The One Thing (album)

The One Thing is the ninth album by Michael Bolton, released on November 16, 1993. Although it produced the hit single "Said I Loved You...But I Lied", which reached number 6 in the US, it did not match the sales of his previous three albums. Nevertheless, the album was still a respectable hit on its own, reaching number 3 on the Billboard 200 and being certified triple platinum in the US. It was also certified Platinum in the United Kingdom.

The One Thing
Studio album by Michael Bolton
Released	November 16, 1993
Recorded	June – September 1993
Studio	Out of Pocket Productions; Passion Studios (Westport, Connecticut); Record Plant (Los Angeles, California); Ocean Way Recording (Hollywood, California)
Genre	AOR, pop rock, soft rock adult contemporary
Length	51:31
Label	Columbia
Producer	Michael Bolton, Robert John "Mutt" Lange, Walter Afanasieff, David Foster
Michael Bolton chronology
The Artistry of Michael Bolotin (1993) The One Thing (1993) Greatest Hits (1985–1995) (1995)
Singles from The One Thing
"Said I Loved You...But I Lied" Released: October 26, 1993 "Soul of My Soul" Released: December 1993 "Completely" Released: March 1994 "Ain't Got Nothing If You Ain't Got Love" Released: April 1994 "Lean on Me" Released: July 1994

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Chicago Tribune	[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[3]

Like his previous album, Bolton co-produced all the tracks and co-wrote all but two songs.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Said I Loved You...But I Lied"	Michael Bolton; Robert John "Mutt" Lange	5:07
2.	"I'm Not Made of Steel"	Michael Bolton; Diane Warren; Robert John "Mutt" Lange	5:11
3.	"The One Thing"	Michael Bolton; Diane Warren; Desmond Child	5:11
4.	"Soul of My Soul"	Michael Bolton; Diane Warren; Walter Afanasieff	5:42
5.	"Completely"	Diane Warren	4:25
6.	"Lean on Me"	Bill Withers	5:20
7.	"Ain't Got Nothing If You Ain't Got Love"	Michael Bolton; Robert John "Mutt" Lange	5:04
8.	"A Time for Letting Go"	Michael Bolton; Diane Warren	5:38
9.	"Never Get Enough of Your Love"	Michael Bolton; Diane Warren; Walter Afanasieff	5:06
10.	"In the Arms of Love"	Michael Bolton; Diane Warren; Desmond Child	4:47
Total length:			51:31

UK bonus track

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
11.	"The Voice of My Heart"	Michael Bolton; Robert John "Mutt" Lange; Diane Warren; Desmond Child	4:47
Total length:			56:18

Personnel

• Michael Bolton – lead vocals, arrangements (3, 4, 8, 9)
• Phillip Nicholas – keyboards (1, 2), programming (1, 2, 7)
• Walter Afanasieff – arrangements (3, 4, 6, 8, 9), keyboards (3, 4, 6, 8, 9), synthesizers (3, 4, 6, 8, 9), synth bass (3, 4, 6, 8, 9), drum programming (3, 4, 6, 8, 9), rhythm programming (3, 4, 6, 8, 9), Hammond B3 organ (6)
• Gary Cirimelli – synthesizer programming (3, 4, 6, 8, 9), Macintosh programming (3, 4, 6, 8, 9), digital programming (4, 8, 9), backing vocals (9)
• Simon Franglen – additional synthesizer programming (3, 10)
• Ren Klyce – synthesizer programming (3, 6)
• David Foster – keyboards (5), arrangements (5), orchestra arrangements (5)
• Claude Gaudette – synthesizer programming (5)
• Randy Kerber – keyboards (10)
• Dann Huff – guitar (1, 2, 7), additional guitar (4), nylon guitar (4), guitar solo (9)
• Michael Landau – guitar (3, 4, 6, 8, 9)
• Michael Thompson – guitar (5)
• John Robinson – drums (5)
• Stephen "Doc" Kupka – baritone saxophone (6)
• Emilio Castillo – tenor saxophone (6)
• David Mann – tenor saxophone (6)
• Lee Thornburg – trombone (6), trumpet (6)
• Greg Adams – trumpet (6)
• Jeremy Lubbock – orchestra arrangements (5, 10) conductor (10)
• Joey Melotti – arrangements (6)
• Mutt Lange – backing vocals (1, 2, 7), rhythm guitar (7)
• Bridgette Bryant – backing vocals (3)
• Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals (3, 4, 6, 9)
• Pat Hawk – backing vocals (3, 4, 6, 7, 9)
• Dorian Holley – backing vocals (3, 4, 6, 9)
• Phillip Ingram – backing vocals (3, 4, 9)
• Van Johnson – backing vocals (3, 4, 6, 7, 9)
• Janis Liebhart – backing vocals (3, 4, 6, 7, 9)
• Johnny Britt – backing vocals (6)
• Portia Griffin – backing vocals (6)
• Phil Perry – backing vocals (6)
• Carmen Twillie – backing vocals (6)
• Mona Lisa Young – backing vocals (6)
• Patty Darcy – backing vocals (7)
• Stevie Vann – backing vocals (7)
• Skyler Jett – backing vocals (9)
• Claytoven Richardson – backing vocals (9)

