Elton John used a haunted recording studio and ended up with “audible moans and groans” of spooks on tape.
His best pal and songwriting partner Bernie Taupin said there were a number of “things happened that cannot be explained”.
The duo based themselves at the 18th Century Château d’Hérouville near Paris to make three of their albums.
But Bernie, 73, said his last visit there in the 80s “proved to be an altogether darker episode”.
He revealed: “There had always been talk of restless spirits and ghosts, strange unexplainable events that had filtered down from client to client.
“I’m by nature seriously sceptical about the paranormal, but put yourself in a spooky-ass château on a stormy night and confidence in practicality flies out the window.
“It started with a freaked-out cat and a self-igniting fireplace. I mean the fire literally started on its own and the cat looked like it had been electrocuted. “Then the lights went out. Retrieving candles and matches from my bathroom, I noticed that the mirror above the sink had been scratched from the inside out.
“While thunder rolled and lightning crashed as if on cue, we did what any other group of petrified pals would do in these circumstances and piled into one bedroom and locked the door.
“This is where things get hazy. With the passing of a fitful night, some were convinced they heard voices and some complained of being tugged or tapped on the shoulder by invisible hands.”
He said: “What is the gospel truth is that when we were playing back tracks in the studio the next day, there were most definitely audible moans and groans on the tape that had disappeared when we replayed them later.
In his new book Scattershot, Bernie claimed he heard creepy noises from spirits when he listened back to the tracks.
Rare Live Footage Shared As Elton John’s Expanded ‘Honky Château’ Released
The album has been praised by the Sunday Times as ‘one of his most accomplished and beloved releases.’
Elton John’s staging post 1972 album Honky Château is out now in a series of expanded formats, as rare footage is shared of Elton’s performance of one of its highlights, “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters,” at the Royal Festival Hall in London in 1972.
Elton John will belatedly celebrate the 50th anniversary of Honky Chateau by releasing an expanded version of the album on March 24.
Originally released in May 1972, Honky Chateau was John's first chart-topping album, and features the hit singles "Rocket Man" and "Honky Cat." It was named after the 18th-century Chateau d'Herouville outside Paris where it was recorded and was the first to feature John's live band - guitarist Davey Johnstone, bassist Dee Murray and drummer Nigel Olsson – on every song. (UCR)
Honky Château was the moment where everything came together for Elton John. Free from the restrictions that came with a typical piano-focused singer-songwriter career, John was able to tap into rock and roll, country, blues, music hall, and soul. More than anything else, John feels comfortable: he’s finally able to record with his full band – including new guitarist Davey Johnstone – he’s made it to his fifth album without flaming out, and his writing with Taupin is hitting new highs.
Hear Elton John’s First-Ever ‘Rocket Man’ Performance From ‘Honky Château’ Reissue
The expanded version of Honky Chateau will be released in several formats, including a two-CD set that includes eight songs from the Feb. 5, 1972, show at London's Royal Festival Hall where tracks from the album were played live for the first time. Both the two-CD and double-album versions will include nine outtakes from the original session tapes.
Elton John, 'Honky Chateau' Expanded Reissue Track Listing
CD 1
ORIGINAL ALBUM
1. "Honky Cat"
2. "Mellow"
3. "I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself"
4. "Susie (Dramas)"
5. "Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time)"
6. "Salvation"
7. "Slave"
8. "Amy"
9. "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters"
10. "Hercules"
HONKY AT THE CHÂTEAU (SESSION DEMOS) PART ONE
11. "Salvation" (Session Demo)
12. "Susie (Dramas)" (Session Demo)
13. "Rocket Man (It’s Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time)" (Session Demo)
14. "Mellow" (Session Demo)
15. "Slave" - Alternate "Fast" Version (Session Demo)
CD 2
HONKY AT THE CHÂTEAU (SESSION DEMOS) PART TWO
1. "Honky Cat" (Session Demo)
2. "I Think I’m Going to Kill Myself" (Session Demo)
3. "Hercules" (Session Demo)
4. "Slave" (Session Demo)
LIVE AT THE ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL, LONDON, FEBRUARY 5TH 1972
5. "Susie (Dramas)"
6. "Salvation"
7. "Mellow"
8. "Amy"
9. "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters"
10. "Honky Cat"
11. "Rocket Man (It’s Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time)"
12. "Hercules"
