Duets is the twenty-fourth studio album

Studio album

A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...

 by British singer/songwriter Elton John

Elton John

Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...

, released in 1993. Duets was released on a single CD and also as a double vinyl LP in the UK, with a slightly different running order. It was initially a Christmas project of Elton John

Elton John

Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...

's, but that soon grew into an album

Elton John's Christmas Party

Elton John's Christmas Party is a Christmas-themed compilation album from British singer-songwriter Elton John. It features his 1973 Christmas single, "Step into Christmas", and a new duet with Joss Stone, "Calling It Christmas".-Release and re-release:...

 of its own. The live version of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" with George Michael

George Michael

George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...

, track number 15 on the album, had already become a UK/US #1 hit in 1991. Three singles were released from the album in Britain: "True Love" (with Kiki Dee

Kiki Dee

Kiki Dee is an English singer with a career spanning more than 40 years....

, reached #2), "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (with drag queen RuPaul

RuPaul

RuPaul Andre Charles , best known as simply RuPaul, is an American actor, drag queen, model, author, and singer-songwriter, who first became widely known in the 1990s when he appeared in a wide variety of television programs, films, and musical albums. Previously, he was a fixture on the Atlanta...

, reached #7) and "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (with Marcella Detroit

Marcella Detroit

Marcella Detroit is a vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. She was a member of the band Shakespears Sister, along with Siobhan Fahey of Bananarama. Detroit's soprano voice provided lead vocals on their biggest hit, "Stay," which was No...

, reached #24). The album debuted at #7 in the UK. This is the only album released between 1983 and 2010 without John's Guitar player, Davey Johnstone

Davey Johnstone

Davey Johnstone , is a Scottish rock guitarist and vocalist, best known for his work with Elton John.-Career:...

. In the U.S. it was certified Gold and
Platinum on 1/26/1994 by the R.I.A.A.

Side 1

1. "Teardrops" (with k.d. lang
   K.D. Lang
   Kathryn Dawn Lang, OC , known by her stage name k.d. lang, is a Canadian pop and country singer-songwriter and occasional actress...
   
   ) (Zeriiya Zekkariyas) – 4:55
   • Produced by Greg Penny
     Greg Penny
     Greg Penny is an American record producer, recording engineer, mixing engineer, musician, songwriter and artist best known for his work as a producer for Elton John and kd lang, as well as his 5.1 surround sound production and mixing...
     
     
2. "When I Think About Love (I Think About You)" (with P.M. Dawn) (Attrell Cordes) – 4:34
   • Produced by P.M. Dawn
3. "The Power" (with Little Richard
   Little Richard
   Richard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...
   
   ) (Elton John, Bernie Taupin) – 6:25
   • Produced by Greg Penny
     Greg Penny
     Greg Penny is an American record producer, recording engineer, mixing engineer, musician, songwriter and artist best known for his work as a producer for Elton John and kd lang, as well as his 5.1 surround sound production and mixing...
     
      and Elton John
4. "Shakey Ground
   Shakey Ground
   "Shakey Ground" is a 1975 R&B single by The Temptations. It was co-written by Funkadelic guitarist Eddie Hazel, who plays lead guitar on the song. Original Funkadelic bassist Billy "Bass" Nelson also plays on the song...
   
   " (with Don Henley
   Don Henley
   Donald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up...
   
   ) (Jeffrey Bowen
   Jeffrey Bowen
   Jeffrey Bowen was a songwriter and record producer, notable for his work at both Motown Records and Holland-Dozier-Holland's Invictus and Hot Wax labels. He is best known for his work with the Detroit male vocal groups Chairmen of the Board and The Temptations...
   
   , Al Boyd, Eddie Hazel
   Eddie Hazel
   Edward Earl "Eddie" Hazel was a guitarist in early funk music in the United States who played lead guitar with Parliament-Funkadelic...
   
   ) – 3:51
   • Produced by Don Henley

Side 2

1. "True Love
   True Love (song)
   "True Love" is a popular song written by Cole Porter and was published in 1956.The song was introduced by Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly in the musical film High Society. The Crosby–Kelly version, accompanied by Johnny Green's MGM studio orchestra using a romantic arrangement by Conrad Salinger, was...
   
