All I Want Is You (Roxy Music song)

Last updated
"All I Want Is You"
Single by Roxy Music
from the album Country Life
B-side "Your Application's Failed"
ReleasedOctober 1974
EMI Studios, London
RecordedJuly 1974 (1974-07)–August 1974 (1974-08) at AIR Studios, London
Genre
Length2:58
Label Island, Polydor
Songwriter(s) Bryan Ferry
Producer(s) Roxy Music, John Punter
Roxy Music singles chronology
"Street Life"
(1973)
"All I Want Is You"
(1974)
"The Thrill of It All"
(1974)
Music video
"All I Want Is You" on YouTube

"All I Want is You" is a single by English rock band Roxy Music, written by Bryan Ferry, and taken from their 1974 album Country Life . [3] It reached a peak of No. 12 on the UK Official Singles Chart, in an eight-week stint on the charts. [4] The single is also notable for its B-side, an instrumental track called "Your Application's Failed", which is the only track to date written by drummer Paul Thompson. The track was re-released on The Thrill of It All boxset.

Contents

Reception

Reviewing the album Country Life for The Quietus in 2014, Ned Raggett said:

If there's a note-perfect song on a note-perfect album, though, it might have to be "All I Want Is You", three songs into the whole thing and so perfect it's no surprise Country Life almost feels front-loaded. Manzanera's introduction is a fanfare for six-string and feedback; and from there it's another quick stomper, fast and fun without being ponderous or simply skipping by, Ferry splitting the difference between main verses and breaks and making both equally memorable and immediate. There is a full instrumental section that lets everyone show off collectively, while still wrapping it up in three minutes. And all the while Ferry deliciously – there's no other word for it, he sounds like he's savouring every last syllable as he delivers it – seems to just throw out lines like, "If you ever change your mind/ I've a certain cure/ An old refrain, it lingers on/ L'amour, toujours l'amour" and "Don't want to know/ About one-night-stands/ Cut-price souvenirs/ All I want is/ The real thing/ And a night that lasts/ For years." Take it at face value, read it all as a ploy, or both, it all works, and when he bows out with "Ooo-oo, I'm all cracked up over you!" there could be no finer flourish; his heart, or something close to it, worn on his sleeve. [5]

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roxy Music</span> English art rock band

Roxy Music are an English rock band formed in 1970 by lead vocalist and principal songwriter Bryan Ferry and bassist Graham Simpson. By the time the band recorded their first album in 1972, Ferry and Simpson were joined by saxophonist and oboist Andy Mackay, guitarist Phil Manzanera, drummer Paul Thompson and synthesizer player Brian Eno. Other members over the years include keyboardist and violinist Eddie Jobson and bassist John Gustafson. The band split in 1976, reformed in 1978 and split again in 1983. In 2001, Ferry, Mackay, Manzanera and Thompson reunited for a concert tour and have toured together intermittently ever since, most recently in 2022 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first album. Ferry has also frequently enlisted band members as backing musicians during his solo career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryan Ferry</span> English singer and songwriter (born 1945)

Bryan Ferry is an English singer and songwriter who was the frontman of the band Roxy Music and also a solo artist. His voice has been described as an "elegant, seductive croon". He also established a distinctive image and sartorial style: according to The Independent, Ferry and his contemporary David Bowie influenced a generation with both their music and their appearances. Peter York described Ferry as "an art object" who "should hang in the Tate".

<i>Avalon</i> (Roxy Music album) 1982 studio album by Roxy Music

Avalon is the eighth and final studio album by the English rock band Roxy Music, released on 28 May 1982 by E.G. Records, and Polydor. It was recorded between 1981 and 1982 at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas, and is regarded as the culmination of the smoother, more adult-oriented sound of the band's later work. It has been credited with pioneering the sophisti-pop genre.

<i>Country Life</i> (Roxy Music album) 1974 studio album by Roxy Music

Country Life is the fourth studio album by English art rock band Roxy Music, released on 15 November 1974 by Island Records. It was released by Atco Records in the United States. The album is considered by many critics to be among the band's most sophisticated and consistent.

<i>Flesh and Blood</i> (Roxy Music album) 1980 studio album by Roxy Music

Flesh and Blood is the seventh studio album by English rock band Roxy Music, released on 23 May 1980 by E.G. Records. It was an immediate commercial success peaking at No. 1 in the UK for one week in June and then returned to the summit in August for another three weeks, in total spending 60 weeks on the albums chart in the United Kingdom. The album also peaked at No. 35 in the United States and No. 10 in Australia.

<i>Siren</i> (Roxy Music album) 1975 studio album by Roxy Music

Siren is the fifth studio album by the English rock band Roxy Music, released in 1975 by Island Records. It was released by Atco Records in the United States.

<i>For Your Pleasure</i> 1973 studio album by Roxy Music

For Your Pleasure is the second studio album by the English rock band Roxy Music, released on 23 March 1973 by Island Records. It was their last to feature synthesiser and sound specialist Brian Eno.

<i>Stranded</i> (album) 1973 studio album by Roxy Music

Stranded is the third album by English rock band Roxy Music, released in 1973 by Island Records. Stranded was the first Roxy Music album on which Bryan Ferry was not the sole songwriter, with multi-instrumentalist Andy Mackay and guitarist Phil Manzanera also making songwriting contributions. It is also their first album with keyboardist/violinist Eddie Jobson and bassist John Gustafson, who replaced Brian Eno and John Porter, respectively, after their departures following the release of their previous album For Your Pleasure.

