Feature Photo: Courtesy of UMe
If you’re a longtime Elton John fan listening to his music since the 1970s, chances are his Honky Château album remains one of your favorite Elton John albums of all time. As we have written about this album before, Elton John’s Honky Château album was a significant turning point in his career. Sandwiched between 1971’s Madman Across the Water and 1973’s Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player, the album Honky Château is fueled by the birth of the Elton John Band featuring Davey Johnstone Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson. Their presence on the recording helped shift the sound of Elton John’s music to a more pop feel that would sell millions of records. Yet, the album still contains some of the same feel of the Americana sounds of his previous albums.
What has always seemed like such a musical transition to the pop world for Elton John based on the original Honky Château release can be countered with a different opinion on that transition while listening to some of the demos and outakes released for the first time on Honky Château’s 50th Anniversary Reissue.
The realization that the changes may not have been as intentional, based on the songs Elton John and Bernie Taupin were composing can be heard right away when listening to the demos. It’s most noticeable when comparing the released version of “Rocket Man,” to the demo versions. The additional demo version of “Rocket Man,” presents Elton John’s vocals more out front. It’s a dry vocal without the reverb that was thrown on the Elton John vocal that was officially released. It’s a much more intimate listen, and for this fan, a much more enjoyable one.
It’s not just the “Rocket Man” demo that shine so brightly. Most of the tracks that we get a chance to hear as demos are much more cleaner sounding recordings where we can hear the instruments separated cleanly on both the left and right sides of the audio. The word demo probably should not be used because these are great recordings. Its almost like listening to the Beatles Let It Be Naked album. However, these demos were not about stripping away the instruments, it was about hearing the songs before all the effects were added. It’s simply fascinating how a dry sound on the vocals and instruments leads to a separation between the instruments and vocals that make it sound like they are performing in your living room.
Elton John albums have always been released with great sound, but this release takes it to a whole new level. What’s even more interesting is these recordings of Elton John singing without any effects defines just how good of a singer the man is. He is pitch-perfect and his resonance on this recording is breathtaking. A lot of that can get lost behind a wall of reverb and echo, yet, on these demos its all out front.
Elton John’s Honky Château album was originally released on May 19th 1972. The album was recorded in Paris. The Deluxe 50th Anniversary Reissue is being released in various formats. Included with the original album and the Mellow sessions demos is also a live recording of many of the album’s tracks from a performance at the Royal Festival Hall in London on February 5th 1972.
The Honky Château Gets Deluxe 50th Anniversary Reissue will be released on March 24, 2023. The album will be released in multiple formats which we have included below.
Elton John Photo: Courtesy of UMe © used with permission.
Honky Château Deluxe 50th Anniversary Reissue Formats
Honky Château – 2CD
Photo: Courtesy of UMe
Disc 1:
- 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
HONKY AT THE CHÂTEAU (SESSION DEMOS) PART ONE
- Salvation (Session Demo)
- Susie (Dramas) (Session Demo)
- Rocket Man (It’s Think It’s Going To Be A Long, Long Time) (Session Demo)
- Mellow (Session Demo)
- Slave – Alternate “Fast” Version (Session Demo)
Disc 2:
HONKY AT THE CHÂTEAU (SESSION DEMOS) PART TWO
- Honky Cat (Session Demo)
- I Think I’m Going To Kill Myself (Session Demo)
- Hercules (Session Demo)
- Slave (Session Demo)
LIVE AT THE ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL, LONDON, FEBRUARY 5TH 1972
- Susie (Dramas)
- Salvation
- Mellow
- Amy
- Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters
- Honky Cat
- Rocket Man (It’s Think It’s Going To Be A Long, Long Time
- Hercules
Honky Château – Limited Edition Gold Vinyl LP
Photo: Courtesy of UMe
LP 1:
Side A
- 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)
Side B
- Salvation
- Slave
- Amy
- Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters
- Hercules
Honky Château – 2LP
Photo: Courtesy of UMe
LP 1:
Side A
- 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)
Side B
- Salvation
- Slave
- Amy
- Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters
- Hercules
LP 2:
Side A
- Salvation (Session Demo)
- Susie (Dramas) (Session Demo)
- Rocket Man (It’s Think It’s Going To Be A Long, Long Time) (Session Demo)
- Mellow (Session Demo)
- Slave – Alternate “Fast” Version (Session Demo)
Side B
- Honky Cat (Session Demo)
- I Think I’m Going To Kill Myself (Session Demo)
- Hercules (Session Demo)
- Slave (Session Demo)
Elton John’s Honky Château Album Gets Deluxe 50th Anniversary Reissue article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023
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