"All Together Now" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by The Farm | ||||
from the album Spartacus | ||||
Released | ||||
Recorded | 1990 | |||
Genre | Madchester [1] | |||
Length |
| |||
Label | ||||
Composer(s) | Johann Pachelbel | |||
Lyricist(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | Suggs | |||
The Farm singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"All Together Now" on YouTube |
"All Together Now" is a song by British band the Farm and the second single from their debut album, Spartacus (1991). The song was released in November 1990 by Produce, Jive, Sire, and Reprise. Vocalist of the band Peter Hooton wrote the lyrics in his early 20s, after reading about the Christmas truce of 1914. The song was first recorded under the title "No Man's Land" for a John Peel session in 1983. [2] In 1990, Hooton wrote the chorus after Steve Grimes suggested putting the lyrics of "No Man's Land" to the chord progression of Pachelbel's Canon. To shorten the song for radio, the producer Suggs cut the song to three verses from its original six. Its accompanying music video received heavy rotation on MTV Europe. [3] "All Together Now" has been used by numerous football teams since, as well as by the Labour Party for their 2017 general election campaign, often played during rallies.
The Farm was formed in the early 1980s in Liverpool, comprising Peter Hooton, Steve Grimes, John Melvin and Andrew John "Andy" McVann. [4] In 1989, the band had been given a cameo role in the movie The Final Frame starring founding member of Madness and actor Suggs. They were signed after this and hired Suggs as their producer. The Farm originally was a indie band, but after hearing "Loaded" by Primal Scream, which was a top-20 hit in the UK at the time, they wanted to try something more dance-oriented. [5] Band member Grimes wanted to use "Pachelbel's Canon" by Johann Pachelbel in a song after hearing it in a TV advert and a chord sequence was taken from it. [6] The band bought a sampler so they could do it, [5] and they contacted DJ and house music producer Terry Farley. When he heard the result, he said, "That's a hit. You've got to write some lyrics."
Vocalist Peter Hooton used lyrics from a song he had written earlier, named "No Man's Land". It was first recorded for a John Peel session in 1983. [2] Verses from that song were used to make "All Together Now". The lyrics tells about the Christmas Day Truce in World War I where, on Christmas Day 1914, soldiers from both sides put their weapons down, and met in no man's land to exchange gifts and play football. "All Together Now" originally had six verses, but it was cut it in half to shorten it, after Suggs suggested this. He produced it and it was recorded at Mayfair Studios in London. The single was originally released on 26 November 1990 peaking at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 1 on the NME Independent chart[ citation needed ] and No. 7 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. Its cover showed a Subbuteo figure wearing an army uniform and brandishing a Bren machine gun. [7] It was also the last video shown on The Power Station on 8 April 1991.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic called "All Together Now" "goofily endearing" [8] and "truly memorable". [9] Larry Flick from American magazine Billboard declared it as "anthemic". [10] A reviewer from Daily Mirror named it one of 1990's "most memorable songs" and "such a catchy song". [11] Jon Wilde from Melody Maker wrote, "1990 has seen the inexplicable rise of The Ordinary Bloke. They don't come any more ordinary than the Farm, who look for all the world like a collection of bit actors in Northern soap operas, the kind of geezers you find hanging about by the pub dart-board scoffing salt and vinegar crisps as burly Betty Turpin types fetch hither mixers from the cellar. Their 15 seconds of minor celebrity will surely be up once the general public get wind of this ruthlessly awful rock dirge with dancefloor pretensions." [12] Another Melody Maker editor, Bob Stanley, complimented the song as "excellent" and a "enjoyable moment" of the album. [13] Andrew Collins from NME named it "easily this LP's grandest moment" and "one of 1990's most durable hits, a scarfs-out-for-the-lads 'Abide with Me' for last orders." [14]
Another NME editor, David Quantick, commented, "Sometimes the Farm seem to be more anonymous than the person underneath the Jive Bunny mask. [...] And now they return with a record that has a powerfully singable chorus, a pounding beat, Shaun Ryder's vocal dad Pete Wylie on backing singing...and I'm beggered if I can remember it for more than a nanosecond after it's over. A chorus without a verse, an anthem without a purpose, an answer without a question." [15] Andy Strickland from Record Mirror named it Single of the Week, adding, "With things hotting up in the Gulf, this could prove to be one of the most poignant pop hits since the late Sixties. Musically, it picks up where "Groovy Train" left off; great groove, spacey guitar into and a guaranteed sing-a-long dancefloor filler." [16] Miranda Sawyer from Smash Hits wrote, "It's a banner-waving epic, that's what it is. Blimey. There's still a nice jittery beat to shake your roomy trouserwear to, but the catchy chorus is unmistakably of the proud-scarf-waving-and-lighters-aloft genre. If you're into flopping your fringe about then you'll be a bit disappointed for this is definitely one for the terraces. Nice and uplifting." [17]
In March 1994, it was performed by the band and a host of Liverpudlians in front of the Spion Kop at Anfield before the last ever Merseyside derby in front of the old Kop, which was demolished later that year and replaced by an all-seater stand. [18] In 2007 it was used in Scottish television adverts for Clydesdale Bank and in UK-wide advertisements promoting Cancer Research UK's Race for Life. It is also used as the theme tune for Sky Sports Football League coverage and as the ending theme of the 1994 movie Double Dragon.
