The Big Picture (Elton John album)
The Big Picture | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 22 September 1997 | |||
Recorded | November 1996– May 1997 | |||
Studio | The Town House and AIR Studios, London | |||
Genre | Pop[1] | |||
Length | 52:08 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | Chris Thomas | |||
Elton John chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Big Picture | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Los Angeles Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Big Picture is the twenty-fifth studio album by British singer-songwriter Elton John, released in 1997. It includes four worldwide singles: "Live Like Horses" (a duet with Luciano Pavarotti only for the single version), "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" (released as a double A-side with "Candle in the Wind 1997"), "Recover Your Soul" and "If the River Can Bend".
Background[]
The album has a strong orchestral emphasis with string arrangements written by Anne Dudley and 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.[4] Taupin dislikes this album because of the overall quality of his lyrical contribution and because "the production is abysmally cold and technical".[4]
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 John'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[]
All songs written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Long Way from Happiness" | 4:47 |
2. | "Live Like Horses" | 5:02 |
3. | "The End Will Come" | 4:53 |
4. | "If the River Can Bend" | 5:23 |
5. | "Love's Got a Lot to Answer For" | 5:02 |
6. | "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" | 5:09 |
7. | "The Big Picture" | 3:45 |
8. | "Recover Your Soul" | 5:18 |
9. | "January" | 4:02 |
10. | "I Can't Steer My Heart Clear of You" | 4:10 |
11. | "Wicked Dreams" | 4:39 |
B-sides[]
Song | Released on |
---|---|
"Big Man in a Little Suit" | "Recover Your Soul" |
"I Know Why I'm in Love" | "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" |
"You Can Make History (Young Again)" | "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" |
"No Valentines" | "Recover Your Soul" |
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.[5]
Personnel[]
- 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 Rowe – backing vocals (6, 8)
Production[]
- Produced by Chris Thomas
- Recorded at The Townhouse, London, UK.
- Strings recorded at Air Lyndhurst, London, UK.
- Engineered by Pete Lewis
- Assistant Engineers – Andy Green, Ben Georgiades and Jay Reynolds.
- Studio Coordinators – Adrian Collee and Pete Mills
- Session Coordinators – Maureen Hillier, Ranni Lewis and Derek Mackillop.
- Management – John Reid
- Design – Rick Lecoat and Julian Schnabel
- Painting and Still Life Photography – Julian Schnabel
- Portrait – Mario Testino
Charts[]
Weekly charts[]
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Year-end charts[]
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Certifications[]
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[33] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria)[34] | Gold | 25,000* |
Canada (Music Canada)[35] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[36] | Gold | 21,006*[36] |
France (SNEP)[38] | Gold | 142,800[37] |
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[39] | Gold | 10,000* |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[40] | Gold | 7,500^ |
Norway (IFPI Norway)[41] | Platinum | 50,000* |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[42] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
Sweden (GLF)[43] | Gold | 40,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[44] | Platinum | 50,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[45] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[46] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
Summaries | ||
Europe (IFPI)[47] | Platinum | 1,000,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
References[]
- ^ a b https://www.allmusic.com/album/r312988
- ^ Lanham, Tom (26 September 1997). "The Big Picture Review". ew.com. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ^ Gardner, Elysa (21 September 1997). "ELTON JOHN, "The Big Picture," Rocket/A&M". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- ^ a b "The Lion King". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
- ^ Rocket Man: Elton John From A-Z, 1996 (ISBN 0275956989)
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Elton John – The Big Picture". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Elton John – The Big Picture" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Elton John – The Big Picture" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Elton John – The Big Picture" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "Elton John Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Elton John – The Big Picture". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Elton John – The Big Picture" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc (11 October 1997). Billboard – 11 October – 1997. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
elton john big picture.
- ^ "Elton John: The Big Picture" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Elton John – The Big Picture". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "Archivum: Top 40 Album". MAHASZ (in Hungarian). Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – Elton John – The Big Picture". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "Artist Ranking CD Album". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc (25 October 1997). Billboard – 25 October – 1997. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Elton John – The Big Picture". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Elton John – The Big Picture". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Elton John – The Big Picture". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Elton John – The Big Picture". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Elton John – The Big Picture". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "Chart Archive: Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive – 11th October 1997". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "Elton John Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 1997". aria.com.au. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at - Jahreshitparade 1997". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
- ^ TOP20.dk © 1997 Archived 21 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Hitparade.ch - Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1997". Swiss Music Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
- ^ "UK best albums 1997". Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ^ "Austrian album certifications – Elton John – Big Picture" (in German). IFPI Austria.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Elton John – The Big Picture". Music Canada.
- ^ a b "Certification Search Results". Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "Les Albums Or". infodisc.fr. SNEP. Archived from the original on 18 October 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
- ^ "French album certifications – Elton John – The Big Picture" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
- ^ "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1997". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
- ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Elton John – The Big Picture". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- ^ "Norwegian album certifications – Elton John – The Big Picture" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
- ^ Solo Exitos 1959-2002 Ano A Ano: Certificados > 1995-1999. Iberautor Promociones Culturales. 2005. ISBN 8480486392.
- ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011.
- ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Elton John; 'The Big Picture')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
- ^ "British album certifications – Elton John – The Big Picture". British Phonographic Industry.Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type The Big Picture in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ "American album certifications – John, Elton – The Big Picture". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1997". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
External links[]
- The Big Picture at Discogs (list of releases)
- Elton John albums
- 1997 albums
- Albums produced by Chris Thomas (record producer)
- The Rocket Record Company albums