Production

• Producers – Michael Bolton (all tracks); Robert John "Mutt" Lange (Tracks 1, 2 & 7); Walter Afanasieff (Tracks 3, 4, 6, 8 & 9); David Foster (Tracks 5 & 10)
• Engineers – Dave Reitzas (Tracks 1-10); Dana Jon Chappelle (Tracks 3, 4, 6, 8 & 9); Jan Mullaney (Track 4, 6 & 8); Humberto Gatica (Track 5)
• Second Engineers – Max Hayes (Tracks 1, 2 & 7); Geoff Hunt (Tracks 1, 2 & 7); Stephen McNamara Tracks 1, 2 & 7); Kyle Bess (Tracks 3, 4, 6, 8 & 9); Craig Brock (Tracks 3, 4, 6, 8, & 9); Bill Leonard (Tracks 3, 4 & 6); Steve Milo (Tracks 3, 4, 6, 8 & 9); Michael Reiter (Tracks 4, 5, 9 & 10); Manny Maroquin (Track 9)
• Mixing – Dave Bascome (Tracks 1, 2 & 7); Mick Guzauski (Tracks 3 & 6); Dana Jon Chappelle (Track 4, 8 & 9); Al Schmitt (Tracks 5 & 10)
• Mixed at The Enterprise (Burbank, California); Record Plant (Los Angeles, California); Out of Pocket Productions
• Mastering – Vlado Meller at Sony Music Studio Operations (New York, New York)
• Art direction – Christopher Austopchek
• Design – June Hong
• Photography – Timothy White
• Grooming – Nancy Sprague
• Stylist – Genina Aboittz

Charts

Chart performance for The One Thing

Chart (1993–1994)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[4]	1
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[5]	28
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[6]	65
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[7]	5
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[8]	4
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[9]	13
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[10]	8
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[11]	13
UK Albums (OCC)[12]	4
US Billboard 200[13]	3

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[14]	2× Platinum	140,000^^
Canada (Music Canada)[15]	3× Platinum	300,000^^
Europe (IFPI)[16]	Platinum	1,000,000^*
Germany (BVMI)[17]	Gold	250,000^^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[18]	Platinum	15,000^^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[19]	Gold	50,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[20]	Platinum	300,000^^
United States (RIAA)[21]	3× Platinum	3,000,000^^
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Allmusic review
2. Chicago Tribune review
3. Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 90. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. rolling stone michael bolton album guide.
4. "Australiancharts.com – Michael Bolton – The One Thing". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
5. "Austriancharts.at – Michael Bolton – The One Thing" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
6. "Dutchcharts.nl – Michael Bolton – The One Thing" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
7. "Offiziellecharts.de – Michael Bolton – The One Thing" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
8. "Charts.nz – Michael Bolton – The One Thing". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
9. "Norwegiancharts.com – Michael Bolton – The One Thing". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
10. "Swedishcharts.com – Michael Bolton – The One Thing". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
11. "Swisscharts.com – Michael Bolton – The One Thing". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
12. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
13. "Michael Bolton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
14. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
15. "Canadian album certifications – Michael Bolton – The One Thing". Music Canada. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
16. https://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-05-28.pdf
17. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Michael Bolton; 'The One Thing')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
18. "New Zealand album certifications – Michael Bolton – The One Thing". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
19. "Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990" (in Spanish). Iberautor Promociones Culturales. ISBN 8480486392.
20. "British album certifications – Michael Bolton – The One Thing". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 12 July 2019. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type The One Thing in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
21. "American album certifications – Michael Bolton – The One Thing". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 12 July 2019. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.