the Château d'Hérouville itself, and the honky-tonk piano sound that dominated the album.

Recording

The recording of Honky Château took place in January 1972, with Elton John and his band, which included Davey Johnstone, Dee Murray, and Nigel Olsson, gathering at the Château d'Hérouville to lay down the tracks. The album was recorded using a mobile recording studio provided by The Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and was engineered by Gus Dudgeon and Andy Scott. The recording process was relatively quick, with most of the tracks being recorded live in the studio, and featuring Elton John on piano and vocals, Davey Johnstone on guitar, Dee Murray on bass guitar, and Nigel Olsson on drums. The album's sound was also influenced by the contributions of guest musicians, including Jean-Luc Ponty on violin and Larry Steel on guitar, who had previously worked with Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention.

Track listing

The album features 10 tracks, including the hit singles Honky Cat and Rocket Man, as well as other notable tracks such as Mellow, I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself, and Susie (Dramas). The album's track listing is as follows: 1. Honky Cat 2. Mellow 3. I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself 4. Susie (Dramas) 5. Rocket Man 6. Salvation 7. Slave 8. Amy 9. Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters 10. Hercules. The album's tracks were written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, who had previously collaborated on Elton John's earlier albums, including Empty Sky and Tumbleweed Connection, and had also worked with other artists, such as Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac.

Release and reception

Honky Château was released on May 19, 1972, and was a major commercial success, reaching the top of the UK Albums Chart and the top 10 of the US Billboard 200 chart. The album received positive reviews from critics, with many praising the album's unique sound and style, which was influenced by the works of The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and Bob Dylan. The album's hit singles, Honky Cat and Rocket Man, also received significant airplay on radio stations such as BBC Radio 1 and WPLJ, and helped to establish Elton John as a major star in the music industry, alongside other artists such as David Bowie, Rod Stewart, and Elvis Presley.

Legacy

Honky Château is widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, and has been named as an influence by many other artists, including Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, and Tom Waits. The album's unique sound and style, which blended elements of rock music, piano rock, and country music, has also been cited as an influence by artists such as Ryan Adams, My Morning Jacket, and The Black Keys. The album has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and has sold over 1 million copies in the United States alone, and has also been certified platinum in the United Kingdom by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). The album's legacy continues to be celebrated by fans and critics alike, and it remains one of the most beloved and enduring albums in Elton John's discography, alongside other classic albums such as Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Caribou. Category:Elton John albums