The Big Picture (Elton John album)

The Big Picture
Studio album by
Elton John
Released22 September 1997
RecordedNovember 1996 – May 1997
Studio
GenrePop rock[1]
Length52:08
Label
ProducerChris Thomas
Elton John chronology
Love Songs
(1996) 		The Big Picture
(1997) 		Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida
(1999)
Singles from The Big Picture
  1. "Something About the Way You Look Tonight"
    Released: 13 September 1997
  2. "Recover Your Soul"
    Released: 2 February 1998
  3. "If the River Can Bend"
    Released: 1 June 1998
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[2]
Entertainment WeeklyC[3]
Los Angeles Times[4]
Rolling StonePositive[5]
Uncut[6]

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 on the UK Albums Chart and the top 10 on 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. 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.

  1. ^ a b https://www.allmusic.com/album/r312988
  2. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). "John, Elton". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). London: Omnibus Press. p. 2,003. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
  3. ^ Lanham, Tom (26 September 1997). "The Big Picture". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  4. ^ Gardner, Elysa (21 September 1997). "ELTON JOHN, "The Big Picture," Rocket/A&M". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  5. ^ Fricke, David (19 December 1997). "ELTON JOHN, "The Big Picture"". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  6. ^ Dee, Johnny (October 1997). "Elton John: The Big Picture". Uncut. No. 5. p. 77.