The Big Picture (Elton John album)

The Big Picture is the twenty-fifth studio album by English musician Elton John. It was released on September 22, 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 5 in the UK and the top 10 in the United States 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. Critical reception to the album was positive with praise being directed at its songwriting, though its production has been criticised and lyricist Bernie Taupin has declared it to be his least favorite album he and John have released. 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 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 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.

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.

Personnel

 * Elton John – vocals, acoustic piano (all tracks), 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 (all tracks)
 * John Jorgenson – guitars (all tracks)
 * Bob Birch – bass (all tracks)
 * Charlie Morgan – drums, percussion (all tracks)
 * 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 Hall, 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