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Though Elton John lavishly retired from touring with a run of shows at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles last year – part of a tour that’s set box-office records – you’d be right that it wouldn’t be a long, long time before we heard from him in some way, shape, or form. Indeed: now comes word that his 1972 album Honky Château will be reissued just past its 50th anniversary with a trove of rare session demos and live tracks.

If Madman Across the Water – reissued and expanded last year by UMe – was Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin’s answer of sorts to life on the road in America, then Honky Château marked an even deeper dive into the sound of the States. It moved away from the progressive overtones of its predecessor, toward an eclectic mix of upbeat, even funky rock and soul alongside somber, aching piano melodies. Named for the 18th century manor where it was recorded in Hérouville, France, Honky Château is notable as the first of Elton’s albums to feature his acclaimed touring band playing every track on the album. (Producer Gus Dudgeon had only allowed bassist Dee Murray and drummer Nigel Olsson to play sparingly on Madman, and guitarist Davey Johnstone – the primary guitarist on that album – was invited into the band after that album was completed.)

After years of brushing with success in the U.S., Honky Château finally established Elton John as a star for the ’70s. It would become his first of seven consecutive LPs to top the Billboard 200 (outpacing even his home in the U.K., where it settled for No. 2) and featured his second U.S. Top 10 hit, the horn-infused New Orleans rave-up “Honky Cat.” The harmony-laden “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time)” became a Top 40 hit in America and reached No. 2 in England, while the heartfelt “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters” became a fan favorite album cut.

The Honky Château reissue will feature the original album alongside nine session demos covering eight of the album’s tracks – there’s two versions of “Slave,” including a fast version which may well be the one intended for a cancelled “Hercules” single and issued in 1992 on the Rare Masters set – and eight Honky tracks from a set at the Royal Festival Hall, recorded only days after the album sessions came to a close. (A double LP will include just the session tracks on the second vinyl album.) Each set comes with a new booklet (40 pages for the CD and eight for the LP) offering rare photos, memorabilia and a new essay featuring interviews with the players. Elton’s official store also offers a gold vinyl pressing of the original album and various merch bundles.

The Honky Château reissue is available March 24 and can be pre-ordered below.

Honky Château (50th Anniversary Edition) (Rocket/UMC, 2023)

2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Disc 1: Original album (1-10, released as DJM Records DJLPH 423 (U.K.)/Uni 93135 (U.S.), 1972) and Honky at the Château (Session Demos Part 1) (11-15)

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
7. Slave
8. Amy
9. Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters
10. Hercules
11. Salvation (Session Demo)
12. Susie (Dramas) (Session Demo)
13. Rocket Man (It’s Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time) (Session Demo)
14. Mellow (Session Demo)
15. Slave – Alternate “Fast” Version (Session Demo)

Disc 2: Honky at the Château (Session Demos Part 2) (1-4) and Live at The Royal Festival Hall, London – 2/5/1972 (5-12) (all previously unreleased)

1. Honky Cat (Session Demo)
2. I Think I’m Going to Kill Myself (Session Demo)
3. Hercules (Session Demo)
4. Slave (Session Demo)
5. Susie (Dramas)
6. Salvation
7. Mellow
8. Amy
9. Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters
10. Honky Cat
11. Rocket Man (It’s Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time
12. Hercules