What do you think about "The Union" ?

[sebi]

I like "800 Dollar shoes" and really love "The Best Part Of The Day".
"When Love Is Dying" is a great song too. "Never Too Old" starts off
interesting but doesn't get where I'd have liked it to.

The production sounds no less than amazing to me.

The rest is nothing for me, I'm sorry to say. Besides, I really hardly
understand a word of what Leon is singing and find his hillbilly style
rather annoying :-(

[Bev Vincent]

Post by sebi
I like "800 Dollar shoes" and really love "The Best Part Of The Day".
"When Love Is Dying" is a great song too. "Never Too Old" starts off
interesting but doesn't get where I'd have liked it to.
The production sounds no less than amazing to me.
The rest is nothing for me, I'm sorry to say. Besides, I really hardly
understand a word of what Leon is singing and find his hillbilly style
rather annoying :-(

NPR is streaming the album in its entirety until Oct 19

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130376600

I've only heard it once, but I like it. Russell's voice and delivery style
reminds me a lot of Willie Nelson at times. It'll take a few more listens at
least to really appreciate the album, I think.

[Ally V]

I totally agree with the Willie Nelson thing. I've heard it once, deffo a
grower.

Post by Bev Vincent

Post by sebi
I like "800 Dollar shoes" and really love "The Best Part Of The Day".
"When Love Is Dying" is a great song too. "Never Too Old" starts off
interesting but doesn't get where I'd have liked it to.
The production sounds no less than amazing to me.
The rest is nothing for me, I'm sorry to say. Besides, I really hardly
understand a word of what Leon is singing and find his hillbilly style
rather annoying :-(

NPR is streaming the album in its entirety until Oct 19
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130376600
I've only heard it once, but I like it. Russell's voice and delivery style
reminds me a lot of Willie Nelson at times. It'll take a few more listens
at least to really appreciate the album, I think.
--
Bev Vincent
www.BevVincent.com

[ejfan1973]

I like it more than I thought I would. While I don't have any standout
favorites yet, I think it's all consistently good. The pianos and
production throughout is most excellent.

[Laura]

Post by ejfan1973
I like it more than I thought I would. While I don't have any standout
favorites yet, I think it's all consistently good. The pianos and
production throughout is most excellent.

Ditto. I like "If It Weren't for Bad", and it's growing on me. I
think that's going to be a single.

[rodgerramjet]

Post by ejfan1973
I like it more than I thought I would. While I don't have any standout
favorites yet, I think it's all consistently good. The pianos and
production throughout is most excellent.

Ditto.  I like "If It Weren't for Bad", and it's growing on me.  I
think that's going to be a single.

Im hoping this CD grows on me because so far ...it aint
much.......................if not , I cant wait for the next Elton
John CD ............

[Don Grim-sby]

I couldn't find the album on release day right away. It wasn't in the
Elton John section or the New Releases section. Instead it was at the
Best Sellers section. Maybe that will be a sign to come.

What's with a 6 minute long DVD? Hmm, is it corrupt marketing? Oh
well, I like the album!

[Sgtzippo]

I wasn't too excited about going to the store to purchase this new
Elton John album as I had been in years past, but I followed my past
ritual and purchased it right away and let the music poor out of my
speakers. While I'm not still thrilled about Leon's voice, I've never
really been a big fan of his, my like for Elton over-shadows just
about anyone. With each new listen, the album grows on me more and
more. I particularly like the tracks that feature Elton, Eight
Hundred Shoes, Hey Ahab, but my favorite song on the album today is, A
Dream Come True. Tomorrow my favorite will likely change, but I love
the beat and the melody. The album sounds great and I am truly
surprised on how much I like it.
I laughed after six minutes when the special DVD ended as I expected
more, but what the heck....


Zippo

[Brian Smith]

Post by Sgtzippo
I wasn't too excited about going to the store to purchase this new
Elton John album as I had been in years past, but I followed my past
ritual and purchased it right away and let the music poor out of my
speakers. While I'm not still thrilled about Leon's voice, I've never
really been a big fan of his, my like for Elton over-shadows just
about anyone. With each new listen, the album grows on me more and
more. I particularly like the tracks that feature Elton, Eight
Hundred Shoes, Hey Ahab, but my favorite song on the album today is, A
Dream Come True. Tomorrow my favorite will likely change, but I love
the beat and the melody. The album sounds great and I am truly
surprised on how much I like it.
I laughed after six minutes when the special DVD ended as I expected
more, but what the heck....
Zippo

I actually heard an ad on the radio where I live yesterday for this album.
Definitely wasn't expecting to hear one.

