![Honky Chateau Hybrid]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91UgNCQrDkL.jpg)
Product description SACD - SURROUND SOUND - EAN 602498240304 Review The fifth Elton album, and the first since the debut Empty Sky not to be drowned in strings, 72’s Honky Château stands up as one of his most eclectic, durable collections. Best-known for the hits Rocket Man and Honky Cat, it witnesses the singer finding the balance between camp pop-rock and gushing ballads which would subsequently serve his career so well. It was also the first on which his finest touring band was allowed to gel in the studio, and session musicians weren’t to the foreground.Named after Château d’Herouville in France, where Elton was to record his next two albums (and which subsequently hosted Pink Floyd, T.Rex, David Bowie and Iggy Pop), it has a warm, relaxed feel which complements both the sincere and the ironic songs. Rocket Man somehow slots into both categories. A curious classic, clearly indebted to Bowie’s Space Oddity, its melodic power and sadness are undeniable, but its lyrics get in a right old tangle. Chief among many clumsy clunkers has to be: "Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids / and there’s no-one there to raise them if you did."Honky Cat is a flippant piano boogie in the style of Dr. John, but there are darker, deeper shades to come, with Bernie Taupin minimising the private jokes. I Think I’m Going to Kill Myself is a satire of teenage angst, but hits a few nerves on its way. Susie (Dramas) is another song of infatuation which beneath its honky-tonk nuances locates grit. Salvation is white gospel, taking a mild dig at religion, while Slave sees Taupin revisiting his Americana obsessions and Amy is Elton mimicking Mick Jagger.The outstanding Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters is a textbook showcase of the writing pair’s talent: on paper, it’s maudlin and hymn-like. In reality, it works. Only Elton John could follow this with a silly, doo-wop finale, Hercules, which the most ardent fan couldn’t defend. No matter: a number one in the US and number two in the UK, Honky Château was where John laid down solid foundations. --Chris RobertsFind more music at the BBC This link will take you off in a new window
L**D
I didn't actually like Elton John before buying this album.
Only really decided to give it try as it's an SACD and cheap, also liked the fact I only recognised one or two tracks(Rocketman being the most obvious) so I knew the none of his tracks that have irritated me throughout the years were on there. Thankfully I was in for a really nice surprise with this album, much prefer his older stuff to his more recent typical disney style drivel that I hate!The multichannel mix is pretty superb, nice warm sound yet at the same time crisp & clear, actually one of my favourite SACDs in terms of sound quality(not quite up there with my favourites but not far off), I was so pleased with it that I went on to pick up Captian Fantastic at an even bigger bargian price(seeing the reviews and noticing it too was of a similar time), must say I much prefer Honky Chateau to CF, it just doesn't have the warmth of this album IMO.Highly recommended SACD for anyone with even a remote interest in Elton John, even for those that don't(as I didn't), should fit in well to anyones high-res collection.
C**R
Classic and Classy Elton
This is truly classic and classy Elton John. Only one of his run of brilliant albums that he made all through the 70s. This album is stuffed with great songs, great musicianship and great lyrics. The production is rich and uncluttered and Elton sings great throughout. In fact listening to this, it struck me what an underrated singer he is. This album has his big hit 'Rocket Man' on it, and the songs are all equal in quality to that classic track. 'Honky Chateau' is an album that anyone who likes and appreciates great songwriting should own.
T**Y
Elton John Honky Chateau Sacd
Great album especially on 5.1 surround Sacd disc. They should make more discs like this as it gives iot greated depth of sound - although the main sound is from Elton on the piano which is set centrally in the surround sound. Not his best but great all the same.
A**S
very cheap sacd
Since this one of the cheapest SACD's here and loving "Rocket man" bought this just to own one more SACD. Must say that a few other songs are also very nice (apart from the well known Honkey Cat of course). 5- channel sound does not do a lot for me here (as with most Super audio cd's I find it more of a gimmick and not realistic sounding) 2 channel sound is only slightly better than a regular version of the same songs (compared Honky Cat and Rocket Man from Greatest Hits 1970-2002)
S**E
BEST ALBUM BY ELTON
ELTONS BEST ALBUM
C**P
Elton john in quality surround sound
Fantastic surround sound of early works reminding me of how good he has always been
K**.
superb music, superb surround mix
superb music, superb surround mix, classic songwriting by Elton John/Bernie Taupin, excellent performance by the band and producers. Thank you!
S**I
Five Stars
Good surround and 2 channel mix. Very high quality.
G**S
Great timing and disc in great condition
This arrived today. The addition of cardboard to the shipping package is appreciated.Good timing on the shipping.Not to mention: This is an incredibly good mix of an amazing album. A highlight of the era.
ぐ**ぢ
在庫があったら即購入をお勧めします
中々の高値で推移していて、しかも在庫もなく在庫が表示されるたびに注文して発送後に行方不明にてキャンセルを繰り返す事二度。この度、ようやく中古品で手に入れることができました。このエルトン・ジョンのsurround SACDシリーズ、どのアルバムも素晴らしいのです。このアルバムも他の盤と比べても期待に違わない素晴らしい5.1chで、大変満足しております。コーラスワークの広がりが、浮遊緩をも感じさせてとても気持ちが良い。たとえ中古であっても在庫表示が出たら購入することをお勧めいたします。
A**A
Capolavoro di Elton John!
Un grande LP, il settimo album di Elton John, pubblicato nel 1972. Un LP da avere per gli amanti del genere. Troviamo grandi pezzi come: Rocket Man e Honky Cat.
M**!
love the sound of the piano and the horns/sax
sacd's sound unreal on my 9 channel 6 sub system,,,,love the sound of the piano and the horns/sax!
C**K
Universal-Japan Perfect mini-Lp repro sleeve & Audiophile shm-cd Original mixdown transfer
All of these early EJ shm-cd's are expensive, but they are getting even more so of late, because I suspect supplies are dwindling, and the Japanese music corporations rarely repress. I popped for only 3 of them, and posted reviews for _Don't Shoot Me..._ and _Madman..._ under those respective releases. Like those two, I had to have this because I despise the Stereo sound produced by the SACD versions that are pushing two decades in age now, although their surround sound mixes by Greg Penny are very fine indeed. But sometimes you just don't have access to a den-full of audio equipment, and you still want an early Elton fix.All of these are sourced from the 1970s Gus Dudgeon mixes, and WOW do they use each one to maximum effect! I suspected that _Honky Chateau_ would show less improvement in sound quality than the other 2, because my ears, at least, told me that previous editions of that title had come closer to doing it justice. Well, it turns out that that's true on some of it, but definitely NOT on all of it! For example, the brass stabs that are peppered throughout "Honky Cat" cut even deeper than I'd ever heard before - some of them are even a bit abrasive here. They're NOT distorted, they're just real horns blown by real musicians. And on the rockier cuts like "Suzie", "Amy" and "Hercules", when the 'classic' EJB gets cooked up a bit, you can hear clearly what a cool rhythm section Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson made together. It has ultra-excellent resolution everywhere, but no loss of the compelling and satisfying soundstage that Gus Dudgeon production was noted for.It's by far the best version of this title I've ever heard in plain old 2.0 Stereo. If you're wondering whether the improvement justifies the freight, just don't wait for it (them) to go OOP and double in price overnight. And as with all discs made with shm technology, run it silently in your player about 10 times before actually listening. Doing that has always increased my satisfaction with these (pricey) purchases.
