One for Sorrow (song)

"One for Sorrow" is a song by British pop-dance group Steps, released as the third single from their debut album, Step One (1998). It also became the quintet's first single to reach the top five on the UK Singles Chart. Debuting at number two and spending 11 weeks on the UK chart, the song established Steps's intention to revive the ABBA sound, striking a considerable resemblance to their 1980 hit "The Winner Takes It All". A remixed version became their debut US single in 1999 and was featured on the Drive Me Crazy film soundtrack. It peaked at number 38 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in October 1999.

Release
Unlike Steps' previous single "Last Thing on My Mind", which featured solo vocals by all three women, Claire Richards performs lead vocals on all of the verses, harmonising with Faye Tozer, before the entire group join in for the chorus.

On 29 July 2015, Richards premiered a new solo acoustic version of the track at an event celebrating Pete Waterman's career at the Royal Festival Hall. This was her first solo single, and was released the following day via her official SoundCloud.

Chart performance
"One for Sorrow" reached number two in the United Kingdom on 30 August 1998, during its first week on the UK Singles Chart, and spent 11 weeks on the listing. The song reached number one in the Flanders region of Belgium and entered the top 10 in Ireland as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100. Outside Europe, "One for Sorrow" peaked at number 13 in New Zealand, number 26 on the Canadian RPM Dance 30 chart, and number 34 in Australia. In the US, the song peaked at number 38 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in October 1999.

Critical reception
AllMusic editor Jon O'Brien described the song as "melancholic dance-pop". Lucas Villa from AXS noted that Richards "took the song's tragic wordplay to church in a powerhouse performance." He added that it "stands as one of Steps' finest pop moments." Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "U.K. youth quintet Steps is all about conjuring up the timeless ABBA in its debut U.S. single, a joyous romp that will propel hands into the air and, with the proper push from Jive, send this song into the upper reaches of the pop charts—where it's already been across much of Europe. This U.S. mix is the tastiest kind of bubble gum, with a happy-go-lucky dance beat from production maestro Tony Moran; a solid, zippy vocal; and a sing-along chorus that sticks with maddening proficiency." A reviewer from Birmingham Evening Mail commented, "The nearest thing you'll get to an ABBA tribute song in the top ten. This sounds just like the Swedes around the time their complex inter-band relationships were hitting a rocky patch."

Can't Stop the Pop described "One for Sorrow" as a "brilliant moment in '90s pop music", adding that "this is pop music with a heart". They complimented Richard's vocals, stating that the track is "the perfect showcase for the power and range of her vocals." Scottish newspaper Daily Record stated, "It sounds like ABBA, but Steps prove they are the real thing with their biggest hit yet". Gary James from Entertainment Focus noted that "starting with the rain effect and gentle tickle of the piano, Claire’s voice tells the tale of wanting love but getting uncertainity &#91;sic&#93; as it builds to a big power chorus." Sunday Mirror commented, "Pop's next big things crank up the ABBA again minus the beards thankfully."

Music video
There were made two different music videos for the song; one for the European market and one for the US market. The first one was filmed in Italy. In the beginning, Claire performs alone inside a villa, standing by a window. Later the group performs in front of a field of sunflowers.

Track listings

 * UK CD1 and Australian CD single
 * 1) "One for Sorrow" – 4:20
 * 2) "One for Sorrow" (instrumental) – 4:20
 * 3) "Too Weak to Resist" – 3:50


 * UK CD2
 * 1) "One for Sorrow" – 4:20
 * 2) "One for Sorrow" (W.I.P. Remix) – 6:53
 * 3) "One for Sorrow" (a cappella mix) – 4:16


 * UK cassette single
 * 1) "One for Sorrow" – 4:20
 * 2) "One for Sorrow" (W.I.P. Remix) – 6:53


 * European CD single
 * 1) "One for Sorrow" – 4:20
 * 2) "One for Sorrow" (instrumental) – 4:20


 * US CD single
 * 1) "One for Sorrow" (US mix) – 3:30
 * 2) "One for Sorrow" (UK mix) – 4:22


 * US 12-inch single
 * A1. "One for Sorrow" (Tony Moran's extended club) – 8:12
 * A2. "One for Sorrow" (original version) – 4:17
 * B1. "One for Sorrow" (Soul Solution extended vocal mix) – 5:05
 * B2. "One for Sorrow" (Pimp Juice's Summer Fung 12-inch) – 6:38

A-side: "One for Sorrow"
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Step One.

Recording
 * Recorded at PWL Studios, Manchester in 1998
 * Mixed at PWL Studios, Manchester
 * Mastered at Transfermation Studios, London

Vocals
 * Lead vocals – Claire Richards
 * Background vocals – Faye Tozer, Lisa Scott-Lee, Lee Latchford-Evans, Ian "H" Watkins

Personnel
 * Songwriting – Mark Topham, Karl Twigg, Lance Ellington
 * Production – Karl Twigg, Mark Topham, Pete Waterman
 * Mixing – Les Sharma
 * Engineer – Chris McDonnell
 * Drums – Chris McDonnell
 * Keyboards – Karl Twigg
 * Guitars – Mark Topham, Barry Upton
 * Banjo – Sean Lyons
 * Violin – Chris Haigh

B-side: "Too Weak to Resist"
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Step One.

Recording
 * Recorded at PWL Studios, Manchester in 1998
 * Mixed at PWL Studios, Manchester
 * Mastered at Transfermation Studios, London

Vocals
 * Lead vocals – Ian "H" Watkins
 * Background vocals – Claire Richards, Faye Tozer, Lisa Scott-Lee, Lee Latchford-Evans

Personnel
 * Songwriting – Dan Frampton
 * Production – Dan Frampton, Pete Waterman
 * Mixing – Dan Frampton
 * Engineer – Dan Frampton, Chris McDonnell
 * Drums – Pete Waterman
 * Keyboards – Dan Frampton, Karl Twigg
 * Guitars – Greg Bone