Elton John's popularity fizzled in the late 80's, but he came back as strong as ever in the 90's. His album, The One, reflected upon many challenges Elton found himself in at that time of his life. He was recovering from drugs and alcohol, and mourned the deaths of Queen's Freddy Mercury, and Ryan White.

The songs on The One are as dynamic and energetic as you could expect from Elton. Songs like The Last Song, Runaway Train (with Eric Clapton) and Simple Life, reflect on moving on from roads that have been harshly traveled, and the rebirth of life anew. The songs also reflected Bernie Taupin, Elton's longtime collaborator. At the time, he was going through a difficult divorce. Songs like When A Woman Doesn't Want You, On Dark Street, and Understanding Women, still shows feelings of that lost love.

Although The One was originally remastered in the U.K. in 1998, its presence in America remastered is just as strong as you could expect from Elton John. It still proves that Elton John will always be The One.

From 1989 through 1995, Elton John released three albums, "Sleeping With the Past", "The One", and "Made in England" which were a radical departure from his commercially-oriented 1980s albums, and they should be regarded by his fans as among his best. Of these three, "The One" may be the most impressive of them all, since he wrote spellbinding blues and country-flavored pop ballads and rock and roll anthems, which were coupled to some of Bernie Taupin's most eloquently written lyrics. Working again with producer Chris Thomas, the producer of virtually all of his albums in the previous decade, Elton discarded much of the heavily orchestrated synthesizers which were characteristic of much of his 1980s work, emphasizing instead, a fine studio session band that included long-time associate - now musical director of the Elton John Band - guitarist Davey Johnstone, Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, guitarist Adam Seymour (most recently with The Pretenders), bassist Pino Palladino (probably best known now for his recent work with The Who and John Mayer) and then relatively new band member keyboardist Guy Babylon, who had joined the Elton John Band in time for the recording session of "Sleeping With the Past". Musically, "The One" was Elton's most innovative album in the 1990s, and included not only blues and country, as well as pop and rock and roll, but also Motown/Philly Soul too. Collectively, the songs in "The One" still sound rather fresh, as if this album was released only this year, not back in 1992, constituting the John/Taupin songwriting team's best body of work until their late 2006 album "The Captain and the Kid". Without question, this album, even in its digitally remastered version (It was supervised by Elton John's original producer, Gus Dudgeon.), remains an essential Elton John CD and should belong in the collections of both fellow Elton John fans and those interested in hearing his music, but are unfamiliar with it.

"Simple Life", the album's first song, is a highly energetic rock and roll anthem that looks back briefly at Bernie's and Elton's turbulent 1980s, and though it does rely on Olle Romo's ornately layered keyboard and drum synthesizers, Elton sings with ample conviction, determined to seek the "simple life". "The One", the second - and title - song of the album, is one of the most beautifully crafted ballads from the John/Taupin songwriting team, with a drum solo from Olle Romo that sounds so convincingly like Nigel Olsson's; it was an instant classic when it was released in the United States as a chart-topping Billboard single and remains so to this day (It also remains a personal favorite of mine.); here Elton sings with ample feeling about finding "The One" great love in a man's life, with some of his best singing period. "Sweat It Out" is a less convincing, rather terse, synthesizer-flavored song, in which John's singing and songwriting are overtaken by Taupin's bitter, extremely eloquent, lyrics. "Runaway Train" is a bluesy rock and roll anthem sung convincingly by Elton and Eric Clapton, in which they seek to steer their lives "...from the errors of our ways...", using the metaphor of a runaway train as a graphically brief description of their own lives (It was co-written with Olle Romo and features a brilliant organ solo from Guy Babylon, as well as splendid guitar playing from Clapton and Davey Johnstone.). "Whitewash County" is the John/Taupin songwriting team's biting, satirical rebuke of former Ku Klux Klansman David Duke - who was running for statewide office in Louisiana at that time - set to a lively, bluegrass/country beat with some eloquent fiddling that could be from the likes of New York-based bluegrass/country/folk musicians Jay Ungar and Dotty Moore.

