"...I Am At Home..."
I
always thought it odd that after the truly stunning 'Deluxe Editions' afforded
Elton John's 2nd and 3rd albums "Elton John" and "Tumbleweed
Connection" - Universal didn't follow up with more of the same for his
revered and much-loved 4th and 5th LPs – "Madman Across The Water"
(1971) and "Honky Chateau" (1972). But in a kind of a way – they did
– it just seems that no one has noticed.
Instead
of a two-disc DE – this variant of "Honky Chateau" is a single-disc
'SACD HYBRID' release – a new 2004 Remaster offering up three levels on one CD.
The spine banner beneath the see-through jewel case tells you it's a 'SACD
Surround Sound, SACD Stereo and CD Audio' release featuring new DSD and
Surround Sound SACD mixes. It will play the 'CD Audio' variant on standard CD
players - but if you want the best out of the Disc its better to have SACD
playback or Surround or both. My Marantz CD Player has the SACD option – and
man of man – do these digital babies shine compared to their 1995 Gus Dudgeon
predecessors. There are SACD variants of 1971's "Madman Across The
Water", 1973's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and 1975's
"Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy" also. Let's get to the
Honky Cat...
US
released November 2004 (December 2004 in the UK) – "Honky Chateau" by
ELTON JOHN on Universal/Rocket B0003609-36 (Barcode 602498240304) is a 'HYBRID
SACD Surround Sound, SACD Stereo and CD Audio' Single Disc Reissue of the
original 10-track 1972 album plus one bonus 'Alternate Version' and plays out
as follows (48:34 minutes):
1.
Honky Cat
2.
Mellow
3.
I Think I’m Going To Kill Myself
4.
Susie (Dramas)
5.
Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going To Be A Long, Long Time)
6.
Salvation [Side 2]
7.
Slave
8.
Amy
9.
Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters
10.
Hercules
Tracks
1 to 10 are his 5th album "Honky Chateau" – released May 1972 in the
UK on DJM Records DJLPH 423 and in the USA on Uni Records 93135. All tracks
were written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin – Ken Scott was the Engineer and
Gus Dudgeon Produced. It hit the No. 1 spot in the USA on the LP charts and No.
2 in the UK.
BONUS
TRACK:
11.
Slave (Alternate Version)
First
appeared as a bonus track on the 1995 Rocket CD Remaster.
The
12-page booklet features the same layout as the Gus Dudgeon 1995 remaster in
that it reproduces the inner gatefold of the original vinyl album (has the SACD
logo in the bottom left corner). The JOHN TOBLER liner notes from 1995 are
there also as are the colour pages with lyrics and musician credits. The only
addition is a SACD HYBRID acknowledgement page that advises about the team of 4
who handled this version. GREG PENNY produced, mixed and mastered the Surround
Sound version – RICKY GRAHAM did the Digital Transfers at Sphere Studios in
London, GUS SKINAS did the DSD Editing at Super Audio Center, Boulder, Colorado
while TONY COUSINS re-mastering the Original Stereo Mixes at Metropolis
Mastering in London. You get a rounded-corner jewel case with a visible 'SACD
Surround Soul, SACD Stereo, CD Audio' side banner to differentiate it from
previous issues. I have to say that the audio on the 1995 CD always felt weedy
to me – but I’m taken aback at how good these 2004 versions are – clarity,
warmth and truly gorgeous audio throughout the entire SACD Remaster. I suspect
fans who’ve grown up with this album for over four decades will be shocked when
they hear LP nuggets like "Mellow" or the piano funk of "Susie
(Dramas)" on this Hybrid Disc.
It
opens with the wonderfully chipper "Honky Cat" – a Number 8 hit in
August 1972 in the States (Uni 55343). I've had the 1995 variant and the
Greatest Hits version to try to get the best Audio – but this 2004 baby
trounces all that went before. The transfers of "Mellow" gives more
muscle to Dee Murray's Bass and Nigel Olsson’s Drums (Jean Luc-Ponty plays his Electric
Violin) while Elton's Piano on "I Think I'm Going To Kill Myself" and
those great Harmony Vocals between him and Dee Murray get to shine too (Larry
"Legs" Smith the drummer with the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band provided
'tap dancing' instead of his usual skill with the sticks). But if I was to nail
down one track that exemplifies how good the audio is – it would absolutely
huge punch that now comes off "Susie (Dramas)". As the piano pumps –
you can now hear Davey Johnstone's Electric Guitar fills – and when that off-kilter
solo hits the speakers – your cones will be rattling. We then get a truly
gorgeous transfer of the classic "Rocket Man" which was the natural
single choice (it made No. 2 in the in April 1972 on DJM DJX 501 and No. 8 in
the USA in May 1972 on Uni 55328). Everything here is improved – those Acoustic
strums from Davey Johnstone – the A.R.P. Synth played by David Henschel. You
kind of wish they used this in Ridley Scott's film "The Martian"
instead of Abba's hokey "Waterloo" in that prepping for departure
from Mars scene.
The
accumulated Harmony Vocals on "Salvation" are fantastically clear
(Madeline Bell, Lisa Strike, Larry Steel and Tony Hazzard guest) as the song
sails into your living room on a sea of voices and piano. The biting ‘bullwhip
in his hand’ song "Slave" was the US B-side to “Honky Cat” and I’d
forgotten how good (and indeed) funky "Amy" is – Jean Luc-Ponty’s
wild violin strokes and Elton’s accentuated Vocals to the fore – both abled
assisted by Ray Cooper’s rumbling Congas in the background. You also 'feel' the
sweet playing of Dee Murray on Bass throughout the highlight that is "Mona
Lisas And Mad Hatters" – Davey Johnstone’s Mandolin and Acoustic suddenly
crystal clear too (“...I thank the lord for the people I have found...”). It
ends on five and a half minutes of "Hercules" piano boogie – nicely
done even if that ‘distant’ Elton vocal still irritates and takes some power
away from the song’s impact. The single Bonus Track is the ‘ridiculously fast’
Alternate Take of “Slave” that both Taupin and John felt wasn’t right – one of
the few outtakes to have ever surfaced from the Chateau Sessions. It comes on
like a barroom barrelhouse tune and I can see why they slowed it down – but you
have to say that it makes for a fascinating listen (and its in tip-top audio
too)...
The
album is dominated and probably best remembered for the monster hit
"Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time)" - but on
re-hearing it in 2016 – I'm struck again by the songwriting/melody classiness
of Elton John's "Honky Chateau". In seemed that 1971 to 1975 produced
the best in Rock.
I've
just finished reviewing 1971's "Madman Across The Water" on this
format and all the same 'wow factors' apply. To sum up - this stunning 'Hybrid
SACD' Reissue of Reggie's "Honky Chateau" leaves me awash with
admiration...and isn't that the best recommendation of all...
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