Set for release by Universal in October, 2010, and produced by T Bone Burnett, The Union marks the culmination of a mutual musical adoration that began in the late 1960s, ahead of Elton’s debut US performance in 1970 at The Troubadour Club in Los Angeles. The album is a collaboration between Elton and Leon Russell, with songs by Elton and Bernie Taupin; by Elton, Bernie and Leon; by Elton and Leon and by Leon alone.

The Union was recorded in Los Angeles earlier this year, with guest musicians including Brian Wilson, Booker T, Don Was and Neil Young. Cameron Crowe has filmed the sessions for a documentary, creating too a moment of history as this is the first time that the genesis of Elton’s music has been recorded on film. Critics who have had an early preview of the album are united in praise for the work that Elton describes as a “Seventies record with a modern feel.”

Track Listings

Elton John unveils The Union

by Andy Morris – GQ.Com (Excerpt)

“It’s like Crazy Heart…only without the drink and the drugs,” deadpans Sir Elton John when discussing the rise and fall of Leon Russell, his piano playing idol. Introducing The Union, his remarkable new album of duets with Russell, at the Electric Cinema in London’s Notting Hill, Elton is in fine form, but is keen to emphasize Russell’s impeccable musical credentials. “I don’t know why he just fell off the radar,” he says, explaining that in the Seventies Russell not only played on a huge variety of Phil Spector records but also wrote anthems such as “A Song For You”. Here’s what else we learnt from listening to Sir Elton explain this “real labour of love”…

1. Elton has worshipped Russell for over three decades. He remembers seeing him sit in the front row of the audience on the second night he played the Troubadour in 1970. “He really is the most incredible looking man,” says Elton. “You couldn’t miss him!” The pair subsequently went on tour together – and although Elton tended to steal the show every night, there was never any animosity between them.

2. Their friendship was rekindled after 37 years with a phone call. While on safari in Africa, Elton heard a vintage Russell song on David Furnish’s iPod and gave the 68 year old singer a call. At the time Russell was scraping a living playing down-at-heel venues and was physically fragile – just before they started recording, Russell needed a five and a half hour operation “because he had spinal fluid coming out of his nose”. His confidence was shot as well, asking Elton at one point, “Can I still play and sing?”

3. On their first day in the studio, the pair were visibly uncomfortable and nervous around each other. Elton wasn’t even sure the idea of recording twin pianos would work – only listening to Mahalia Jackson on youtube united them through their shared love of gospel. [Read the full article...]

I remember the story of an inexperienced TV show host who was about to have Elton John as a guest. Somewhat nervous about meeting such a celebrity he asked some TV veterans for advice. “What should I do with him?” he asked. The answer was easy: “Just give the man a piano.” The truth of these words becomes extraordinarily clear when you listen to Elton John live, and when he is only accompanied by his piano. One song in particular, Song for Guy, proves my case.

Song for Guy is, as far as I am aware, Elton John’s only instrumental song that was ever released from one of his albums. Okay, in all truth, he does sing a few words toward the end of the song. The song, released in 1978, has been a live staple in Europe where it is well-known. It was not released in the US until March of 1979 where it barely made the charts (It peaked at #110).

Elton John wrote about the song: “As I was writing this song one Sunday, I imagined myself floating into space and looking down at my own body. I was imagining myself dying. Morbidly obsessed with these thoughts, I wrote this song about death. The next day I was told that Guy (Burchett), our 17 year-old messenger boy, had been tragically killed on his motorcycle the day before. Guy died on the day I wrote this song.”