We Too Are One is the seventh studio album by British pop duo Eurythmics, released on 11 September 1989 by RCA Records. It would be the duo's last studio release until 1999's Peace.
Background and release When it was released in 1989, the album debuted at number one in the United Kingdom, where it has since been certified double platinum. It spawned four singles, all of which reached the UK top 30: "Revival", "Don't Ask Me Why", "The King and Queen of America", and "Angel". In North America, "(My My) Baby's Gonna Cry" was also released as a single; it charted at number 58 in Canada, while failing to chart in the United States.
In an interview published in the 9 September 1989 edition of Music & Media, the publication listed the title track as a planned single rather than "Don't Ask Me Why". Stewart commented that the title track would have been backed with a song titled, "We Four Are Three", which "starts off with Annie whispering 'We Too Are One' with a repeat on it", that "just turns into this kind of psychedelic Indian raga.
On 14 November 2005, Sony BMG repackaged and released Eurythmics' back catalogue as Deluxe Edition reissues, including We Too Are One. The original track listing was supplemented with bonus tracks and remixes.
Home media A companion home video, We Two Are One Too, was released in 1990, featuring the music videos for the five singles from the album and footage of the band performing the album's other tracks. This is the only commercial release of the promotional video for the 1989 single "Revival", which has never been included on any subsequent video compilations from the band.
Critical reception In their review for New Musical Express, Terry Staunton thought that We Too Are One was a "very good pop record" that was a step down in quality from their previous album, Savage. Staunton concluded the review by saying that We Too Are One "may be regarded by some as a therapeutic exercise for the emotionally battered Annie Lennox, but it's also a lovingly-crafted record. Not quite a step forward after Savage, but more than a time-buying sidestep. Let's say they've gone diagonally."
Music & Media characterised We Too Are One as a "very commercial rock album, with lots of soulful swing and clever, semi-synthesized backings". They believed that "the strings and sound effects have been overdone in places", although they found the songs to be "powerful" with "catchy brass licks and punchy hooks". Writing for Smash Hits, Sian Pattenden felt that the album was "a fine LP filled with 'crashing' anthems", citing "Revival" and the title track as examples. Record Mirror was more critical of the album and lamented that the band had "found it necessary to not only resort to traditional instrumentation but also to ransacking the past."
Track listing
Personnel Credits adapted from the liner notes of We Too Are One.
Eurythmics Annie Lennox – vocals David A. Stewart – guitars, vocals
Additional musicians Pat Seymour – keyboards Olle Romo – drums Charlie Wilson – backing vocals Chucho Merchán – programming
Technical David A. Stewart – production Jimmy Iovine – production Bruce Lampcov – recording engineering, mixing engineering Don Smith – recording engineering, mixing engineering Manu Guiot – additional engineering Rob Jaczko, Serge Pauchard, Lee Manning – engineering assistance Tony Quinn, Eileen Gregory, Greg McCarty – production assistance
Artwork Jean-Baptiste Mondino – photography Laurence Stevens – design, artwork
Charts
Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for We Too Are One Chart (1989) Peakposition Belgian Albums (IFPI) 1 Danish Albums (Hitlisten) 1 European Albums (Music & Media) 3 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) 7 French Albums (IFOP) Select "EURYTHMICS" from the drop-down menu and click "OK". 11 Greek Albums (IFPI) 3 Irish Albums (IFPI) 2 Italian Albums (Musica e dischi) Select "Album" in the "Tipo" field, type "Eurythmics" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca". 6 Japanese Albums (Oricon) 51
Year-end charts + Year-end chart performance for We Too Are One Chart (1989) Position Australian Albums (ARIA) 58 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) 60 European Albums (Music & Media) 42 Norwegian Autumn Period Albums (VG-lista) 12 UK Albums (Gallup) 26
Certifications
References