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The Last to Know

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"The Last to Know"
Song by Sheena Easton
from the album No Sound But a Heart
Released1987
Length5:16
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)
  • Brock Walsh
  • Phil Galdston
Producer(s)Nick Martinelli

"The Last to Know" is a song by Scottish singer Sheena Easton, included on her 1987 album, No Sound But a Heart. It was written by Brock Walsh and Phil Galdston, and produced by Nick Martinelli. Easton's album was not commercially successful and songs from No Sound But a Heart were later covered by other artists. "The Last to Know" was recorded by Canadian singer Celine Dion for her 1990 English-language debut album, Unison.

Celine Dion version

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"The Last to Know"
Single by Celine Dion
from the album Unison
Released11 March 1991 (1991-03-11)
Recorded1989–90
StudioWest Side Studios
(London)
GenrePop
Length4:34
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Brock Walsh
  • Phil Galdston
Producer(s)Christopher Neil
Celine Dion singles chronology
"Where Does My Heart Beat Now"
(1990) 		"The Last to Know"
(1991) 		"Beauty and the Beast"
(1991)
Music video
"The Last to Know" on YouTube

Canadian singer Celine Dion covered "The Last to Know" for her first English-language album, Unison (1990). The song was released by Columbia Records as the album's fourth single in Canada on 11 March 1991. Later, it was issued as a single in the rest of the world. The song was written by Brock Walsh and Phil Galdston, and originally recorded by Sheena Easton in 1987. Dion's version was produced by Christopher Neil.

After its release, "The Last to Know" received positive reviews from music critics. The song peaked at number sixteen in Canada and number seven on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart. It also reached number twenty-two on the US Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks. The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Dominic Orlando. Dion performed "The Last to Know" during her Unison Tour.[1]

Background and release

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"The Last to Know" was one of three covers recorded by Dion for her English-language album, Unison. Dion's version was produced by British record producer, Christopher Neil. It was released as the fourth single in Canada on 11 March 1991 and third single in the United States (June 1991) and the rest of the world (September 1991). In the United Kingdom, it was the second single, after "Where Does My Heart Beat Now". "The Last to Know"'s B-side included "Unison" (remix) in the United States and the album version of "Unison" in the rest of the world.

Critical reception

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Larry Flick from Billboard noted that Dion "returns to familiar ballad territory" and described it as a "lovely tune".[2] Entertainment Weekly editor Jim Farber wrote, "Tracks like "If Love Is Out the Question" and "The Last to Know" are lush vehicles, filled with routine hooks that Dion's distinctive voice raises to a higher level".[3] Christopher Smith from TalkAboutPopMusic described it as a "slow and sensual ballad full of atmosphere and synth-based backing tracks."[4]

Commercial performance

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In Canada, "The Last to Know" entered the RPM Top Singles chart on 16 March 1991 and peaked at number 16 on 25 May 1991. The song also entered RPM Adult Contemporary chart on 23 March 1991 and reached number seven there. In the United States, "The Last to Know" debuted on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart dated 13 July 1991 and peaked at number 22 on 31 August 1991.

Live performances

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Dion performed "The Last to Know" on The Tonight Show in March 1991, and also during her 1990–91 Unison Tour.

Track listings and formats

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  • Australian cassette and CD / Japanese mini CD single
  1. "The Last to Know" – 4:34
  2. "Unison" – 4:12
  • Canadian cassette / European 7-inch and cassette single
  1. "The Last to Know" (edit) – 4:18
  2. "Unison" – 4:12
  • European CD single
  1. "The Last to Know" (edit) – 4:18
  2. "Unison" – 4:12
  3. "If We Could Start Over" – 4:23
  • US 7-inch and cassette single
  1. "The Last to Know" (edit) – 4:18
  2. "Unison" (remix) – 4:04

Charts

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Credits and personnel

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Recording
  • Recorded at West Side Studios, London
Personnel
  • Celine Dion – lead vocals
  • Christopher Neil – producer, backing vocals
  • Brock Walsh – songwriter
  • Phil Galdston – songwriter
  • Steve Pigott – keyboards, bass, drums, percussion
  • Alan Carvell – backing vocals
  • Linda Taylor – backing vocals
  • Simon Hurrell – engineer

Release history

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"The Last to Know" release history
Region Date Format Label
Japan[13] 25 July 1991 Mini CD SMEJ
United Kingdom[14][15] 4 November 1991
  • 7-inch
  • cassette
  • CD
 Epic
11 November 1991 7-inch with a poster

References

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  1. ^ Glatzer, Jenna (2005). Céline Dion: For Keeps. Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 0-7407-5559-5.
  2. ^ "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 6 July 1991. p. 63. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Unison (1991)". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 25 June 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  4. ^ Smith, Christopher (12 October 2019). "REVIEW: 'UNISON' – CELINE DION". TalkAboutPopMusic. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 14 November 2016". Imgur.com. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1528." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  7. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1517." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  8. ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 25 May 1991. p. 63. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  9. ^ Nanda Lwin (1999). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
  10. ^ "Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec" (in French). BAnQ. Archived from the original on 9 August 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  11. ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  12. ^ "RPM 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1991". RPM. 21 December 1991. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  13. ^ "セリーヌ・ディオンの作品" (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  14. ^ "New Releases" (PDF). Music Week. 2 November 1991. p. 23. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  15. ^ "New Releases" (PDF). Music Week. 9 November 1991. p. 21. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
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