One (Bee Gees album)

One
Studio album by
the Bee Gees
Released17 April 1989 (UK)
24 April 1989 (Germany)
July 1989 (US)
RecordedMarch–April 1988, November–December 1988, February–March 1989
Studio
Length52:15
LabelWarner 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[1]
Record Mirror[2]
Rolling Stone[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[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.

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

[edit]

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 only a 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

Bee Gees

Additional musicians

Production

[edit]
  • Bee Gees – producers, mixing (11)
  • Brian Tench – producer (1–10) engineer, mixing
  • Mark Robinson – second engineer
  • Noel Rafferty – assistant engineer
  • Scott Glasel – production assistant, additional engineer (1), mixing (11)
  • Ross Alexander – technical supervisor
  • Mike Korey – technical supervising assistant
  • George Marino – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York, NY)
  • Martyn Atkins – design, art direction
  • Larry Williams – cover photography
  • Peter Corvin-Brittin – inside photography

Charts

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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

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[17] Gold 35,000^
France (SNEP)[18] Gold 100,000*
Germany (BVMI)[19] Gold 250,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[20] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[21] Gold 25,000^

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

References

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  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. ^ a b "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.
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