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"Face to Face"
"Face to Face"
Single by Gary Barlow featuring Elton John
from the album Since I Saw You Last
Released	20 January 2014
Recorded	2013
Genre	Pop
Length	3:34
Label	Polydor
Songwriter(s)	Gary Barlow; John Shanks;
Producer(s)	Steve Power
Gary Barlow singles chronology

"Face to Face" is a song by British singer-songwriter Gary Barlow featuring Sir Elton John. It was released in the United Kingdom on 20 January 2014 as the second single from his fourth solo album, Since I Saw You Last (2013). It was written by Barlow and John Shanks, and it was produced by Steve Power.

Background

When writing Since I Saw You Last, Barlow came up with a song called "Face to Face", and knew straight away that he wanted to try to get his friend Sir Elton John to sing it with him. Barlow says: "I called him and said I am going to email you this song. Literally, within an hour he was back saying let’s book a studio, let’s get in there and do it."^[1] They both met up in Abbey Road Studios and recorded the vocals to the song in 10 minutes.^[2]

When speaking about the meaning behind the song, Barlow states that "Face to Face" is a thank-you note to Elton for sticking by him during his wilderness years and a pointed rejoinder to those who deserted him. "It’s a respect song" Barlow confirms. "I can count on the fingers of one hand the people who kept in touch with me when nobody else wanted to know me and he was one of them. I’ll never forget that."^[3]

Music video

The video was filmed in Abbey Road Studios on the same day as both Barlow and Elton John recorded the vocals to the song. The video shows Barlow passing the lyrics to Elton with both singing the song to each other around a piano and in the vocal booths.

Track listing

CD promo single^[4]

"Face to Face" (album version) – 3:33
"Face to Face" (instrumental version) – 3:34

Credits and personnel

Gary Barlow – songwriter, vocals, piano, additional keyboards, backing vocals
John Shanks – songwriter, backing vocals
Elton John – vocals
Steve Power – producer
Mark "Spike" Stent – mixer
Ryan Carline – engineer, additional keyboards, programming
Rohan Onraet – engineer, percussion, programming
Richard Lancaster – engineer
Tim van der Kuil – guitar
Dave Bronze – bass
Jeremy Stacey – drums
David Catlin-Birch – backing vocals
Nick Ingman – string arrangement
Perry Montague-Mason – string leader
Isobel Griffiths – musicians' contractor
Tony Cousins – mastering

Credits adapted from Since I Saw You Last liner notes.^[5]

Charts

Chart (2014)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)^[6]	55
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)^[7]	14
Ireland (IRMA)^[8]	75
Scotland (OCC)^[9]	61
UK Singles (OCC)^[10]	69