"If It Wasn't For Bad", the
first single from The
Union CD, has been nominated for a Grammy Award in the
category 'Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals'. The 53rd
Annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast February 13, 2011 on
CBS.
ELTON JOHN & LEON RUSSELL
TO RELEASE FIRST SINGLE, “IF IT WASN’T FOR BAD,”
FROM THEIR FORTHCOMING COLLABORATIVE NEW CD, THE UNION
Single Available at iTunes and All Digital Retailers August 24th
August 23, 2010 (New York, NY) – Decca Records is pleased
to announce the single release of “If It Wasn’t for
Bad,” available August 24th on iTunes and all digital retailers.
The highly anticipated single is the first to be made available
from The Union, the collaborative album with Elton John and Leon
Russell to be released October 19th in the U.S. on Decca (October
25th in the U.K. on Mercury Records.) The album marks the first
time these iconic artists have worked together since 1970.
“If It Wasn’t For Bad,” written by Leon Russell,
features vocals by Elton John and piano and vocals by Russell along
with an extraordinary band bringing a bold rock/country sound organically
crafted by these true musical legends.
Produced by Oscar and multiple-Grammy winning producer T Bone Burnett,
The Union was recorded live in the studio with Elton and Leon on
dueling pianos. The album features a variety of musical genres from
R&B, soul, gospel, country, pop and rock. The 14-track disc
includes selections written by Elton and his lifelong lyricist Bernie
Taupin, as well as the combined incomparable songwriting team encompassing
Leon, Elton, Bernie and T Bone.
Leon first met Elton in 1970 when he attended Elton’s first
ever U.S. show at the famous Troubadour in Los Angeles. The meeting
heralded the beginning of a long friendship and a mutual appreciation
between the two artists. “In the late ’60s and early
‘70s, the one piano player and vocalist who influenced me
more than anybody else was Leon Russell,” Elton said. “He
was my idol.” The pair went on to tour together shortly thereafter
at New York’s Fillmore East and to this day have held such
high admiration for each other’s work.
After years of being out of touch, Elton listened to Leon’s
music while on safari in Africa last summer and was inspired to
reconnect with his idol. “Elton called to ask if I would do
a duet album with him,’” Russell said. “I’m
very happy that he chose me to do this.”
###
Elton John & Leon Russell Musical Legends Collaborate
on The Union. Read the Decca Records release
announcement.
