The Big Picture is the twenty-fifth studio album by English musician Elton John, released in September 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".
The Big Picture | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 22 September 1997 | |||
Recorded | November 1996– May 1997 | |||
Studio | The Town House and AIR Studios, London | |||
Genre | Pop rock[1] | |||
Length | 52:08 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | Chris Thomas | |||
Elton John chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from The Big Picture | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Entertainment Weekly | C[2] |
Los Angeles Times | [3] |
Rolling Stone | Positive[4] |
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.[5] Taupin dislikes this album because of the overall quality of his lyrical contribution and because "the production is abysmally cold and technical".[5]
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.
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 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
12. | "I Know Why I'm in Love" | 4:32 |
"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.[6]
Weekly charts edit
|
Year-end charts edit
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[34] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria)[35] | Gold | 25,000* |
Canada (Music Canada)[36] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[37] | Gold | 21,006[37] |
France (SNEP)[38] | Gold | 100,000* |
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. |
elton john big picture.
{{cite book}}
: |last1=
has generic name (help)
{{cite book}}
: |last1=
has generic name (help)