Duets (Elton John album)

Last updated

Duets
Duets (Elton John album).JPG
Studio album by
Elton John and various artists
Released23 November 1993
RecordedMarch 1991 – October 1993
Studio
Genre
Length74:39
Label
Producer Various (see below)
Elton John chronology
Rare Masters
(1992)
Duets
(1993)
The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
(1994)
Singles from Duets
  1. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
    Released: 2 December 1991
  2. "True Love"
    Released: 8 November 1993
  3. "Don't Go Breaking My Heart"
    Released: 14 February 1994
  4. "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing"
    Released: 2 May 1994
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Calgary Herald C+ [2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Music Week Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [4]
Philadelphia Inquirer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]

Duets is the first collaboration studio album by English musician Elton John, released in 1993. The album debuted at No. 7 in the UK. In the US, it peaked at number 25 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified platinum in January 1994 by the RIAA.

Contents

Duets was released on a single CD, a single cassette and also as a double vinyl LP in the UK, with a slightly different running order. It was initially a Christmas project of John's, but that soon grew into an album of its own ( Elton John's Christmas Party ). The live version of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" with George Michael, track number 15 on the album, had already become a No. 1 hit on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK singles chart in 1991. This is one of only 3 albums released between 1983 and 2016 without John's regular guitar player, Davey Johnstone.

Three singles were released from the album in Britain: "True Love" (with Kiki Dee, reached No. 2), "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (with RuPaul, reached No. 7), and "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (with Marcella Detroit, reached No. 24).

Track listing

CD edition

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Teardrops" (with k.d. lang) Cecil Womack, Linda Womack Greg Penny 4:55
2."When I Think About Love (I Think About You)" (with P.M. Dawn) Attrell Cordes P.M. Dawn 4:34
3."The Power" (with Little Richard) Elton John, Bernie Taupin Penny, Elton John 6:25
4."Shakey Ground" (with Don Henley) Jeffrey Bowen, Al Boyd, Eddie Hazel Don Henley 3:52
5."True Love" (with Kiki Dee) Cole Porter Narada Michael Walden, Louis Biancaniello 3:35
6."If You Were Me" (with Chris Rea) Chris Rea Chris Rea 4:26
7."A Woman's Needs" (with Tammy Wynette)John, Taupin Barry Beckett 5:19
8."Old Friend" (with Nik Kershaw) Nik Kershaw Nik Kershaw 4:17
9."Go On and On" (with Gladys Knight) Stevie Wonder Stevie Wonder 5:50
10."Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (with RuPaul)John, Taupin Giorgio Moroder 5:00
11."Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (with Marcella Detroit) Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson Chris Thomas 3:36
12."I'm Your Puppet" (with Paul Young) Spooner Oldham, Dan Penn Steve Lindsey 3:36
13."Love Letters" (with Bonnie Raitt) Edward Heyman, Victor Young Don Was 4:01
14."Born to Lose" (with Leonard Cohen) Ted Daffan Lindsey4:33
15."Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (live, with George Michael)John, Taupin George Michael 5:48
16."Duets for One"John, Chris Difford John, Penny, Stuart Epps 4:52
Total length:74:39

LP edition

Side one
No.TitleWithLength
1."Teardrops"k.d. lang4:55
2."When I Think About Love (I Think About You)"P.M. Dawn4:34
3."The Power"Little Richard6:25
4."Shakey Ground"Don Henley3:51
Total length:19:45
Side two
No.TitleWithLength
1."True Love"Kiki Dee3:34
2."If You Were Me"Chris Rea4:26
3."A Woman's Needs"Tammy Wynette5:18
4."Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (Live)George Michael5:46
Total length:19:04
Side three
No.TitleWithLength
1."Old Friend"Nik Kershaw4:15
2."Go On and On"Gladys Knight5:50
3."Don't Go Breaking My Heart"RuPaul5:00
4."Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing"Marcella Detroit3:36
Total length:18:41
Side four
No.TitleWithLength
1."I'm Your Puppet"Paul Young3:36
2."Love Letters"Bonnie Raitt4:01
3."Born to Lose"Leonard Cohen4:33
4."Duets for One" 4:52
Total length:17:02

Personnel

Information is based on the album’s liner notes: [6]

Technical personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Duets
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [25] Gold35,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria) [26] Platinum50,000*
Canada (Music Canada) [27] Platinum100,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [28] Platinum80,000^
France (SNEP) [29] 2× Gold200,000*
Japan30,000 [30]
New Zealand (RMNZ) [31] Platinum15,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway) [32] Platinum50,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [33] Platinum100,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [34] Platinum50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [35] Platinum300,000^
United States (RIAA) [36] Platinum1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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