1990 version Weekly charts
| 1990 version Year-end charts
|
2004 version
Chart (2004) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Singles (OCC) [25] | 5 |
UK Indie Singles (OCC) [25] | 1 |
In May 1995, the song was released by Everton F.C. on occasion of its appearance in the 1995 FA Cup Final. The hit credited to "Everton FA Cup Squad 1995" peaked at No. 24 in the UK Singles chart. [28] The release also contained a second version as "All Together Now – D.i.y Mix".
The song was released in another football context this time to promote the campaign of the England national football team during Euro 2004 which took place in Portugal in June and July 2004. Titled "Euro 2004 (All Together Now)", it was edited by DJ Spoony and featured additional vocals by the St Francis Xavier Boys Choir of Liverpool. [29] This version, released on 31 May 2004, peaked at No. 5 in the UK Singles Chart.
The song was also remixed by Scouse producers BCD Project (Lee Butler of Radio City, Les Calvert and Mike Di Scala). The remix was featured on the Clubland 5 compilation in 2004.
This version was also included in the compilation Sports Themes subtitled "20 Classic Sport Themes" in July 2004.
"All Together Now (Strong Together)" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Goleo VI featuring Atomic Kitten | ||||
from the album Goleo VI Presents His 2006 FIFA World Cup Hits | ||||
Released | 13 May 2006 | |||
Length | 3:08 | |||
Label | Ministry of Sound | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Atomic Kitten singles chronology | ||||
|
In 2006, Liz McClarnon, Natasha Hamilton, and Jenny Frost from English girl band Atomic Kitten reunited to record a cover version of the song, re-titled "All Together Now (Strong Together)", for the Goleo VI Presents His 2006 FIFA World Cup Hits album, a collection of collaborations´that were released in connection with the 2006 FIFA World Cup, held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany. As with most songs on the album, FIFA mascot Goleo VI is also credited as an artist on "All Together Now". [30] The remake features slightly re-written lyrics by Nicole Tyler, Wolfgang Boss, and Reinhard Raith, while production was overseen by Raith along with Andreas Litterscheid. [30]
"All Together Now (Strong Together)" was only released in German-speaking Europe. It debuted and peaked at number 16 in Germany and spent nine weeks on the German Singles Chart, becoming Atomic Kitten's fifth highest-charting single over there as well as their highest-charting since "If You Come to Me" (2003). [31] Elsewhere, the song peaked at number 35 in Austria, also reaching number 42 in Switzerland. [32] [33]
The animated music video shows the World Cup mascots Goleo and Pille travelling around the world until they eventually arrive to Berlin's Olympic Stadium, the setting of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "All Together Now (Strong Together)" (Radio Edit) |
|
| 3:08 |
2. | "All Together Now (Strong Together)" (Corenell Radio Remix) |
|
| 2:54 |
3. | "All Together Now (Strong Together)" (Corenell Club Remix) |
|
| 7:06 |
4. | "Bamboo" (Goleo's Dance Mix) |
| 3:10 |
Notes
Chart (2006) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [32] | 35 |
Germany (GfK) [31] | 16 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [33] | 42 |
On the 100th anniversary of the Christmas Day Truce, during World War One, which inspired the Farm's 1990 hit "All Together Now", many of the UK's biggest music stars united as the Peace Collective, to re-record the song for charity. The new track featured a backing choir of schoolboy footballers from the Premier League and German Bundesliga. All profits from the release, on 15 December, went to the British Red Cross and the Shorncliffe Trust.
