Maps of Music

The Union (2010)

Where the lyrics of The Union take you, and where it was really made.

This is the first studio release by Elton John since 1979's Victim of Love without any of his regular Elton John Band members.

Key places

Recorded at The Village Recorder (2010)

Recording site Village Recorders — The album's recording location is listed as this Los Angeles studio. The pin marks the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Quad Studios in Nashville (2010)

Recording site Quad Studios — The album's recording location is listed as this Nashville studio. The pin marks the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Silent Sound Studios in Atlanta (2010)

Recording site Silent Sound Studios — The album's recording location is listed as this Atlanta studio. The pin marks the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• The Union: collaboration studio album by singer-songwriters Elton John and Leon Russell
• Released 19 October 2010 in the US and 25 October in the UK
• John's second collaboration album, after 1993's Duets
• First studio release by John since 1979's Victim of Love without any regular Elton John Band members
• Highest-charting studio album by Leon Russell since 1972's Carney

Background

• Dedicated to Guy Babylon, John's keyboard player, who died a year before the release
• Producer: T Bone Burnett
• Guest musicians include Booker T. Jones, Neil Young, Robert Randolph and Brian Wilson
• Booker T. Jones played Hammond B-3, Robert Randolph played pedal steel, and Neil Young sang vocals
• Brian Wilson contributed vocal harmonies

Recording

• Recording and mixing by Mike Piersante
• Recording and editing by Jason Wormer
• Mastering by Gavin Lurssen at Lurssen Mastering in Hollywood, California

Cover

• Cover art photography by Annie Leibovitz

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in Pinner, Middlesex, on 25 March 1947.
• Won a junior scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at age 11.
• Formed the blues band Bluesology in 1962; took the name Elton John in 1967.
• Joined DJM Records as a staff songwriter with lyricist Bernie Taupin in 1968.

Members

• Partnered with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967; Taupin writes lyrics and John composes the music.
• Backing band over the years included Davey Johnstone, Nigel Olsson, Dee Murray and Ray Cooper.

Career

• Debut album Empty Sky (1969); Honky Château (1972) became his first US number-one album.
• Seven consecutive US number-one albums between 1972 and 1975.
• Composed The Lion King and Aida with Tim Rice; won Academy Awards and a Tony Award.
• Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour (2018–2023) was the highest-grossing tour at the time.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Critics gave the album mostly positive reviews
• Critics praised it as some of the pair's best work to date
• Rolling Stone magazine placed it at No. 3 on its list of the 30 Best Albums of 2010

Records

• Debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200
• Highest-charting studio album by John on the Billboard 200 since 1976's Blue Moves
• Highest-charting studio album by Russell since 1972's Carney
• 'If It Wasn't for Bad' was nominated for the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards in the Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals category

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Hey Ahab became a staple in John's concert tours.
• Neil Young sang vocals on track 4, and Brian Wilson sang backing vocals on track 12.
• Russell's piano and vocals run through the album alongside John's acoustic piano.
• Booker T. Jones played Hammond B3 organ on tracks 1, 5, 9 and 11.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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