   " (with Kiki Dee
   Kiki Dee
   Kiki Dee is an English singer with a career spanning more than 40 years....
   
   ) (Cole Porter
   Cole Porter
   Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
   
   ) – 3:34
   • Produced by Narada Michael Walden
     Narada Michael Walden
     Narada Michael Walden is an American producer, drummer, singer, and songwriter. He was given the name Narada by guru Sri Chinmoy in the early 1970s and his musical career spans three decades, in which he was awarded several gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards...
     
      for Perfection Light Productions
2. "If You Were Me" (with Chris Rea
   Chris Rea
   Chris Rea is an English singer-songwriter, recognisable for his distinctive, husky voice and slide guitar playing. The British Hit Singles & Albums stated that Rea was "one of the most popular UK singer-songwriters of the late 1980s. He was already a major European star by the time he finally...
   
   ) (Chris Rea) – 4:26
   • Produced by Chris Rea
3. "A Woman's Needs" (with Tammy Wynette
   Tammy Wynette
   Virginia Wynette Pugh, known professionally as Tammy Wynette , was an American country music singer-songwriter and one of the genre's best-known artists and biggest-selling female vocalists....
   
   ) (John, Taupin) – 5:18
   • Produced by Barry Beckett
4. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me" (with George Michael
   George Michael
   George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
   
   , live) (John, Taupin) – 5:46
   • Produced by George Michael

Side 3

1. "Old Friend" (with Nik Kershaw
   Nik Kershaw
   Nik Kershaw is an English singer-songwriter. The one time jazz-funk guitarist was a mid-1980s teen idol. His 50 weeks on the UK Singles Chart in 1984 beat all other soloists...
   
   ) (Nik Kershaw) - 4:15
   • Produced by Nik Kershaw
2. "Go on and On" (with Gladys Knight
   Gladys Knight
   Gladys Maria Knight , known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian, and author...
   
   ) (Stevie Wonder
   Stevie Wonder
   Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
   
   ) – 5:50
   • Produced by Stevie Wonder
     Stevie Wonder
     Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
     
     
3. "Don't Go Breaking My Heart
   Don't Go Breaking My Heart
   "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" is a duet by Elton John and Kiki Dee. It was written by Elton John with Bernie Taupin under the pseudonym "Ann Orson" and "Carte Blanche" , and intended as an affectionate pastiche of the Tamla Motown style, notably the various duets recorded by Marvin Gaye and singers...
   
   " (with RuPaul
   RuPaul
   RuPaul Andre Charles , best known as simply RuPaul, is an American actor, drag queen, model, author, and singer-songwriter, who first became widely known in the 1990s when he appeared in a wide variety of television programs, films, and musical albums. Previously, he was a fixture on the Atlanta...
   
   ) (Carte Blanche, Ann Orson) – 5:00
   • Produced by Giorgio Moroder
     Giorgio Moroder
     Hansjörg "Giorgio" Moroder is an Italian record producer, songwriter and performer based in Los Angeles. When in Munich in the 1970s, he started his own record label called Oasis Records, which several years later became a subdivision of Casablanca Records...
     
     
4. "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing
   Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing
   -Marcella Detroit & Elton John version:"Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing" was recorded by Elton John as a duet with Marcella Detroit, and featured on his 1993 album Duets. It was also later included on Detroit's 1994 album Jewel. Released as a two-part CD single single in May 1994, it peaked at...
   
   " (with Marcella Detroit
   Marcella Detroit
   Marcella Detroit is a vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. She was a member of the band Shakespears Sister, along with Siobhan Fahey of Bananarama. Detroit's soprano voice provided lead vocals on their biggest hit, "Stay," which was No...
   
   ) (Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson) – 3:36
   • Produced by Chris Thomas
     Chris Thomas (record producer)
     Chris Thomas is an English record producer who has worked extensively with The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Roxy Music, Badfinger, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Pulp and The Pretenders. He has also produced breakthrough albums for The Sex Pistols and INXS.Thomas is quoted as saying -Early life:Thomas was...
     
     

Side 4

1. "I'm Your Puppet" (with Paul Young
   Paul Young (singer and guitarist)
   Paul Antony Young is an English pop musician. Formerly the frontman of the short-lived bands Kat Kool & The Kool Cats, Streetband and Q-Tips, his following solo success as a solo recording artist turned him into a 1980s teenage pop idol...
   
