Honky Chateau

Elton John’s "Honky Château" will be reissued in expanded 50th anniversary editions by EMI Records and Universal Music on March 24th, 2023.

To preview the release, “Rocket Man”, recorded live at The Festival Hall, London 1972, and “Mellow”, session demo, are shared now. The live version of what became an undying Elton signature marked its 1st public performance on February 5th, 1972, 2 months before the song became the 1st single from "Honky Château" in April, itself one month before the LP appeared. It features what became Elton’s classic band line-up of the era, with Davey Johnstone on guitar, Dee Murray on bass and Nigel Olsson on drums, and mirrors the track’s studio arrangement on stage with accuracy and freshness.

"Honky Château" was Elton’s 5th studio album and a significant step towards his global superstardom. It also marked the 1st time he recorded at the residential Château d’Hérouville studio of its title, situated 25 miles north west of Paris.

It was a time of unbridled creativity, as the superstar would later remember of the prolific sessions. “The 1st morning we were there”, he said, “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’.”