All Saints (All Saints album)

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All Saints
All Saints - album cover.jpg
Studio album by All Saints
Released 24 November 1997
Recorded 1997; Metropolis Studios
Genre R&B, hip hop, UK garage, electronic
Length 60:45
Label
Producer
All Saints chronology
All Saints
(1997)		 The Remix Album
(1998)The Remix Album1998
Singles from All Saints
  1. "I Know Where It's At"
    Released: 18 August 1997
  2. "Let's Get Started"
    Released: 1997 (Japan only)
  3. "Never Ever"
    Released: 19 November 1997
  4. "Under the Bridge / Lady Marmalade"
    Released: 27 April 1998
  5. "Bootie Call"
    Released: 31 August 1998
  6. "War of Nerves"
    Released: 23 November 1998

All Saints is the debut studio album by British girl band All Saints. It was released on 24 November 1997 by London Records. All Saints worked with several producers on the album; mainly Cameron McVey, John Benson, Johnny Douglas, Karl "K-Gee" Gordon, Magnus Fiennes, Nellee Hooper, Karen Gibbs and Neville Henry.[1] Musically, the album drew inspiration from electronic, hip hop, R&B, swing, synthpop, trip hop and UK garage music.[1]

Upon its release, the album received mixed reviews from music critics, where many critics praised the choice of singles and the group's musical direction, while some did not enjoy the music direction and felt they lacked personality. The album spawned three number-one singles in the United Kingdom: "Never Ever", "Under the Bridge" / "Lady Marmalade", and "Bootie Call", as well as "I Know Where It's At" (#4) and "War of Nerves" (#7).

Critical reception

All Saints received mixed reviews from music critics. Many critics praised the choice of singles and the group's musical direction, while some didn't enjoy the music direction and felt they lacked personality. Nick Butler from Sputnikmusic gave it a mixed review, awarding it two-and-a-half stars out of five. He felt that the musical direction and sound "hasn't aged well" but praised the group's creativity, where the group were more pleasurable than their all girl group rivals Spice Girls, as he stated they were "considered the credible alternative to the Spice Girls."[2] But due to comparisons with the Spice Girls, he stated "I still enjoy the singles a lot when I hear them, but if there was ever a war between the two groups, All Saints lost it."[2] Stephen Thomas Erlewine from Allmusic did not rate the album, but gave it a mixed review as well. Through the rival with the Spice Girls, he felt All Saints lacked "personality", but praised their music direction by saying "All four members have better voices than the Spices, and they all have a hand in writing at least one of the songs on their eponymous debut [...] More importantly, they and their producers have a better sense of contemporary dance trends – there are real hip-hop and club rhythms throughout the record [...]"[3] He highlighted "Never Ever", "I Know Where It's At" and "Lady Marmalade" as the album's best tracks.

Chart performance

In the United Kingdom the album debuted at number twelve for the week beginning 6 December 1997, before progressing to a peak of number two on 17 January 1998 where it remained for three consecutive weeks. It spent a total of sixty-six weeks on the chart.[4] The album has sold over 1,330,000 copies in the United Kingdom.[citation needed] It peaked within the top forty in numerous countries and reached the top ten in Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands and Canada. The album was certified Platinum in the United States for shipments of over 1 million units.[5]

Singles

  • The group first released the single "I Know Where It's At". The song was written by member Shaznay Lewis, with usual writing partner Karl Gordon and contained a sample of Steely Dan's "The Fez". It was released on 18 August 1997 as the first single from the group, while a re-release was on 13 January 1998. Commercially, the song proved to be a success worldwide, peaking in the top twenty in countries including Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia (where it was certified Gold), Ireland and France. A music video was also shot for the single, where it featured the group in an urban setting.
  • The group's second single was "Never Ever", which was written by Lewis and the song's producer, Sean Mather. it was released on 19 November 1997 worldwide, while it was released on 7 July 1998 in North America. The song remains the group's most successful and memorable hit, where the song peaked at number one in Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom, while it peaked in the top ten in countries including Ireland, Sweden, Canada, The Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Norway and Austria. The song also peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming the group's highest peaking single in that country.
  • The group released a double A-Side single "Under the Bridge / Lady Marmalade". Both versions were released on the studio album. Both of the singles were cover versions, however they remain unique because both cover songs are lyrically altered from the original. The songs were released on 27 April 1998 worldwide, including North America on that date. Though it was released as a double A-Side single, "Under the Bridge" had charted from the single, where it managed to chart in the top twenty in countries including United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Finland and Sweden. However, "Lady Marmalade" charted as a solo single as well, but did not perform as well as the conjoined single, where it charted in Switzerland and France.
  • The group's fourth single was "Bootie Call". The song was released on 31 August 1998 in European countries only. It didn't manage to have much success, but charted in countries including Belgium, Ireland, The Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom. A music video was also shot for the single.
  • The group's fifth and final single was "War of Nerves". The song was originally to be only released in the United Kingdom on 23 November 1998, but then released it in New Zealand. The song didn't have much success as well and charted in New Zealand, Ireland and the United Kingdom. A music video was shot while band member Melanie Blatt was pregnant.

Promotional singles

The song "Let's Get Started" was released in 1995 with only members Melanie Blatt and Shaznay Lewis under the name All Saints 1.9.7.5. However, when the group formed with sisters Nicole Appleton and Natalie Appleton, they renamed the group All Saints and the title of the song was altered to "If You Wanna Party (I Found Lovin')" and featured on the album. However, both "Let's Get Started" and "If You Wanna Party (I Found Lovin')" are the same song, but with different titles. The song was then re-recorded with the Appleton sisters and was re-released in Japan only in 1997. The song also had a music video, which was exclusive to Japan.

Track listing

No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "Never Ever"   Shaznay Lewis, Sean Mather, Robert Jazayeri Cameron McVey, Magnus Fiennes 6:27
2. "Bootie Call"   Lewis, Karl (K-Gee) Gordon Gordon 3:36
3. "I Know Where It's At" (original mix) Lewis, Gordon, Walter Becker, Donald Fagen, Paul Griffin McVey, Fiennes, Gordon 5:14
4. "Under the Bridge"   Flea, John Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith Gordon, Nellee Hooper 5:00
5. "Heaven"   All Saints, McVey, Fiennes McVey, Fiennes 4:48
6. "Alone"   Lewis, Gordon Gordon 3:35
7. "If You Want to Party (I Found Lovin')" (aka "Let's Get Started") Johnny Flippin, Michael Walker Johnny Douglas 4:13
8. "Trapped"   Melanie Blatt, Karen Gibbs John Benson, Neville Henry 4:58
9. "Beg"   Lewis, Benson, Douglas Benson, Douglas 4:00
10. "Lady Marmalade"   Bob Crewe, Kenny Nolan Benson, Douglas, Gibbs, Henry 4:02
11. "Take the Key"   Lewis, Gordon, Kirk Robinson, Nat Robinson Gordon 4:12
12. "War of Nerves"   Natalie Appleton, Nicole Appleton, McVey, Fiennes, Lewis McVey, Fiennes 5:10
13. "Never Ever" (All Star Mix) Lewis, Mather, Jazayeri McVey, Fiennes,
Allen "All Srar" Gordon Jr. (remixer)		 4:36

Charts

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ All Saints – All Saints Review www.allmusic.com.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ NorwegianCharts.com All Saints page. Accessed 29 October 2006
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ UNSUPPORTED OR EMPTY REGION: Taiwan (RIT).
  31. ↑ IFPI Taiwan
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter All Saints in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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