One (Bee Gees album)
Encyclopedia
One is the Bee Gees
' eighteenth studio album, released in April 1989 (August 1989 in the United States
). 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. The style of One was more melancholic than E.S.P., and heavily influenced by the loss of their brother. The first single from the album, "Ordinary Lives
", was dedicated to Andy.
The album had little commercial impact. Other singles from the album included "One
", "Bodyguard
", and "Tokyo Nights". Despite the success of the single "One" in the US (where it made the Top 10), the album only peaked at #68 there. In the UK, none of the singles from the album were hits and the album peaked at #29, but sold better in Germany
and Switzerland
where it made the Top 10.
Barry Gibb commented on the song "One" at the time by saying "This song brought us back to US radio. A leading media paper recently stated regarding this song, 'The Bee Gees are capable of at least one more hit.' I don't believe that, I believe we could have at least two."
The USA edition had a different track listing when originally released. "Ordinary Lives" and "One" were switched in the running order, and the CD bonus track "Wing And A Prayer" was dropped and replaced with "You Win Again" from the ESP album. The current issue is now in the same order as non-US editions.
All compositions by Barry
, Robin
and Maurice Gibb
.
Album produced by Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb and Brian Tench except for "Wing and a Prayer", produced by Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb and Robin Gibb.
Bee Gees
The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
' eighteenth studio album, released in April 1989 (August 1989 in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
). After the European success of their previous album, E.S.P.
E.S.P. (Bee Gees album)
E.S.P. is the Bee Gees' seventeenth original album. Released in 1987, it was the band's first studio album in six years, and the first album they released under their new contract with Warner Bros...
, the Gibb brothers began to work on the One album in early 1988. In March, their brother Andy
Andy Gibb
Andy Gibb was an English singer and teen idol, and the youngest brother of the family whose other male siblings formed the Bee Gees: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb.-The early years:...
suddenly died and the Bee Gees took a break until November when they returned to the studio to complete the album. The style of One was more melancholic than E.S.P., and heavily influenced by the loss of their brother. The first single from the album, "Ordinary Lives
Ordinary Lives
"Ordinary Lives" is a single released by the Bee Gees in 1989. It was taken from their 16th studio album One.Following the premature death of their younger brother Andy Gibb in 1988, the Bee Gees dedicated this song and their new album to him....
", was dedicated to Andy.
The album had little commercial impact. Other singles from the album included "One
One (Bee Gees song)
"One" is the second international single from the Bee Gees' album, One. This was the song that returned the Bee Gees to American radio and would turn out to be their biggest US hit in the 1980s. It peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1989, and it stayed in the Top 40 for ten...
", "Bodyguard
Bodyguard (Bee Gees song)
"Bodyguard" was the second American single off the Bee Gees' One album. In Europe and Asia, the A-side was "Tokyo Nights" instead of "Bodyguard". In Brazil, it was "Wish You Were Here".Lead vocals are provided by Robin Gibb.-Music video:...
", and "Tokyo Nights". Despite the success of the single "One" in the US (where it made the Top 10), the album only peaked at #68 there. In the UK, none of the singles from the album were hits and the album peaked at #29, but sold better in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
where it made the Top 10.
Barry Gibb commented on the song "One" at the time by saying "This song brought us back to US radio. A leading media paper recently stated regarding this song, 'The Bee Gees are capable of at least one more hit.' I don't believe that, I believe we could have at least two."
Track listing
| # | Title | Notes | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ordinary Lives Ordinary Lives "Ordinary Lives" is a single released by the Bee Gees in 1989. It was taken from their 16th studio album One.Following the premature death of their younger brother Andy Gibb in 1988, the Bee Gees dedicated this song and their new album to him.... |
Lead vocal by Barry Gibb. Originally recorded under the title of "Cruel World". This had started as a demo in Maurice's garage studio "Panther House". Released as a single. | 4:01 |
| 2. | One One (Bee Gees song) "One" is the second international single from the Bee Gees' album, One. This was the song that returned the Bee Gees to American radio and would turn out to be their biggest US hit in the 1980s. It peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1989, and it stayed in the Top 40 for ten... |
Lead vocal by Barry Gibb. Released as a single. | 4:55 |
| 3. | Bodyguard Bodyguard (Bee Gees song) "Bodyguard" was the second American single off the Bee Gees' One album. In Europe and Asia, the A-side was "Tokyo Nights" instead of "Bodyguard". In Brazil, it was "Wish You Were Here".Lead vocals are provided by Robin Gibb.-Music video:... |
Lead vocal by Robin and Barry Gibb. Released as a single. | 5:21 |
| 4. | It's My Neighborhood | Lead vocal by Barry Gibb. Also used in the stage version of Saturday Night Fever Saturday Night Fever (musical) This is an article about the stage musical. For the article on the 1977 film, see Saturday Night FeverSaturday Night Fever is a musical with a book by Nan Knighton and music and lyrics by the Bee Gees.Based on Nik Cohn's 1975 New York Magazine article "Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night" and... |
4:17 |
| 5. | Tears | Lead vocal by Barry Gibb. | 5:16 |
| 6. | Tokyo Nights | Lead vocal by Robin Gibb. A previous version of this song was recorded back in 1987 in Maurice's garage with Scott programming. | 3:56 |
| 7. | Flesh and Blood | Lead vocal by Robin Gibb. | 4:44 |
| 8. | Wish You Were Here | Lead vocal by Barry Gibb. Written a couple weeks after Andy Gibb's death, in March 1988. This song was dedicated to him. | 4:44 |
| 9. | House of Shame | Lead vocal by Maurice Gibb. | 4:51 |
| 10. | Will You Ever Let Me | Lead vocal by Barry Gibb. | 5:58 |
| 11. | Wing and a Prayer | Lead vocal and Guitars by Barry Gibb. Background vocal Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb. Keyboards programmed by Scott Glasel and Maurice Gibb record and mixed as a demo in three days by Scott and Maurice. Bonus track included only in the CD release. Produced by Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, and Robin Gibb. | 4:10 |
The USA edition had a different track listing when originally released. "Ordinary Lives" and "One" were switched in the running order, and the CD bonus track "Wing And A Prayer" was dropped and replaced with "You Win Again" from the ESP album. The current issue is now in the same order as non-US editions.
