One Year

This article is about the album. For the YouTube channel with a Latin version of that name, see Unus Annus.

1971 studio album by Colin Blunstone

One Year

Studio album by

Colin Blunstone

Released| November 1971
Recorded| 1970–1971
Studio| Abbey Road Studios and Sound Techniques, London[1]
Genre| Chamber pop, rock
Length| 33:17
Label| Epic
Producer| Rod Argent, Chris White
Colin Blunstone chronology
|  | One Year
(1971)  | Ennismore
(1972)

|
|

Singles from  One Year

1. "Mary Won't You Warm My Bed"
Released: 1971
2. "Caroline Goodbye"
Released: 1971
3. "Say You Don't Mind"
Released: 1972

One Year is the debut solo studio album by English singer-songwriter Colin Blunstone, a member of the Zombies. It was released by Epic Records in 1971. It includes "Say You Don't Mind", which peaked at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart.[2]

## Production

[edit]

After the Zombies disbanded in 1968, Blunstone left the music business only to return after the surprise success of "Time of the Season".[3] Recorded between 1970 and 1971, One Year was co-produced by Blunstone's former Zombie colleagues Rod Argent and Chris White.[3] Some of the songs had previously been recorded during the last days of the Zombies, although they were re-recorded for this album. The distinctive string arrangements on six of the tracks were made by Christopher Gunning.

The album chronicled a year in Blunstone's life, during which he broke up with his then-girlfriend, actress Caroline Munro, to whom "Caroline, Goodbye" is obviously addressed.

## Reception

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Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music| [4]
The Rolling Stone Record Guide| [5]

Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Fred Thomas wrote: "Marked by a thoughtfulness that’s always on the brink of despair, One Year is an understated masterpiece. It drifts by quickly but connects immediately, capturing the same stir of conflicting feelings as remembering a time that will never happen again, or a romance you wish hadn’t ended quite so soon."[3] Neil Tennant said: "It's an incredibly romantic album, which is why it's been with me such a long time."[6] Thurston Moore called it "a gorgeous example of classic British pop music."[7] He added: "It's very personal, very sophisticated in its sentiment."[7]

In 2007, The Guardian included it on the "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die" list.[8]

## Track listing

[edit]

No.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

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1.| "She Loves the Way They Love Her"| Rod Argent, Chris White| 2:49
2.| "Misty Roses"| Tim Hardin| 5:04
3.| "Smokey Day"| Rod Argent, Chris White| 3:13
4.| "Caroline Goodbye"| Colin Blunstone| 2:54
5.| "Though You Are Far Away"| Colin Blunstone| 3:24
6.| "Mary Won't You Warm My Bed"| Mike d'Abo| 3:11
7.| "Her Song"| Rod Argent, Chris White| 3:31
8.| "I Can't Live Without You"| Colin Blunstone| 3:27
9.| "Let Me Come Closer to You"| Colin Blunstone| 2:24
10.| "Say You Don't Mind"| Denny Laine| 3:20

2006 reissue edition bonus trackNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

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11.| "I Hope I Didn't Say Too Much Last Night" (mono single version)| Colin Blunstone| 3:30

2010 reissue edition bonus tracksNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

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11.| "I Hope I Didn't Say Too Much Last Night" (mono single version)| Colin Blunstone| 3:30
12.| "Mary Won't You Warm My Bed" (mono single version)| Mike d'Abo| 3:06

## Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from liner notes.

Musicians

* Colin Blunstone – vocals, guitar
* Rod Argent – keyboards (1, 4 & 6)
* Russ Ballard – guitar (1, 4 & 6)
* Jim Rodford – bass guitar (1, 4 & 6)
* Robert Henrit – drums (1, 4 & 6)
* Alan Crosthwaite – guitar (2)

Technical personnel

* Chris White – production
* Rod Argent – arrangement (1, 4 & 6), production
* Chris Gunning – arrangement (2, 3, 5, 7, 8 & 10)
* Tony Visconti – arrangement (4 & 6)
* John Fiddy – arrangement (9)
* Jerry Boys – engineering (1 & 2)
* Peter Vince – engineering (2-10)
* Paul Ostrer – photography

## References

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1. ^ "The Making of One Year - featuring Colin Blunstone". Life of the Record. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
2. ^ "Colin Blunstone". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
3. ^ a b c d Thomas, Fred. "One Year - Colin Blunstone". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
4. ^ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
5. ^ The Rolling Stone Record Guide. Random House. 1979. p. 40.
6. ^ "Music's secret weapons (part two)". The Guardian. 6 October 2006. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
7. ^ a b Barker, Emily (19 September 2014). "Foo Fighters, The Killers, St Vincent – 30 Huge Artists On Their Favourite 'Lost' Albums". NME. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
8. ^ "Artists beginning with B (part 1)". The Guardian. 17 November 2007. Retrieved 9 March 2019.

## External links

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* One Year at Discogs (list of releases)
* One Year at MusicBrainz (list of releases)

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

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*[No.]: Number