"Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time)" is yet another highlight of Elton John's 1972 full-length effort
Honky Chateau. In contrast to "Honky Cat", which is a bouncing boogie number, "Rocket Man" is ethereal and mystical (connecting with David Bowie's "Space Oddity", which was released a few years earlier). This single is clearly one of Elton's most popular and influential tracks as it has been covered countless times by artists as diverse as Kate Bush, Me First And The Gimme Gimmes (which goes to show what the punk bands are listening to at home), the Chipmunks, Neil Diamond, and (heaven help us) William Shatner on a rare bootleg. For those too busy to check (presumably raising their children on Mars despite it being cold as hell), "Rocket Man" charted in the U.S. for 12 weeks in 1972, peaking at #6. A homemade
VIDEO on YouTube.