All compositions by Barry
Barry Gibb
Barry Alan Crompton Gibb, CBE , is a singer, songwriter and producer. He was born in the Isle of Man to English parents. With his brothers Robin and Maurice, he formed The Bee Gees, one of the most successful pop groups of all time. The trio got their start in Australia, and found their major...
, Robin
Robin Gibb
Robin Hugh Gibb, CBE is a British singer and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his twin brother Maurice , and elder brother Barry....
and Maurice Gibb
Maurice Gibb
Maurice Ernest Gibb, CBE was a musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He was born on the Isle of Man, the twin brother of Robin Gibb, and younger brother to Barry. He is best known as a member of the singing/songwriting trio the Bee Gees, formed with his brothers...
.
Personnel
- Barry GibbBarry GibbBarry Alan Crompton Gibb, CBE , is a singer, songwriter and producer. He was born in the Isle of Man to English parents. With his brothers Robin and Maurice, he formed The Bee Gees, one of the most successful pop groups of all time. The trio got their start in Australia, and found their major...
- vocals, guitar - Robin GibbRobin GibbRobin Hugh Gibb, CBE is a British singer and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his twin brother Maurice , and elder brother Barry....
- vocals - Maurice GibbMaurice GibbMaurice Ernest Gibb, CBE was a musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He was born on the Isle of Man, the twin brother of Robin Gibb, and younger brother to Barry. He is best known as a member of the singing/songwriting trio the Bee Gees, formed with his brothers...
- vocals, keyboard, synthesiser, guitar - Peter-John VettesePeter-John VettesePeter-John Vettese , also known as Peter Vettese, is a British keyboardist, songwriter, arranger and record producer....
- keyboards, synthesiser - Tim Cansfield - guitar
- Alan Kendall - guitar
- Nathan EastNathan EastNathan Harrell East is a jazz, R&B and rock bass player and vocalist. East holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the University of California, San Diego...
- bass - Steve FerroneSteve FerroneSteven "Steve" Ferrone is a British drummer.He was a member of the Average White Band, and has recorded and performed with numerous other high-profile acts, including Slash, Chaka Khan, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Scritti Politti...
- drums - Scott Glasel - programming, engineer
- Brian Tench - engineer
Album produced by Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb and Brian Tench except for "Wing and a Prayer", produced by Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb and Robin Gibb.
Singles
| Date | Single | Notes | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 1989 | "Ordinary Lives Ordinary Lives "Ordinary Lives" is a single released by the Bee Gees in 1989. It was taken from their 16th studio album One.Following the premature death of their younger brother Andy Gibb in 1988, the Bee Gees dedicated this song and their new album to him.... " |
Released only in Europe | #54 UK, #8 Germany, #19 Austria, #23 Netherlands |
| June 1989 | "One One (Bee Gees song) "One" is the second international single from the Bee Gees' album, One. This was the song that returned the Bee Gees to American radio and would turn out to be their biggest US hit in the 1980s. It peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1989, and it stayed in the Top 40 for ten... " |
Released worldwide | #7 US, #71 UK, #1 Brazil, #7 Argentina, #11 Canada, #37 Germany |
| October 1989 | "Tokyo Nights" | Released only in Europe and Asia | - |
| January 1990 | "Bodyguard Bodyguard (Bee Gees song) "Bodyguard" was the second American single off the Bee Gees' One album. In Europe and Asia, the A-side was "Tokyo Nights" instead of "Bodyguard". In Brazil, it was "Wish You Were Here".Lead vocals are provided by Robin Gibb.-Music video:... " |
Released only in the United States | #9 Adult Contemporary |
| January 1990 | "Wish You Were Here" | Released only promotionally in limited Latin-American and European countries | #2 Brazil |
Chart performance
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Germany | 4 (Gold) |
| Switzerland | 6 (Gold) |
| Netherlands | 15 |
| France | 16 (Gold) |
| Norway | 19 |
| Austria | 23 |
| United Kingdom | 29 |
| Australia | 36 (Gold) |
| Italy | 39 |
| Sweden | 42 |
| Canada | 46 |
| Japan | 63 |
| United States | 68 |