"All Or Nothing"
Single by Small Faces
from the album From the Beginning
B-side	"Understanding" (Marriott/Lane)
Released	5 August 1966
Recorded	IBC Studios, Portland Place, London
Genre	Rock
Length	3:04
Label	Decca {12470}
Writer(s)	Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane
Producer	Don Arden
Small Faces singles chronology
"Hey Girl" (1966) "All or Nothing" (1966) "My Mind's Eye" (1966)

"All or Nothing" is a hit song written by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane of British mod group Small Faces in 1966 (see 1966 in music).

The song reached number one on the UK Singles Chart two weeks after being released and due to a change in the TOTP chart that week, shared spot with The Beatles song "Yellow Submarine".^[1]

Contents 1 Song information 2 See also 3 Notes 4 External links

[edit] Song information

The song begins with a loud drum roll, an idea possibly taken from The Young Rascals song "Baby Lets Wait". The song then hits a tricky guitar riff which acts as if it is actually winding the song down not introducing it, the effect is disorientating until Marriotts' vocals enter, soft and controlled. Quickly his voice and the music gathers pace until a powerful chorus takes over. A touch of the band's humour is heard when the backing vocals switch to a chanting style and then suddenly disrupted by Marriott's voice and guitar playing.

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 ^[2].

The song was recorded at IBC Studios in Portland Place, London, England and was the Small Faces fifth song release on 5 August 1966.

The song also appears on the Decca album From the Beginning and a live version appears on the live LP, BBC Session (Saturday Club) 30 August 1966.

The song was covered in 1981 by Tygers of Pan Tang and in 1985 by X (U.S. band).

Preceded by "Yellow Submarine"/"Eleanor Rigby" by The Beatles

UK number-one single 15 September 1966 (1 week)

Succeeded by "Distant Drums" by Jim Reeves

[edit] See also

• Small Faces discography

[edit] Notes

• Paolo Hewitt/John Hellier (2004). Steve Marriott All Too Beautiful. Helter Skelter Publishing ISBN 1900924447.

[edit] External links

• The Darlings of Wapping Wharf Laundrette

v • d • e Small Faces Steve Marriott • Ronnie Lane • Kenney Jones • Ian "Mac" McLagan Jimmy Winston • Rick Wills • Jimmy McCulloch Studio albums Small Faces (1966)  • Small Faces (1967) • Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake (1968) First Step (1970) (Credited to Small Faces in North America only) Playmates (1977) • 78 In The Shade (1978) Compilation albums From the Beginning (1967) • The Autumn Stone (1969) Live albums BBC Session (Saturday Club) (1965) • BBC Session (Saturday Club) (1965) • BBC Session (Saturday Club) (1966) • BBC Session (Saturday Club) (1966) • BBC Session (Top Gear) (1968) • 1968 Sessions • The Final Tour (1969) Singles "Whatcha Gonna Do About It"/"What's a Matter Baby" (1965) • "I've Got Mine"/"It's Too Late" (1965) • "Sha-La-La-La-Lee"/"Grow Your Own" (1966) • "Hey Girl"/"Almost Grown" (1966) • "All or Nothing"/"Understanding" (1966) • " My Mind's Eye"/"I Can't Dance With You" (1966) • "I Can't Make It"/"Just Passing" (1967) • "Patterns"/"E Too D" (1967) • "Here Come the Nice"/"Talk To You" (1967) • "Itchycoo Park"/"I'm Only Dreaming" (1967) • "Tin Soldier"/"I Feel Much Better" (1967) • "Lazy Sunday"/"Rollin' Over" (1968) • "The Universal"/"Donkey Rides, A Penny, A Glass" (1968) • "Afterglow (Of Your Love)"/"Wham Bam Thank You Mam" (1969) • "Itchycoo Park" (rerelease) (1975) • "Lazy Sunday" (rerelease) (1976) Other Discography • Don Arden • Andrew Loog Oldham • Tony Calder • Glyn Johns • Faces (band)