Produced and recorded by Simon Britton and Jon Moon at Sensible Music in Islington (London), [35] [36] the 2014 version included Gorgon City, Clean Bandit, Gabrielle, Alexandra Burke, Engelbert Humperdinck, Julian Lennon, David Gray, Guy Chambers, Amelle Berrabah, Alison Levi, Mick Jones (the Clash), The Voice 2014 winner Jermain Jackman, Massive Attack's Shara Nelson and more. [37] [38] The 2014 version reached number one on the UK Independent Singles Breakers Chart on 19 December and number 70 on the UK Singles Chart. [39]
Atomic Kitten were an English girl group formed in Liverpool in 1998, whose original lineup comprised Kerry Katona, Liz McClarnon, and Natasha Hamilton. The group was founded by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) members Andy McCluskey and Stuart Kershaw, who served as principal songwriters during Atomic Kitten's early years. The group's debut album Right Now was released in October 2000 and charted at number 39 in the United Kingdom. After five top ten singles, original member Katona quit – four weeks before "Whole Again" reached number one in the UK Singles Chart – and was replaced by former Precious singer Jenny Frost. "Whole Again" became the group's most successful single, staying at number one for four weeks in the UK and six weeks in Germany, and reaching number one in many other territories; in Britain, it was the 13th-best-selling single of the 2000s. The group re-released their debut album, with some tracks re-recorded with Frost's vocals: it peaked at number one in the UK and was certified double platinum after selling over 600,000 copies.
The Farm are a British band from Liverpool. Their first album, Spartacus, reached the top position on the UK Albums Chart when it was released in March 1991; Spartacus 30 was released in 2021 to commemorate the anniversary. Spartacus includes two songs which had been top 10 singles the year before. In 2012, they toured with their Spartacus Live shows and formed part of the Justice Tonight Band, supporting the Stone Roses at Heaton Park, Phoenix Park, Lyon and Milan. They formed part of The Justice Collective which had the 2012 Christmas number one with their recording of "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother".
Spartacus is the debut studio album by British rock band the Farm, released on 4 March 1991 through Produce Records. Following a variety of member changes and single releases, the band solidified their line-up in 1987; after a record deal fell through, they opted to start their own label, Produce Records. They recorded the bulk of their debut album in London in 1990 with former Madness frontman Graham "Suggs" McPherson as producer; one track from 1987 was produced by the Housemartins members Paul Heaton and Stan Cullimore. Spartacus is a baggy and dance-rock album that takes influence from the work of Buzzcocks, the Clash and the Jam.
"Eternal Flame" is a song by American pop rock group the Bangles for their third studio album, Everything (1988). Released on January 23, 1989, the power ballad was written by group member Susanna Hoffs with the established hit songwriting team of Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. Upon its 1989 single release, "Eternal Flame" became a number-one hit in nine countries, including Australia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Since its release, it has been covered by many musical artists, including Australian boy band Human Nature, who reached the Australian top 10 with their version, and British girl group Atomic Kitten, who topped four national charts with their rendition.
"The Tide Is High" is a 1967 rocksteady song written by John Holt, originally produced by Duke Reid and performed by the Jamaican group the Paragons, with Holt as lead singer. The song gained international attention in 1980, when a cover version by the American band Blondie became a US and UK number one hit. The song topped the UK Singles Chart again in 2002 with a version by the British girl group Atomic Kitten, while Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall had a minor hit with his interpretation in 2008.
"Stay with Me Tonight" is a song by English synth-pop band the Human League, released in January 1996 by East West Records as a single from their second compilation album, Greatest Hits (1995). It was jointly written by Philip Oakey and producer Ian Stanley, features lead vocals by Oakey; with backing by co-vocalists Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall. Post production by re-mixers 'Space Kittens'.
Goleo VI, commonly known as Goleo, and Pille, were the official mascots for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. Goleo takes the form of a lion, and is never found far from his sidekick, Pille, a talking football.
Right Now is the debut studio album by English girl group Atomic Kitten, released on 16 March 2000. The first release of the album originally peaked at number 39, putting the group at risk of being dropped by their record label. Following the departure of Kerry Katona in January 2001, the album was re-released on 6 August 2001 featuring vocals from new member Jenny Frost with additional new tracks featured on the album. The re-release was a success, peaking at number 1. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark members and Atomic Kitten founders, Andy McCluskey and Stuart Kershaw, were among the album's principal songwriters.
"Whole Again" is a song by British girl group Atomic Kitten for their debut studio album, Right Now (2000). It was co-written by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark members and Atomic Kitten founders Andy McCluskey and Stuart Kershaw, along with Jem Godfrey and Bill Padley, with production helmed by McCluskey and Kershaw under their production moniker Engine. Godfrey and Padley are credited as additional producers.
