Growing up with Elton John – Honky Chateau
If “Your Song” from Elton’s self-titled album was the song that launched him onto the national scene here in the US, Honky Chateau was the rocket that launched him into the outer stratosphere. Yes, that’s a veiled reference to “Rocket Man,” another smash hit that’s still screaming 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 #1. If nothing else, the record company learned what song to start with on an album. . .
From the first breathy chords of “Honky Cat”, you knew this album was going to contain special gems. The lyrics and brass come to you with a vibrancy that most rock bands couldn’t match in those days. Guttural trumpets and Bernie’s lyrics about a country bumpkin are pounded into a frenzy by Elton’s incredible piano riffs. This song put his piano playing into the national consciousness. There is no way to listen to this song without focusing a good part of your attention on Elton’s percussive chords. Another of Elton’s wildly popular live songs, “Honky Cat” delivers rock and roll on a manically dancing keyboard. Its brilliant piano-centric interludes are pushed even higher by the accompanying horns. Elton, from this record, has arrived.
“Mellow” has been one of my favorite Elton songs for decades. It departs from the frenetic rhythm of Honky Cat to describe a calm and loving interlude. “Wreckin’ the sheets real fine” and other references to lovemaking set the tone for a romantic relationship. The song has a bluesy edge to it, again with a piano in the lead, incredibly convincing. “Mellow” is one of those songs best shared by two. Bernie handed Elton a lyric that set the tone. Elton perfectly matched that tone with his songwriting. The organ solo works so well that you can see the “charcoal fire glow” while 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 deeper than the radio hits. Any song on this album could have been a hit.
“I Think I’m Going to Kill Myself” is a fast-paced exploration of what would happen if a huge star took its own life. The keyboard sings like a bar piano. The harmonies are smooth and the statement about adolescence is wonderful. Bridgette Bardot’s desire to be a distraction from the plan to kill herself is hilarious. In those days, many men coveted her. The tap and piano piece near the end of the song is also fun. Elton’s piano is so vibrant you can’t help but get involved.
“Susie (Dramas) is possibly my favorite song. Possibly. Elton begins with the cry “I was frozen in the winter, ice skating on the river, with my pretty black-eyed girl…” and sets a rhythm that doesn’t stop. Bernie’s lyrics here are intimate, giving us a glimpse of Susie and the protagonist. The descriptions of “fringed front in my pram” and “a playful little pony in a hurry” lend us mental and emotional images that, at least for me, make me want to be there. The piano again. Have I already mentioned it? Of course yes. This album has Elton’s piano so at the forefront of the music that you are forced to listen to it. skate on the keyboard with your ears while Elton guides you with his fingers.
Rocketman. 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 moon landings and dreams of the stars, that this song slipped into an already eager adolescent desire for exploration and new heights. The lyrics are also an accurate description of how the misunderstood teens felt. Parents struggled with rock music as it became softer and better produced. The music scene now had rock that surpassed the music of the previous generation. Elton was a leader, giving us this epic image of everyday labor in space, an idea that spoke to the loss of innocence. The composition is so close to the letter that to think of separating them would be blasphemy.
“Salvation” is an interesting religious statement. The positive nature of the song is aided by some incredible backing vocals from Elton’s bandmates. “A chance to slay the devil without fear of hell…” this song would surprise most conservatives who lament Elton’s extravagant ways. Bernie wrote a lyric that could fit into most evangelical Christian churches today. The piano builds the song up to its chorus where the choirs take over.
“Slave” is a return to the country flavor of Tumbleweed Connection. The title tells you to be careful. The song is to the point and poignant about the life of a slave. The authoritarian “Colonel” is vividly represented by Bernie’s excellent word-writing. “Slave” takes place just before our war between the states (there is no such thing as a “civil” war). Another strong reference to God, this song relies more on a steel guitar and banjo than Elton’s piano to help create the country vibe. Davey Johnstone does an excellent job on the strings. I don’t go into much of the full professionalism of Davey, Dee Murray and Nigel Olson, but they are beyond competent musicians.
“Amy” is a tough love song about a boy who wants to be kissed by a “lady they call Amy”. The story presented here is fun and you find yourself rooting for the underdog suitor. Elton’s piano is back with a bang and Jean-Luc Ponty adds a screeching electric violin to the beat created by Elton’s keyboards. This guy wants Amy and you want to be there in the middle of the action. Thanks to superior lyrics and perfectly performed music, you are there.
Ok, I covered myself earlier with my favorite song on the album, and this avoidance was due to “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters.” This song is so poignantly beautiful, achingly beautiful, and it’s led by Elton’s piano and soft choruses that pull you into this “dumpster dream come true.” Elton has an excellent voice, and once Davey’s mandolins start to kick in, I personally can’t help but be moved by this song. “I thank the Lord for the people I have found” gives us a sympathetic thanks for each of our lives. “Spanish Harlem ain’t just pretty words to say” sets up the chorus and if you pay attention, the statements Taupin makes in this song may spark your own appreciation. For my money, this is the gist of what we expect when we spend good money on music. We want to be moved. This song moves me.
“Hercules” is the “fun” song on the album. The guitars are right there with the piano, giving us a rhythm that leads us to realize that most of us are like this guy watching Hercules steal the girl’s attention from him. “It hurts like hell to watch my girl mess with a muscle man,” if you haven’t felt that in your life, you’ve been spared the jealousy and you should be thankful. This song is uptempo, and the beats are flashy and spiky. It even has a Rhino whistle produced by Gus Dudgeon (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 that matches 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 interpretation of jealousy, this is also your song. Have fun with it!
Honky Chateau is a great nod in the direction of Elton’s meteoric rise to rock and roll power. Yes, this album launched him into outer space, but the next one cemented his musical statement that he was here to stay. Coming soon, my first Elton album, Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only the Piano Player.
