The Big Picture is the twenty-fifth studio album by British musician Elton John. It was released on 22 September 1997 through The Rocket Record Company and Mercury Records. The album was recorded at Townhouse Studios in London and is John's last release to date to be produced by Chris Thomas.
Upon its release, The Big Picture was a commercial success, reaching the top five of the UK Albums Chart and the top 10 of the United States Billboard 200 and numerous other countries. Three songs—"Something About the Way You Look Tonight", "Recover Your Soul", and "If the River Can Bend"—were released as singles to promote the album, with the former being the most successful, particularly upon its re-release as a double A-side with "Candle in the Wind 1997", which became the best-selling single in Billboard history. The album would go on to be certified Platinum by the RIAA on August 19, 1998, for US sales in excess of 1,000,000 copies.
Background The album has a strong orchestral emphasis with string arrangements written by Anne Dudley and Elton John's then backup keyboardist Guy Babylon. In 2006, John revealed in an interview that Bernie Taupin, his longtime friend and lyricist, considers this his least favourite album they have created, while John believes that to be Leather Jackets from 1986. Taupin dislikes this album because of the overall quality of his lyrical contribution and because "the production is abysmally cold and technical".
The album was dedicated to John's friend, popular fashion designer Gianni Versace, who was murdered a few months before the album's release. This was John's last album to date to be produced by Chris Thomas, who had worked with John almost nonstop since 1981's The Fox. This is the only album in which neither Davey Johnstone nor bassist Bob Birch (during his tenure as the Elton John Band's bassist from 1992–2012) provide backing vocals. Drummer Charlie Morgan was let go from the band shortly after the album's release and soon replaced by Curt Bisquera and John's original drummer Nigel Olsson, who remains in the lineup to this day.
Track listing
Outtakes "Live Like Horses" was originally recorded in 1994 and intended for John's previous studio album, Made in England, but lack of time for the inclusion ruled this out. The single version of the song, released in 1996, was a duet with Luciano Pavarotti, but the song is performed solo for this album. The version with Pavarotti was later included on the bonus disc edition of John's compilation Greatest Hits 1970–2002.
"Past Imperfect" and an alternate version of "Recover Your Soul" were completed by John for inclusion on The Big Picture. Both songs have yet to see official release.Rocket Man: Elton John From A-Z, 1996 ()
Personnel
Musicians Elton John – vocals, acoustic piano, organ (1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11) Guy Babylon – keyboards (1–9, 11), string arrangements Paul Carrack – organ (6) Matthew Vaughan – keyboards (10), percussion (10) Davey Johnstone – guitars John Jorgenson – guitars Bob Birch – bass Charlie Morgan – drums, percussion Paul Clarvis – tabla (8) Anne Dudley – string arrangements and conductor Carol Kenyon – backing vocals (1, 6, 8) Angel Voices Choir – choir (2) East London Gospel Choir – choir (4) Jackie Rawe – backing vocals (6, 8)
Production Chris Thomas – producer Pete Lewis – engineer Andy Green – assistant engineer Jay Reynolds – assistant engineer Ben Georgiades – assistant string engineer Adrian Collee – studio coordinator Pete Mills – studio coordinator Maureen Hillier – session coordinator Ranni Lewis – session coordinator Derek Mackillop – session coordinator Rick Lecoat – design Julian Schnabel – design, paintings, still life photography Mario Testino – portrait photography John Reid – management
Charts
Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for The Big Picture Chart (1997–1998) PeakpositionEstonian Albums (Eesti Top 10)1European Top 100 Albums (Music & Media) 1Malaysian Albums10
Year-end charts +Year-end chart performance for The Big Picture Chart (1997) PositionAustralian Albums (ARIA)61Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria Top 40)30Danish Albums (Tracklisten)TOP20.dk © 1997 12Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) 45UK Albums (OCC)37
Certifications
References
External links