"When A Woman Doesn't Want You" is another country-tinged ballad that deals with the serious issues of date rape and rejection, that's yet another of this album's great songs; it features backing vocals from Kiki Dee and - then former - original Elton John Band drummer Nigel Olsson. "Emily" seems to borrow the melody of "Simple Life" in recounting the "Eleanor Rigby"-like tale of an old woman, Emily, whose friends are found now in the cemetary near her home; it's yet another fine ballad from the John/Taupin songwriting team that could have been issued as a single. "On Dark Street" is Elton John's and Bernie Taupin's Motown/Philly Soul tribute that would have been appropriate for their previous album "Sleeping With the Past", and sounds like a bitter update of "Philadelphia Freedom", with excellent background vocals again from Kiki Dee and Nigel Olsson. "Understanding Women" is another fine, feminine-oriented ballad from Elton John and Bernie Taupin, but pales in comparison with both "When A Woman Doesn't Want You", and the next song, the final original track on "The One", "The Last Song". "The Last Song", often viewed by many as the best song from this album (An assessment I agree completely with.), is the bittersweet ballad of a man dying from AIDS who is finally reconciled with his father shortly before his death; like "The One" it is yet another classic John/Taupin ballad, replete with excellent singing from "Captain Fantastic" himself. The last two songs, both bonus tracks not included in the original album release of "The One"; "Suit Of Wolves" and "Fat Boy And Ugly Girls," were released originally with the CD single "The One". This remastered version of "The One" also includes the original Patrick Demarchelier cover photograph of Elton and album design by noted fashion designer Gianni Versace, and an excellent liner notes commentary about this album's artistic importance from British music critic Peter Robinson.

There are plenty of other very good reviews regarding the actual contents of this cd. My review is simply about the "re-mastering" of the music. Be aware that some of Island Records releases of Elton John's studio albums are nothing more than a straight re-issue. Examples are "Live In Australia" and "Greatest Hits 1976 to 1986". This re-issue of "The One", is actually Re-Mastered with improved sound quality and Two Bonus Tracks! The cd has slightly more overall output and better bottom-end. I have an original MCA copy that was released in 1992, and did a direct comparison.

I prefer Elton John's "Classic Years", the 1970's music the most, but since I am a big fan, I've been tring to purchase everything he's put out. The 90's pop sound is just not my cup of tea, that's the only reason for the 3 star rating. Just my personal opinion.

I purchased this CD to replace a cassette. As I listened again to the wonderful tracks I was reminded of the quality of Elton John's music. An older collection of tracks that are no less entertaining now than they were when the were first released. Some believe fine wine improves with age and so it must be said of this CD in this reviewer's opinion. Each track, each note, each melody is as rich and flavorful as ever. It is refreshing to know some things are as dependable over time and can be enjoyed over and over again, better than fine wine.

When it came to Elton John's classic touch, many critics have pondered if Elton still had when it came to the 1990's. After battling through his problems with poor records during the 80's, and an difficult battle with drugs and alcoholism, he definitely made that gamble, and became a new soul. His songs still had a great touch, and that showed well with his 1991 duet with George Michael on Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me. Nevertheless, the timing was right for him to shine again like he did in the 1970's, and he definitely delivered on what would be one his best and deeply heartfelt records ever. This is definitely that way, truly the one from Elton.

Elton John's 2001 re-release of his classic 1992 album The One was dedicated very well with heart and soul. The songs sound better than ever, although they were remastered in the U.K. 3 years earlier. The songs showcase boldly, reflecting on failures of marriage, and learning lessons from loss. The album includes a lot of great tracks including the somber The Last Song, a song Elton recorded about AIDS, which showed with the losses of Freddie Mercury of Queen, and Ryan White, as well as his chart-topping ballad The One. There are also so many other great guilty pleasures like the overlooked Simple Life, a song that Elton broke the record Elvis Presley held onto for most years in a row in the Top 40. There are also great tracks that were featured as B-Sides that were also written well added on the album, Suit Of Wolves and the upbeat Fat Boys & Ugly Girls. The album sounds livlier than ever, and brings in more signifigance from the artwork of the albums' cover, designed by the late Gianni Versace, to the soul of the album.

All in all, while so many people may overlook The One, in favor of Elton's 70's records like Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, it is a great album that really is worth listening too. I really love this record, and it is a great buy for die hard Elton fans, and anyone who has yet to believe in the one.

Album Cover: B+

Songs: A-

Price: A-

Remastering: A

Overall: A 1/2-