One of the surprise musical hits of the early part of 2025 is this collaboration album between Elton John and Brandi Carlile. John has recently retired from touring and Carlile almost single-handedly brought Joni Mitchell out of retirement.
While Carlile is not a brand-new artist, she is a contemporary artist who has quickly amassed a string of critically acclaimed albums, a myriad of awards, and some mainstream success. Wonderful Crazy Night, released in 2016, was John’s last studio album, but he did do a collaboration album with various artists called The Lockdown Sessions in 2021. Carlile’s last studio album was In These Silent Days, released in 2021. She was also part of The Highwomen album, released in 2019, which was a group that also included Natalie Hemby, Maren Morris, and Amanda Shires.
A collaboration album can be a hit-or-miss affair. Sometimes it doesn’t sound like a true collaboration or group effort, but instead for the most part, showcases the writer of a given song. Fortunately, this album truly feels like a group effort. The album has a very unified sound, other than a few instances where John’s unmistakable piano melodies are evident, such as on “The Rose of Laura Nyro” and the title cut.
These two artists clearly conceived and executed this album for all the right reasons and their two styles, songwriting approaches, musicianship, and vocal interplay blend naturally. The album is not really a throwback effort, but the music here does not rely on many of the production and electronic music gimmicks that make a great deal of what’s on the charts these days sound cold and antiseptic and diminish its staying power. These are two artists with truly distinct vocals sounds who know how to write great songs. In the case of John, this collection includes some of the best songs he has written in years and is yet another effort that shows why he is one of the greatest songwriters on the planet.
The people that John and Carlile have assembled here are part of what makes this a winning album. John is joined by songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, extending their winning streak of great songs. Producer Andrew Watt, someone who works a great deal with today’s contemporary pop artists, displays his uncanny knack for working with legacy artists (the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney) and helping them come up with a sharp sound without diluting what has made their music so special since the 1960s. Some of the backing musicians here who seamlessly fit right in include the rhythm section of bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
The opening track “The Rose of Laura Nyro” is a heartfelt tribute to the singer-songwriter Laura Nyro. It has some slight lyrical and musical touches in the vein of John’s “Funeral for a Friend” and “Little Richard’s Bible,” which is an obvious tribute to Little Richard. Throughout John’s entire career, he has often consciously or unconsciously paid tribute to his musical heroes and remains a true music fan. “Never Too Late,” the lead single, is like a clinic in how to write a song. It’s nearly perfect. There are also some thrilling rockers here like “The River Man.” The songs here are honest, true and heartfelt, particularly on the track “Someone to Belong To.”
The limited-edition tri-colored, yellow, red, and blue vinyl, gatefold package, photographed by Dave LaChapelle, includes a 16-page booklet and is very much in the style of recent John albums. LaChapelle has worked with John on the album cover of One Night Only from 2000 and on stage design for the 2004 residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, of “The Red Piano” concerts by John. He also created visuals for the recent “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour.
Since John has retired from the road, it’s doubtful these two will take this album on tour, which is a shame. These songs were made to be performed live. Hopefully, this is not just a one-off project and the two return again.
GRADED ON A CURVE:
B+
