music and concerts
Elton John’s Honky Château 50th Anniversary Reissue Announced
Available on 2CD, 2LP and Limited-Edition Gold Vinyl LP

Honky Château is available on four different formats:
2CD
- Contains the original album and a newly created selection of outtakes from the original session tapes. This 2CD format additionally contains eight live recordings from the Royal Festival Hall show in 1972, where the tracks received their live debut, just a few days after being recorded at the Château. Includes a 40-page booklet containing rare photos, memorabilia and an essay featuring interviews from those who were there at the time.
2LP
- Contains the original album and a newly created selection of outtakes from the original session tapes. Includes an eight-page booklet containing rare photos, memorabilia and an essay featuring interviews from those who were there at the time
Limited Edition Gold Vinyl LP
- Contains the original album pressed for the first time on limited edition gold vinyl
UMe today announces the 50th-anniversary reissue of Elton John’s Honky Château. Available to pre-order now on 2CD, 2LP and limited-edition gold vinyl LP, the album is released on March 24th. Pre-order here. “Rocket Man (Live at The Festival Hall, London 1972)” and “Mellow” (Session Demo) are also unveiled today as the first instant grats available from Honky Château 50th Anniversary Edition. This live debut of “Rocket Man at the Royal Festival Hall” – recorded two months before its release as the album’s first single – is striking in its freshness and its ability to nearly replicate the studio arrangement on stage. The line-up of Davey Johnstone (guitar), Dee Murray (bass) and Nigel Olsson (drums) immediately established itself as the core of the “classic” Elton band, solidifying Elton’s studio and stage presence through his most prolific period.
Honky Château was Elton’s step into global superstardom, spawning classics such as the aforementioned “Rocket Man,” “Honky Cat” and “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters.” Originally released in May 1972, his 5th studio album ushered in a to-this-day unparalleled hot streak of classic albums and was the first time he recorded at the now legendary Château d’Hérouville, a residential recording studio situated 25 miles north-west of Paris. It was here where he and Bernie Taupin were to write – and the band subsequently record – some of the biggest global hits of his career. Elton, Bernie and the band – performing together on record for the first time – decamped to the Château for week’s pre-production on Honky Château in January 1972. Bernie brought his typewriter; the band set up in the dining room. Bernie would write lyrics at night and leave them on Elton’s piano for him to work on in the morning.
As Elton recalls of their notoriously prolific output at the time, “The first morning we were there, I had three (songs) done by the time the band drifted downstairs looking for something to eat: ‘Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters,’ ‘Amy’ and ‘Rocket Man.’” The remainder of the album would follow suit; ‘Susie (Dramas),’ ‘Hercules,’ ‘Salvation,’ ‘Honky Cat,’ ‘Slave,’ ‘I Think I’m Going To Kill Myself’ and ‘Mellow.’”
A pivotal album in Elton’s ascent to superstardom, the album’s sepia-tinged cover belies the effortless grooves within of a band who had truly found their feet as a unit. By mid-1972 their live recordings now matched their hallowed live shows, and they effortlessly channelled a soulful sound that effortlessly drew together the deep south of America via Pinner and the Parisian suburbs.
Following the release of Honky Château, by June 1972 “Rocket Man” was in the UK pop charts at No 2. In the US, the single reached No 6. Honky Château became the first of six consecutive Billboard Hot 100 No 1 albums. It remains a firm fixture in the setlist of this record-breaking Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. “Honky Cat” showcased the extraordinary swagger that was to define all of Elton’s work for the following half-decade. His first up-tempo number to make the US Top 10, the track helped cement Elton’s reputation in America.
Still a shining jewel in Elton’s back catalogue, Honky Château was the album that announced his arrival on the world stage. Its impact and legacy endures to this day, and it will forever be remembered as the album where the Rocket Man truly took flight.
Rocket Man (Live at The Royal Festival Hall, London 1972) & Mellow (Session Demo) Unveiled Recently…
Pre-Order Here for March 24 release…
Listen Here
Source: UMe
Blog
Music History: Remembering SOLAR Records
Sound of LA records, also known as SOLAR, was one of the most influential record labels in the world of R&B and funk music during the 1980s.
Sound of LA records, also known as SOLAR, was one of the most influential record labels in the world of R&B and funk music during the 1980s. Founded by Dick Griffey and Don Cornelius in 1977, SOLAR was responsible for launching the careers of some of the biggest names in the music industry.
The label’s first major success came with the group Shalamar, which was formed by Griffey and Cornelius in 1979. Shalamar’s debut album, “Uptown Festival,” was released in 1977, and featured the hit single “The Second Time Around.” The group went on to produce a string of hits throughout the 1980s, including “A Night to Remember,” “Dead Giveaway,” and “Dancing in the Sheets.”
SOLAR’s success continued with the signing of other major acts, including The Whispers, Lakeside, and Midnight Star. The Whispers, which had been around since the late 1960s, found new life on SOLAR, producing some of their biggest hits, including “And the Beat Goes On,” “Rock Steady,” and “It’s a Love Thing.”
Lakeside, formed in 1969, also found success on SOLAR, with their hit single “Fantastic Voyage” becoming a staple of the R&B and funk scene. The group went on to produce several more hit singles, including “Raid,” “Outrageous,” and “Your Love is on the One.”
