Writers: Elton John and Bernie Taupin
Producer: Gus Dudgeon
Recorded: January 1972 at Strawberry Studios in Chateau d'Herouville, France
Released: Summer 1972
| Players: | Elton John — vocals, piano Davey Johnstone — guitar, mandolin Dee Murray — bass |
| Album: | Honky Chateau (Uni) |
A popular track from Elton John's sixth album, Honky Chateau, “Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters” is an impressionistic ballad that's been described by John and lyricist Bernie Taupin as a “New York City song.”
Unlike other songs on Honky Chateau, which used a full band and even guest horn and string players, “Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters” is a stripped-down affair on which John was accompanied only by guitarist Davey Johnstone, who also played mandolin, and bassist Dee Murray.
Just before he released Honky Chateau, John — who was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight — formally changed his name to Elton Hercules John.
Honky Chateau spent five weeks at Number One on the Billboard 200 and was John's second consecutive million-seller.
Honky Chateau reached Number Two on the U.K. album chart.
The album took its title from Chateau d'Herouville, where Strawberry Studios is located, some 30 miles from Paris.