Circle of One
Circle of One is the third album by American vocalist, pianist, and songwriter Oleta Adams and was released on May 14, 1990, in Europe and on June 19, 1990, in the United States. Circle of One was Adams' first album to receive wide distribution; her two earlier albums were self-financed and received only local distribution.
History
After a successful collaboration with Tears for Fears on their 1989 album The Seeds of Love, Adams was offered a record deal of her own with Tears for Fears then-label Fontana Records. Produced by Tears for Fears' Roland Orzabal with Dave Bascombe, the album was initially unsuccessful as were the first two singles "Rhythm of Life" and "Circle of One". However, Adams had a hit in early 1991 with the third single from the album, her cover of Brenda Russell's "Get Here," which peaked at #4 in the UK Singles Chart and #5 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The album, which had received considerable critical acclaim, was re-released with two additional tracks and re-entered the UK Albums Chart at no.1 and made the Top 20 of the US Billboard 200. It was certified Gold in both the UK and the US and received two Grammy nominations. "Rhythm of Life" was actually released as a single four times in the UK. Each time, it missed the Top 40 until a remix of the track was released in late 1995 which peaked at no.38.An expanded double CD reissue was released in 2018 via Caroline International.
Track listing
- Note: Tracks 9 and 10 were not on the original 1990 release.
- "Don't Look Too Closely" 4:27
- "I've Got to Sing My Song" 4:31
- "Birdland" 3:17
- "Think Again"
- "Watch What Happens" 4:21
- "Don't Let the Sun [Go Down on Me]" 5:55
- "Rhythm of Life" 4:33
- "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" 3:40
- "Rhythm of Life" 4:19
- "Circle of One" 6:29
- "Circle of One" 4:18
- "Circle of One" 6:00
- "Circle of One" 6:06
- "Rhythm of Life" 8:05
- "Rhythm of Life" 5:40
- "Rhythm of Life" 4:07
- "Rhythm of Life" 5:08
- "Rhythm of Life" 5:21
- "Rhythm of Life" 6:35
- "Rhythm of Life" 9:22
- "Rhythm of Life" 7:17
Personnel
- Oleta Adams – vocals, keyboards, Hammond organ, acoustic piano, backing vocals
- David Bascombe – synthesizers
- Roland Orzabal – Fairlight programming, guitar solo, synthesizers, backing vocals
- Matthew Vaughan – additional programming
- Simon Clark – Hammond organ
- Neil Taylor – guitars
- Pino Palladino – bass
- John Cushon – drums
- Luís Jardim – percussion, ting
- Carole Steele – percussion
- Will Gregory – baritone saxophone
- Guy Barker – flugelhorn, brass, flugelhorn solo
- Phil Todd – brass, sax solo
- Chris White – brass
- John Barclay – brass
- William Orbit – rhythm arrangements
- Anne Dudley – brass arrangements, string arrangements
- Andy Caine – backing vocals
- Carol Kenyon – backing vocals
- Tessa Niles – backing vocals
- Ian Wilson – backing vocals
- Adele Bertei – backing vocals
- Biti Strauchn – backing vocals
- David Bascombe – producer
- Roland Orzabal – producer
- William Orbit – remixing
- Bob Ludwig – mastering at Masterdisk
- The Unknown Partnership – sleeve design
- David Scheinmann – photography