Released in May 1972, Honky Château was the album that made Elton John a superstar, and ushered in a new era for him. Named after the residential studios outside Paris where the album was recorded, Honky Château bought a new level of simplicity and directness to Elton’s music that had previously only been seen in glimpses. Shorn of the complexities and ornate orchestrations of his recent work, Honky Château seemed freewheeling and intimate. It was helped by Rocket Man, the record which became another of Elton’s signature songs. These special editions contain the original album, and on both vinyl and CD editions a newly created selection of outtakes from the sessions, produced from the original tapes by Matt Still, which highlight the warmth and humour of the sessions.

On CD only there are eight tracks from the album that were recorded at the Royal Festival Hall in 1972, all receiving their live debut, just a few days back in the UK after recording. Assembled with the customary care by Elton’s catalogue team, the album comes as a gatefold with an eight-page booklet with rare photos, memorabilia and an essay by cocurator and music writer Daryl Easlea, featuring interviews from those who were there. Honky Château has been mastered at Lurssen in California, and the vinyl cut at Abbey Road.