Regular readers of this page will know it doesn't take much to set me off on one of my lengthy rants about the awesomeness of Frightened Rabbit. If one of those charming Scots so much as sneezes, I'll use it as an excuse to post a video. It's bordering on obsession and really needs to stop, but not today, as the brilliant indie rockers have recently recorded a version of the Elton John & Kiki Dee 1976 classic 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' as a duet with The Hold Steady frontman Craig Finn. I don't rant about it so often, but The Hold Steady are pretty freakin' awesome as well.
Frontman Scott Hutchison told Ragged Words, "The b-side has been an idea of mine for a couple of years actually, two guys singing the Elton John/ Kiki Dee duet. When I was making a list of the ideal 'Kiki's, Craig Finn was at the top. I couldn't believe it when he agreed to do the part. I imagined it sounding like two drunk guys doing the whole 'I love you, man' speeches towards the end of a drunken night. I don't think there are many writers who document scenarios like these better than Craig - he is quite simply one of my favourite lyricists and his voice works brilliantly in the role."
Sadly the two groups were unable to get together to record the duet. The FRabbits recorded their parts in Glasgow while Finn recorded his vocal part from the comfort of regular Hold Steady studio Wild Arctic Recording in New York. The song will be released as one of two B-sides for Frightened Rabbit's upcoming new single, the excellent 'The Loneliness & The Scream,' due for release on November 19th. The second b-side will be alternative version of 'The Winter of Mixed Drinks' opener 'Things' which Scott told me at Oxegen was his favourite track on the new album.
Frightened Rabbit are coming to Ireland in December and will play Belfast's Empire Music Hall on Wednesday 8th as well as Dublin's Academy on Thursday 9th.
The Loneliness and the Scream- Frightened Rabbit by nursebekki
Elton has sung 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' with everyone from Mini Mouse to Miss Piggy. Really looking forward to hearing this new version.
