If “Your Song” from Elton’s self-titled album was the song that launched him onto the national scene here in the United States, Honky Chateau was the rocket that took him to the outer stratosphere. Yes, that’s a veiled reference to “Rocket Man,” another smash hit that is still being screamed at his concerts today, more than thirty-five years later. But Honky Chateau is a much more powerful album than just “Rocket Man” and “Honky Cat”. Let’s go through the playlist, starting with song no. 1. At least the record company learned which song to start with on an album. . .

From the first choppy chords of “Honky Cat”, you knew this album was going to contain special gems. The lyrics and horns come to you with a vibrancy that most rock bands couldn’t come close to in those days. Bernie’s throaty horns and lyrics about a redneck go wild with Elton’s incredible piano riffs. This song put his piano in the national consciousness. There’s no way you can listen to this song without focusing a good deal of your attention on Elton’s percussion chords. Another of Elton’s wildly popular live songs, “Honky Cat” offers rock and roll on a keyboard that dances like crazy. His brilliant piano-centric interludes are pushed even higher by the background horns. Elton, from this album, has arrived.

“Mellow” has been one of my favorite Elton songs for decades. It breaks out of the frenetic pace of Honky Cat to describe a calm and loving interlude. “Breaking the sheets so good” and other references to making love, set the tone for a romantic relationship. The song has a bluesy tinge to it, again with a piano up front, incredibly compelling. “Mellow” is one of those songs that two better share. Bernie handed Elton a letter that set the tone. Elton matched that tone perfectly with his composition. The organ solo works so well that you can see the “glow of the charcoal fire” as you relax and enjoy some tender moments. I listen to this album and feel sorry for all the people who have never explored Elton’s music more deeply than his radio hits. Any song on this album could have been a hit.

“I Think I’m Going to Kill Myself” is a dynamic exploration of what would happen if a big star went to himself. The keyboard sings like a bar piano. The harmonies are smooth and the statement on teen dominance is wonderful. The wish for Bridgette Bardot to be a distraction from the suicide plan is a lot of fun. In those days, many men wanted her. The tap and piano piece near the end of the song is fun too. Elton’s piano is so vibrant that you can’t help but get involved.

“Susie (Dramas) is possibly my favorite tune. Possibly. Elton begins with the cry” I have frozen in the winter, ice skating on the river, with my cute little black-eyed girl. . . “and sets a rhythm that doesn’t stop. Bernie’s lyrics here are intimate, giving us insight into Susie and the protagonist. The descriptions of the” fringed front in my pram “and” a playful foal in a hurry. ” Give us mental and emotional images that, for me at least, make me want to be there. The piano again. Have I mentioned it already? Of course I did. This album has Elton’s piano so at the forefront of the music that you you are forced to skate on the keyboard with your ears while Elton guides you with his fingers.

“Rocket man”. Even people who don’t know much about Elton are familiar with this song. Yes, it caught the attention of teenagers everywhere. Apollo had so captured our imaginations, with landings on the moon and dreams of the stars, that this song crept into an eager adolescent desire for exploration and new heights. The lyrics are also an accurate portrait of how misunderstood teens felt. Parents were struggling with rock music as it became smoother and well produced. The music scene now had rock dominating the music of the previous generation. Elton was a leader, and he gave us this epic image of everyday workmanship in space, an idea that spoke of a loss of innocence. The composition is so close to the letter that to think of separating them would be blasphemous.

“Salvation” is an interesting religious statement. The positive nature of the song is aided by incredible vocal accompaniment from Elton’s bandmates. “A chance to end the devil without the fear of hell …” this song would surprise most conservatives who lament Elton’s outlandish ways. Bernie wrote a letter that could fit most evangelical Christian churches today. The piano builds the song up to its choir, where the choirs take over.

“Slave” is a return to the country flavor of the Tumbleweed Connection. The title tells you to be careful. The song is to the point and is moving about the life of a slave. The authoritarian “Colonel” is vividly represented by Bernie’s excellent writing. “Slave” is set just before our war between the states (there is no such thing as a “civil” war). Another strong reference to God, this song draws more on a steel guitar and banjo than Elton’s piano to help create the country vibe. Davey Johnstone does an excellent job with the string instruments. I don’t delve too deep into the total professionalism of Davey, Dee Murray, and Nigel Olson, but they are beyond competent musicians.

“Amy” is a melodious love song about a boy who wants to be kissed by a “lady they call Amy”. The story presented here is funny and you find yourself supporting the underdog suitor. Elton’s piano is back with a strong vengeance and Jean-Luc Ponty adds a screeching electric violin to the beats created by Elton’s strong keyboards. This guy wants Amy and you want to be there in the middle of the action. Thanks to superior lyrics and music performed to perfection, you are there.

Ok, before I covered myself with my favorite song from the album, and this protection was due to “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters”. This song is so poignant beautiful, painfully beautiful, and it’s conducted with Elton’s piano and a soft chorus that takes you into this “crap dream come true.” Elton has an excellent voice, and once Davey’s mandolins kick in, I personally can’t help but be moved by this song. “I thank the Lord for the people I have met” gives us compassionate thanks for each of our lives. “Spanish Harlem are not just pretty words to say” the chorus states and if you pay attention, the statements Taupin makes in this song can spark a thank you of your own. For my money, this is the essence of what we expect when we spend good money on music. We want to be moved. This song moves me.

“Hercules” is the “funny” song on the album. The guitars are there with the piano, giving us a rhythm that leads us to realize that most of us are like this guy who watches Hercules steal his girl’s attention. “It hurts me a lot to see my girl mess with a muscle man”, if you have not felt it in your life, you have got rid of jealousy and you should be grateful. This song is fast and the rhythms are amazing and vibrant. It even has a Rhino whistle produced by Gus Dudgeon (a little pun there …). If you want a song to bounce along the way, this is one of the best. If you want a song at the end of the album to match the vibrancy and driving force of the first song on the album, this is the song. If you just want to enjoy a man’s jealousy, this is your song too. Have fun with it!

Honky Chateau is a major nod in the direction of Elton’s meteoric rise to the power of rock and roll. Yes, this album launched him into outer space, but the next one solidified his musical statement that he was here to stay. Next, my first Elton album, Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only the Piano Player.

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