Midnight Star, formed in 1976, was another successful group on SOLAR. Their hit single “Freak-A-Zoid” was a major success, and the group went on to produce several more hit singles, including “No Parking on the Dance Floor,” “Operator,” and “Midas Touch.”
SOLAR was also responsible for launching the solo careers of several major R&B and funk artists, including The Deele (featuring future superstars Babyface and LA Reid), Klymaxx, and The S.O.S. Band. The S.O.S. Band’s hit single “Take Your Time (Do It Right)” became a major success, and the group went on to produce several more hit singles throughout the 1980s.
Sadly, SOLAR’s success was short-lived, and the label struggled to compete in the changing music industry of the 1990s. The label was eventually sold to MCA Records in the early 1990s, and its legacy lives on through the music of the many artists it produced.
Despite its relatively short lifespan, Sound of LA records remains a major force in the world of R&B and funk music, and its impact can still be felt today. From Shalamar to The Whispers, Lakeside to Midnight Star, SOLAR was responsible for some of the biggest hits of the 1980s, and its influence on the music industry will never be forgotten.
music and concerts
Arctic Lights Releases New Single, ‘Holy Joe’
VerseOne Distribution Distributes Irish Band’s New Single
DELAWARE CITY, Del. (Newswire.com) – Arctic Lights, an indie/rock group from Cork, Ireland, has released “Holy Joe”, their first single of 2023, as the follow-up to their 2022 critically acclaimed single, “Belong”. Band members Liam O’Callaghan and Edward Butt wanted to take a new creative direction towards a darker and heavier sound with the new release.
“Holy Joe may sound a bit different from some of our other songs but we like to surprise people with each new release as we get bored quickly and don’t just want to repeat the same tricks each time. This keeps us engaged and interested as we find exploring new sounds gets us excited, being an independent act allows us to do what we like and we will keep doing that while hoping people will enjoy what we do, but, overall we make music for ourselves.” – Edward Butt
“I find writing music can be cathartic and songs have personalities of their own. I had a melody in mind for Holy Joe but no lyrics. The minute we pressed record to put the melody down, the lyrics just started pouring out. I think you can feel a crackling and bristling in society at the moment like there is a fire about to ignite. For me, the emotion of the vocals captures this feeling perfectly. Hopefully, we can extinguish the fire.” – Liam O’Callaghan
Distributed exclusively by VerseOne Distribution, “Holy Joe” is available now on all major music platforms. Listen to “Holy Joe” here.
About Arctic Lights
Arctic Lights was formed in 2021 by Liam O’Callaghan and Edward Butt from Cork, Ireland. The duo has been making their mark in the music scene since debuting their single, “King of America” in January 2021. The band has been active since then, rapidly expanding its fanbase and following on social media and streaming platforms. Arctic Lights’ music has been featured across radio stations worldwide in America, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Australia.
Follow Arctic Lights for releases and updates.
Source: VerseOne Distribution
music and concerts
Too Lost Distribution Expands to West Coast With Opening of Hollywood Office, Hires Key Executives to Spearhead Growth

The Taft Building in Hollywood, CA, where Too Lost has recently opened a new office
NEW YORK (Newswire.com) – Too Lost, the rapidly growing music and technology company, has announced the opening of a new office within the iconic Taft Building in Hollywood, California. This expansion is part of the company’s strategic plan to broaden its reach and better serve its expanding client base on the West Coast.
To drive this expansion, Too Lost has made several key executive hires, including Aldo Davalos, who will serve as the new head of business development. With over 20 years of experience in the music industry, Davalos was formerly the head of A&R at Dim Mak Records and Publishing, while previously holding positions at Ultra Records and Warner Music Group. Most recently, Davalos was on the management team behind the platinum-selling recording artist Migos.
Dan Mody, formerly the head of A&R at Create Music Group (where he managed the Create and Universal Music Group relationship), has been appointed as the new head of A&R at Too Lost. Courtney Young, who previously worked at Create Music Group and Dim Mak Records, has been named the new head of label services at Too Lost.
These new executives will be responsible for overseeing the growth of the company’s new LA office, bringing their industry expertise to Too Lost’s expanding client base on the West Coast.
In addition to these key hires, Too Lost has also welcomed Conner Davis to its leadership team, who will work out of the company’s headquarters in New York City. Davis brings with him significant industry experience having previously worked at beatBread and Universal Music Group.
These hires come as Too Lost announces new funding, enabling the company to continue its rapid growth trajectory. With over 185,000 artists and labels currently serviced, Too Lost is quickly becoming a leader in the music distribution and publishing industry.
“We are thrilled to be expanding our operations to the West Coast and to have such a talented group of executives joining our team,” said Gregory Hirschhorn, CEO of Too Lost. “Their expertise and industry knowledge will be instrumental in our continued growth and success as we strive to better serve our clients and provide the best possible service.”
About Too Lost:
Too Lost is a music and technology company, providing SaaS solutions for independent music creators. Our distribution and publishing services deliver, monetize and protect songs across the globe for 100,000+ independent artists and labels. Too Lost is a proud member of The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) and MERLIN. They are headquartered in New York City – with offices in Los Angeles, Barcelona and Reykjavík.
For more information about Too Lost and its services, visit www.toolost.com.
Source: Too Lost
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