Released 5 August 1966 Length 3:04 | Genre Rock, hard rock Label Decca
(US RCA Victor) | |
B-side "Understanding" (Marriott/Lane) Recorded IBC Studios, Portland Place, London | ||
"All or Nothing" is a hit song written by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane of the British rock band Small Faces in 1966.
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The song reached number one on the UK Singles Chart on 15 September 1966, two weeks after being released.
The song was also a major hit in both the Netherlands, where it reached number two and Ireland, where it reached number three. It was also the first song by the Small Faces to chart in the Republic of Ireland, as "Whatcha Gonna Do About It", "Sha La La La Lee" and "Hey Girl" all failed to do so.
Song information
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.
Following Marriott's death in a house fire in 1991, the song was played as the requiem at his funeral.
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 for equal pay.
The song is used as the theme tune (over the opening credits) on the 2012 BBC UK TV series, The Syndicate, about a group of lottery winners.
The hard rock band UFO covered the song as a bonus track on their album No Heavy Petting. The punk band X also covered the song on their 1985 album Ain't Love Grand!.