Bernie Taupin releases first solo album in 39 years

British songwriter Bernie Taupin, renowned for his long-standing collaboration with Elton John, has released his new solo album, ‘The Sea Has No Mercy’. Released on October 23, 2026, via Vertigo Records and MCA Nashville, this marks his first solo project since 1987’s ‘Tribe’.

The album features ten tracks written entirely by Taupin and was recorded in Nashville with producer Frank Liddell. The recording sessions involved a group of musicians known as The Tennessee Stone Cutters, including Adam Wright, Glen Worf, and Michael Rojas. The project includes guest appearances by Brandi Carlile, Lee Ann Womack, the Jeremy Jordan Ensemble, percussionist Jay Bellerose, and Taupin’s daughter, Georgey Devon Taupin.

Taupin described the work as a ‘manifesto of his later years’ and a ‘soundtrack to his own life’, noting that the inspiration stemmed from writing his 2023 memoir, ‘Scattershot’, and filming a retrospective documentary. The album’s title serves as a metaphor for vulnerability, memory, and the complexities of a career spanning over half a century.