fredag 7 augusti 2020

ELTON JOHN/HONKY CHATEAU DLJPH 423 (-72) UK

His fifth album and one I've continued to spin all those years.  Still early on in his carreer, before excessive glitter, mile high shoes, knighthood and hair transplant.  I can't bring any of those visuals to my listening chair, but here I get well written catchy melodies to beautifully sang sincere lyrics and tophole arrangements, together bringing a warm friendly atmosphere I wanna get in and remain.  Either it's "Honky Cat" funky, countryish like "Slave" or downright gripping as "Rocket Man", it's so well done.  Also the audio on this press is lovely. Not 100% sure who's behind the mastering, but the matrixes have "Bobil" (Bob Hill?) etched on side one and "Rasputin" (Giorgio Gomelski?) on side two.  This was recorded just before he became a household name with all pressure and effect on his persona that entailed. So even if the songs come through more genres than before it's still the young hungry singer/ songwriter I hear with emphasis on melody rather than outfit.  Issued and reissued on all possible formats all over the world through the years. First US on UNI (93135). Japan 2008 CD, limited ed. in paper sleeve, came with an alternate version of "Slave" as bonus track.  Premiere UK had label as shown here with large "33 1/3 RPM" , on thick dark red vinyl in a leathery fold/out cover with glued-on pic on front and fold-over flap containing tracking and credits. (Unfortunately that flap has gone missing on this copy so the one shown here I borrowed from the net.)

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