The discography of British girl group Atomic Kitten consists of three studio albums, seven compilation albums, four video albums, and twenty-one singles. The group's debut album, Right Now, was released by Virgin Records in the United Kingdom in October 2000. It reached number thirty-nine on the UK Albums Chart and spawned four top twenty singles; "Right Now", "See Ya", "I Want Your Love" and "Follow Me". The album's sales did not meet the expectations of the label, and the group were to be dropped. However, the group managed to persuade the label to let them release one more single, "Whole Again", which reached number one on the UK Singles Chart for four weeks and number one in Germany for six weeks. Due to this success, all plans to drop the group were scrapped. The group then released "Eternal Flame", a cover of The Bangles hit, which also reached number one in the UK. Atomic Kitten then re-issued the album Right Now, and it topped the charts in the UK and was certified double Platinum.
Bill Padley is a Scottish record producer and songwriter.
"I Want Your Love" is a song by Atomic Kitten, released as the third single from their debut album, Right Now (2000). The song samples the theme to the 1958 film The Big Country, and it was produced, arranged, recorded, and mixed by Damien Mendis at Metropolis Studios in London.
"See Ya" is a song by British girl group Atomic Kitten, released as the second single from their debut album, Right Now (2000). The song was written by Stuart Kershaw, Andy McCluskey, and Atomic Kitten-member Liz McClarnon. It was produced by Engine and Pete Craigie, with the radio mix receiving production from Cutfather & Joe. The single peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart, reached number 50 in Ireland, and was a minor hit in the Flanders region of Belgium.
"Right Now" is the debut single of English girl group Atomic Kitten from their first album of the same name (2000). The song was re-recorded twice: once for the album's 2001 re-issue with new member Jenny Frost and again in 2004 for the group's Greatest Hits album. The 2004 version, titled "Right Now 2004", proved to be a greater international chart success. The song was written by Atomic Kitten founders and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark members Andy McCluskey and Stuart Kershaw.
"You Are" is a song by English pop girl group Atomic Kitten. It was written by Paul Gendler, Wayne Hector, Ali Tennant, and Steve Mac and recorded for the 2001 reissue of the band's debut album, Right Now (2000), while production was helmed by Mac. "You Are" is an uplifting midtempo ballad; the instrumental elements used on it include keyboards, a piano, strummy guitars, soft drums, and a prominent string riff. Lyrically, the song finds the female protagonist expressing her love and affection for a man who doubts whether he is the right one for her.
"Someone like Me" is a song by British girl group Atomic Kitten. Released on 29 March 2004 as the third and final single from their third studio album, Ladies Night (2003), the piano-driven track was issued as a double A-side with "Right Now 2004", a remixed version of their debut single, "Right Now". With the group having announced their split prior to the song's release, it was originally intended to be released as their final single, though they later released a further three one-off singles in 2005 and two charity singles in 2006 and 2008. The group reformed officially in September 2012 without Jenny Frost, who was replaced with original member Kerry Katona.
"Be with You" is a song by British girl group Atomic Kitten. It was written by songwriting trio Bionic, consisting of Greg Wilson, Tracey Carmen and Martin Foster, and recorded for the reissue of the band's second album Feels So Good (2002). Production was helmed by Ash Howes and Martin Harrington, based on Bionic's original track. The disco-fused dance pop song is an adaptation of "Last Train to London" (1979) by English rock band Electric Light Orchestra. Due to the inclusion of the sample, Jeff Lynne is also credited as a songwriter. Its lyrics refer to seducing someone in a nightclub.
"Got to Have Your Love" is a song by American hip hop and electro funk group Mantronix, featuring vocals from American recording artist Wondress. It was released by Capitol Records in December 1989 as the lead single from Mantronix's fourth studio album, This Should Move Ya (1990). The song is written by band members Bryce Wilson and Kurtis Mantronik along with Johnny D. Rodriguez, and produced by Mantronix. It reached number four in the UK, number seven in Finland and number eight in Ireland. It is recognized as the group's signature song.
The Hits: Reloaded is a studio album by the band Kool & the Gang issued in 2004 by Edel Records. It contains re-recorded versions of their songs in collaboration with other artists. The LP reached No. 19 on the Swiss albums chart, No. 21 on the UK R&B Albums Chart, No. 26 on both the Italian and German album charts and No. 30 on the French albums chart.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)