Elton John
Honky Chateau


4.5
superb

Review

by josh54 USER (1 Reviews)
February 8th, 2011 | 28 replies


Release Date: 1972 | Tracklist

Review Summary: "Honky Chateau" is a great work full of upbeat rock, boogie, funk, gospel, and folk songs with some slower, more mellow ones as well.

By 1972, Elton John had produced 4 studio albums, and had achieved huge success. But, he was still far from the success he would later claim, and "Honky Chateau" is just more proof that Elton knows how to write incredible, catchy melodies.

The album kicks off with "Honky Cat," a very memorable, joyous swing-inspired song with a great chorus. Its lyrics can best describe Elton's evolution from complex classical-type music to more pop styled music. The brass arrangement gives a slightly jazzy feel, and the banjo makes it somewhat country-like.

"Rocket Man" is another fantastic piece. It starts out like a sad, piano ballad, but explodes at the chorus into a great melody. There's a reason why this song was a hit, and the background harmonies are great too. Also, there's "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters", a mellow, but warm feeling ballad about New York City. The chorus soars, and it's surprising that it wasn't a hit. Elton keeps instrumentals to a minimum, and that really helps the song. This is a song that can just be perfect without all the flashy stuff.

Let's not forget "I Think I'm Gonna Kill Myself," a surprisingly happy song with a great bass melody. Self mocking at times, this humorous song is another stand-out on the album, with some great slower melodies. I've always considered "Mellow" to be the worst song on the album, but that's not saying that much as that is still a pretty good song. I just don't like some of the key changes, but the chorus is great, and the regular verse parts are slower, just what you would expect from the title.

"Salvation" is one of my favorites, a moving gospel piece with great vocals. The instrumentations work just right, and the little bass riffs really add a nice touch. "Slave" is a country/ folk piece, and it has a nice, moving chorus. The bongos are a great touch, and Elton uses falsetto at just the right places. It may be a bit boring to some, but not to me. There are some nice guitar riffs too, this song is mostly guitar.

"Susie (Dramas)" is a nice, upbeat rocker with a very catchy chorus. The guitar riffs is are awesome, the only bad thing is that the song isn't exactly memorable. "Amy" is another fast rocker with a great groove to it. It does suffer the same thing as "Susie," it's not exactly memorable, but it is a great song. The most memorable part (in my opinion) is near the end, and it only appears twice.

"Hercules" is an acoustic guitar-inflicted boogie song, and it has the same upbeat feeling as you get on so many other songs on this album, and this one is polished perfectly. It also has some great doo-wop and Beach Boy back-up vocals. A very memorable and great way to end a great album.


user ratings (251)
4
excellent


Comments:Add a Comment 
STOP SHOUTING!
February 9th 2011


791 Comments


rocket man is a great song. he doesn't write his own lyrics though does he?

thebhoy
February 9th 2011


4460 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

No, Bernie Taupin writes the lyrics. Well, Elton does some, but mostly Bernie. This is a good album. Ticking from Caribou is probably his best song, or Curtains, or Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding

omnipanzer
February 9th 2011


21827 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

All songs on Honky Château are credited to both which generally meant Bernie did the lyrics.

mandan
February 29th 2012


13925 Comments


Review needs a bit of formatting IMO. I also wish you gave a general picture of the record before jumping into the actual tbt analysis.

Elton John needs more love on Sputnik.

NeutralThunder12
February 29th 2012


8742 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

tumbleweed and madman are superior

mark7477
October 1st 2013


414 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

I'm not the biggest Elton John fan but i give this a likeable 3 and I will agree that his earlier stuff is a bit more superior.

ViperAces
October 4th 2013


12597 Comments


mellow is awesome

deslad
October 28th 2013


645 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Mellow is awesome [2].

wacknizzle
July 15th 2015


14555 Comments


Ugh, I can't find a link for this album anywhere

deslad
July 16th 2015


645 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Such an amazing album.



@wacknizzle: Here it is http://www.deezer.com/album/122698

Anthracks
September 3rd 2016


8206 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I thank the lord there's people out there like you

Parallels
June 8th 2017


10166 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

i think im gonna kill myself

neekafat
Staff Reviewer
June 8th 2017


26706 Comments


Y tho

Parallels
June 8th 2017


10166 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

get a little headline news

Dylan620
March 23rd 2018


5909 Comments


"Rocket Man" is a truly great pop song

Friday13th
March 30th 2018


7624 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

"They know not if it's dark outside or light"



Wonderful

SandwichBubble
March 30th 2018


13812 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Really is one of his best records

Friday13th
March 30th 2018


7624 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah I think it's his best up to that point. It has his piano rockers, and of course two of his best ballads. Of course all his best albums have killer ballads.

SandwichBubble
March 30th 2018


13812 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I haven't dug any of his stuff in quite some time, but Madman Across the Water still would just barely beat this one out for me.

Friday13th
March 30th 2018


7624 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah, I haven't listened to his stuff since high school. I had an Elton John piano book I would go through a lot. Madman is great, though a bit frontloaded for me. My favorite is still Yellowbrick Road cause duh



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