One (Bee Gees album)

Last updated

One
Album One.jpg
Studio album by
Released17 April 1989 (UK)
24 April 1989 (Germany)
July 1989 (US)
RecordedMarch–April 1988, November–December 1988, February–March 1989
Studio
Length52:15
Label Warner Bros. Records, Warner Music
Producer
The Bee Gees chronology
E.S.P.
(1987)
One
(1989)
Tales from the Brothers Gibb
(1990)
Singles from One
  1. "Ordinary Lives"
    Released: March 1989 (EUR)
  2. "One"
    Released: June 1989
  3. "Tokyo Nights"
    Released: October 1989
  4. "Bodyguard"
    Released: January 1990 (US)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Record Mirror Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]

One is the Bee Gees' eighteenth studio album (sixteenth worldwide), released in April 1989. At the time of its release, the album had varying degrees of success across the world and saw them touring internationally for the first time since 1979 through One for All World Tour.

Contents

In Europe, the album reached the top 10 in Germany and Switzerland and reached the top 30 in various other European countries (including the UK) and Australia. North American audiences had still not re-embraced the Bee Gees as they were still regarded as a disco group and the album failed to reach the top 40 in the US and Canada, despite the success of the title track reaching No. 7 in the US and No. 11 in Canada. Other singles from the album included "Bodyguard" and "Tokyo Nights". In the UK, none of the singles from the album reached the top 40.

Background and recording

After the European success of their previous album, E.S.P. , the Gibb brothers began to work on the One album in early 1988. According to Maurice, this album was supposed to be their first album as a 4-brother group (along with their brother Andy officially joining the group), [5] but he suddenly died few days after his 30th birthday. Thus, the Bee Gees took a break until November when they returned to the studio to complete the album, but this time they shifted to Mayfair Studios in London. [6] [7] The style of One was more melancholic than E.S.P., and heavily influenced by the loss of their brother. The album was dedicated to Andy and the song "Wish You Were Here" was written as a tribute to him.

The album was co-produced with Brian Tench, who had worked with them on the previous album. Related session outtake "Shape of Things to Come" was written for the Bee Gees' contribution to the 1988 Olympics album called One Moment in Time released the same year. [6]

Track listing

In the US, the bonus track, "Wing and a Prayer", was substituted with the group's European No. 1 hit, "You Win Again", and the positions of tracks 1 and 2 were swapped. On all vinyl releases of the album, the bonus track was omitted entirely.

All tracks are written by Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb

No.TitleLead vocal(s)Length
1."Ordinary Lives"Barry and Robin4:01
2."One"Barry4:55
3."Bodyguard"Robin and Barry5:20
4."It's My Neighborhood"Barry4:19
5."Tears"Barry5:16
6."Tokyo Nights"Robin3:56
7."Flesh and Blood"Robin4:43
8."Wish You Were Here"Barry and Robin4:44
9."House of Shame"Maurice and Barry4:51
10."Will You Ever Let Me"Barry5:57
11."Wing and a Prayer"Barry4:05
Total length:52:15
The Warner Bros. Years bonus tracks
No.TitleLead vocal(s)Length
12."Shape of Things to Come"Barry4:18
13."One" (edit) 3:50
14."One" (12" dance version) 8:44
15."One" (12" club mix) 9:02
Total length:78:07

Personnel

Bee Gees

Additional musicians

Production

Charts

Chart (1989)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [8] 29
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [9] 23
Canada ( RPM )46
France (SNEP)16
Germany (Media Control AG) [10] 4
Italy ( Musica e dischi )39
Japan (Oricon)63
Netherlands (MegaCharts) [11] 22
Norway (VG-lista) [12] 19
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [13] 42
Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade) [14] 6
UK Albums (The Official Charts Company) [15] 29
US Billboard 200 [16] 68

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [17] Gold35,000^
France (SNEP) [18] Gold100,000*
Germany (BVMI) [19] Gold250,000^
Netherlands (NVPI) [20] Gold50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [21] Gold25,000^

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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bee Gees</span> Music group (1958–2012)

The Bee Gees were a musical group formed in 1958 by brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio were especially successful in popular music in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and later as prominent performers in the disco music era in the mid-to-late 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maurice Gibb</span> British musician (1949–2003)

Maurice Ernest Gibb was a British musician. He achieved worldwide fame as a member of the pop group Bee Gees. Although his elder brother Barry Gibb and fraternal twin brother Robin Gibb were the group's main lead singers, most of their albums included at least one or two songs featuring Maurice's lead vocals, including "Lay It on Me", "Country Woman" and "On Time". The Bee Gees are one of the most successful pop-rock groups of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Gibb</span> British-Australian pop singer and songwriter (1958–1988)

Andrew Roy Gibb was an English and Australian singer and songwriter. He was the younger brother of Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, musicians who had formed the Bee Gees during the mid-1960s.

