Two months after Elton John and Brandi Carlile announced the details of their first album together comes the finished product. Out this Friday, Who Believes in Angels? was recorded in 20 days in October 2023.
And while Elton says it was "one of the toughest albums he ever made," Brandi has a theory on that.
Elton's longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin and Brandi both wrote the lyrics with Andrew Watt producing.
Their backing musicians were drummer Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, bassist Pino Palladino, who has played with The Who, David Gilmour and many others, and former Chili Peppers and current Pearl Jam touring guitarist Josh Klinghoffer.
It's Elton's first album since The Lockdown Sessions in 2021, which featured Brandi on one song; and for Brandi, it's her first since 2021's In These Silent Days.
Elton and Brandi, along with Bernie Taupin and Andrew Watt, will mark today's release by premiering 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 takes a look at the making of the album, edited down from thousands of hours of raw footage. It contains warts and all -- from breakdowns, breakthroughs, tears, torn up lyric sheets and more. This film marks the first time that Elton has allowed cameras to film his writing and recording sessions while creating an album. Tonight's event will be shown on YouTube starting this Saturday.
Also on Saturday, Elton and Brandi will perform on Saturday Night Live. And to cap off the weekend, CBS will air on Sunday night at 8 ET An Evening With Elton John and Brandi Carlile, a one-hour concert and Q&A special captured last month at the London Palladium. It will also stream on Paramount+.
Who Believes In Angels? track list:
- "The Rose of Laura Nyro"
- "Little Richard’s Bible"
- "Swing for the Fences"
- "Never Too Late" - previously released
- "You Without Me"
- "Who Believes in Angels?"
- "The River Man"
- "A Little Light"
- "Someone To Belong To"
- "When This Old World Is Done With Me"