United Kingdom, April 7 -- Sir Elton John felt "a lot of fear" before recording his new album.

The 78-year-old icon teamed up with Brandi Carlile to record 'Who Believes in Angels?', but Elton admits that he "wasn't feeling very well" while writing the album.

Elton - who contracted a severe eye infection last year, which left him blind in his right eye and with "limited vision" in his left - told ITV News: "I had a lot of fear going into it, a lot of doubt, I wasn't feeling very well. In the end the anxiety pushed the energy forward.

"That's what I get out of this record, even though there's a couple of beautiful slow songs, the energy is off the charts.

"I had three other people to think of and I don't walk away and let people down. ...