Were you aware that Bernie Taupin has released multiple solo albums? Well, he has. Taupin is famous for being Elton John's prime songwriting partner over the decades. They've got a fascinating dynamic where Taupin writes the lyrics and John writes the music, and their partnership has led Taupin to collect just about every songwriting prize there is. Outside of his work with John, Taupin also co-wrote big '80s hits like Starship's "We Built This City" and Heart's "These Dreams." Taupin's solo career hasn't gotten anywhere near as much attention as the songs that he has helped to write for other artists, but it exists. Now, after decades, Taupin is ready to bring it back with a new record.
Bernie Taupin released Taupin, his solo debut, way back in 1971, and he followed it with 1980's He Who Rides The Tiger and 1987's Tribe. In the '90s, Taupin also released a couple of albums with a country band called Farm Dogs. This fall, Taupin returns with his first solo album in 39 years. It's called The Sea Has No Mercy, which is right up there with He Who Rides The Tiger in the "sick-ass title" department. It's enough to give flashbacks to a classic Chris Ryan blog post.
Bernie Taupin recorded The Sea Has No Mercy with producer Frank Liddell in Nashville, and he's backed up by a trio of longstanding studio musicians known as the Tennessee Stone Cutters — guitarist Adam Wright, bassist Glen Worf, keyboardist Michael Rojas. Fellow Elton John collaborator Brandi Carlile contributes, as do country great Lee Ann Womack and Taupin's daughter Georgey Devon Taupin. It's the first album that Taupin ever wrote entirely by himself. In a press release, Taupin says, "I couldn’t have made this album as a younger man. I couldn’t have written any of these songs. They’re all completely indicative of Bernie Taupin at 76 years old."
Today, Taupin shares the new LP's title track, a craggy and heavy-hearted country track about "a stupid world, like a toothpick through the heart of a hummingbird." Here's what Taupin says about it:
The sea is the most intimidating, frightening element on earth. Fires, earthquakes, and tornadoes are all destructive, but nothing is more terrifying than the loneliness of the open sea. But it fascinates me, and things that fascinate me are subjects I want to write about. In the song, I use the sea as a metaphor for too many past experiences that weren’t particularly positive. I align that with the intimidation of the sea. There’s a wonderful interplay there.
Below, check out that song and the new LP's tracklist.
TRACKLIST:
01 "Fisherman"
02 "Old Church Road"
03 "The Sea Has No Mercy"
04 "Elephant Boy"
05 "Ghosts of Greater Men"
06 "Joker"
07 "Come On California" (feat. Brandi Carlile)
08 "The Favor"
09 "Old Dog"
10 "One Hundred Ways" (feat. Georgey Devon Taupin)
The Sea Has No Mercy is out 10/23 on Vertigo/MCA Nashville. Pre-order it here.
