The Union is a collaboration studio album by singer-songwriters Elton John and Leon Russell, released on 19 October 2010 in the US and on 25 October in the UK. This is John's second collaboration album, after 1993's Duets. This is the first studio release by John since 1979's Victim of Love without any of his regular Elton John Band members. It is also his highest charting studio album on the Billboard 200 since 1976's Blue Moves, debuting at No. 3, as well as Russell's highest charting studio album since 1972's Carney. The Union was No. 3 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 30 Best Albums of 2010."The 30 Best Albums of 2010". Rolling Stone (25 December 2010). Retrieved 18 January 2011
The album features appearances by Booker T. Jones (on Hammond B-3), Neil Young (vocals), Robert Randolph (pedal steel), and Brian Wilson (vocal harmonies). This album was dedicated to Guy Babylon, John's keyboard player who died a year before its release.Nick DeRiso, Elton John and Leon Russell’s The Union was marked by this bittersweet sense of loss, Oct. 20, 2015 "If It Wasn't for Bad" was nominated for the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals and "Hey Ahab" became a staple in John's concert tours.
Reception
The Union received mostly positive reviews with critics praising it as some of the pair's best work to date. It reached No. 3 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 30 Best Albums of 2010.
Accolades
Grammy Awards
|+Nominations for The Union |2011 || "If It Wasn't for Bad" || Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals ||
Track listing
Personnel
Musicians and vocalists Elton John – vocals (1–15), acoustic piano (2–4, 6–15) Leon Russell – vocals, acoustic piano Keefus Ciancia – keyboards (1–15) Booker T. Jones – Hammond B3 organ (1, 5, 9, 11) Marty Grebb – keyboards (7, 16) Marc Ribot – guitars (1–4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13–15), acoustic guitar (8) T Bone Burnett – electric guitar (3, 6, 12) Doyle Bramhall II – guitars (5, 11) Jason Wormer – dulcimer (4), handclaps (10) Russ Pahl – pedal steel guitar (6) Robert Randolph – pedal steel guitar (7) Dennis Crouch – acoustic bass (1–4, 6–10, 12–15) Davey Faragher – bass (5) Don Was – bass (5, 11) Drew Lambert – electric bass (16) Jay Bellerose – drums (1–15), percussion (1–9, 12–15) Jim Keltner – drums (1–9, 11–15), percussion (1–9, 12–15) Mike Piersante – tambourine (3, 8), handclaps (10) Debra Dobkin – beaded gourd (6) Kyle Ford – handclaps (10) Tom Peterson – saxophones (5, 8, 11, 13) Joe Sublett – saxophones (5, 8, 11, 13) Jim Thompson – saxophones (5, 8, 11, 13) George Bohanon – trombone (1, 4, 11), baritone horn (1, 4, 11) Ira Nepus – trombone (1, 4, 11) Maurice Spears – trombone (1, 4, 11) Darrell Leonard – trumpet (1, 4, 5, 8, 11, 13), bass trumpet (1, 11, 13) William Roper – tuba (1, 4, 11) Judith Hill – backing vocals (1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16) Alfie Silas-Durio – backing vocals (1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12–16) Rose Stone – backing vocals (1, 3, 8, 10, 12, 16), tambourine (10) Tata Vega – backing vocals (1–3, 5–10, 12–16) Jean Witherspoon – backing vocals (1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 16) Bill Cantos – backing vocals (2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 12–16) Lou Pardini – backing vocals (2, 6, 9, 12, 15) Jason Scheff – backing vocals (2, 6, 9, 12, 15) Tanya Balam – backing vocals (3, 8, 16) Kellye Huff – backing vocals (3, 8, 16) Perry Morgan – backing vocals (3, 8, 16) Tiffany Smith – backing vocals (3, 8, 16) Neil Young – vocals (4) Brian Wilson – backing vocals (12)
Music arrangements Darrell Leonard – horn arrangements and conductor (1, 4, 5, 8, 11, 13) Bill Maxwell – BGV conductor (1–3, 5–10, 12–16), BGV arrangements (2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 13–15), additional BGV arrangements (12) Leon Russell – BGV arrangements (1, 5, 7, 10, 16) Brian Wilson – BGV arrangements (12)
Production Johnny Barbis – executive producer, management for Leon Russell Elton John – executive producer, liner notes T Bone Burnett – producer Adrian Collee – production coordinator Jon Howard – production coordinator Ivy Skoff – production coordinator Julie Eidsvoog – music transcription John Eidsvoog – music transcription Peacock – design Annie Leibovitz – cover art photography, booklet back cover photography, photography (p. 12 & 13) Joseph Guay – additional photography (gatefold, inside left) Frank W. Ockenfels 3 – photography of T Bone Burnett (p. 23) Steve Todoroff – photography of Leon Russell (gatefold, inside right) Rocket Music Entertainment Group – management for Elton John Leroy Jenkins – management for T Bone Burnett Jessica C. Mitchell – personal assistant to T Bone Burnett
Technical credits Gavin Lurssen – mastering at Lurssen Mastering (Hollywood, California) Mike Piersante – recording, mixing Jason Wormer – recording, editing Ben McAmis – additional engineer Kyle Ford – additional engineer Mark Lambert – additional engineer Kory Aaron – assistant engineer Brett Lind – assistant engineer Chris Owens – assistant engineer Vanessa Parr – assistant engineer Paul Ackling – guitar technician
Charts +Chart performance for The Union Chart (2010) Peakposition
Certifications and sales
References
External links youtube.com, Elton John & Leon Russell on CBS Sunday Morning (12-12-10)
YouTube,, Leon Russell's Induction into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame 2011 Leon Russell NAMM Oral History Program Interview (2012)