Released November 21, 1977 Label Columbia Release date 21 November 1977 | Length 38:46 Artist Earth, Wind & Fire Producer Maurice White | |
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Recorded August 1977 at Hollywood Sound and The Burbank Studios, California All 'N All
(1977) The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1
(1978) Genres Funk, Rhythm and blues, Jazz Awards Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals Similar Earth - Wind & Fire albums, Rhythm and blues albums | ||
Earth wind fire serpentine fire
All 'N All is the eighth studio album by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire, released in 1977 on Columbia Records. It is one of the group's most well known albums and has been certified triple platinum in the United States for sales of three million copies by the RIAA, gold in Canada by Music Canada and silver in the UK by the British Phonographic Industry.
Contents
- Earth wind fire serpentine fire
- Critical reception
- Background
- Samples and covers by other artists
- Uses in other media
- Accolades
- Musicians
- Production
- Songs
- References
All 'N All reached number three on the Pop Album chart and stayed at number one on the Black Album chart for nine weeks. All 'N All was also the bestselling R&B album of 1978. The album features hit songs such as "I'll Write A Song For You", "Serpentine Fire", "Love's Holiday", and the pop hit "Fantasy". A remastered version of the LP was issued in 2002.
Critical reception
All 'N All is described by Alex Henderson of Allmusic as a "diverse jewel" and he goes on to say that All 'N All was "a highly rewarding addition to EWF's catalog". The Guardian in its review of the album says that the "band can sound like one enormous kit, where every crash and beat has its funky place", and adds that "the whole shebang is punctuated beautifully by Toninho Horta's Brazilian Rhyme".
The album won a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus and "Runnin'" also won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental in 1978. All 'N All also garnered an American Music Award nomination for Favorite Album- Soul/Rhythm & Blues.
Background
A trip for a month to Argentina and Brazil by Maurice White inspired the recording of All 'N All.
Samples and covers by other artists
"Beijo" has been sampled by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five on their song "Girls Love The Way He Spins" featured on the 1985 album They Said It Couldn't Be Done, Big Pun on his song "Still Not a Playa" on his 1998 album Capital Punishment, The Fugees on their song "Refugees on the Mic" featured on the 1994 album Blunted on Reality, R&B group Blackstreet on the track "Givin' You All My Lovin'" featured on their 1994 album Blackstreet and by A Tribe Called Quest on the song "Mr. Muhammad" featured on their 1990 album People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm.
In addition "I'll Write a Song For You" has been sampled by 2Pac on the track "Hold on Be Strong" featured on his 1997 album R U Still Down? (Remember Me). and "Runnin'" has been sampled by Organized Konfusion on the track "Walk Into the Sun" included on their 1991 album Organized Konfusion.
"Love's Holiday" has been covered by Deniece Williams featuring Philip Bailey on her album Love, Niecy Style. The song was also covered by Kim Burrell, for her Love Album. The song was sampled by Hurricane Chris for his single, Playas Rock in 2007.
Uses in other media
"I'll Write a Song for You" was featured in the movie Sprung.
"Love's Holiday" was featured in the stand up comedy special The Original Kings of Comedy. Steve Harvey used it to describe what real music was like in the 70s.
Accolades
The information regarding accolades attributed to All 'N All is adapted from AcclaimedMusic.net and the book 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die.
(*) designates lists that are unordered.
Musicians
Production
Songs
1Serpentine Fire3:51
2Fantasy4:38
3In the Market Place (interlude) / Jupiter3:55