The One (Elton John album)

The One
Studio album by Elton John
Released	22 June 1992
Recorded	November 1991 – March 1992
Genre	Rock
Length	58:07
Label	MCA (US) Rocket (UK)
Producer	Chris Thomas
Elton John chronology
The Very Best of Elton John (1990) The One (1992) Greatest Hits 1976–1986 (1992)
Singles from The One
"The One" Released: 25 May 1992 "Runaway Train" Released: 20 July 1992 "The Last Song" Released: 26 October 1992 "Simple Life" Released: 10 May 1993

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Chicago Tribune	[2]
Robert Christgau	C+[3]
Entertainment Weekly	B[4]
Los Angeles Times	[5]
Q	[6]

The One is the twenty-third studio album by the English singer-songwriter Elton John, released on 22 June 1992. It was recorded at Studio Guillame 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 #2 without ever reaching #1 in the UK, being kept off the top spot by Lionel Richie's Back to Front compilation. However, it was John's biggest selling album in the US since 1975. The One was certified 2x platinum in the US by the RIAA.

Background

Olle Romo collaborated with John and lyricist Bernie Taupin on one song, "Runaway Train", on which Eric Clapton sings a duet with John. Pink Floyd's David Gilmour makes an appearance playing guitar on "Understanding Women". John's former drummer, Nigel Olsson and female backing vocalist Kiki Dee (who along with John had a duet with the song "Don't Go Breaking My Heart") and longtime guitarist Davey Johnstone provided backing vocals on a few songs.

This was John's first album project since his rehabilitation from drug and alcohol addictions and bulimia in 1990. This is the last studio album to feature his Roland RD-1000 digital piano. John started playing a Yamaha Disklavier piano shortly after.

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 & 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
• Management: John Reid

Track listing

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

1. "Simple Life" – 6:25
2. "The One" – 5:53
3. "Sweat It Out" – 6:38
4. "Runaway Train" – 5:23 (Duet with Eric Clapton)
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

Bonus tracks (1999 Polygram International reissue)

12. "Suit of Wolves" – 5:37
13. "Fat Boys and Ugly Girls" – 4:13

Personnel

• Elton John: keyboards, vocals
• Davey Johnstone: guitar (2-5, 7-9, 11), backing vocals (7, 9)
• David Gilmour: guitar on "Understanding Women"
• Olle Romo: drums, percussion, drum programming
• Pino Palladino: bass guitar (1-8, 10, 11)
• Mark Taylor: keyboards (1-3, 6, 7)
• Guy Babylon: keyboards and programming (2-5, 7-11)
• Adam Seymour: guitar (1, 2, 6, 7)
• Eric Clapton: guitar and vocals on "Runaway Train"
• Nigel Olsson: backing vocals (7, 9)
• Kiki Dee: backing vocals (7, 9, 10)
• Jonice Jamison: backing vocals (4)
• Carole Fredericks: backing vocals (4)
• Beckie Bell: backing vocals (4)

B-sides

Song	Format
"Suit of Wolves"	"The One" 7"/CD (US/UK)
"Fat Boys and Ugly Girls"	"The One" CD (US/UK)
"Understanding Women" (Remix)	"Runaway Train" CD (US/UK)
"The Man Who Never Died" (Remix)	"The Last Song" 7"/CD (UK)
"Song for Guy" (Remix)	"The Last Song" CD (UK)
"Simple Life" (Hot Mix)	"Simple Life" 7"/CD (US)
"Simple Life" (Original Mix)	"Simple Life" CD (US)

Certifications

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Region	Certification	Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[7]	2× Platinum	140,000^^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[8]	Platinum	50,000^*
Canada (Music Canada)[9]	3× Platinum	300,000^^
France (SNEP)[10]	Platinum	300,000^*
Germany (BVMI)[11]	Gold	250,000^^
Italy (FIMI)[12]	6× Platinum	600,000^*
Mexico (AMPROFON)[13]	Gold	100,000^^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[14]	Platinum	100,000^^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[15]	2× Platinum	100,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[16]	Gold	100,000^^
United States (RIAA)[17]	2× Platinum	2,000,000^^
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1992) Position Australian ARIA Albums Chart[18] 2 Austrian Albums Chart[19] 1 Canadian RPM Albums Chart[20] 7 Danish Albums Chart[21] 3 Dutch Mega Albums Chart[22] 14 European Albums Chart[23] 1 French SNEP Albums Chart [24] 1 German Media Control Albums Chart [25] 1 Hungarian Top 40 Albums[26] 32 Italian Albums Chart[27] 1 Japanese Oricon Albums Chart[28] 35 New Zealand Albums Chart [29] 7 Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart[30] 2 Spanish Albums Chart[23] 4 Swedish Albums Chart[31] 8 Swiss Albums Chart[32] 1 UK Albums Chart [33] 2 US Billboard 200[34] 8

