#23: Elton John - Honky Château

Honky Château opens with pretty standard Elton John fare, and to the average ear, it starts to come across as just more of the same. But once things get going, it actually becomes one of his most interesting records.

That's not to say that the more traditional material isn't great - songs like "Mellow" and "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" manage to be some of his best songs while operating within his normal framework - but the most rewarding material comes when he stretches himself a bit.

"Slave," in particular, is a standout. With its reliance on acoustic guitars and banjo - and the complete absence of piano - it comes across as a great lost Band track. Album closer "Hercules" - which Elton had taken as his new middle name only months before - also features a slide guitar solo and some of his finer heavy, low-register piano work.

Of course, there's "Rocket Man," but there really isn't a ton to say about it. I remember it from when I was five and hearing my dad play it on acoustic guitar and wondering what in the hell the lyrics meant, and they still don't really make any sense. It was absurd enough before Shatner got involved.

There's also the bouncy jaunt through "I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself," which competes for one of the most bizarre pairings of tone and lyrics in popular music. The phrase "I think I'm gonna kill myself/Cause a little suicide" is pretty odd. I've never heard anyone say they're going to go around and cause a little murder, but maybe I just don't have the right friends. It's also funny to hear, at the end of the song, that the only way to get away from a dose of shotgun mouthwash is if Brigitte Bardot comes to see him nightly. Perhaps it's only giggle-worthy with 35 years of hindsight.

Overall, my knowledge of Elton's catalog remains slim at best, but I'm working on it. For a guy who put out so many records - 4 releases in 1971 alone - I've found his work a bit daunting to approach, but I think I've finally broken the seal. Huzzah.

"Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters"



"I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself"