All Four One
Encyclopedia
All Four One is the third studio album by the New Wave
band The Motels
, released in 1982. The album felt like the 'fourth album' to the band, as it is mostly a re-recording of an unreleased album titled Apocalypso.
. The band at this time consisted of Martha Davis
on vocals and guitar, Tim McGovern on lead guitar, Marty Jourard on keyboards, Michael Goodroe on bass and Brian Glascock
on drums.
Wanting to stretch the limits as to what they could do artistically and musically, the band
recorded some of its darkest and heaviest music to date. Despite having Garay as producer for
the album, the songs were basically arranged and handled by McGovern. The results were mixed.
While some arrangements on the tracks were outstanding rock numbers ("Mission of Mercy", "Schneekin'" and "So L.A."), some were a little too experimental and not as well produced ("Sweet Destiny" and the first version of "Only the Lonely"). Neither the band nor Garay ever submitted any of the recordings to Capitol Records while the recording process was going on. When the band submitted the final tapes to Capitol, the label rejected it stating that it was "not commercial", essentially meaning it was a dead record.
The band began getting local gigs in the L.A. area to try out their new material, but by the end of 1981, McGovern officially left the band for personal and private reasons, leaving The Motels without a lead guitarist.
Unwilling to give up, the remaining members forged on back into the studio with Val Garay at the controls. This time Garay had more liberty to mold the band's sound to a more commercial venue. Studio musicians were added to fill the lead guitar void for several of the tracks, as well as to flesh out the sound of the recordings. Adrian Peritore (who went by the name Guy Perry because his former producer had misspelled his name on an album cover) was hired in late January and played lead guitar to some of the tracks, including "He Hit Me
".
The album was retitled All Four One because the band had recorded four albums but one would not be released, and also because the four remaining members had stayed together to complete the album ("one for all and all for one!"). It was released in April 1982 on Capitol Records.
The result was the biggest selling album for The Motels. The album spurred both American and International hits. The album was certified gold in several countries including the United States and Canada by the end of 1982. The hits from the album included "Mission of Mercy", "Only the Lonely", "Take the L", "Forever Mine", "So L.A.", and "Art Fails".
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band The Motels
The Motels
The Motels are a New Wave music band from the Los Angeles area best known for "Only the Lonely" and "Suddenly Last Summer", each of which peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982 and 1983, respectively. Their song "Total Control" reached #4 on the Australian charts in 1980...
, released in 1982. The album felt like the 'fourth album' to the band, as it is mostly a re-recording of an unreleased album titled Apocalypso.
Background and writing
After the mild success of their second album Careful, The Motels went back into the studio in early 1981 to record album three with the then up and coming producer Val GarayVal Garay
Val Garay is a record producer and engineer who has worked with Kim Carnes, The Motels, Marty Balin, Bonnie Raitt, Joan Armatrading, Dolly Parton, Pablo Cruise, James Taylor, Queensrÿche, Cock Robin, Dramarama, EZO, Ringo Starr, Linda Ronstadt, Sarah Brightman, Nicolette Larson, and Reel Big Fish,...
. The band at this time consisted of Martha Davis
Martha Davis
Martha Davis may refer to:*Martha Davis , lead singer of the new wave band The Motels*Martha Davis , vocalist and pianist who performed as "Martha Davis and Spouse"*Martha Davis , who wrote "Brutal Need"...
on vocals and guitar, Tim McGovern on lead guitar, Marty Jourard on keyboards, Michael Goodroe on bass and Brian Glascock
Brian Glascock
Brian Glascock is known as a rock drummer for The Gods, Toe Fat, Bee Gees, Carmen, Captain Beyond and The Motels. He also played on albums by Joan Armatrading, Dolly Parton and Iggy Pop and performed in a music video with Nancy Wilson of Heart.He currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he...
on drums.
Wanting to stretch the limits as to what they could do artistically and musically, the band
recorded some of its darkest and heaviest music to date. Despite having Garay as producer for
the album, the songs were basically arranged and handled by McGovern. The results were mixed.
While some arrangements on the tracks were outstanding rock numbers ("Mission of Mercy", "Schneekin'" and "So L.A."), some were a little too experimental and not as well produced ("Sweet Destiny" and the first version of "Only the Lonely"). Neither the band nor Garay ever submitted any of the recordings to Capitol Records while the recording process was going on. When the band submitted the final tapes to Capitol, the label rejected it stating that it was "not commercial", essentially meaning it was a dead record.
