The One (Elton John album)

The One
Studio album by
Elton John
Released22 June 1992 (1992-06-22)
RecordedNovember 1991 – March 1992
StudioStudio Guillaume Tell (Paris, France)
Townhouse Studios (London, England)
AIR Studios (London, England)[1]
GenreRock
Length58:05
Label
ProducerChris Thomas
Elton John chronology
To Be Continued...
(1990) 		The One
(1992) 		Greatest Hits 1976–1986
(1992)
Singles from The One
  1. "The One"
    Released: 25 May 1992
  2. "Runaway Train"
    Released: 20 July 1992
  3. "The Last Song"
    Released: 26 October 1992
  4. "Simple Life"
    Released: 10 May 1993
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Calgary HeraldB−[3]
Chicago Tribune[4]
Robert ChristgauC+[5]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[6]
Entertainment WeeklyB[7]
Los Angeles Times[8]
Q[9]
The Windsor StarB+[10]

The One is the twenty-third studio album by British recording artist Elton John, released on 22 June 1992. It was recorded at Studio Guillaume Tell in Paris, produced by Chris Thomas and managed by John Reid. The album was dedicated to Vance Buck, and its cover artwork was designed by Gianni Versace.

The One spent three consecutive weeks at No. 2 without reaching No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart, being kept off the top spot by the Lionel Richie compilation Back to Front. However, it was John's biggest-selling album in the US since 1976, and was certified 2× platinum in that country by the RIAA. It is also John's only studio album to reach number one in Germany.[11]

Background

Olle Romö collaborated with Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin on one song, "Runaway Train", in which Eric Clapton sang a duet with John. Pink Floyd's David Gilmour also made an appearance, playing guitar on "Understanding Women".[12] The Elton John Band's long-standing drummer Nigel Olsson and female backing vocalist Kiki Dee (who had duetted with John on his hit single "Don't Go Breaking My Heart") and longtime guitarist Davey Johnstone provided backing vocals on a few songs.

The One was John's first album project since his rehabilitation from drug and alcohol addictions and bulimia in 1990. On the album, he returned to playing an acoustic piano (a Yamaha Disklavier) in place of the Roland RD-1000 digital piano that had featured heavily on the previous albums Reg Strikes Back (1988) and Sleeping with the Past (1989), although he did use the RD-1000 again during his The One Tour supporting the album (as documented on Live in Barcelona) and on his later album Duets (1993).[1]

Track listing

All songs composed by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, except "Runaway Train", co-written by Olle Romö.

No.TitleLength
1."Simple Life"6:25
2."The One"5:53
3."Sweat It Out"6:38
4."Runaway Train" (duet with Eric Clapton)5:23
5."Whitewash County"5:30
6."The North"5:15
7."When a Woman Doesn't Want You"4:56
8."Emily"4:58
9."On Dark Street"4:43
10."Understanding Women"5:03
11."The Last Song"3:21
Total length:58:05
Bonus tracks (1998 Polygram International reissue)
No.TitleLength
12."Suit of Wolves"5:37
13."Fat Boys and Ugly Girls"4:13
Total length:67:55

Personnel

Musicians

Production

  • Produced by Chris Thomas
  • Recorded and engineered by David Nicholas
  • Assistant engineers – Alex Firla and Andy Strange
  • Assistant engineer on "Runaway Train" – Andy Bradfield
  • Tracks 1–3, 5–9 and 11 recorded at Studio Guillaume Tell (Paris, France)
  • "Runaway Train" recorded at Studio Guillaume Tell and The Town House (London, England)
  • "Understanding Women" recorded at Air Studios (London)
  • Mixed at Air Studios
  • Cutting at The Hit Factory London.
  • Album coordination – Steve Brown
  • Studio coordination – Adrian Collee and Sam Stell
  • Technician to Eric Clapton – Lee Dixon
  • Technician to Mark Taylor – Vince Barker
  • Photography – Patrick Dermarchelier
  • Cover design concept – Gianni Versace

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for The One
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[37] Platinum 60,000^
Australia (ARIA)[38] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[39] Platinum 50,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[40] 3× Platinum 300,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[41] Platinum 80,000^
France (SNEP)[42] Platinum 300,000*
Germany (BVMI)[43] Gold 250,000^
Italy (FIMI)[44] 2× Platinum 400,000[44]
Mexico (AMPROFON)[45] Gold 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[46] Platinum 15,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[47] Platinum 50,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[48] Platinum 100,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[49] 2× Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[50] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[51] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b "Elton John – The One – Liner Notes". Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  2. ^ "The One". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  3. ^ Obee, Dave (28 June 1992). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald.
  4. ^ Caro, Mark (9 July 1992). "Review: Elton John: The One". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  5. ^ "CG: elton john". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Zacharek, Stephanie (17 July 1992). "The One". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  8. ^ Boehm, Mike (12 July 1992). "ELTON JOHN "The One" MCA". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  9. ^ Sutcliffe, Phil (August 1992). "New LPs: Elton John The One". Q. p. 89.
  10. ^ Shaw, Ted (4 July 1992). "Record Review". The Windsor Star.
  11. ^ "Elton John". offiziellecharts.de.
  12. ^ "'The One' - 25 Facts for 25 Years - Elton John". Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Elton John – The One". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Elton John – The One" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2023". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Danskehitlister.dk". danskehitlister.dk. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  17. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Elton John – The One" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  18. ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc (8 August 1992). Billboard – 8 August – 1992. Retrieved 4 April 2012. {{cite book}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
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  21. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 1992. 35. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  22. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 20 July 2024. Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Elton John".
  23. ^ "ザ・ワン". Oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
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  26. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
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  28. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Elton John – The One". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
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  32. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Jahreshitparade 1992" (ASP) (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
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  37. ^ "Lot 452 – An Argentinian Platinum award for the album "The One" – Sotheby's". Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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  39. ^ "Austrian album certifications – Elton John – The One" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  40. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Elton John – The One". Music Canada. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  41. ^ "Lot 109 – Bernie Taupin Elton John The One Danish Platinum Award – Julien's Auctions". Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  42. ^ "French album certifications – Elton John – The One" (in French). InfoDisc. Select ELTON JOHN and click OK. 
  43. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Elton John; 'The One')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
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