Maps of Music

The One (1992)

Where the lyrics of The One take you, and where it was really made.

The One reached No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart for three weeks running but was kept from the top spot by a Lionel Richie compilation.

Key places

Recorded at Studio Guillaume Tell, Paris (1992)

Recording site Guillaume Tell Studios (Paris) — The One was recorded at Studio Guillaume Tell in Paris, produced by Chris Thomas. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• The One: twenty-third studio album by British musician Elton John
• Released 22 June 1992
• Produced by Chris Thomas, managed by John Reid
• Dedicated to Vance Buck
• Cover artwork designed by Gianni Versace

Background

• First album project since John's rehabilitation from drug and alcohol addictions and bulimia in 1990
• Olle Romö collaborated with John and lyricist Bernie Taupin on one song, Runaway Train
• Eric Clapton sang a duet with John on Runaway Train
• David Gilmour of Pink Floyd appeared, playing guitar on Understanding Women
• Nigel Olsson, Kiki Dee and Davey Johnstone provided backing vocals on a few songs
• John returned to an acoustic piano (Yamaha Disklavier) in place of the Roland RD-1000 used on Reg Strikes Back (1988) and Sleeping with the Past (1989)
• The RD-1000 returned during The One Tour and on the later album Duets (1993)

Recording

• Recorded at Studio Guillaume Tell in Paris
• Guy Babylon played keyboards and programming on most tracks
• Pino Palladino played bass
• David Nicholas was the engineer, with Andy Strange as assistant engineer
• The Hit Factory London handled the cutting

Cover

• Cover artwork designed by Gianni Versace
• Photography by Patrick Dermarchelier

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in Pinner, Middlesex, on 25 March 1947.
• Won a junior scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at age 11.
• Formed the blues band Bluesology in 1962; took the name Elton John in 1967.
• Joined DJM Records as a staff songwriter with lyricist Bernie Taupin in 1968.

Members

• Partnered with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967; Taupin writes lyrics and John composes the music.
• Backing band over the years included Davey Johnstone, Nigel Olsson, Dee Murray and Ray Cooper.

Career

• Debut album Empty Sky (1969); Honky Château (1972) became his first US number-one album.
• Seven consecutive US number-one albums between 1972 and 1975.
• Composed The Lion King and Aida with Tim Rice; won Academy Awards and a Tony Award.
• Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour (2018–2023) was the highest-grossing tour at the time.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Released 22 June 1992 as John's twenty-third studio album
• Spent three consecutive weeks at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart
• Kept from No. 1 by the Lionel Richie compilation Back to Front
• Only studio album by John to reach number one in Germany
• Cover artwork designed by Gianni Versace
• Album dedicated to Vance Buck
• Recorded at Studio Guillaume Tell in Paris, produced by Chris Thomas
• Engineered by David Nicholas, with Andy Strange as assistant engineer
• Songs composed by John and Bernie Taupin, except Runaway Train, co-written by Olle Romö
• Eric Clapton sang a duet with John on Runaway Train
• David Gilmour played guitar on Understanding Women
• Pino Palladino played bass on the album
• Kiki Dee, Nigel Olsson and Davey Johnstone sang backing vocals on several songs
• John returned to acoustic piano (Yamaha Disklavier) in place of the Roland RD-1000 used on his two previous albums
• First album project since his rehabilitation from addictions and bulimia in 1990

Records

• Biggest-selling John album in the US since 1976
• Certified 2× platinum in the US by the RIAA
• Managed by John Reid

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The album was dedicated to Vance Buck, and its cover was designed by Gianni Versace.
• Olle Romö co-wrote Runaway Train with John and Taupin, the one song on which Clapton sang a duet with John.
• David Gilmour of Pink Floyd also played guitar on Understanding Women.
• John returned to an acoustic piano (Yamaha Disklavier) instead of the Roland RD-1000 used on earlier albums.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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