   ) (Spooner Oldham
   Spooner Oldham
   Dewey Lindon "Spooner" Oldham is an American songwriter and session musician. An organist, he recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and at FAME Studios on such hit R&B songs as "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge, "Mustang Sally" by Wilson Pickett and "I Never Loved a Man" by Aretha...
   
   , Dan Penn
   Dan Penn
   Dan Penn is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and sometime guitar player who co-wrote many soul hits of the 1960s including "Dark End of the Street" and "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" and "Out of Left Field" & "Cry Like A Baby"...
   
   ) – 3:36
   • Produced by Steve Lindsey
2. "Love Letters
   Love Letters (song)
   "Love Letters" is a 1945 popular song with music by Victor Young and lyrics by Edward Heyman. The song appeared, without lyrics, in the movie of the same name, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song for 1945....
   
   " (with Bonnie Raitt
   Bonnie Raitt
   Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
   
   ) (Edward Heyman
   Edward Heyman
   Edward Heyman was an American musician and lyricist, best known for his compositions "Body and Soul", "When I Fall in Love", and "For Sentimental Reasons". He also contributed many songs for films.-Biography:...
   
   , Victor Young
   Victor Young
   Victor Young was an American composer, arranger, violinist and conductor. He was born in Chicago.-Biography:...
   
   ) – 4:01
   • Produced by Don Was
     Don Was
     Don Was is an American musician, bassist and record producer.-Life and career:Was was born in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Oak Park High School in the Detroit suburb of Oak Park, then attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor but dropped out after the first year...
     
     
3. "Born to Lose" (with Leonard Cohen
   Leonard Cohen
   Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
   
   ) (Frankie Brown, Ted Daffan
   Ted Daffan
   Theron Eugene "Ted" Daffan was an American country musician noted for composing the seminal Truck Driver's Blues and the much covered Country anthem Born to Lose.-Early years:...
   
   ) – 4:33
   • Produced by Steve Lindsey
4. "Duets for One" (with Chris Difford
   Chris Difford
   Chris Difford is a singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer....
   
   ) (John, Difford)– 4:52
   • Produced by Elton John, Stuart Epps
     Stuart Epps
     Stuart Epps is a British record producer and audio engineer. During his career, he has worked with: Kiki Dee, Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Oasis, Twisted Sister and Chris Rea...
     
      and Greg Penny

Track Listing (CD)

1. "Teardrops" - 4:55
2. "When I Think About Love (I Think About You)" - 4:34
3. "The Power" - 6:25
4. "Shakey Ground" - 3:51
5. "True Love" - 3:34
6. "If You Were Me" - 4:26
7. "A Woman's Needs" - 5:18
8. "Old Friend" - 4:15
9. "Go on and On" - 5:50
10. "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" - 5:00
11. "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" - 3:36
12. "I'm Your Puppet" - 3:36
13. "Love Letters" - 4:01
14. "Born to Lose" - 4:33
15. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" - 5:46
16. "Duets for One" - 4:52

B-sides

Song	Format
"The Show Must Go On (Live)"	True Love 7"/CD (UK)
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Remix)"	Don't Go Breaking My Heart 12"/CD (US)
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Don't Go Dubbing My Heart)"	Don't Go Breaking My Heart 12" (US)
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart (MK Mix)"	Don't Go Breaking My Heart 12"/CD (US)
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Serious Rope 12" Mix)"	Don't Go Breaking My Heart 12"/CD (US/UK)
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Roger's Dub)"	Don't Go Breaking My Heart 12"/CD (US)
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Serious Rope Instrumental)"	Don't Go Breaking My Heart 12" (US/UK), CD (UK)
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Serious Rope Dirty Dub)"	Don't Go Breaking My Heart 12" (US/UK), CD (UK)
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Roger's Runaway U Betta Work Bitch Mix)"	Don't Go Breaking My Heart 12" (US)
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Moroder 12" Mix)"	Don't Go Breaking My Heart 12"/CD (UK)
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Sanchez Club Mix Edit)"	Don't Go Breaking My Heart 12" (UK)
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Sanchez Radio Mix Edit)"	Don't Go Breaking My Heart 12" (UK)
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Sanchez Club Instrumental)"	Don't Go Breaking My Heart 12" (UK)
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Sanchez's Man's Rubba Dub Mix)"	Don't Go Breaking My Heart 12" (UK)
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Moroder 7" Mix)"	Don't Go Breaking My Heart CD (UK)
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Serious Rope 7" Mix)"	Don't Go Breaking My Heart CD (UK)
"Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing (Kenny Dope Extended Mix)"	Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing CD (UK)
"Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing (Troopa Mood Mix)"	Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing CD (UK)

