from THE ONE THING
Written by Michael Bolton, Diane Warren & Desmond Child
In the fall of 1993, Michael Bolton was at the top of his game as a hit-making singer/songwriter. After the immense, multiplatinum success of his 1992 album of covers titled Timeless (The Classics), Bolton published a new collection of original material called The One Thing. Back in the line-up of superstar producers were Walter Afanasieff and David Foster, both responsible for the sublime craft of Timeless (The Classics). On The One Thing, they were joined by Robert John “Mutt” Lange, another top music-maker with previous chart work under his belt for rockers including AC/DC, Foreigner, Bryan Adams and Def Leppard. With Bolton, Lange co-wrote and co-produced the top ten hit single off the album; a catchy pop/rock number titled “Said I Love You… But I Lied.”
Foster produced and arranged “Completely,” an evocative power ballad written by Diane Warren and the third single from The One Thing. “Completely” went to #32 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and was a #9 Adult Contemporary hit. A previous review of “Completely” can be found in the archives.
This week, the spotlight’s on “In The Arms Of Love,” the second Foster production on The One Thing and the album’s closing track. “In The Arms Of Love” was co-written by Bolton with Ms. Warren and Desmond Child, another king of power ballads and AOR (Album Oriented Rock) music. This composition featured an enchanting melody enriched by great orchestral work written by legendary arranger Jeremy Lubbock. Bolton’s heartfelt singing added the right amount of emotion to this romantic song. Foster’s understated production was a smart counterpart to the singer’s powerful vocal performance with just minimal keyboards and synths complementing the instrumental track. With its delicate and lush atmosphere, “In The Arms Of Love” was a bit different from the traditional adult contemporary stuff featured on The One Thing and more in line with the work that Bolton did with Foster on Timeless (The Classics). The One Thing sold three million copies in the US and six million worldwide. The One Thing was also the last album of Bolton’s career to achieve multi-platinum status.
Listen
[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/In-The-Arms-Of-Love-Michael-Bolton.mp3|titles=In The Arms Of Love|artists=Michael Bolton]
Lead Vocals: Michael Bolton
Keyboards: Randy Kerber
Synthesizer Programming: Simon Franglen
Orchestra Arranged & Conducted by Jeremy Lubbock
Produced by David Foster & Michael Bolton
Lyrics
I see your face and feel your heartache
I see the trace of the tears you have cried
The silent sound of the heart left unspoken
You were strong enough to hide
All your life, no one’s ever shown you
What it’s really like to have someone to hold you
In the arms of love, heaven’s just a heartbeat away
I’ll be your light in the dark, your shield from the storm
Your shelter from the rain
And in the arms of love I’ll lift you above all the madness
All of the pain
And you’ll be safe and warm here in the arms of love
We search this world for a little compassion
For just one look through the eyes of a child
For one more chance to be a believer
While there’s still a chance in time
All your life no one there beside you
Close your eyes and let this moment find you
In the arms of love, heaven’s just a heartbeat away
I’ll be your light in the dark, your shield from the storm
Your shelter from the rain
And in the arms of love I’ll lift you above all the madness
All of the pain
And you’ll be safe and warm here in the arms of love
High above the world where dreams are sailing
Far beyond the brightest shinin’ star
Where everything you’ve waited for is waiting
In the arms of love, heaven’s just a heartbeat away
I’ll be your light in the dark, your shield from the storm
Your shelter from the rain
And in the arms of love I’ll lift you above all the madness
All of the pain
And you’ll be safe and warm here in the arms of love
I’ll keep you far from harm here in the arms of love