One is the Bee Gees' eighteenth studio album (sixteenth worldwide), released in April 1989.
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One | ||||
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Studio album by Bee Gees | ||||
Released | 17 April 1989 (UK) 24 April 1989 (Germany) July 1989 (US) | |||
Recorded | March–April 1988, Middle Ear, Miami Beach; November–December 1988 and February–March 1989, Mayfair Studios, London | |||
Length | 52:15 | |||
Label | Warner Bros. Records, Warner Music | |||
Producer | Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb, Brian Tench | |||
Bee Gees chronology | ||||
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Singles from One | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
After the European success of their previous album, E.S.P., the Gibb brothers began to work on the One album in early 1988. In March, their brother Andy suddenly died and 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.[4][5] 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.[4]
The album had varying degrees of success across the world. 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.
In the US, "Wing and a Prayer" was substituted with the group's European No. 1 hit, "You Win Again".
All tracks are written by Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb.
No. | Title | Lead vocal(s) | Length |
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1. | "Ordinary Lives" | Barry and Robin | 4:01 |
2. | "One" | Barry | 4:55 |
3. | "Bodyguard" | Robin and Barry | 5:20 |
4. | "It's My Neighborhood" | Barry | 4:19 |
5. | "Tears" | Barry | 5:16 |
6. | "Tokyo Nights" | Robin | 3:56 |
7. | "Flesh and Blood" | Robin | 4:43 |
8. | "Wish You Were Here" | Barry | 4:44 |
9. | "House of Shame" | Maurice and Barry | 4:51 |
10. | "Will You Ever Let Me" | Barry | 5:57 |
11. | "Wing and a Prayer" | Barry | 4:05 |
Total length: | 52:15 |
No. | Title | Lead vocal(s) | Length |
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12. | "Shape of Things to Come" | Barry | 4:18 |
13. | "One" (edit) | 3:50 | |
14. | "One" (12" dance version) | 8:44 | |
15. | "One" (12" club mix) | 9:02 | |
Total length: | 78:07 |
Bee Gees
Additional musicians
Production
Chart (1989) | Peak position |
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Australia (ARIA)[6] | 29 |
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[7] | 23 |
Canada (RPM) | 46 |
France (SNEP) | 16 |
Germany (Media Control AG)[8] | 4 |
Italy (Musica e dischi) | 39 |
Japan (Oricon) | 63 |
Netherlands (MegaCharts)[9] | 22 |
Norway (VG-lista)[10] | 19 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[11] | 42 |
Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade)[12] | 6 |
UK Albums (The Official Charts Company)[13] | 29 |
US Billboard 200[14] | 68 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[15] | Gold | 35,000^ |
France (SNEP)[16] | Gold | 100,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[17] | Gold | 250,000^ |
Netherlands (NVPI)[18] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[19] | Gold | 25,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
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