"One Step Ahead" is a song by English singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw, released on 23 January 1989 as the lead single from his fourth studio album The Works (1989). It was written by Kershaw, and produced by Kershaw and Julian Mendelsohn. A music video was filmed to promote the single,[2] and Kershaw also performed it on the Dutch TV show POP Formule.
"One Step Ahead" reached No. 55 in the UK and remained in the charts for two weeks. It would be Kershaw's last appearance on the UK singles chart until 1999's "Somebody Loves You".[3]
Kershaw began writing material for his fourth studio album in early 1987 and went to Los Angeles later in the year to record with producer Peter Wolf. Ten tracks were completed, but Kershaw was ultimately dissatisfied with the results. When he returned to England, he began remixing and re-recording the material with the help of Julian Mendelsohn. Kershaw also decided to drop two of the intended tracks and replace them with two new ones, "One Step Ahead" and "Elisabeth's Eyes".[4]
In a 1989 interview with Record Mirror, Kershaw said of the song, "It was written when the Olympics were on. All that training for a piece of metal. There must be more to it than that."[5]
Critical receptionedit
On its release, Music & Media described "One Step Ahead" as "well crafted pop with funky overtones" and added, "Check out the extended up-beat chorus on the end".[6] Tony Beard of Record Mirror commented, "Nik now makes adult pop for people with a Level 42 fixation. It's all fairly jaunty, a semi-serious funk strut, but it sounds as if it's trying too hard, aiming for the charts and the plaudits and just about achieving neither."[7]
^ ab"NIK KERSHAW | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
^"The big Nik Kershaw interview". Webcache.googleusercontent.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^Morton, Roger (4 February 1989). "All Grown Up". Record Mirror. p. 9.
^"Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 21 January 1989. p. 25 – via World Radio History.
^Beard, Tony (11 February 1989). "45". Record Mirror. p. 27.
step, ahead, kershaw, song, step, ahead, song, english, singer, songwriter, kershaw, released, january, 1989, lead, single, from, fourth, studio, album, works, 1989, written, kershaw, produced, kershaw, julian, mendelsohn, music, video, filmed, promote, single. One Step Ahead is a song by English singer songwriter Nik Kershaw released on 23 January 1989 as the lead single from his fourth studio album The Works 1989 It was written by Kershaw and produced by Kershaw and Julian Mendelsohn A music video was filmed to promote the single 2 and Kershaw also performed it on the Dutch TV show POP Formule One Step Ahead Single by Nik Kershawfrom the album The WorksB side When I Grow Up Released23 January 1989 1989 01 23 1 GenrePop rockLength3 53 album version 3 38 single version 8 14 extended version LabelMCASongwriter s Nik KershawProducer s Nik Kershaw Julian MendelsohnNik Kershaw singles chronology James Cagney 1987 One Step Ahead 1989 Elisabeth s Eyes 1989 Music video One Step Ahead on YouTube One Step Ahead reached No 55 in the UK and remained in the charts for two weeks It would be Kershaw s last appearance on the UK singles chart until 1999 s Somebody Loves You 3 Contents 1 Background 2 Critical reception 3 Formats 4 Personnel 5 Charts 6 References 7 External linksBackground editKershaw began writing material for his fourth studio album in early 1987 and went to Los Angeles later in the year to record with producer Peter Wolf Ten tracks were completed but Kershaw was ultimately dissatisfied with the results When he returned to England he began remixing and re recording the material with the help of Julian Mendelsohn Kershaw also decided to drop two of the intended tracks and replace them with two new ones One Step Ahead and Elisabeth s Eyes 4 In a 1989 interview with Record Mirror Kershaw said of the song It was written when the Olympics were on All that training for a piece of metal There must be more to it than that 5 Critical reception editOn its release Music amp Media described One Step Ahead as well crafted pop with funky overtones and added Check out the extended up beat chorus on the end 6 Tony Beard of Record Mirror commented Nik now makes adult pop for people with a Level 42 fixation It s all fairly jaunty a semi serious funk strut but it sounds as if it s trying too hard aiming for the charts and the plaudits and just about achieving neither 7 Formats edit7 inch single One Step Ahead 3 38 When I Grow Up 3 3912 inch single One Step Ahead Industrial Mix 8 14 One Step Ahead 7 Version 3 38 When I Grow Up 3 39CD single One Step Ahead 7 Version 3 38 When I Grow Up 3 39 Wouldn t It Be Good 4 32 The Riddle 3 53Personnel editNik Kershaw producer and mixing on One Step Ahead and When I Grow Up Julian Mendelsohn producer of One Step Ahead mixing on One Step Ahead and When I Grow Up remixer on One Step Ahead Industrial Mix Paul Wright engineer on One Step Ahead Industrial Mix Dave Eden assistant engineer on One Step Ahead Industrial Mix Charts editChart 1989 PeakpositionUK Singles Chart 3 55References edit Strymowicz Anita 28 January 1989 A amp R Talent Growing up in public PDF Music Week p 20 via World Radio History Nik Kershaw One step ahead mvdbase com Retrieved 6 April 2019 a b NIK KERSHAW full Official Chart History Official Charts Company Officialcharts com Retrieved 6 April 2019 The big Nik Kershaw interview Webcache googleusercontent com Archived from the original on 1 December 2012 Retrieved 10 September 2012 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link Morton Roger 4 February 1989 All Grown Up Record Mirror p 9 Previews Singles PDF Music amp Media 21 January 1989 p 25 via World Radio History Beard Tony 11 February 1989 45 Record Mirror p 27 External links editOne Step Ahead at Discogs list of releases Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title One Step Ahead Nik Kershaw song amp oldid 1130215370, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
