All or Nothing (Small Faces song)
Encyclopedia
"All or Nothing" is a hit song written by Steve Marriott
and Ronnie Lane
of British mod group Small Faces in 1966.
The song reached number one
on the UK Singles Chart
two weeks after being released and due to a change in the TOTP chart that week, shared spot with The Beatles
song "Yellow Submarine
".
According to Kay Marriott, Steve's mother, Steve wrote this song about his split with ex-fiancee Sue Oliver, though first wife Jenny Rylance states that Marriott told her he wrote the song for her as a result of her split with Rod Stewart
. Both statements are said to be correct.
The song was recorded at IBC Studios
in Portland Place, London. It appears on the Decca
album From the Beginning
. A live version is found on the BBC Sessions album.
The song was covered in 1981 by Tygers of Pan Tang
and in 1985 by X (U.S. band). It was also covered on BBC Radio 2
by Manic Street Preachers
on 15 September 2010 as part of the Great British Songbook Library.
The song appeared in the soundtrack for the 2010 film Made in Dagenham
. Nigel Cole
's film is a dramatisation of the 1968 Ford sewing machinists strike at Ford Dagenham, where female workers protested against sexual discrimination and the desire for equal pay.
Steve Marriott
Stephen Peter Marriott , popularly known as Steve Marriott, was an English musician, songwriter, and frontman of several notable rock and roll bands, spanning over two decades...
and Ronnie Lane
Ronnie Lane
Ronald Frederick "Ronnie" Lane was an English musician, songwriter, and producer who is best known as the bass guitarist and founding member of two prominent English rock and roll bands; the Small Faces where he was nicknamed "Plonk", – and, after losing the band's frontman, Faces, with two new...
of British mod group Small Faces in 1966.
The song reached number one
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
two weeks after being released and due to a change in the TOTP chart that week, shared spot with The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
song "Yellow Submarine
Yellow Submarine (song)
"Yellow Submarine" is a 1966 song by The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney , with lead vocals by Ringo Starr. It was included on the Revolver album and issued as a single, coupled with "Eleanor Rigby". The single went to number 1 on every major British chart, remained at number 1 for four weeks...
".
Song information
The song begins with a loud drum roll, an idea possibly taken from the Young Rascals song "Baby Let's Wait". The song then hits a tricky guitar riff which acts as if it is actually winding the song down not introducing it; the effect is disorientating until Marriotts' vocals enter, soft and controlled. Quickly his voice and the music gathers pace until a powerful chorus takes over. A touch of the band's humour is heard when the backing vocals switch to a chanting style and then suddenly are disrupted by Marriott's voice and guitar.According to Kay Marriott, Steve's mother, Steve wrote this song about his split with ex-fiancee Sue Oliver, though first wife Jenny Rylance states that Marriott told her he wrote the song for her as a result of her split with Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
. Both statements are said to be correct.
The song was recorded at IBC Studios
IBC Studios
The IBC Recording Studios were recording studios in 35 Portland Place, London, England. After the Second World War it was the address of the leading independent studio in London and the British Isles...
in Portland Place, London. It appears on the Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
album From the Beginning
From the Beginning (Small Faces album)
From the Beginning was the retrospective album released by English mod, rhythm and blues band Small Faces in June 1967 on Decca Records. The album rose to Number 17 in the UK Album Chart.-Album profile:...
. A live version is found on the BBC Sessions album.
The song was covered in 1981 by Tygers of Pan Tang
Tygers Of Pan Tang
Tygers of Pan Tang are a heavy metal band, formed in 1978 and originating from Whitley Bay, England. They are a notable band of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement...
and in 1985 by X (U.S. band). It was also covered on BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
by Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers are a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore. The band are part of the Cardiff music scene, and were at their most prominent during the 1990s...
on 15 September 2010 as part of the Great British Songbook Library.
The song appeared in the soundtrack for the 2010 film Made in Dagenham
Made in Dagenham
Made in Dagenham is a 2010 British film directed by Nigel Cole. The film stars Sally Hawkins, Miranda Richardson, Rosamund Pike and Jaime Winstone. It dramatises the Ford sewing machinists strike of 1968 that aimed for equal pay for women...
. Nigel Cole
Nigel Cole
Nigel Cole is a British film and television director.Cole began his career in the 1980s, directing current affairs shows and documentaries for Central Independent Television. Into the 1990s, Cole co-wrote the play Sod with Arthur Smith, which he also directed and presented at the Pleasance during...
's film is a dramatisation of the 1968 Ford sewing machinists strike at Ford Dagenham, where female workers protested against sexual discrimination and the desire for equal pay.