Honky Château 50th Anniversary Reissue Announced

Today announces the 50th anniversary reissue of Elton John’s Honky Chateau.

Honky Château was Elton’s step into global superstardom, spawning classics such as ‘Rocket Man’, ‘Honky Cat’ and ‘Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters’. Originally released in May 1972, his 5th studio album ushered in a to-this-day unparalleled hot streak of classic albums, and was the first time he 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.

‘Rocket Man (Live at The Festival Hall, London 1972)’ and ‘Mellow’ (Session Demo) are also unveiled today as the first instant grats available from Honky Château 50th Anniversary Edition. This live debut of ‘Rocket Man’ at the Royal Festival Hall- recorded two months before its release as the album’s first single – is striking in its freshness and its ability to nearly replicate the studio arrangement on stage. 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, solidifying Elton’s studio and stage presence through his most prolific period.