As for the DVD, apparently they are going to be repackaging this in a few
months with a longer DVD! Maybe I'll just wait because I don't feel like
buying multiple copies of anything right now.

Brian

[sebi]

@bsmith: I'm beyond that mad-eyed-collector's point, too.

Despite my initial post, I do now listen to nearly the whole album on
my ways between home and work, and tolerance really kind of grows on
you. It's easy listenable music and well recorded (the sound is just
great), but it's not - and never will be - halfway as great as what EJ
has done before. The songs are OK to listen to in a backgroundy /
passive way, but not "actively" (and least of all for singing along /
covering).

Are you serious about a 6 Minutes DVD? This is really ridiculous... On
the other hand, the deluxe edition has 2 more songs that the regular
one, as far as I recall...I mean, Elton has always been an expensive
one to collect (I remember the load of singles released in relation to
the big picture, 3 alone for "If the River Can Bend"...), but that's
not much return on investment here =)

nay nay...

[Don Grim-sby]

On the Shiloh song, I wonder if the section where the voice is very
high (out of Elton's range) if that is Neil Young singing rather than
Leon Russell. Neil Young is credited as a singer in that song. Maybe
he is more than a background singer.

[Bev Vincent]

Post by Don Grim-sby
On the Shiloh song, I wonder if the section where the voice is very
high (out of Elton's range) if that is Neil Young singing rather than
Leon Russell. Neil Young is credited as a singer in that song. Maybe
he is more than a background singer.

Yes, Neil Young sings a verse and some background vocals. On the Fuse TV
concert the other night, Elton says "normally you'd hear Neil Young singing
the second verse, but you'll have to put up with me instead."

I cannot make out Brian Wilson's voice on the song on which he is credited
with appearing, though.

[rodgerramjet]

I will say this cd has grown on me .....I find it to be a bigger piece
of art than I thought would be .....I hope in the future EJ makes more
albums with new and different talent ....not just his band

[Sgtzippo]

Post by sebi
I like "800 Dollar shoes" and really love "The Best Part Of The Day".
"When Love Is Dying" is a great song too. "Never Too Old" starts off
interesting but doesn't get where I'd have liked it to.
The production sounds no less than amazing to me.
The rest is nothing for me, I'm sorry to say. Besides, I really hardly
understand a word of what Leon is singing and find his hillbilly style
rather annoying :-(

I hate to say it, but it's the first album of Elton's I'm not excited
about nor am I anxious about it's release. I've been a fan for 35
plus years, and a new Elton release was always exciting, but not this
time. I've heard most of the album and I am not impressed with the
songs and especially less impressed with Leon's singing.

Zippo

[Bev Vincent]

Post by sebi
I like "800 Dollar shoes" and really love "The Best Part Of The Day".
"When Love Is Dying" is a great song too. "Never Too Old" starts off
interesting but doesn't get where I'd have liked it to.
The production sounds no less than amazing to me.
The rest is nothing for me, I'm sorry to say. Besides, I really hardly
understand a word of what Leon is singing and find his hillbilly style
rather annoying :-(

The music is sort of a cross between Tumbleweed, Road to El Dorado and
Captain and the Kid. I hear shades of all these albums in some of the songs.

[sebi]

The Best Part Of The Day sounds very much like Tinderbox, in some
way...

[Jack Meoff]

Elton is in fine voice. I saw Leon Russell about 12 or 15 years ago
in a club that held about 100 people. While his piano playing is
quite fun, he showed no emotion or interaction with the crowd.
However, after the show my wife followed him to his bus and got his
autograph on one of those many bootlegs of Elton and Leon that were
around from the 1970 tour. He made an ugly face when he saw Elton on
it!

On the whole, I would say this is more interesting and listenable than
the duets album. I give it a B.

[Don Grim-sby]

The new album grows on me with each listen. It is more enjoyable with
each listen. For those dismissing it, give it some more listens. Even
though I prefer ballads over up tempo songs, the up tempo songs on
this album are very enjoyable.

I think 800 Dollar Shoes is still my favorite, which was my favorite
when I only heard the short clips. I think it is hard to pick one
favorite because all of the songs are a pleasure to hear.

[Jack Meoff]

Mandalay Again is terrific...available on the bonus disc along with My
kind of hell...nice enuff tracks..Madalay A-, My Kind B-

[Jim Felterkunt]

Post by Jack Meoff
Mandalay Again is terrific...available on the bonus disc along with My
kind of hell...nice enuff tracks..Madalay  A-, My Kind B-

The DVD is a rip off...nothing there that Elton John.com didn't show.
Oh, well the album and the bonus tracks are great.