The 500 - #359 - Honky Chateau - Elton John

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by Los Angeles-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone Magazine's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

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Album: # 359

Album Title: Honky Chateau

Artist: Elton John

Genre: Rock, Pop & more

Recorded: Chateau de Herouville, Herouville, France

Released: May, 1972

My age at release: 6

How familiar was I with it before this week: Fairly

Song I am putting on my Spotify Playlist: Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters

Sir Elton John. With a career spanning more than 50 years, this English pianist, singer, songwriter and composer is one of the best-selling musicians of all time, behind only The Beatles, Elvis and Michael Jackson. He has released more than 30 albums and stands alone as the premier artist to have seven consecutive records go to Number One in the United States. Most remarkably, the feat was completed in three years.

Elton John in concert (2019)

That streak began with Honky Chateau, his fifth studio release. It was recorded in France, just north of Paris, at the Chateau de Herouville, an 18th Century villa that was converted to a recording studio with lodgings in 1969.

Château d'Hérouville

It was a popular spot for musicians in the 1970s, particularly British recording artists, including Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Cat Stevens and David Bowie. Elton John would record Honky Chateau and his next two records at the mansion. Not only was it an excellent facility, it also allowed the musicians to avoid heavy taxation in the U.K. At the time, British tax rates for the wealthy were as high as 83%. Escaping to a tax haven, often a tropical locale, was considered "fashionably anti-establishment" and even "James Bond chic" at the time. These days it has lost its charm, becoming standard practise for the uber-wealthy to avoid paying taxes altogether.

Elton and his bandmates taking a break at the Chateau's recording space.

When John, his bandmates and his lyricist Bernie Taupin arrived at the Chateau in mid-January, 1972, they had nothing prepared for recording. However, they quickly fell into a rhythm that John would later describe as a "Motown-Style" composition factory.

Bernie Taupin (left) and Elton John (1970)

Bernie would write pages of lyrical ideas in a room upstairs. His wife, Maxine Feibelman (the band's seamstress - made famous in the song Tiny Dancer,) would correct the spelling and leave the poetry on the piano downstairs.

Elton (right) at Bernie and Maxine's wedding (1971)

John would select the lyrics that intrigued him and compose the music on the piano. Within the day, he would be joined in the studio by his bandmates to begin recording. The percolating creativity resulted in the album being recorded in fewer than two weeks. 

Original Lyrics for Rocket Man by Taupin

That autumn, the band departed on a four-month, 80-city tour of North America. The album quickly topped the charts on the strength of two singles, Honky Cat and Rocket Man. It has since gone platinum and remains a favourite of fans and music critics.

Personal Connection

As always, I listened to The 500 Podcast in preparation for this blog post. On the Honky Chateau episode, Josh Adam Meyers was joined by comedian Bill Engvall, best known as one-fourth of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour.

The Blue Collar Comedy Tour Video

Engvall is 64 and has been an Elton John fan since the earliest records. On the podcast he said that he attended Elton John's 1973 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Tour. Podcast host, Meyers, 41, admitted that his first real exposure to John was hearing the soundtrack of the Disney film The Lion King in the early 90s.

The Lion King Soundtrack

Most of us likely had our "Elton John Moment" -- a time when we first became aware of his music, perhaps becoming a fan. With a career spanning 50-plus years, that moment arrived at a different times for each of us.

Mine came in Grade 5 when the radio hit Someone Saved My Life Tonight from Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy, (#158 on The 500) was a hit song on the radio.

Someone Saved My Life Tonight Single Cover- Elton John

I had just moved to the rural village of Kingsville, Ontario and was trying to make inroads with my new Grade 5 classmates. A particularly cool (and pretty) girl named Sandra would sometimes sing the chorus while we lined up by our lockers. Needless to say, I was taken--by her and the song. I lost contact with Sandra more than 40 years ago, but I remain an Elton John fan to this day.

When was your Elton moment? Let me know in the comments below.