After the Zombies disbanded in 1968, Blunstone left the music business only to return after the surprise success of "Time of the Season".[3] Recorded between 1970 and 1971, One Year was co-produced by Blunstone's former Zombie colleagues Rod Argent and Chris White.[3] Some of the songs had previously been recorded during the last days of the Zombies, although they were re-recorded for this album.
The album chronicled a year in Blunstone's life, during which he broke up with his then-girlfriend, actress Caroline Munro, to whom "Caroline, Goodbye" is obviously addressed.
Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Fred Thomas wrote: "Marked by a thoughtfulness that’s always on the brink of despair, One Year is an understated masterpiece. It drifts by quickly but connects immediately, capturing the same stir of conflicting feelings as remembering a time that will never happen again, or a romance you wish hadn’t ended quite so soon."[3]Neil Tennant said: "It's an incredibly romantic album, which is why it's been with me such a long time."[6]Thurston Moore called it "a gorgeous example of classic British pop music."[7] He added: "It's very personal, very sophisticated in its sentiment."[7]
In 2007, The Guardian included it on the "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die" list.[8]
