Image: Instagram/@eltonjohn
LOS ANGELES — Elton John has announced the forthcoming release of “The Lockdown Sessions,” an album of collaborations recorded remotely over the last 18 months, out Oct. 22, featuring more than 20 collaborators, including Dua Lipa, Brandi Carlile, Charlie Puth, Eddie Vedder, Gorillaz, Lil Nas X, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Rina Sawayama, Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder, Years & Years, Young Thug, and others — including an apparently posthumous duet with country legend Glen Campbell.
“In March 2020 Elton was forced to pause his record-breaking Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour due to the unfolding COVID pandemic,” the announcement reads.
“As the world began to shut down, different projects presented themselves with artists Elton had enjoyed getting to know through his Apple Music show, ‘Rocket Hour.’ This was the beginning of one of Elton’s boldest and most interesting records to date that he has billed ‘The Lockdown Sessions.'”
“This album saw Elton coming full circle and returning to his roots as a session musician,” it continues. “While it was no easy feat recording during a pandemic, a completely new way of working for Elton, he leaned into the challenge with some magnificent results.”
John said, “The last thing I expected to do during lockdown was make an album. But as the pandemic went on, one-off projects kept cropping up. Some of the recording sessions had to be done remotely, via Zoom, which I’d obviously never done before. Some of the sessions were recorded under very stringent safety regulations: working with another artist, but separated by glass screens. But all the tracks I worked on were really interesting and diverse, stuff that was completely different to anything I’m known for, stuff that took me out of my comfort zone into completely new territory.”
“And I realized there was something weirdly familiar about working like this,” he continues. “At the start of my career, in the late ’60s, I worked as a session musician. Working with different artists during lockdown reminded me of that. I’d come full circle: I was a session musician again. And it was still a blast.”
Here is the tracklist:
Elton John & Dua Lipa – “Cold Heart” (PNAU Remix)
Elton John, Young Thug & Nicki Minaj – “Always Love You”
Surfaces feat. Elton John – “Learn To Fly”
Elton John & Charlie Puth – “After All”
Rina Sawayama & Elton John – “Chosen Family”
Gorillaz feat. Elton John & 6LACK – “The Pink Phantom”
Elton John & Years & Years – “It’s a sin” (global reach mix)
Miley Cyrus feat. WATT, Elton John, Yo-Yo Ma, Robert Trujillo & Chad Smith – “Nothing Else Matters”
Elton John & SG Lewis – “Orbit”
Elton John & Brandi Carlile – “Simple Things”
Jimmie Allen & Elton John – “Beauty In The Bones”
Lil Nas X feat. Elton John – “One Of Me”
Elton John & Eddie Vedder – “E-Ticket”
Elton John & Stevie Wonder – “Finish Line”
Elton John & Stevie Nicks – “Stolen Car”
Glen Campbell & Elton John – “I’m Not Gonna Miss You”
JB
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