Honky Chateau, the 1972 album, by Sir Elton John was his fifth studio album, and the last under the Uni label. Following Madman Across the Water was no easy task, but Elton took it on. Creating this rock/pop album became an instant success. The certified platnium album reached number one on the charts in 1972. Releasing the two singles “Honky Cat” and “Rocket Man,” Honky Chateau was set up for success, as these are two of the top tracks on the project. In a year full of great albums from masters like David Bowie and the Rolling Stones, Elton John stood atop of them. This project boasts 10 tracks on the original release, for a total of around 45 minutes. The album, however, was rereleased years later with a remastered version of the song “Slave,” but I only ranked the original ten songs. Does Elton produce one of the best names in his discography here?
In my opinion, yes.
Introduction
Elton strikes again. In my opinion, this stands as my favorite Elton project; however, that may change when I do other projects of his in the future. Honky Chateau features classic Elton tactics, but does provide different twists throughout. I will say the production early on in this project is where it stands tall. The different styles he brings really proves to be one of his strong suits. And being able to mesh different vibes throughout this project really adds the next touch of depth. Elton’s vocals are mostly simple, however, they do do him justice. They manage to fit in instances where they should not. In addition, Elton mostly maintains the same structure of songs throughout, but does host some breaks in it. It mainly works, however, there are instances where these structures struggle to fit in. Minus these struggles, this album is a bonifide classic, and will remain to be one of the best projects of its time.
Production
Production on this project is outstanding. Elton brings many different styles here, which is unique to this project. He is mainly known for his piano playing, but there are songs where it seemingly takes a backseat, which make for some of the best tracks here. Songs like “Honky Cat” and ” Amy” display a wonderful collection of instruments coming together to create near perfect instrumentals. There are songs that are more upbeat, and there are songs that are slower like that of “Rocket Man.” The mesh of both of these vibes created is outstanding and unusually sound. “Slave” is the one instance where I feel the production doesn’t fit. It sounds almost country like, and it just doesnt fit what Elton was going for on this project.
Lyricism
Elton’s lyricism is top notch here. He appears sarcastic in times, yet his lyrics are smartly crafted. The way he sways his narrative along with his words is shown in nearly every song. Songs like “Honky Cat” and “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters” are clear examples of the narrative progression and genius of Elton on this album. Speaking of, “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters” had a background that stuck with me and was developed wonderfully. It is all about Elton’s and his songwriter, Bernie Taupin’s, first experience in New York City, and my god, is the lyricism here the best it is on the project. This is demonstrated throughout, however, like I said, it is the strongest here. All in all, the lyricism is extremely well done, and really enhances the listening experience.
Structure
Elton utilizes a very similar structure throughout. He mostly utilizes a two verse then a chorus, broken by an insturment solo, brought back by a verse and chorus. This is something I haven’t really seen much of, especially in more modern music. I took note of it as it is broken in certain places, mainly in slower songs like “Rocket Man.” While I don’t see much of a connection with the places it is broken, it appears to be in more slower beats. Going along with the structure, the instrument solos are phenomenal. He uses many guitar solos, and even an electric violin, which takes the cake as the best solo. This little touch on nearly every song adds a cherry on top to many tracks. Not to mention his performance in virtually every chorus, where he typically broke the style of the song. This again really stood out to me, as his vocal performances really was apparent here.
Conclusion
Honky Chateau is a wonderful collection of tracks made by Sir Elton John. Each song does add some to the whole project, apart from the meaningless “Hercules.” The early on tracks are where this project succeeds. All in all, this project is a 8.5/10, and until later on, I shall dub it the greatest Elton John project.
Weakest Track: “Salvation” is the worst track here. The production was a little odd to me, and I didn’t fully like the instrumental on this song. Vocals are okay here, but it is heavily held back from the production.
Strongest Track: In my opinion, “Honky Cat” is the best track here. It’s production is top tier and his vocals are immaculate. Elton’s lyricism, with the inclusion of his abundance of similes and metaphors, really advance the narrative of the song. All in all, this song really benefits from the production and Elton’s performance, making it one of the best songs he has made.
Song Rankings:
- “Honky Cat”
- “Mellow”
- “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time)”
- “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters”
- “Amy”
- “I Think I’m Going to Kill Myself”
- “Susie (Dramas)”
- “Hercules”
- “Slave”
- “Salvation”
Final Notes:
Song rankings are always subject to change over time, so don’t take these too to heart. They also are just my opinion. With that being said, I would love to hear your opinions, so leave them in the comment section below. We also suggest subscribing to our blog. To do so, go under the tab “Contact” and fill out the form. That will allow you to receive emails of new blogs and maybe get them ahead of time. Finally, go give Honky Chateau a listen for yourself, as I highly recommend this album to anyone interested in Elton John projects and older projects.