Decca

In 1970, when the two first worked together, Leon Russell was Elton John’s idol. During the past 40 years, John became one of the biggest pop stars of all time (and a knight) while Russell settled into the role of consummate session man who was largely forgotten by the public. John is determined to change that with The Union. Recorded live with John and Russell on dueling pianos, the material moves from swinging soul and sweaty R&B to tender ballads, country and rock while leaning heavily on gospel – courtesy of a ten-piece choir. With additional help from luminaries Neil Young, Brian Wilson, Booker T. Jones and Robert Randolph, producer T Bone Burnett has done for Russell and John what he did for Robert Plant and Allison Krauss, pulling inspiration from different wells and fusing them into greatness. This feels like Grammy gold.