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Considerably lighter than Madman Across the Water, Honky Chateau is a rollicking collection of ballads, rockers, blues, country-rock, and soul songs. On paper, it reads like an eclectic mess, but it plays as the most focused and accomplished set of songs Elton John and Bernie Taupin ever wrote. The skittering boogie of "Honky Cat" and the light psychedelic pop of "Rocket Man" helped send Honky Chateau to the top of the charts, but what is truly impressive about the album is the depth of its material. From the surprisingly cynical and nasty "I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself" to the moving ballad "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters," John is at the top of his form, crafting immaculate pop songs with memorable melodies and powerful hooks. While Taupin's lyrics aren't much more comprehensible than before, John delivers them with skill and passion, making them feel more substantial than they are. But what makes Honky Chateau a classic is the songcraft, and the way John ties disparate strands of roots music into distinctive and idiosyncratic pop -- it's one of the finest collections of mainstream singer/songwriter pop of the early '70s.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Banjo, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Scott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ivan Jullien, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jean Louis Chautemps, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jacques Bolognesi, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Alain Hatot, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 This Record Company Ltd.
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Organ, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Tambourine, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Scott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jean-Luc Ponty, Electric Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 This Record Company Ltd.
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Scott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - "Legs" Larry Smith, Dancer, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 This Record Company Ltd.
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Tambourine, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Scott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 This Record Company Ltd.
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - David Hentschel, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Scott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 This Record Company Ltd.
Tony Hazzard, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Scott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Liza Strike, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Steele, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Madeline Bell, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 This Record Company Ltd.
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Banjo, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Scott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 This Record Company Ltd.
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Ray Cooper, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Scott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jean-Luc Ponty, Electric Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 This Record Company Ltd.
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Mandolin, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Ken Scott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 This Record Company Ltd.
Tony Hazzard, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer, Whistle, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - David Hentschel, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Scott, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 This Record Company Ltd.
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Keyboards, Organ, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2022 This Record Company Ltd.
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Keyboards, Organ, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2022 This Record Company Ltd.
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Keyboards, Organ, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2022 This Record Company Ltd.
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Keyboards, Organ, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2022 This Record Company Ltd.
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Keyboards, Organ, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2022 This Record Company Ltd.
DISC 2
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Keyboards, Organ, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2022 This Record Company Ltd.
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Keyboards, Organ, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2022 This Record Company Ltd.
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Keyboards, Organ, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2022 This Record Company Ltd.
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Keyboards, Organ, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2022 This Record Company Ltd.
Robin Geoffrey Cable, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Leo Sturgess, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2022 This Record Company Ltd.
Robin Geoffrey Cable, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Leo Sturgess, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2022 This Record Company Ltd.
Robin Geoffrey Cable, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Leo Sturgess, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2022 This Record Company Ltd.
Robin Geoffrey Cable, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Leo Sturgess, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2022 This Record Company Ltd.
Robin Geoffrey Cable, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Leo Sturgess, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2022 This Record Company Ltd.
Robin Geoffrey Cable, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Leo Sturgess, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2022 This Record Company Ltd.
Robin Geoffrey Cable, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Leo Sturgess, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2022 This Record Company Ltd.
Robin Geoffrey Cable, Balance Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bernie Taupin, ComposerLyricist - Elton John, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Davey Johnstone, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Gus Dudgeon, Producer - Nigel Olsson, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dee Murray, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Leo Sturgess, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2022 This Record Company Ltd.
Album review
Considerably lighter than Madman Across the Water, Honky Chateau is a rollicking collection of ballads, rockers, blues, country-rock, and soul songs. On paper, it reads like an eclectic mess, but it plays as the most focused and accomplished set of songs Elton John and Bernie Taupin ever wrote. The skittering boogie of "Honky Cat" and the light psychedelic pop of "Rocket Man" helped send Honky Chateau to the top of the charts, but what is truly impressive about the album is the depth of its material. From the surprisingly cynical and nasty "I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself" to the moving ballad "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters," John is at the top of his form, crafting immaculate pop songs with memorable melodies and powerful hooks. While Taupin's lyrics aren't much more comprehensible than before, John delivers them with skill and passion, making them feel more substantial than they are. But what makes Honky Chateau a classic is the songcraft, and the way John ties disparate strands of roots music into distinctive and idiosyncratic pop -- it's one of the finest collections of mainstream singer/songwriter pop of the early '70s.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 27 track(s)
- Total length: 02:09:46
- Main artists: Elton John
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2023 Mercury Records Limited ℗ 2023 This Record Company Ltd.
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