BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1988
“One Moment in Time” is an Emmy Award winning song written by Albert Hammond and John Bettis, produced by Narada Michael Walden and recorded by American singer Whitney Houston for the 1988 Summer Olympics and the 1988 Summer Paralympics held in Seoul, South Korea.
The song’s melody was inspired by the timeless figure of Elvis Presley, with Hammond imagining it as being sung by Presley at the opening of the Olympics. It appeared on the album 1988 Summer Olympics Album: One Moment in Time, produced in conjunction with NBC Sports’ coverage of the Seoul games and which, in addition to Whitney Houston who sang it live at the main ceremony, also featured artists such as: The Four Tops, The Bee Gees, Eric Carmen, Taylor Dayne and the film composer John Williams. The track is an anthem for believing in yourself against all odds as Houston asks for “One moment in time/when I’m racing with destiny/Then, in that one moment of time, I will feel eternity”.
The video for the song does not show Houston performing the song but is a basic collage of clips from previous Olympic ceremonies. It opens with footage of Olympic games from 1924 and 1964 until the lighting of the cauldron from the 1988 games is shown which fades from black and white to color. As the song plays throughout, footage from the games in 1988 and 1984 are shown. When the chorus is sung for the last time, midway through it, scenes of the awarding from 1984 and 1988 are shown. The song video ends with the 1988 Olympic Cauldron blazing.
“One Moment in Time” was released by Arista Records in August 1988 as the first single from The 1988 Summer Olympics Album: One Moment in Time, the soundtrack to the Games in Seoul, South Korea. The song debuted at number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100, the issue dated September 10, 1988. Nine weeks later, it peaked at number five on the chart, the issue date of November 12, 1988, becoming Houston’s tenth top 10 hit on the Hot 100, and spent 17 weeks on the chart. It also debuted on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (formerly “Hot Black Singles”) at number 78, the issue dated September 17, 1988, and six weeks later reached a peak of 22, her lowest position on the R&B chart at the time. On the issue date of November 5, 1988, the single peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary chart, making it her seventh number-one single on the chart, and stayed on the top for two weeks. It ranked number 89 on the Billboard Hot 100 Year-End chart of 1988.
Worldwide, it was a big hit. In the United Kingdom, the song entered the UK Singles Chart at number 24, the week ending date of September 24, 1988, and within four weeks of its release reached the top position, a peak it maintained for two weeks, becoming Houston’s third UK number-one single.
This UK 12″ contains a super rare mix of “Love Will Save the Day”! This mix is an early version of the slightly easier to find Jellybean & Morales Mix, but this contains some vocal adlibs that never appeared in any other version of the song. And this 12″ is the only release it ever appeared on.
SIDE A:
Whitney Houston With London Symphony Orchestra* – One Moment In Time 4:44
Conductor – Michael Gibbs
Producer, Arranged By – Narada Michael Walden
Written-By – Hammond*, Bettis*
SIDE B:
Whitney Houston – Love Will Save The Day (Jellybean Remix) 7:26
Remix, Producer – Jellybean*
Written-By – Tony C*
Kashif – Olympic Joy (Instrumental) 4:02
Executive Producer – Clive Davis
Music By [Executive Music Supervisor] – Gary Borman
Producer, Written-By – Kashif
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
CHARTS:
Year | Single | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|---|
1988 | One Moment in Time | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #5 |
1988 | One Moment in Time | U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | #22 |
1988 | One Moment in Time | U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | #1 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Arista – 611 866
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Downtempo
NOTES:
From the album “One Moment In Time”
Find The 12″ On DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Adobe Photoshop CS5
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
Downsampled to 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
One of the best ballads from the 80s, and the very best Olympic theme ever. It truly captures what it must mean to dedicate oneself and sacrifice everything else for a chance of Olympic glory.
Also so fitting it was my favorite Olympics ever, with the only athlete that knew how to put together speed, style, spectacle and grace; Flo Jo!
Hi Paul
Love the rare remixes by whitney Houston, i wondered if you have or are aware of the uk single remix of Someone for me by Whitney. I remember in one of your previous posts about how much that song meant to you. It was the same for me. I have never been able to locate a HQ version of this single mix from the uk. I believe it was the first sing here in the UK, But it didn’t chart. I suspect that it is an edited down version of the 12″ remix by alan coulthard.
Thank you for this and all the Dead Or Alive you’ve been sharing lately.
Glad you enjoyed Paul. Guess we are lucky here with having a broadcaster like the BBC who as a public service broadcaster don’t ruin such events with advert (commercial to you!) breaks. Have to say their commentary was minimalistic as well so they didn’t spoil it like you say your guys did. Shame you missed out on Duran Duran. My ex is a huge DD fan and may well of Sky Plus’d it (Tivo I think is your version?). Am seeing her tomorrow so might be able to get it copied to my laptop and get it to you in… Read more »
hi ian that would be great if its not a lot of trouble 🙂
Nice idea to go with the Olympic theme Paul. Would be interested to know what you as an American made of the opening ceremony…was great from my perspective as a Brit but wonder if the rest of the world would have got it all?
Hi Ian. I loved the opening ceremonies. The only problem is that NBC broadcst the event and I did not like their coverage. Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira did the commentary and they talked all over the music and everything. It really took away from the whole thing. NBC also taped the ceremonies and broadcast it later in the evening so it was not a live event for us. I always remembered the Olympics being watched by the entire world all at once. The other problem was all of the commercial interuptions it was like watching the Super Bowl or… Read more »
You sure know how to add to the spirit of this one moment in time. This is really takes me back to that momentous time and one of the highlights of the late Whitney Houston. Thank you Dj PaulT
You’re welcome MusicdivaSF. I remember this moment also and you are right it was one of Whitney’s greatest moments.
Great, timely stuff, Paul. Thanks!
You’re welcome Mike!
Thank you thank you thank you! An epic Olympic anthem but also the super rare mix of Love Will Save the Day! This mix is an early version of the slightly easier to find Jellybean & Morales Mix, but this contains some vocal adlibs that never appeared in any other version of the song. And this 12″ is the only release it ever appeared on. Thanks so much!
You’re welcome Vermillion! You are correct this 12″ is pretty rare and the “Jellybean Remix” is exclusive to this particular UK 12″.
A wonderful and timely choice, Paul — and one of Whitney’s most inspiring moments. Love from Seoul! 😉
You’re welcome CakeSaint. Greetings to everyone in Seoul 🙂
I agree – the best Olympic song ever and the performance of a lifetime!
Yes, perfect time to post this, Paul. Thanks!
I was quite surprised by its Hot 100 and Hot R&B Singles chart performances back then.
On the back of her 7 straight #1s and the US Olympics, it seemed like a sure fire 8th #1 on the Hot 100.
Oh well…
I’ve been waiting for a while to post this one as I was waiting for the Olympics to start. Should have been the 8th #1.
How appropriate the timing of this. Thanks heaps.
You’re welcome Tan 🙂
Thanks so much! Do you have the other Love Will Save The Day remixes?
http://www.discogs.com/Whitney-Houston-Love-Will-Save-The-Day/release/772805
Hi Fred I think I have it here somewhere I’ll try to locate it. Cheers 🙂
Thanks!!
it’s Great in olimpic times.
You’re welcome Drake 🙂