Honky Château is the fifth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1972. In 2003, the album was ranked number 357 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. It was certified gold on 24 July 1972 and platinum on 11 October 1995 by the RIAA. This was the final Elton John album on the Uni label in the US and Canada before the MCA consolidated all of its various labels under the MCA brand. This and John's earlier Uni albums were later reissued on MCA Records.
<i>Honky Chateau</i> is the pinnacle of Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin’s obsession with all things American, not least because its themes are funny (“I Think I’m Gonna Kill Myself”) and personalized (“Amy,” a sly paean to young lust). Elton’s small group, augmented with some daredevil electric violin by Jean-Luc Ponty, adapts to everything from the New Orleans carousel music of “Honky Cat” to the Ray Charles-ready “Mellow.” Similarly riding varied currents, the man does some of his best singing here; he’s positively funky on the Band-informed “Susie (Dramas).”