Personnel

• Stephanie Andrews – production coordination
• Van Arden – assistant engineer, mixing
• Brian Aris – photography
• Guy Babylon – keyboards
• Dominick Barbera – assistant engineer, mixing assistant
• Eddie Bayers
  Eddie Bayers
  Eddie Bayers is an American session drummer who has played on 150 gold and platinum albums. He received the Academy of Country Music 'Drummer of the Year Award' for eight straight years, and has three times won the Nashville Music Awards 'Drummer of the Year'...
  
   – drums
• Barry Beckett – producer
• Chris Bellman – mastering
• Louis Biancaniello – synthesiser, arranger, keyboards, programming, associate producer
• Curt Bisquera – drums
• Martin Bliss – guitar
• Dan Bosworth – assistant engineer
• Brad Branson – photography
• Kimberly Brewer – backing vocals
• Johnny Britt – backing vocals
• Ray Brown – bass
• Steve Brown – executive producer
• Kelli Bruce – backing vocals
• Robbie Buchanan – keyboards, programming
• Kathy Burdick – backing vocals
• Chris Cameron – keyboards
• Linda Campbell McCrary – backing vocals
• David Campbell – arranger, conductor, horn arrangements, string arrangements
• Jim Champagne – engineer, assistant engineer
• Ed Cherney – engineer, mixing
• Todd Childress – assistant engineer, mixing assistant
• Bill Churchfield – horn
• David Clayton – keyboards
• Leonard Cohen – vocals
• Danny Jacob - guitar
• Elton John - piano, keyboards, roland
  Roland
  Roland was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the Matter of France. Historically, Roland was military governor of the Breton March, with responsibility for defending the frontier of Francia against the Bretons...
  
  piano, vocals
• Nik Kershaw - all instruments on "Old Friend"
• Brian Reeves – engineer, mixing
• Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone
• Marc Reyburn – engineer
• Michael Rhodes – bass
• Claytoven Richardson – backing vocals
• Thomas Rickert – assistant engineer
• John "J.R." Robinson – drums
• Rail Jon Rogut – assistant engineer
• RuPaul – vocals
• Corrado Rustici – mandolin
• Chuck Sabo – drums
• Randee Saint Nicholas – photography
• Albert Sanchez – photography
• Brian Scheuble – assistant engineer
• Thomas Schobel – programming
• Cynthia Shiloh – production coordination
• Beverley Skeete – backing vocals
• Greg Smith – horn
• Phil Spalding – bass
• Matt Still – engineer, assistant engineer, mixing assistant
• Neil Stubenhaus – bass
• Tony Taibi – production coordination
• Mark Taylor – keyboards
• Michael Thodes – bass
• Chris Thomas – producer
• Mike Thompson – guitar
• Lee Thornburg – trombone, trumpet, horn, horn arrangements
• Allan Titmuss – photography
• Matthew Vaughan – programming
• Gabe Veltri – engineer
• Kevin Walden – production coordination
• Narada Michael Walden – arranger, producer, vocal arrangement
• Ben Wallach – assistant engineer
• Don Was – producer
• Fred Washington – bass
• Freddie "Ready Freddie" Washington – bass
• Marietta Waters – backing vocals
• Marietta Wates – backing vocals
• Albert Watson – photography
• Greg Wells – organ
• Precious Wilson – backing vocals
• Frank Wolf – engineer
• Stevie Wonder – arranger, programming, backing vocals, all instruments on "On and On" synclavier programming on "don't go breaking my heart"
• Tammy Wynette – vocals
• Paul Young – vocals
• Firooz Zahedi – photography