The One＜限定盤＞

アルコールやドラッグの問題で矯正施設に入り、依存を克服したエルトンの復活を告げる傑作といわれる作品。ジャケットは友人の故ジャンニ・ヴェルサーチが手掛けている。タイトル曲"The One"の壮大さを始めとして、楽曲は重厚な印象を与える。エリック・クラプトンと競演した"Runnaway Train"は映画『リーサル・ウェポン3』に使用された。2022年最新リマスタリングの180g重量盤2枚組LP。

Elton John once claimed that he could remember The One among his latter-day albums because it was the first he recorded without drugs or alcohol. If true -- and there's no reason to doubt him -- that could be the reason why this has more character than most of his albums since the early '80s, holding together well in its deliberately measured, mature songcraft by Elton and Bernie Taupin. There's less gloss than on many of his late-'80s records, and John gives a fairly convincing performance throughout this set of pretty good songs. If there's any real problem, it's that the album just doesn't have many memorable songs. Though they're all reasonably melodic and well-crafted, none of the them have memorable musical or lyrical hooks and, if anything, Chris Thomas' production is too evenhanded. Still, even if it isn't memorable, it does represent a meaningful move forward, just because it does sound warmer and more considered than the records that immediately preceded it. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine