Next up in the Elton John reissue series: 'Honky Château' in March

UMe will release the 50th-anniversary reissue of Elton John’s Honky Château on March 24. It is available to pre-order now on 2CD, 2LP and limited-edition gold vinyl LP here.

“Rocket Man (Live at The Festival Hall, London 1972)” and “Mellow” (Session Demo) are the first instant grats available from Honky Château 50th Anniversary Edition.

This live debut of “Rocket Man at the Royal Festival Hall” was recorded two months before its release as the album’s first single.

The line-up of Davey Johnstone (guitar), Dee Murray (bass) and Nigel Olsson (drums) immediately established itself as the core of the “classic” Elton band. 

Originally released in May 1972, his 5th studio album was the first time Elton recorded at the now legendary Château d’Hérouville, a residential recording studio situated 25 miles north-west of Paris. It was here where he and Bernie Taupin were to write – and the band subsequently record – some of the biggest global hits of his career. Elton, Bernie and the band - performing together on record for the first time - decamped to the Château for week’s pre-production on Honky Château in January 1972. Bernie brought his typewriter; the band set up in the dining room. Bernie would write lyrics at night and leave them on Elton’s piano for him to work on in the morning.

As Elton recalls, “The first morning we were there, I had three (songs) done by the time the band drifted downstairs looking for something to eat: ‘Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters,’ ‘Amy’ and ‘Rocket Man.’” The remainder of the album would follow suit; ‘Susie (Dramas),’ ‘Hercules,’ ‘Salvation,’ ‘Honky Cat,’ ‘Slave,’ ‘I Think I’m Going To Kill Myself’ and ‘Mellow.’”

Following the release of Honky Château, by June 1972 “Rocket Man” was in the UK pop charts at No 2. In the US, the single reached No 6. Honky Château became the first of six consecutive Billboard Hot 100 No 1 albums. “Honky Cat” was his first up-tempo number to make the US Top 10 and helped cement Elton’s reputation in America.

Format Details and Track listings:

Honky Château - 2CD

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

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

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)