Elton John Honky Château 50th Anniversary Reissue Released March 24th on UME

Available on 2CD, 2LP, and Limited-Edition Gold Vinyl LP

Rocket Man (Live at The Royal Festival Hall, London 1972) & Mellow (Session Demo) Unveiled. Listen Here

During the 1970’s there was no bigger musical artist than Elton John.  His stream of Top 10 hits seemed never-ending, catapulting him in his 20’s into legendary status. Every album was better than the one before as he and songwriting partner, lyricist Bernie Taupin, honed their craft, creating musical masterpieces to last a lifetime. 50+on their partnership is stronger than ever. His ‘five years of fun,’ as he once called it, contained his best and most prolific work.  He grew as a musician and live performer, selling out shows around the globe. For his 5^th studio album change was on  the horizon. Formally a three-piece ensemble, Nigel Olsson on drums, Dee Murray on bass, Elton on piano, a guitar virtuoso was added to the mix, Davey Johnstone. Elton’s sound would never be the same again and would solidify the Elton John Band as a true rocking force in the music industry.

This year, thanks to UME, a celebratory Honky Château 50^th Anniversary Edition is being released on March 25^th (Elton’s 76^th birthday). Originally released in May 1972, the album included such classics as “Rocket Man,” “Honky Cat,” and the fan favorite “Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters.” They have become as timeless as the man himself. The real gems found are the exclusive demo tracks and live performances never before released. “Rocket Man (Live at The Festival Hall, London 1972)”  “Salvation,” (Session Demo) and “Mellow” (Session Demo) are among those special moments.

Recorded at the now legendary Château d’Hérouville, a residential recording studio situated 25 miles northwest of Paris. It was here where he and Bernie Taupin were to write – and the band subsequently record. Elton, Bernie, and the band – performing together on record for the first time – decamped to the Château for a 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 of their notoriously prolific output at the time, “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.’”

Honky Château is available in the following formats:

2CD
Contains the original album and a newly created selection of outtakes from the original session tapes. This 2CD format additionally contains eight live recordings from the Royal Festival Hall show in 1972, where the tracks received their live debut just a few days after being recorded at the Château. Includes a 40-page booklet containing rare photos, memorabilia, and an essay featuring interviews from those who were there at the time.

2LP
Contains the original album and a newly created selection of outtakes from the original session tapes. Includes an eight-page booklet containing rare photos, memorabilia, and an essay featuring interviews from those who were there at the time

Limited Edition Gold Vinyl LP
Contains the original album pressed for the first time on limited edition gold vinyl.

In 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. It remains a firm fixture in the setlist of this record-breaking Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour and is a highlight among his two-hour set. “Honky Cat”, his first up-tempo number to make the US Top 10, the track helped cement Elton’s reputation in America.

Still a shining jewel in Elton’s back catalog, Honky Château was the album that announced his arrival on the world stage. Its impact and legacy endure to this day, and it will forever be remembered as the album where the Rocket Man truly took flight.

Pre-Order Here

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)