Preview: New Elton John CD Coming in October

Elton John's new album -- his first collection of original material since 2006 -- is now tentatively set for release in October, according to his official website.   The new album, produced by T Bone Burnett, is currently in the mixing stage and may include up to sixteen songs, including "Never Too Old (to Hold Somebody)," a new track that Elton has been performing at his recent shows.   Among the guest artists on the album, according to Elton's website,  are Neil Young and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.

As previously reported, Elton and longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin recorded the new album with one of their all-time heroes, Leon Russell, piano player and writer of songs like "A Song for You," "This Masquerade" and "Tight Rope."  Elton and Bernie have worshipped Russell since the late sixties, and he was in the audience in 1970 when Elton played the Troubadour Club in Los Angeles, the show that kick-started Elton's career in the U.S.  In a statement, Elton said, "I can't stress enough how significant an influence Leon Russell was on [our music]....we were obsessed by his music and looked up to him as some kind of musical god."

Bernie Taupin has described Elton's new album as ranging from "Stones-like rockers, to country-tinged ballads, to gospel, to Sinatra-like weepies.

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