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Who Believes in Angels? (2025)

Where the lyrics of Who Believes in Angels? take you, and where it was really made.

According to a press release, John and Carlile wrote and recorded this album completely from scratch in just 20 days.

Key places

Where the album was recorded (2025)

Recording site Sunset Sound — The album was recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders in Los Angeles. Recording began in October 2023 and the three collaborators worked on the songs in a short period. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

London Palladium concert for CBS special (2025)

Live show London Palladium — John and Carlile performed a concert at the London Palladium for the CBS special An Evening with Elton & Brandi. The soundtrack was later released on vinyl. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Who Believes in Angels?: collaborative studio album by British musician Elton John and American musician Brandi Carlile
• Released 4 April 2025 through Interscope Records
• Produced by Andrew Watt
• John's 33rd studio album and Carlile's eighth
• Announced 5 February 2025 alongside its title track

Background

• John and Carlile had previously collaborated on “Simple Things”, which appears on The Lockdown Sessions (2021)
• “Never Too Late”, the theme to John's 2024 documentary of the same name, also appears on the album
• Lyrics were contributed by Carlile and John's longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin
• Andrew Watt also shares songwriting credits on the album
• Recording began in October 2023
• According to a press release, John, Carlile and Watt pushed each other out of their comfort zones to write and record an album completely from scratch in just 20 days
• Contributing musicians include Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer and session bass guitarist Pino Palladino

Recording

• Recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders in Los Angeles
• John described the album as one of the toughest he has made
• Among the struggles linked to the album was John's vision loss, related to an eye infection
• Carlile described the process as an incredibly challenging and inspiring environment, with everybody throwing in ideas and listening to each other

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

• Music critics gave the album positive reviews, praising both the writing and the production of the songs

Reappraisal

• Metacritic, based on ten critic scores: generally favorable reviews, weighted average 79 out of 100
• Nominated at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Records

• UK Albums Chart debut at number one with 22,843 album-equivalent units; John's tenth album to top the chart and Carlile's first
• Billboard 200 debut at number nine with 40,000 album-equivalent units; John's twenty-second top-ten album and Carlile's fourth
• Number one on the Top Rock Albums and Top Rock & Alternative Albums charts
• Number one in Switzerland; top ten in Germany, Austria and New Zealand

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The title track came out as the first single on 5 February 2025, and a short film about making the song was posted to YouTube the same day.
• David LaChapelle directed the music video, which shows John and Carlile performing in a Captain Fantastic pinball machine that references John's 1975 album.
• Backup dancers in the video impersonate Tina Turner and Little Richard.
• John and Carlile performed at the London Palladium for the CBS special An Evening with Elton & Brandi.
• The special's soundtrack was released on vinyl as part of Record Store Day Black Friday 2025 in November.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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