<i>Cucumber Castle</i> 1970 studio album by the Bee Gees

Cucumber Castle is the seventh studio album by the Bee Gees, released in April 1970. It was produced by Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, and Robert Stigwood. It consists of songs from their television special of the same name, which was named after a song on their 1967 album Bee Gees' 1st. Cucumber Castle is the only Bee Gees album not to feature any recorded contributions from Robin Gibb, as he had left the group before the album was recorded.

<i>This Is Where I Came In</i> 2001 studio album by the Bee Gees

This Is Where I Came In is the twenty-second and final studio album by the Bee Gees. It was released on 2 April 2001 by Polydor in the UK and Universal in the US, less than two years before Maurice Gibb died from a cardiac arrest before surgery to repair a twisted intestine.

<i>Size Isnt Everything</i> 1993 studio album by the Bee Gees

Size Isn't Everything is the twentieth studio album by the Bee Gees, released in the UK on 13 September 1993, and the US on 2 November of the same year. The brothers abandoned the contemporary dance feel of the previous album High Civilization and went for what they would describe as "A return to our sound before Saturday Night Fever".

<i>Still Waters</i> (Bee Gees album) 1997 studio album by the Bee Gees

Still Waters is the twenty-first and penultimate studio album by the Bee Gees, released on 10 March 1997 in the UK by Polydor Records, and on 6 May the same year in the US by A&M Records. The group made the album with a variety of top producers, including Russ Titelman, David Foster, Hugh Padgham, and Arif Mardin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Words (Bee Gees song)</span> 1968 song by the Bee Gees

"Words" is a song by the Bee Gees, written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb. The song reached No. 1 in Germany, Canada, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

<i>2 Years On</i> 1970 studio album by the Bee Gees

2 Years On is the eighth studio album by the Bee Gees, which reached No. 32 on the US charts. Released in 1970, the album saw the return of Robin Gibb to the group after an earlier disagreement and subsequent split following Odessa. 2 Years On was the first album with drummer Geoff Bridgford, who remained a full-time member of the group until 1972 although he was not pictured on the sleeve. The best-known track is "Lonely Days". Released as the first single by the reunited brothers, it charted high in the US, but peaked at No. 33 in the United Kingdom.

<i>E.S.P.</i> (Bee Gees album) 1987 studio album by the Bee Gees

E.S.P. is the seventeenth studio album by the Bee Gees released in 1987. It was the band's first studio album in six years, and their first release under their new contract with Warner Bros. It marked the first time in twelve years the band had worked with producer Arif Mardin, and was their first album to be recorded digitally. After the band's popularity had waned following the infamous Disco Demolition Night of 1979, the Gibb brothers had spent much of the early 1980s writing and producing songs for other artists, as well as pursuing solo projects, and E.S.P. was very much a comeback to prominence. The album sold well in Europe, reaching No. 5 in the UK, No. 2 in Norway and Austria, and No. 1 in Germany and Switzerland, though it failed to chart higher than No. 96 in the US. The album's first single, "You Win Again", reached No. 1 in the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Norway.

<i>High Civilization</i> 1991 studio album by the Bee Gees

High Civilization is the nineteenth studio album by the Bee Gees, released on 25 March 1991 in the U.K., and 14 May 1991 in the U.S. It was their last album recorded for Warner Bros. Records, after a four-year contract. Possibly in reaction to firm resistance from U.S. radio to the previous two albums, E.S.P. (1987) and One (1989), which had done well in other countries, the U.S.-based Warner Bros gave this one less promotion and did not issue remixes. They recorded this album and their next album Size Isn't Everything with engineer Femi Jiya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Win Again (Bee Gees song)</span> 1987 single by Bee Gees

"You Win Again" is a song written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb and performed by the Bee Gees. The song was produced by the brothers, Arif Mardin and Brian Tench. It was released as the first single on 7 September 1987 by Warner Records, from their seventeenth studio album E.S.P. (1987). It was also their first single released from the record label. The song marked the start of the group's comeback, becoming a No. 1 hit in many European countries, including topping the UK Singles Chart—their first to do so in over eight years—and making them the first group to score a UK No. 1 hit in each of three decades: the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

