The Last to Know explained

The Last to Know
Type:song
Artist:Sheena Easton
Album:No Sound But a Heart
Released:1987
Length:5:16
Label:EMI
Producer: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

The Last to Know
Cover:File:The Last To Know album cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Celine Dion
Album:Unison
Recorded:1989–90
Studio:West Side Studios
(London)
Genre:Pop
Producer:Christopher Neil
Prev Title:Where Does My Heart Beat Now
Prev Year:1990
Next Title:Beauty and the Beast
Next Year:1991

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

"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

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

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 Billboards Adult Contemporary chart dated 13 July 1991 and peaked at number 22 on 31 August 1991.

Live performances

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

  1. "The Last to Know" – 4:34
  2. "Unison" – 4:12
  1. "The Last to Know" (edit) – 4:18
  2. "Unison" – 4:12
  1. "The Last to Know" (edit) – 4:18
  2. "Unison" – 4:12
  3. "If We Could Start Over" – 4:23
  1. "The Last to Know" (edit) – 4:18
  2. "Unison" (remix) – 4:04

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1991)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australian (ARIA)[5] 134
Canada (The Record Retail Singles Chart)[6] 17
Canada (The Record Contemporary Hit Radio)[7] 13
Quebec (ADISQ)[8] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1991)! scope="col"
Position
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[9] 56

Credits and personnel

Recording
Personnel

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormatLabel
Japan[10] 25 July 1991Mini CDSMEJ
United Kingdom[11] [12] 4 November 1991Epic
11 November 19917-inch with a poster

Notes and References

  1. Book: Glatzer, Jenna. Céline Dion: For Keeps . registration. Andrews McMeel Publishing. 2005 . 0-7407-5559-5.
  2. Single Reviews. Billboard. 6 July 1991. 13 February 2020. 63.
  3. Web site: Unison (1991) . 13 May 2013 . 25 June 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090625165657/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,313100,00.html . dead .
  4. Web site: Smith, Christopher. REVIEW: 'UNISON' – CELINE DION. TalkAboutPopMusic. 12 October 2019. 14 April 2020.
  5. Web site: Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 14 November 2016. Imgur.com. 17 March 2017.
  6. Web site: Hits of the World. Billboard. 63. 25 May 1991. 2 June 2015.
  7. Book: Nanda Lwin. Nanda Lwin. Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. 1999. 1-896594-13-1.
  8. Web site: Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec. BAnQ. French. 17 March 2019. 9 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180809215510/http://www.banq.qc.ca/collections/collections_patrimoniales/musique/collection_numerique/bd_specialisee/palmares/. dead.
  9. Web site: RPM 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1991. RPM. 21 December 1991. 6 September 2014.
  10. Web site: セリーヌ・ディオンの作品. Sony Music Entertainment Japan. ja. 27 December 2022.
  11. New Releases. Music Week. 23. 2 November 1991. 29 December 2022.
  12. New Releases. Music Week. 21. 9 November 1991. 29 December 2022.