<i>Lets Stick Together</i> 1976 album by Bryan Ferry

Let's Stick Together is a 1976 album by Bryan Ferry. His third solo release, it was his first following the disbanding of Roxy Music earlier in the year. Unlike Ferry's two previous solo releases, Let’s Stick Together was not a dedicated album project, instead predominately made up of singles, B-sides, and an EP. Three tracks were exclusive to the LP, all remakes of Roxy Music tracks: "Casanova", "2HB", and "Chance Meeting". It had a generally favourable critical reception, but only just made the UK Top 20.

<i>These Foolish Things</i> (album) 1973 studio album by Bryan Ferry

These Foolish Things is the debut solo studio album by Bryan Ferry, who at the time was still Roxy Music's lead vocalist. The album was released in October 1973 on Island Records in the United Kingdom and Atlantic Records in the United States. It is considered to be a departure from Roxy Music's sound, being made up of far more 'straight' versions of standards. Additionally, where Roxy Music's albums were of songs composed by the band, These Foolish Things was a covers album. It was a commercial and critical success, peaking at number five on the UK Albums Chart. It received a gold certification from the British Phonographic Industry in May 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Do the Strand</span> 1973 single by Roxy Music

"Do the Strand" is the first song from English rock band Roxy Music's second album, For Your Pleasure. In contrast to the songs from Roxy Music's eponymous debut album, this song starts suddenly without any instrumental fanfare.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Street Life (Roxy Music song)</span> 1973 single by Roxy Music

"Street Life" is the opening track of English rock band Roxy Music's third album Stranded. Written by lead singer Bryan Ferry, the song is an ode to modern life that features sound effects of street noise alongside dissonant synth noises courtesy of newly recruited member Eddie Jobson. Producer Chris Thomas provides bass on the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Is the Drug</span> 1975 single by Roxy Music

"Love Is the Drug" is a song by the English rock band Roxy Music, from their fifth studio album, Siren (1975), released as a single in September 1975. Co-written by Bryan Ferry and Andy Mackay, the song originated as a slower, dreamier track until the band transformed its arrangement to become more dance-friendly and uptempo. Ferry's lyrics recount a man going out looking for action.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oh Yeah (Roxy Music song)</span> 1980 single by Roxy Music

"Oh Yeah", also known as "Oh Yeah (There's a Band Playing On the Radio)" or "Oh Yeah (On the Radio)" on certain releases, is a hit single by the English rock band Roxy Music. It was released as the second single from their 1980 album Flesh and Blood. The song is featured prominently in the fifth episode of the Stephen Merchant comedy series Hello Ladies.

<i>In Your Mind</i> (album) 1977 studio album by Bryan Ferry

In Your Mind is the fourth solo studio album by English singer and songwriter Bryan Ferry. It was his first solo album of all original songs.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Roxy Music album) 1977 greatest hits album by Roxy Music

Greatest Hits is a compilation album by the English band Roxy Music. It was released in 1977, when the band were on hiatus.

"The Thrill of It All" is a song by English rock band Roxy Music, released as a single only in the US in November 1974, taken from their 1974 album Country Life. The single was backed by the "All I Want Is You" B-side, an instrumental track called "Your Application's Failed", which is the only track to date written by drummer Paul Thompson. The track was re-released on "The Thrill of It All" boxset.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Both Ends Burning</span> 1975 single by Roxy Music

"Both Ends Burning" is a single by English rock band Roxy Music taken from their 1975 album Siren. Written by Bryan Ferry, the song features lyrics inspired by the pressure felt by the band to complete the Siren album as well as keep up their touring obligations. Ferry's struggles in writing the lyrics for the song meant that the band largely had to complete the instrumental track without his vocal line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dance Away</span> 1979 single by Roxy Music

"Dance Away" is a song by the English rock band Roxy Music. Released in April 1979, it was the second single to be taken from their album Manifesto, and became one of the band's most famous songs, reaching number two in the UK and spending a total of 14 weeks on the charts, the longest chart residency of a Roxy Music single. Although it did not make number one, it became the ninth biggest selling single in the UK in 1979. It did make it to number one on the Irish Singles Chart and held that position for one week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Over You (Roxy Music song)</span> 1980 single by Roxy Music

"Over You" is a song by the English rock band Roxy Music which was released as the lead single from their seventh studio album, Flesh and Blood (1980). "Over You" entered the UK Singles Chart at No. 18 before going on to reach a peak of No. 5 on June 14, 1980. The song spent a total of nine weeks on the UK Singles Chart, of which seven were in the top 20. Over you was given a silver certification from the BPI in June 1980 for sales of over 200,000 copies in the UK.

References

  1. Sheffield, Rob (2004). "Roxy Music". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 705–706. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  2. Dolan, Joe; Martoccio, Angie; Sheffield, Rob (November 20, 2024). "The 74 Best Albums of 1974". Rolling Stone . Retrieved November 30, 2024. ...girl-group-style pop ("All I Want Is You")...
  3. David Buckley (2005). The Thrill of it All: The Story of Bryan Ferry & Roxy Music. A Cappella Books. p. 177. ISBN   9781556525742.
  4. "ROXY MUSIC | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  5. "The Quietus | Features | Anniversary | the Thrill of It All: Roxy Music's Country Life Revisited". 21 October 2014.
  6. "Your Application's Failed on Viva Roxy Music!". Vivaroxymusic.com. Retrieved 2016-10-09.]