<i>Eaten Alive</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Diana Ross

Eaten Alive is the sixteenth studio album by American R&B singer Diana Ross, released on September 24, 1985, by RCA Records in the United States, with EMI Records distributing elsewhere. It was Ross' fifth of six albums released by the label during the decade. Primarily written and produced by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, with co-writing from his brothers Andy, Maurice, and Robin, the album also includes a contribution from Ross' friend Michael Jackson who co-wrote and performed (uncredited) on the title track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E.S.P. (song)</span> 1987 single by the Bee Gees

"E.S.P." is a single by the Bee Gees. Released in 1987, it was the follow-up to their successful single "You Win Again". The a cappella intro found on the album version was edited out for radio airplay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ordinary Lives</span> 1989 single by Bee Gees

"Ordinary Lives" is a song by the Bee Gees from their 16th studio album One, released on 27 March 1989 by Warner Records as the album's first single. It was written by the group and they produced it with Brian Tench. Following the premature death of their younger brother Andy Gibb in 1988, the Bee Gees dedicated this song and their new album to him. Originally the song was titled "Cruel World" but was later changed to "Ordinary Lives". The song reached the top 10 in Switzerland and Germany, and hitting the top 40 in some European countries except France and the UK, where it peaked at number 49 and 54 respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomorrow Tomorrow (Bee Gees song)</span> 1969 single by Bee Gees

"Tomorrow Tomorrow" is a song by the Bee Gees written by Barry and Maurice Gibb. The song was originally intended to be recorded by Joe Cocker. It was the first Bee Gees single released after Robin Gibb had quit the group which was now down to a trio featuring Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, and drummer Colin Petersen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away</span> Song by Andy Gibb

"(Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away" is a song penned by Barry Gibb and Blue Weaver and recorded by the Bee Gees in 1977 on the Saturday Night Fever sessions but was not released until Bee Gees Greatest (1979). A different version was released in September 1978 as the third single by Andy Gibb from his second studio album Shadow Dancing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angela (Bee Gees song)</span> 1988 single by Bee Gees

"Angela" is a song performed by the Bee Gees from the album E.S.P., released as a single in 1987. It was written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb. The demo version appears on The E.S.P. Demos, and there is a promo video for this song. In West Germany, the song reached a chart position of No. 52.

<i>Walls Have Eyes</i> 1985 studio album by Robin Gibb

Walls Have Eyes is the fourth solo album released by singer Robin Gibb. It was released in November 1985 on EMI America Records in the US and Polydor Records throughout the rest of the world, and produced by Maurice Gibb and Tom Dowd. The two singles from the album, "Like a Fool" and "Toys", did not chart in the US and UK. Gibb did not release a solo album in eighteen years until 2003 with Magnet. Unlike Secret Agent which contains dance numbers, this album contains mostly ballads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crazy for Your Love (Bee Gees song)</span> 1988 single by Bee Gees

"Crazy for Your Love" is a song by pop music group Bee Gees, which was released in 1988 as the third single from their seventeenth studio album E.S.P. (1987). The song was written by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb and Maurice Gibb, and produced by Arif Mardin and the Bee Gees, with co-production by Brian Tench. "Crazy for Your Love" peaked at No. 79 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the Top 100 for two weeks.

References

  1. William Ruhlmann (25 July 1989). "One – Bee Gees | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  2. Giles, David (22 April 1989). "33". Record Mirror . p. 32. ISSN   0144-5804.
  3. David Wild (21 September 1989). "One | Album Reviews". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  4. Cross, Charles R. (2004). "The Bee Gees". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp.  58. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  5. "The Bee Gees on "Larry King Live" - the loss of Andy & Hugh Gibb /"Tears"". YouTube .
  6. 1 2 "Gibb Songs : 1988". Columbia.edu. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  7. "Gibb Songs : 1989". Columbia.edu. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  8. "Bee Gees - One". australiancharts.com. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  9. "Bee Gees - One". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  10. "Bee Gees - One". officialcharts.de. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  11. "Bee Gees - One". Dutch Charts. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  12. "Bee Gees - One". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  13. "Bee Gees - One". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  14. "Bee Gees - One". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  15. "Bee Gees Album Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  16. "Bee Gees - Chart History". Billboard 200 . Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  17. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  18. "French album certifications – Bee Gees – One" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 10 March 2015.Select BEE GEES and click OK. 
  19. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Bee Gees; 'One')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  20. "Dutch album certifications – Bee Gees – One" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers . Retrieved 10 March 2015.Enter One in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  21. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('One')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.