All Saints (All Saints album)

Updated on Sep 21, 2024

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Released 24 November 1997 Artist All Saints Label London Records		Length 60:45 Release date 24 November 1997

Recorded 1997; Metropolis Studios Producer Cameron McVeyMagnus FiennesKarl "K-Gee" GordonJohn BensonJohnny DouglasNellee HooperNeville HenryKaren Gibbs Genres Pop music, Contemporary R&B, Rhythm and blues Nominations MTV Europe Music Award for Best Album Similar All Saints albums, Pop music albums

All saints 02 bootie call selftitled

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. Musically, the album drew inspiration from electronic, hip hop, R&B, swing, synthpop, trip hop and UK garage music.

Upon its release, the album received mixed reviews from music critics, many critics praised the choice of singles and the group's musical direction. The album spawned three number-one singles in the United Kingdom: "Never Ever", the double A-side "Under the Bridge" and "Lady Marmalade", and "Bootie Call", as well as "I Know Where It's At" (#4) and "War of Nerves" (#7).

All saints saints and sinners 2000 full album

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." 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."

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 [...]" 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 66 weeks on the chart. As of April 2016, the album has sold 1,469,771 copies in the United Kingdom.

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.

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 with "Under the Bridge" and "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 was then released in New Zealand. The song also didn't have as much success but 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.

Songs

1I Know Where It's At (original radio mix)5:02
2Bootie Call3:59
3Never Ever5:13

References

All Saints (All Saints album) Wikipedia

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