Sir Elton John celebrates 'extraordinary' 10th UK No. 1 album
In an interview with the BBC, Sir Elton expressed his surprise and gratitude, stating, "It seems quite extraordinary that my career has gone on so long. It always feels good to top a chart, no matter where it is. And with this album, I'm especially thrilled because I think it's the finest album I've done for a long time."
Who Believes In Angels? was written and recorded in just three weeks in late 2023. The album has garnered critical acclaim, with reviews describing it as "a gutsy, flamboyant tearjerker" and a "late-career high." However, the process of creating the album was not without its challenges. A documentary posted on YouTube revealed the behind-the-scenes tension, showing Sir Elton expressing frustration by slamming down his headphones, shouting at collaborators, and even tearing up song lyrics.
Reflecting on the difficulties, Sir Elton explained, "I was nervous, irritable... I was recovering from a hip replacement, but also working in a new way — writing live in the studio with Brandi, producer Andrew Watt, and lyricist Bernie Taupin. It was an enormous challenge, getting those four people together."
He continued, "The challenge really was at my feet. I was very nervous because I wanted the album to stand a certain way, but you can't always guarantee it will. My nerves and insecurities and doubt led to a few bad behavior moments, which was just about frustrations within myself."
Despite the rough start, once the opening track, The Rose of Laura Nyro, was completed, Sir Elton said, "everything fell into place." Within two and a half weeks, the team had recorded and finished 14 songs.
The album's release was initially delayed due to an eye infection that left Sir Elton with vision difficulties. In a recent interview with The Times, he revealed that the condition has impacted his ability to watch his sons play rugby.
One of the standout tracks from the album, Swing For The Fences, has been widely praised. Written by Brandi Carlile, the song is seen as a powerful call for empowerment and self-expression. "I'm a woman, Elton's a man, and we both have families, and our dreams have come true," Carlile shared with NME. "I wanted to write an anthem for young people out there, inspiring them to embrace a bigger, more elegant, and more fabulous life."
Sir Elton echoed this sentiment, telling BBC News, "At the moment when Brandi wrote this lyric, she wanted to say, 'Listen, fight for yourself. Be proud of yourself who you are, never be ashamed of who you are, and you will win through.'"
In the UK, Who Believes In Angels? sold over 15,000 copies in its first two days, making it the best-seller of the week on vinyl. Sir Elton now shares the record for the most UK number-one albums with ABBA, Queen, Kylie Minogue, and Michael Jackson.
Elton John's UK Number One Albums:
Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player (1973)
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
Caribou (1974)
Elton John's Greatest Hits (1974)
Sleeping With The Past (1989)
The Very Best Of Elton John (1990)
Good Morning To The Night (with Pnau) (2012)
Diamonds (2017)
The Lockdown Sessions (2021)
Who Believes In Angels? (2025)
This week's chart also saw the debut of Forever Howlong, the third album by Cambridge indie band Black Country, New Road, which entered at number three. The album, their first without frontman Isaac Wood, marks a shift towards a more soothing, baroque-pop sound.
In the singles chart, Alex Warren's Ordinary maintained its number one position for a fourth week, while Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club held steady at number two. Ed Sheeran made a notable return to the Top 10 with his comeback single, Azizam, which entered at number three. Despite its success, it became the first lead single from an album in Sheeran's career to not debut at number one.
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