Unlike the last show where we have Elton John in a foul mood that cut songs and didn’t seem to want to put 100% of his effort into everything, this Birmingham show is a complete 180 and is one of the more underrated shows from the 1997 Big Picture Tour. While the upcoming London show is definitely among the best and most popular shows from the tour as a whole, this Birmingham show can definitely compete with things as there are many great things about this show. Thanks to “EltonStuff,” I was able to enjoy this recording and write a review about it! The quality is fairly good and it is nearly musically complete which is definitely a good thing!

The band sound fantastic at this show as the rhythm section sound extremely powerful throughout the recording and showcases why this band ranks among the best ones that played Elton’s music. From Charlie Morgan’s drumming, to Bob Birch’s bass playing, this is definitely a show that highlights the musical prowess on stage. Elton is also in great voice and sounds much more into the performances compared with the Manchester recording (since his mood is better). Possibly as a result of the previous show’s events, Elton puts in extra effort on specific parts of his singing as he really shows off his ability to belt out the material with authority. He also sings with more of a lively edge as he is clearing enjoying himself on the stage! Now… time to go through everything…

“Simple Life” sounds really nice as Elton gets into the groove of things by the final chorus and he sounds confident and strong with his delivery. “The One” sounds very powerful with the band chemistry being on point and Elton’s vocal delivery is excellent. “Grey Seal” is full of superb moments ranging from Elton’s powerful delivery to the incredible work from Charlie Morgan and Bob Birch. “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” has great falsetto from Elton and his tone sounds really nice throughout his full range. “Honky Cat” is a top version with manic piano playing, strong falsetto, and consistent singing in the main bulk of the song being highlights. “Sacrifice” has a very commanding vocal performance from Elton as he delivers the hit single with conviction. The rest of the band compliment him nicely with Davey Johnstone and Charlie Morgan especially shining in their respective roles. “Tiny Dancer” is a very strong and consistent performance from Elton as he channels his 1984 voice in places. “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues” has great and flexible singing along with lively piano playing from Elton. “If The River Can Bend” has very assertive singing and the harmonies sound excellent on this version. “I Don’t Wanna Go On With You Like That” is incredibly energetic with enthusiastic vocals and the solo sounds really nice. “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” sounds really nice as the 1997 band and Elton’s mature voice sound amazing throughout the performance. “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word” is a consistent and powerful performance with Elton’s mid notes sounding extremely strong. “The Last Song” has amazing dynamics throughout and Elton sings the emotional ballad with a little bit more of a tender tone than usual. “Daniel” has nice phrasing and Elton’s tone sounds fantastic throughout the hit single. “Love’s Got A Lot To Answer For” has nice sounding embellishments and the band help make the performance sound better than the record version (which isn’t hard to do). Concluding this section, “Take Me To The Pilot” is full of excellent musicianship and Elton’s vocals sound pretty powerful (especially on the sustains).

“Something About The Way You Look Tonight” has a vocal break in the last chorus, but is otherwise a great performance with the crowd atmosphere adding a nice touch. “Made In England” has great crowd participation which helps elevate the performance along with the strong singing and tight musicianship. “Believe” is a very strong version with Elton giving the vocals a bit more of an edge in places. “Philadelphia Freedom” has Elton pushing his voice a bit more for added aggression and the “I like living easy” embellishment sounds great. “Bennie And The Jets” is a much better performance compared with Manchester as Elton is completely into the song and the spirited piano playing is a joy to hear. “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” is a very animated performance as the crowd and the performers on stage are in sync with high amounts of energy being put out by both parties. “The Bitch Is Back” has fantastic piano and guitar work that drives the performance up the rankings. Elton also belts the hell out the song. Lastly, “Your Song” has some strong embellishments that have elements of the prime live versions.

ENJOY!!!

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