One Step Ahead (Nik Kershaw song)

"One Step Ahead"
Single by Nik Kershaw
from the album The Works
B-side	When I Grow Up
Released	1989
Format	7" single, 12" single, CD single
Genre	Pop, Rock
Length	3:38
Label	MCA Records
Writer(s)	Nik Kershaw
Producer	Julian Mendelsohn, Nik Kershaw
Nik Kershaw singles chronology
"James Cagney" (1987) "One Step Ahead" (1989) "Elisabeth's Eyes" (1989)

"One Step Ahead" is the first single of 1989 from English musician Nik Kershaw. The single was the first single from Kershaw since 1987 and was first of two singles from the Kershaw's fourth album "The Works".

Since 1986, Kershaw's commercial success was declining with his singles charting lower and lower from the top 20 chart. "One Step Ahead" managed to peak at #55 in the UK for a total of two weeks.^[1] This was Kershaw's last appearance on the UK singles chart until 1999 where he made his only appearance since with the single "Somebody Love You" which peaked at #70 for one week.^[2]

A promotional video was created for the single.^[3] As the single didn't enter the top 40, the song was never performed on Top of the Pops. The song was also performed on the Dutch TV show "POP Formule".^[4]

"One Step Ahead" was written by Kershaw who would write most of his material solely.^[5] The song was produced by Julian Mendelsohn and Kershaw. Mendelsohn is a British producer who has worked with numerous artists such as Pet Shop Boys, Elton John, Jimmy Page, Bob Marley and Paul McCartney.^[6]

The b-side for the single "When I Grow Up" was exclusive to the single, written again by Kershaw.^[7]

A remix of "One Step Ahead" was issued on some versions of the single, titled "One Step Ahead (Industrial Mix)". The CD format of the single featured two bonus tracks, both previous hits for Kershaw, "Wouldn't It Be Good" and "The Riddle (Nik Kershaw song)".^[8]

Formats

7" Single

1. "One Step Ahead" - 3:38
2. "When I Grow Up" - 3:39

12" Single

1. "One Step Ahead (Industrial Mix)" - 8:14
2. "One Step Ahead (7" Version)" - 3:38
3. "When I Grow Up" - 3:39

CD Single

1. "One Step Ahead (7" Version)" - 3:38
2. "When I Grow Up" - 3:39
3. "Wouldn't It Be Good" - 4:32
4. "The Riddle" - 3:53

Chart performance

Chart (1989)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart[9]	55

Personnel

• Producers on "One Step Ahead" - Julian Mendelsohn, Nik Kershaw
• Mixers on "One Step Ahead" - Julian Mendelsohn, Nik Kershaw
• Writer of "One Step Ahead" - Nik Kershaw
• Remixer on "One Step Ahead (Industrial Mix)" - Julian Mendelsohn
• Engineer on "One Step Ahead (Industrial Mix)" - Paul Wright
• Assistant engineer on "One Step Ahead (Industrial Mix)" - Dave Eden
• Producer on "When I Grow Up" - Nik Kershaw
• Mixers on "When I Grow Up" - Julian Mendelsohn, Nik Kershaw
• Writer of "When I Grow Up" - Nik Kershaw
• Producer on "Wouldn't It Be Good" - Peter Collins
• Engineer on "Wouldn't It Be Good" - Julian Mendelsohn
• Writer of "Wouldn't It Be Good" - Nik Kershaw
• Producer on "The Riddle" - Peter Collins
• Engineer on "The Riddle" - Julian Mendelsohn
• Writer of "The Riddle" - Nik Kershaw

References

1. ^ http://www.chartstats.com/release.php?release=15881
2. ^ http://www.chartstats.com/artistinfo.php?id=3974
3. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQggsJXojx8
4. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEHN28A105A
5. ^ http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=1402315
6. ^ http://www.discogs.com/artist/Julian+Mendelsohn
7. ^ http://www.discogs.com/Nik-Kershaw-One-Step-Ahead/release/1455568
8. ^ http://www.discogs.com/Nik-Kershaw-One-Step-Ahead/release/1402315
9. ^ http://www.chartstats.com/release.php?release=15881