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Post by BiteUrLip on Feb 18, 2018 13:50:28 GMT
Elton's first album of the nineties, and this one is now my favorite Elton album of all-time. The starter of the album, "Simple Life", is already quite strong. It is an unusual Elton song in his catalog. I don't like the sounds of the drums in this one though. The title track however is the biggest winner of the album - it was the first Elton song that I became really interested about, and it remains a big, big favorite to this day. Then we've got "Sweat It Out", which is not one of my favorites from this one. Love the piano playing in the end though. The 2nd strongest track on the album is "Runaway Train", to me. Eric Clapton's input helps it to become an absolute highlight. It is also the most masculine song Elton has ever recorded. "Whitewash County" continues the strength of the previous track, simply love the music to that! Next we have "The North", which is Elton's personal favorite from the record. It is a strong track, but not as strong as many others. "When A Woman Doesn't Want You" is a brilliant ballad, and "Emily" is too but it's even stronger than that. "On Dark Street" is a switch back to uptempo songs, and it greatly succeeds in it. Then we have "Understanding Women", which is to me a sleeper song on the album, although it's one of my least favorites from the album. But it is much better than what it used to be (a two star trash track) now. "The Last Song" is the last song on the album, and it's again a very strong, emotional ballad. And as bonus tracks we've got two strong songs, "Suit Of Wolves" and "Fat Boys And Ugly Girls" - I like both equally much, although they're quite different songs to each other. 1. Simple Life ***** 2. The One *****++ 3. Sweat It Out ****½ 4. Runaway Train *****+ 5. Whitewash County *****+ 6. The North ***** 7. When A Woman Doesn't Want You *****+ 8. Emily *****+ 9. On Dark Street *****+ 10. Understanding Women ****½ 11. The Last Song *****+ Bonus tracks: 12. Suit Of Wolves ***** 13. Fat Boys And Ugly Girls ***** So many plus marks so the album's gotta be quite good...!
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Post by dougs on Feb 18, 2018 17:21:13 GMT
THE ONE:
This was Elton's first truly sober album since the early 70s. Returning from alcohol, drug, and eating disorders, Elton created his highest selling album since 1975. THE ONE featured lyrics by Bernie about rebirth and pain. Arriving to create the new album, Elton faced new obstacles such as writing without being under the influences of drugs or alcohol. On the first day, Elton lasted only 20 minutes according to manager John Reid and he left the studio upset to go home. He returned day 2 and things picked up. For THE ONE, Elton brought back producer Chris Thomas, Davey Johnstone, and Guy Babylon. The SLEEPING WITH THE PAST band was dropped and Olle Romo was brought in on drums, Pino Palladino on bass, and Mark Taylor on keyboards. Kiki Dee chipped in on backing vocals on three songs. Elton also brought in two legendary guitarists to add depth and richness to the album's overall sound; Pink Floyd's David Gilmour played on "Understanding Women" and Eric Clapton played on "Runaway Train." The album was recorded in Paris. The result was a tremendously successful record.
In terms of sales and chart success, THE ONE was a worldwide hit. It was one of those few Elton albums that scored success almost everywhere. THE ONE was especially successful in Europe where it went #1 or #2 in most countries; It rocketed to #1 in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland and #2 in the UK and Australia. Canada saw the album reach #7 but it stayed on the charts for a very long time in this country and the USA saw it peak at #8. In terms of certifications; THE ONE was a whopping 6X platinum in Italy, 3X platinum in Canada, 2X platinum in the USA, and 2X platinum in Australia. It was also the 5th highest selling album of all of 1992 in Italy. It paid to be focussed and sober! Elton also said that he didn't want the album to be too poppy. The subject matter of Bernie's lyrics shaped the tone of the record. THE ONE also had 4 singles released from it. The title track went #1 in Canada which also embraced "Simple Life (#3) and "The Last Song" (#7). Huge success there. "The One" scored #9 in the USA and #10 in the UK. "Runaway Train" had some chart success in Europe.
