Here’s TONE NORUM’s 1986 debut album “One Of A Kind”, a long‑out‑of‑print gem whose original CD pressings have been selling for eye‑watering prices on the collectors’ market. Thankfully, Music On CD reissued the album in 2017 — but even that edition is now out of print and regularly fetches over $100.
Originally released on CBS Records, One Of A Kind marked Tone Norum’s arrival as one of Sweden’s most promising female rock vocalists. The album was heavily shaped by Joey Tempest of Europe, who wrote and produced most of the material, played multiple instruments, and contributed backing vocals. Several Europe members also appear:
• John Norum — Tone’s brother, delivering signature guitar solos
• Ian Haugland — drums
• Mic Michaeli — keyboards
• Ronnie Thunder — backing vocals
The album’s second single, “Stranded”, became a radio favorite and was originally intended for a Europe album before being gifted to Tone for her solo debut.
The record opens with “If I Were Queen”, a catchy, upbeat track featuring a keyboard solo straight out of The Final Countdown era. The early singles — the emotional ballad “Can’t You Stay” and the punchier “Playing With Fire” — remain highlights, showcasing both Tone’s vocal warmth and Tempest’s melodic instincts.
“Built On Dreams” slows things down with a more reflective tone, featuring excellent interplay between Tone’s vocals and John Norum’s expressive guitar work. The title track, “One Of A Kind”, is a gorgeous love ballad reportedly written with the Scorpions in mind — and it absolutely sounds like it.
Tone contributes her own songwriting with “Secrets Of A Heart”, proving she’s more than just a voice. John Norum elevates the track with a fiery solo. The mid‑tempo AOR tune “This Is Love” keeps the melodic flow going, while “And I” adds a poppier feel with a surprising blues‑tinged guitar break.
The album closes with the sweeping ballad “’Til Heaven Calls Your Name”, wrapped in lush mid‑’80s production and showcasing Tone’s emotional delivery.
“One Of A Kind” remains Tone Norum’s strongest album — a perfect blend of melodic rock, AOR, and Scandinavian pop sensibility, elevated by the full support of the Europe camp. It’s a quintessential ’80s record with all the charm, hooks, and glossy production the era is loved for.
A must‑have for fans of Europe, ’80s AOR, and collectors of rare Scandinavian rock.