Year-end charts Chart (1992) Position Australian Albums Chart[35] 27 Austrian Albums Chart[36] 9 French Albums Chart[37] 18 Italian Albums Chart[27] 5 Swiss Albums Chart[38] 11 UK Albums Chart[39] 52 U.S. Billboard 200[40] 59

References

1. "The One". Allmusic. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
2. Caro, Mark (9 July 1992). "Review: Elton John: The One". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
3. "CG: elton john". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
4. Zacharek, Stephanie (17 July 1992). "The One Review". ew.com. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
5. Boehm, Mike (12 July 1992). "ELTON JOHN "The One" MCA". articles.latimes.com. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
6. Sutcliffe, Phil (August 1992). "New LPs: Elton John The One". Q. p. 89.
7. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1993 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association.
8. "Austrian album certifications – Elton John – The One" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 2012-02-26. Enter Elton John in the field Interpret. Enter The One in the field Titel. Select album in the field Format. Click Suchen
9. "Canadian album certifications – Elton John – The One". Music Canada. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
10. "French album certifications – Elton John – The One" (in French). InfoDisc. Select ELTON JOHN and click OK
11. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Elton John; 'The One')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
12. "Italian album certifications – Elton John – The One" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Select Album e Compilation in the field Sezione. Enter Elton John in the field Filtra. Select 1992 in the field Anno. The certification will load automatically
13. "AMPROFON". amprofon.mx. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
14. "Solo Exitos 1959-2002 Ano A Ano: Certificados 1991-1995". Iberautor Promociones Culturales. ISBN 8480486392.
15. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Elton John; 'The One')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
16. "British album certifications – Elton John – The One". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2012-02-26. Enter The One in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
17. "American album certifications – Elton John – The One". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2012-02-26. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
18. "australian-charts.com Elton John – The One" (ASP). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
19. "Elton John - The One – austriancharts.at" (ASP) (in German). Retrieved 2012-02-18.
20. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2012-02-24
21. http://danskehitlister.dk/?song_id=6569
22. "dutchcharts.nl Elton John - The One" (ASP). dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
23. Nielsen Business Media, Inc (1992-08-08). Billboard – 8 August – 1992. Retrieved 2012-04-04.
24. "InfoDisc : Tous les Albums classés par Artiste > Choisir Un Artiste Dans la Liste" (PHP) (in French). infodisc.fr. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
25. "Album Search: Elton John: The One" (ASP) (in German). Media Control. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
26. "Archivum: Top 40 Album". MAHASZ (in Hungarian). Retrieved 30 July 2011.
27. "Hit Parade Italia – Gli album più venduti del 1992" (in Italian). hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
28. エルトン・ジョン-リリース-ORICON STYLE-ミュージック "Highest position and charting weeks of The One by Elton John" Check |url= value (help). oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved 2012-02-21.
29. "charts.org.nz – Elton John – The One" (ASP). Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
30. "norwegiancharts.com Elton John – The One" (ASP). Retrieved 2012-02-24.
31. "swedishcharts.com Elton John – The One" (ASP) (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
32. "Elton John – The One – hitparade.ch" (ASP) (in German). Retrieved 2012-02-24.
33. "Chart Stats – Elton John – The One" (PHP). UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
34. Allmusic - The One > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums
35. "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 50 Albums 1992". aria.com.au. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
36. "Austriancharts.at - Jahreshitparade 1992" (ASP) (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
37. "Les Albums (CD) de 1992 par InfoDisc" (in French). infodisc.fr. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
38. "Hitparade.ch - Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1992". Swiss Music Charts (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
39. "Complete UK Year-End Album Charts". Retrieved 2012-02-13.
40. "Billboard.BIZ - Year-end Charts - Billboard 200 - 1992". billboard.biz. Retrieved 2012-02-26.