THE ONE was a very contemporary sounding album featuring drum machines and a very modern sound. It may sound a bit dated or attached to a certain era now but it sounded VERY relevant in 1992 - something Elton's albums had not sounded since TOO LOW FOR ZERO and then back into the mid-70s. "Simple Life" which is about attempting to re-create a more sane lifestyle featured a great keyboard harmonica and it had a great groove which only evolved into better things over the following tours. The title song is really an EJ classic and can be interpreted to represent a person or a belief that provides stability and guidance and hope. "Sweat It Out" has a jazzy and extraordinary keyboard work from Elton over a contemporary electronic rhythm. "Whitewash County" featured another piano solo - a scorching outro unlike anything on an Elton record in years. EJ also provided a rare and solid organ solo in the duet with Eric Clapton on "Runaway Train" which is about a lifestyle that was dangerous and non-sustainable. Very relevant considering what Elton had just gone through. This partnership with Eric on this song led to a number of double-billed concerts in the UK and the USA including Wembley Stadium and Dodger Stadium. The album's closer "The Last Song" was written about a young man dying of AIDS and a father who was, at first, reluctant to acknowledge that HIS son has AIDS only to embrace one another in the end. Elton decided at this point that the sales of all of his singles would go to AIDS charities. He founded his Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992 and began a life-long process to help those living with AIDS and to help prevent acquiring AIDS. The album also featured a very nice song called "Emily" which is a thoughtful song about aging. One song where lyric and music didn't seem to match was "When A Woman Doesn't Want You." It is a lyric about date-rape. The resulting melody is quite gentle and sluggish. Otherwise, THE ONE was a very fresh and vibrant album at the time. It had a purpose and had lyrics about relevant life situations not only in Elton's life but in many peoples' lives. THE ONE also saw the emergence of a strong new friendship with Gianni Versace who not only did the album cover, he also designed the stage clothes for Elton and the band and he also designed the 1992 staging.
Combining THE ONE with the previous album (SLEEPING WITH THE PAST) and the next studio album (MADE IN ENGLAND) and EJ was now truly riding high in popularity and creativity. Elton had a new outlook on life; one which featured giving back. He would start to become involved in many philanthropic ways. Elton really was "back" at the top of his game with THE ONE. It is strangely an album that rarely has any of the songs show up on "collections" packages. When EJ re-released new vinyl last year THE ONE wasn't one of them even though it was the 25th anniversary of its release. Only one song found its was onto DIAMONDS - 3rd disc only on the more expensive box version and once Nigel Olsson re-joined the band (2000) songs from the album like "Simple Life" and "The Last Song" have never been played live. Only occasionally does EJ play "The ONE" in concert and it is now done solo. A bit of a shame; THE ONE is a very solid Elton effort with huge worldwide success sales-wise and creativity-wise.
Doug
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Post by rocketman on Feb 19, 2018 2:24:47 GMT
1. Simple Life 5 2. The One 4.5 3. Sweat It Out 5 4. Runaway Train 4.25 5. Whitewash County 4.75 6. The North 3.5 7. When A Woman Doesn't Want You 3.25 8. Emily 4.25 9. On Dark Street 5 10. Understanding Women 4.5 11. The Last Song 4
Bonus tracks:
12. Suit Of Wolves 4.75 13. Fat Boys And Ugly Girls 3.25
Elton's first album of the 1990's was also a first in that he had gone through rehab and was sober. Sobriety suited him well, with his most consistent album since the 1970's, as well as his best-performing chart-wise. It cracked the Top 10 in the US at number 8, and sold well worldwide. I haven't read DougS's review yet (I usually try not to read others' reviews so as not to be influenced or borrow from them) but I have a feeling that Doug has listed more specific examples of this album's chart success.
In terms of album quality, the proceedings start off very well, with each of the first 5 songs scoring at good to excellent. In LP terms, this could be one of the best Sides of any Elton album.
There is a drop-off in quality in the middle, but the album recovers and finishes quite strongly. The production, again by Chris Thomas, is good, with a deeper, darker sound that befits the cover art by the late Gianni Versace. But the sound never gets muddled.
Overall, The One continued the comeback started in the late 80's, and signaled a return to prominence by Elton, who was often not much more than an afterthought on the charts during the 1980's.
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Post by dougs on Feb 19, 2018 3:29:07 GMT
rocketman:
Yeah, I try not to read other reviews until I post and then I go read them all, as you do. I agree with your assessment of the songs on THE ONE. The start of side two or song #6 ("The North") there tends to be a bit of a drop off for me. The album picks up and ends well for me too. The first 5 songs are very consistently good. I'd love to have THE ONE on vinyl. Really surprised how the songs from this album like "Simple Life" and "The Last Song" have disappeared from his concerts and have never been included on any subsequent packages/collections and the album wasn't re-released on vinyl last year. I sure could see myself overplay those first 5 songs on a side of new vinyl!
Doug
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Post by kissybissy on Feb 21, 2018 23:27:00 GMT
4,5 stars. One of my fave albums.
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Post by Commodore Orpington on Mar 8, 2018 3:44:28 GMT
This seemed like the comeback album for me. He was willing to make things quieter, subtler, and moodier for a whole album... there were adult lyrics throughout.
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Post by nix on Aug 10, 2019 13:10:43 GMT
Album rating: ***** Back then my most favorite Elton album.
1. Simple Life ****½ 2. The One ***** 3. Sweat It Out **** 4. Runaway Train ***** 5. Whitewash County ***** 6. The North ***** 7. When A Woman Doesn't Want You ****½ 8. Emily ***** 9. On Dark Street ****½ 10. Understanding Women ****½ 11. The Last Song *****
Bonus tracks: 12. Suit Of Wolves ****½ 13. Fat Boys And Ugly Girls ***½
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