Fretplay.com Elton John CD reviews Elton John guitar tabs Elton John CD reviews Elton John tabs Honky Chateau


Elton John - Honky Chateau Audio CD

A fair review of the Elton John "Honky Chateau" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Elton John reviews here, or go back to the Elton John tabs.

Elton John Band: Elton John
Title: Honky Chateau
Rating:
Release Date: 1996-05-14
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Honky Cat 2: Mellow 3: I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself 4: Susie (Dramas) 5: Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time) 6: Salvation 7: Slave 8: Amy 9: Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters 10: Hercules 11: Slave [Alternate Take][*]

A step forward in Elton's career


The set opens with Honky cat, which was only a minor hit in Britain but much more successful in America. With two American top ten singles, one of which became his biggest British hit up to that point by peaking at number two, this album marked a major step forward in Elton's career. Next comes a wonderful romantic ballad (Mellow), followed by an up-tempo song with a very downbeat lyric (I think I'm gonna kill myself). Another up-tempo song (Susie) follows, but this time the tempo of the song reflects the lyrics. We then come to Rocket man, the most famous song on the album and still one of Elton's most recognizable songs.

The next track (Salvation) is about seeking spiritual help to overcome life's problems. A look at slavery from the victim's perspective (Slave) is performed at a slow tempo, having originally been recorded at a much faster pace. The faster version is included here as a bonus track. A song about infatuation (Amy) precedes an unflattering song about New York (Mona Lisas and mad hatters). The final track of the main album (Hercules) finds Elton musing about a woman. The only bonus track is that faster version of Slave, because there were no other unreleased tracks from the sessions.

This is one of many excellent Elton John albums, that all committed Elton fans should regard as essential.


No revues yet?!?


Get real folks. No one's reviewed this yet?

Good Lord, this is only one of the best EJ albums ever, one of his fine 70's records. EJ may be "a bit much" these days, but back in the day he WAS popular music. He was redefining album sales figures, radio station play-lists, and our views like nobody's business.

And I'm the first person to comment on this? Unbelievable!.


Honky Chataeu
He still meant the things he was singing about because he was actually feeling and going through them. Elton John-Honky Chateau ****

By the release of Honky Chateau Elton John was still a young song bird just starving for stardom.

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
this is a classic recording, right up there with american beauty, brothers and sisters, second helping. i look at these reviews and i wonder about people who can rate this anything below five stars. it does not get any better than this. . . . sheesh.


Elton John - Turn Around And Say Good Morning To The Night
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". 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. 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.


You can see a complete list of all Elton John discography, or go back to the Elton John tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

Search guitar tabs

#ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
[ Search tabs | Guitar tabs | Bass tabs |
Easy guitar tabs | Guitar solo tabs |
Acoustic guitar tabs | Guitar chords |
How to read guitar tabs ]
Forum topics
Music forums
- Bands and artists - Songwriting and lyrics - Tablature talk - Promote your band
Instrument forums
- Guitar basics - Gear & accessories - Bass guitar
Community
- The pit - Site Feedback - Reviews
[ User survey | About us | Privacy statement ]