Elton John: Honky Chateau (2LP, 50th anniversary, deluxe edition) [MERCURY]

Why you'll love it

This 50th anniversary 2LP set adds a second disc of demos, alternate takes and further versions, in a gatefold with printed lyrics and a booklet. Honky Château was the first of Elton's seven straight US No. 1 albums, and Rolling Stone ranks it among the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

This edition

• 2LP set
• 50th anniversary edition
• Gatefold jacket
• Booklet included
• Lyrics printed inside
• Pressed in the EU

About the album

Some albums are named after a feeling; this one is named after a house. Elton John and his band moved into the Château d'Hérouville, an 18th-century French chateau with a studio inside, and came out with the record that turned him from a gifted singer-songwriter into a global hit machine.

It was the first album to put his road band at the centre: Dee Murray on bass, Nigel Olsson on drums, and new arrival Davey Johnstone on guitars, banjo and mandolin. Their backing vocals, debuting on "Rocket Man," became a trademark for years. "Honky Cat" bounces on New Orleans funk with a horn section arranged by producer Gus Dudgeon, "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" is one of Bernie Taupin's finest lyrics, and "Hercules," "Amy" and "Salvation" show how loose and joyful the sessions were. The bonus disc, compiled by Matt Still, includes a session demo of "Mellow" and an alternate "fast" version of "Slave."

The album went gold within two months and platinum in time, and "Rocket Man" has rarely been off the radio since. It is the one recording we know of that has made an astronaut's working day sound like a lonely nine-to-five.

Also at Kops: more Elton John on vinyl · browse Rock

Tracklist

Listen

On Rocket / Mercury (cat# 4596212), a reissue of the 1972 album.