Elton John And Leon Russell (+Neil Young): The Union
Elton John And Leon Russell have a new album coming out next week titled The Union. Neil Young makes a guest appearance, along with Brian Wilson and Booker T. Jones with producer T-Bone Burnett.
The album can be previewed on NPR's First Listen. We've listened to the tracks a few times now and can definitely say that Neil appears on "Gone To Shiloh".
Nice to hear these guys play together.
Just a gentle reminder that your pre-orders on Amazon help support Thrasher's Wheat. Thanks!
It should be interesting to hear Elton and Leon at the Bridge School Concert next week.
by thrasher@PermaLink: 10/12/2010 03:54:00 PM
10 comments
>> Pre-Order on Amazon.com << 
Human Highway
Concert Review of the Moment
This Land is My Land
FREEDOM In A New Year
*Thanks Neil!*
![[EFC Blue Ribbon - Free Speech Online]](http://www.thrasherswheat.org/gifs/free-speech.gif)
The Unbearable Lightness of Being Neil Young
Pardon My Heart
"We're The Ones 
Thanks for Supporting Thrasher's Wheat!
This blog 
(... he didn't kill himself either...)
#AaronDidntKillHimself
Neil Young's Moon Songs
Civic Duty Is Not Terrorism
Orwell (and Grandpa) Was Right
What's So Funny About 
10 Comments:
Wow that's a really nice song! Hope we get to hear it at Bridge. Thanks Thrasher as always for bringing us all the news that's fit to post!
Neil's singing on this (Gone to Shiloh) is so tuneful and beautiful! Wonderful! This is fantastic.
Agreed, Neil sounds 24 on this track.....beautiful song. Looking like an excellent album by some great musicians.
I wish Neil would sing backup vocals on my album.
Yes, the song is really beautiful ...
Listening to it now . . . it's haunting and lovely, and very unusual in its subject matter. How many pop/rock songs do you hear about the Civil War, especially one that dares show some sympathy to the Confederate side ("After all of this/If we should prevail/Heaven help the South/When Sherman comes their way")? The only comparable example that comes to mind is that stone classic "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down."
Neil's participation in this song is what intrigues me the most. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but could he perhaps be speaking back to those who may still say he doesn't want to make friends down in Alabama? I hope the album comes with printed lyrics; I want to study these awhile. (I'm a Southern girl, and a Southern studies student at university; these things naturally interest me. ;-)
@Melanie - yes, the Shiloh track is really strong. I like it too ... and not b/c of NY content.
Interesting about the linkage to the Southern Man concept. Maybe so?!
Although we need to see the writing credits. Maybe Bernie Taupin wrote it?
I think Bernie Taupin did write it, Thrasher. What I'm wondering is did they ask Neil to sing on this particular song, or did Neil choose this one to contribute to. Don't know how those things work, but I'd just be curious to know.
Someone said once - I can't remember who it was, or where I read this - that Neil's been trying to make up for "Southern Man" for a long time now. I don't know if that's true or not, but with some of the choices he's made over the years, it's interesting to consider.
Not that he needs to make up for it, IMO. I'm a Southerner who'll say that Neil was damn right, and there were - and still are - people who don't want to hear it. You'd be surprised.
By the way there`s an interview with EJ in the new edition of the UK`s `Radio Times` mag in which he talks about making this album but, disappointingly, doesn`t mention Neil. (The interview is not available online as far as I can see). Elton does say that it all started last October when he unexpectedly found himself with 3 weeks free after a scheduled tour with Billy Joel was cancelled, so I wonder at what point Neil became involved? It`s really fascinating when Neil suddenly pops up somewhere unexpected, isn`t it? I`d love to hear the backstory to this.
It`s a lovely song anyway made even better with Neil`s beautiful singing and I just have to keep listening to it!
Karl T. Himmel could be the Leon/Neil link, as he used to play with Leon.
Post a Comment
<< Home