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Among his contemporaries, Elton John is widely considered the hardest working man in show business. While he’s been touring relentlessly, with the likes of Billy Joel and percussionist, Ray Cooper, on top of doing his full band shows & wrapping up the Red Piano gigs in Europe, new pop music from Elton has been strangely absent.

Many in Elton’s circle have speculated that the low sales of his last effort, the fantastic “Captain and the Kid,” have contributed to Elton’s sudden reluctance to record.

Late last year, Elton announced that work had begun on a unique collaboration between himself, songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, and early piano-based rock pioneer Leon Russell. Elton calls the new T-Bone Burnett-produced venture, “..a very personal work” that he’s extremely proud of. Above, you’ll find an audience record of a new song, debuted by Elton as he kicked off his “Under African Skies” solo tour in Johannesburg with Mr. Cooper on percussion. I played with the recording a bit to make it less muddy and more listenable. Upon first listen, it’s got a very bluesy foundation. It’s going to be very interesting to hear how Elton’s sound has evolved from this new joint-effort!