Two months after Elton John and Brandi Carlile announced the details of their first album together, the finished product is finally here. Out today, ‘Who Believes in Angels?’ was recorded in just 20 days in October 2023. Elton and Brandi have shared their excitement about the album, emphasizing that it's a true duet record. Elton explained, "The thing I love about this record is it's a duet record, and it's a proper duet record. It's not she takes one line and I take another -- it's not 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart.' These are songs that we sing together." Brandi added, "It's mystical to get to sing with him. I've been singing with him since I was so young that for it to happen in real life has been just transformative."
Elton John and Brandi Carlile both had high praise for each other during the recording process. Elton expressed his admiration for Brandi, saying, "The only person I would ever want to do an album with was her. She's phenomenal. And believe me, she's probably one of the greatest singers I've ever heard, and I just could not wait to record this album." Despite Elton describing it as "one of the toughest albums he ever made," Brandi offered her perspective, stating, "I think that Elton is the greatest that's ever been. And it happens in the studio. You see these compositions coming out of him. It's from another place. It's otherworldly. And he says that he had a hard time and that was experiencing doubt or that he was ornery, but really, it was just so alive. Like so vibrant and dangerous and right on the edge. And if music's not being made like that way I don't want to hear it."
To celebrate the release of Who Believes in Angels?, Elton and Brandi, along with Bernie Taupin and Andrew Watt, will premiere their film, Who Believes In Angels? Stories From The Edge of Creation, followed by a Q&A tonight at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. The 30-minute film offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the album, featuring raw footage of breakdowns, breakthroughs, tears, and torn-up lyric sheets. This marks the first time Elton has allowed cameras to film his writing and recording sessions while creating an album. The event will be shown on YouTube starting this Saturday. Elton and Brandi will perform on Saturday Night Live this Saturday, and on Sunday night at 7pm Central, CBS will air An Evening With Elton John and Brandi Carlile, a one-hour concert and Q&A special captured last month at the London Palladium, which will also stream on Paramount+.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]