Bernie Taupin Talks His New Solo Album, Working With Elton John and Why He Can’t Name a Taylor Swift Song: ‘I Don’t Listen to the Radio’
Spending two years writing his autobiography, the 2023 bestseller Scattershot , and working on a forthcoming documentary, unleashed a creative wellspring in Bernie Taupin .
The result is his first solo album in almost 40 years and the first that Taupin, best known as Elton John ’s writing partner, has ever written solely by himself.
The Sea Has No Mercy , produced by Frank Liddell , comes out Friday (Oct.
23) on Vertigo Records/MCA Nashville.
“The inspiration of the memoir created something in me that started making me write things for myself by myself in the same vein.
But at the same time, we started making this documentary, so it was like a trifecta.
It was almost this whole idea of different ways of presenting myself without being completely self-involved — which, unfortunately, it probably sounds like,” Taupin says with a laugh.
“I wanted to visualize my past, my present and my possible future very specifically and the only way I could do that was to write these biographical songs,” Taupin, 76, continues, addressing the album’s very personal and reflective nature.
“This was a completely 100% selfish endeavor.
If other people had assisted me in writing them, they would not have had the cohesive nature that they have.” The album includes guest vocals from Taupin’s good friend Brandi Carlile , who sings on “Come on California” — a song he originally thought to ask Joni Mitchell to perform on, but Taupin says he told his manager/wife, “I don’t have the balls to call Joni to ask her.” Taupin will play the Grand Ole Opry for the first time on Nov.
7, backed by The Tennessee Stone Cutters, the musicians who accompany him on The Sea Has No Mercy .
His appearance will mark his first public musical performance in nearly 30 years.
Below, Taupin talks about making the album, what John thinks of the set and why he can’t name a Taylor Swift song.
Why make this record now? I’d spent two years writing my memoir, which was incredibly cathartic for me.
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