Elton John: Honky Chateau

Elton John’s Honky Chateau celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. To honor it (or sell more records), a 50th anniversary edition was released.

Cut from master tapes, this particular version is a Vinyl Me, Please club edition. It is effectively the same as the 50th anniversary edition released to the masses. The difference being colored vinyl that VMP is known to use for their exclusive releases.

After all, if there weren’t something different, why would people join the club? It’s definitely not because the records are cheaper or sound better. Their marketing tactic is to secure memberships via optics.

Colored vinyl is a great conversation piece and they are highly collectible. However, most, if not all, of VMP’s releases have the same overall sound quality as the mass release. Elton John’s Honky Chateau is no different.

Regarding the sound, the 50th anniversary reissue is a reasonably good sounding record. There are points where the highs are a little high, but for the most part it is a decent mass production release. It is not an audiophile release by any stretch.

When compared to the 1972 UK release, the UK release has a fuller, more dynamic, and warmer sound.
Like the mass release, Vinyl Me, Please used 180g weight vinyl and packaged the record nicely. The original UK was pressed on black vinyl at 140g.

As we have said, vinyl weight does not make for better sound. The comparison proves this point. It is all about the source, mastering, and manufacturing. That said, this is a good alternative to an OG.

TRACK LIST
1 Honky Cat (Side A)
2 Mellow (Side A)
3 I Think I'm Going To Kill Myself (Side A)
4 Susie (Dramas) (Side A)
5 Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time) (Side A)
6 Salvation (Side B)
7 Slave (Side B)
8 Amy (Side B)
9 Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters (Side B)
10 Hercules (Side B)

If you like colored vinyl this is a good option. If you do not care and only concern yourself with the music held within the tracks, go for the 50th anniversary mass release version. It sounds the same and costs less. 💵

💰 Invest
 💵 Consider
💸 Pass