Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
George Michael and Elton John | Artist Essentials
First released: 1991 (year verified)
Original 1991 Wembley Arena live duet recording
MusicAtlas editorial note: The handoff between the two singers turns the live performance into a dialogue.
YouTube opens a title-and-artist search. The selected recording and date are identified below.
Release evidence and recording details
First released: 1991 (year verified)
The official history identifies the Wembley Arena duet recorded in March 1991 and released as a single in November 1991. Elton John's 1974 solo record and the 1985 Live Aid performance are different recordings.
Recording: Original 1991 Wembley Arena live duet recording
Credit: George Michael and Elton John
Role in this collection: Co-lead vocalist with Elton John
Original single: Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me - official 1991 live duet history
Elton John's official history identifies the March 1991 Wembley Arena duet with George Michael and its November 1991 US/UK single release. It distinguishes the 1974 solo studio recording and the 1985 Live Aid performance. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
In the yearly lists
These are listening-list appearances, separate from the first-release date.
About George Michael
George Michael moved from the British pop duo Wham! into a solo catalog that combined melodic pop, soul and dance music. Careless Whisper appeared as a solo single in 1984, before Faith established a broader album statement in 1987. Listen Without Prejudice and Older made more room for acoustic textures, jazz colors and restrained vocals. His repertoire also includes the live Elton John duet, studio covers on Songs from the Last Century, and the later dance settings of Patience.
Artist background sources
George Michael - official original album overview
The estate overview dates Faith to 1987, Listen Without Prejudice to 1990, Older to 1996, Songs from the Last Century to 1999 and Patience to 2004. It distinguishes solo albums from Wham! and later live work; promotional superlatives are not adopted. | Retrieved 2026-10-17
Careless Whisper - official 40th anniversary release history
The official Sony/artist anniversary page identifies the original solo single's 1984 release. The subsequent Make It Big album association does not turn the selected solo recording into a newly dated Wham! performance. | Retrieved 2026-10-17
Faith - original album program and separate bonus versions
The Sony catalog gives the original 1987 album and its ten-track program, including Father Figure, One More Try, Kissing a Fool and the original Monkey. Later deluxe bonus tracks have separate version labels; their default album dates do not establish their first release. | Retrieved 2026-10-17
Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1 - original album metadata
The original ten-track studio program is dated 1990, separately from the 2017 remaster. Heal the Pain is the original solo performance, not the later Paul McCartney duet. Praying for Time's pre-album single was also in 1990. | Retrieved 2026-10-17
Older - original album and recording metadata
The original 1996 program identifies Jesus to a Child, Fastlove Part 1, Spinning the Wheel and You Have Been Loved. Jesus to a Child and Fastlove retain earlier single dates within that year; later remixes and Star People '97 are not substituted. | Retrieved 2026-10-17
Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me - official 1991 live duet history
Elton John's official history identifies the March 1991 Wembley Arena duet with George Michael and its November 1991 US/UK single release. It distinguishes the 1974 solo studio recording and the 1985 Live Aid performance. | Retrieved 2026-10-17
Songs from the Last Century - original studio cover album
The original 1999 album and track list identify George Michael's studio performance of Roxanne, distinct from the Police recording and later George Michael live performances. | Retrieved 2026-10-17
Patience - original album and track dates
The original 2004 album identifies Amazing and Flawless (Go to the City); Amazing's single preceded the album within 2004. Other tracks first issued earlier, such as Shoot the Dog, are not assigned an assumed new 2004 first release. | Retrieved 2026-10-17
Profile reviewed: 2026-10-17. Artist background does not establish a song's creative origin or release date.
Continue listening
Recommended positions express one editorial listening sequence. They are not measured quality scores.
Browse by year
1960-2025. Each year contains 150 selections.