The band began getting local gigs in the L.A. area to try out their new material, but by the end of 1981, McGovern officially left the band for personal and private reasons, leaving The Motels without a lead guitarist.
Unwilling to give up, the remaining members forged on back into the studio with Val Garay at the controls. This time Garay had more liberty to mold the band's sound to a more commercial venue. Studio musicians were added to fill the lead guitar void for several of the tracks, as well as to flesh out the sound of the recordings. Adrian Peritore (who went by the name Guy Perry because his former producer had misspelled his name on an album cover) was hired in late January and played lead guitar to some of the tracks, including "He Hit Me
He Hit Me (It Felt Like A Kiss)
"He Hit Me " is a pop song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and recorded by The Crystals under the guidance of Phil Spector in 1962.-The song:...
".
The album was retitled All Four One because the band had recorded four albums but one would not be released, and also because the four remaining members had stayed together to complete the album ("one for all and all for one!"). It was released in April 1982 on Capitol Records.
The result was the biggest selling album for The Motels. The album spurred both American and International hits. The album was certified gold in several countries including the United States and Canada by the end of 1982. The hits from the album included "Mission of Mercy", "Only the Lonely", "Take the L", "Forever Mine", "So L.A.", and "Art Fails".
Track listing of Apocalypso (Early Version of All Four One)
- "Art Fails" (re-recorded for All Four One)
- "Tragic Surf "(re-recorded for All Four One)
- "Only the Lonely" (re-recorded for All Four One)
- "Schneekin" (deleted from All Four One)
- "So L.A." (re-recorded for All Four One)
- "Apocalypso" (re-recorded for All Four One)
- "Mission of Mercy" (re-recorded for All Four One)
- "Lost But Not Forgotten" (deleted from All Four One)
- "Who Could Resist That Face?" (deleted from All Four One)
- "Sweet Destiny" (deleted from All Four One)
Track listing
- All Songs Written By Martha Davis, except where noted.
- "Mission of Mercy" (re-recorded) (Davis, Jourard)
- "Take the L" (new song added)
- "Only the Lonely" (re-recorded)
- "Art Fails" (re-recorded) (Davis, McGovern)
- "Change My Mind" (new song added) (Davis, Steve Goldstein)
- "So L.A." (re-recorded)
- "Tragic Surf" (re-recorded) (Davis, McGovern)
- "Apocalypso" (re-recorded)
- "He Hit Me (and It Felt Like a Kiss)He Hit Me (It Felt Like A Kiss)"He Hit Me " is a pop song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and recorded by The Crystals under the guidance of Phil Spector in 1962.-The song:...
" (new song added) (Gerry GoffinGerry GoffinGerry Goffin is an American lyricist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 with former songwriting partner and first wife, Carole King. he has co-written six Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers.-Career:Goffin enlisted with the Marine Corps Reserve after graduating from...
, Carole KingCarole KingCarole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
) - "Forever Mine" (new song added)
The Motels
- Martha Davis: Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Tim McGovern: Lead Guitar (1981)
- Guy Perry: Lead Guitar (1982)
- Marty Jourard: Keyboards, Saxophone
- Michael Goodroe: Bass
- Brian GlascockBrian GlascockBrian Glascock is known as a rock drummer for The Gods, Toe Fat, Bee Gees, Carmen, Captain Beyond and The Motels. He also played on albums by Joan Armatrading, Dolly Parton and Iggy Pop and performed in a music video with Nancy Wilson of Heart.He currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he...
: Drums
Additional Personnel
- Bryan Garofalo, Bob Getter: Bass
- Craig Hull, Waddy WachtelWaddy WachtelRobert "Waddy" Wachtel is an American musician, composer and record producer, most notable for his guitar work...
: Guitars - Craig KrampfCraig KrampfCraig Krampf is an American musician and songwriter.The majority of his notable credits are as a studio drummer. Since the 1970s, he has played on albums by other artists ranging from Steve Perry to Alabama to Kim Carnes to Flo and Eddie to Alice Cooper to Melissa Etheridge...
: Drums, Percussion - Kobla Ladzekpo: Percussion
Production
- Produced and engineered By Val Garay
- Assistant engineers: Niko BolasNiko BolasNiko Bolas is an American music producer, sound engineer, and consultant and business developer in the fields of virtual reality and Internet radio...
- Mastering: Mike Reese, Doug Sax