Bernie Taupin's Web site has revealed that his project with Elton and Leon Russell is about to go to the mixing phase.
''Aside from a few additional things to check off the to-do list, the record which now consists of 16 tracks is on the home stretch,'' the lyricist says.
The album is expected to be out in the fall, probably in October.
Neil Young is featured significantly on a key track.
Among other contributors are performers Booker T. Jones and Brian Wilson as well as pedal steel wizard Robert Randolph. Drummers Jim Keltner and Jay Bellerose, bassist Dennis Crouch, guitar virtuoso Marc Ribot and additional keyboardist and tech wizard Keefus Ciancia are also on board.
What's more, EJW has learned that arranger/composer/singer Van Dyke Parks has been asked to take part.
He first encountered Elton many years ago.
On the night of August 24, 1970, Danny Hutton of Three Dog Night ''asked me to his pad in Laurel Canyon to assess Reggie Dwight, also known as Elton John. When Three Dog Night had performed at the Revolution in London in 1969, they were pitched by Reggie to record his songs, armed with his demo from Dick James Music. He was too late for TDN's debut album, but Lady Samantha was shoe-horned into their next album.
''Their endorsement established Elton as a commercial reality. Danny also played a pivotal entrepreneurial role in Elton's intro to the L.A. music scene, lobbying Doug Weston for Elton's Troubadour gig, his U.S. debut.''
