Rolling Stone is reporting Elton’s new album will be called The Diving Board. And, according to one rather biased piano player, the album is the most exciting solo record [he’s] done in a long, long time.
The Diving Board is a return to the piano-bass-drums sound of Elton’s early records, an idea put forward by producer T Bone Burnett.
Bass-duties are taken on by Raphael Saadiq, while Jay Bellerose plays drums. Bellerose also featured on The Union and has worked with Ray LaMontagne, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Guitarist Doyle Bramhall joins the trio for two tracks. The musicians were all hand-picked by Elton.
Elton admits to not being particularly eager to record another album so soon after The Union. Once in the studio in LA, however, he wrote twelve songs in two days then recorded them all in four days.
It just came flooding out. Quickest record I’ve ever made. I’m as psyched about it as I was with The Union.
Ten songs make the final track list:
1. Oscar Wilde Gets Out
2. A Town Called Jubilee
3. Can’t Stay Alone Tonight
4. My Quicksand
5. Candlelit Bedroom
6. The Ballad Of Blind Tom
7. The New Fever Waltz
8. 5th Avenue
9. Mexican Vacation (Kids In The Candlelight)
10. The Diving Board
The Diving Board is due out in the Autumn.
UPDATE: The Diving Board The Voyeur release date has been pushed back again. During his show in Perth on the 10th November Elton announced the album will now not be released until May 2013. No reason was given for the delay.
The Rolling Stone article can be read here:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/elton-john-cuts-raw-lp-with-t-bone-burnett-20120315
Great news. Roll on September! Not sure about the name though. Somehow it really doesn’t sound like an Elton John album title. Not sure it’s sounds like anyone’s album title actually!
The tracklist has been posted on Official Bernie Taupin site
Bernie writes, of the album, It’s intimate and cohesive, just really good songs without a lot of fuss.
“The Diving Board” Release Rescheduled Due to promotional time frames and related marketing opportunities Elton & Bernie’s new studio album “The Diving Board” will not be released until February 2013.
“It’s disappointing that our new music won’t hit the streets sooner but in order to get things done right it makes sense to delay its release by a few months” says Bernie. “It’s no fun having to sit on something you’re truly excited about but hopefully our fans will understand and that eventually the wait will be worth it.”
From Bernie’s website: Latest News
Is this the longest wait between Elton recording an album and releasing it?
UPDATE: The Diving Board release date has been pushed back again. During his show in Perth on the 10th November Elton announced the album will now not be released until May 2013. No reason was given for the delay.