All Saints (group)
Encyclopedia
All Saints were a British
/Canadian
girl group
. Founded in 1993 as All Saints 1.9.7.5, the group consisted of founding members Melanie Blatt
and Shaznay Lewis
, and sisters Nicole Appleton
and Natalie Appleton
. They became one of the most successful British pop groups of the 1990s, with nine top ten singles (including five number-ones), two platinum albums, two gold albums and record sales in excess of ten million worldwide.
All Saints were formed as a trio in 1993 with Blatt, Lewis and Simone Rainford, who released two singles before Rainford's departure in 1995. Natalie and Nicole Appleton joined the group for the production of their debut album, All Saints
(1997), which produced three UK number-one singles, including the BRIT Award-winning "Never Ever". Their second album, Saints & Sinners (2000), was also a success and yielded two number-one hits, although the group broke up in 2001. They later reformed for a third album, Studio 1 (2006), but it sold poorly. All Saints were confirmed to have split up for a second time in 2009, and Melanie Blatt has said that the group will never reform.
and Shaznay Lewis
started their career by singing backing vocals at Sarm West Studios, the ZTT recording studios near All Saints Road, London. In 1993, Blatt, Lewis and the original third member Simone Rainford, were signed to ZTT Records
, and music manager Ron Tom decided the trio should become a group.
All Saints 1.9.7.5 were launched as a trio in the vein of girl group Eternal
. In 1994, All Saints 1.9.7.5. performed for their first time at the Touch Magazine stage at the Notting Hill
Carnival. They released two singles together, but they were not successful. Additionally, Rainford and Blatt had conflicting visions of the band's musical direction which caused tensions in the band.
By 1994, the complicated recording sessions had produced the group's first single, "Silver Shadow
", and the three girls performed throughout the UK. In mid 1995, Rainford left the band and ZTT Records dropped the remaining duo from their label. Regardless, Blatt and Lewis set out to find a replacement for Rainford. Conducting many auditions, Blatt's father met Nicole Appleton
whom she knew from her days at the Sylvia Young Theatre School
. Appleton's sister Natalie subsequently became a fourth member of the group.
, who recorded a demo for "I Know Where It's At
". The band began looking for a new record deal, but most record labels wanted to model them after the Spice Girls
, who had become an international sensation by that time. The demo made its way to London Records
, where John Benson
finalised the recording deal in November 1996. All Saints recorded their debut album, All Saints, with producers such as Cameron McVey
, Magnus Fiennes
, Karl "K-Gee" Gordon, John Benson
, Johnny Douglas
, and Nellee Hooper
.
In mid 1997, the single "I Know Where It's At" broke the group into the mainstream, reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart
. Their second single, "Never Ever", was issued in November 1997 and launched them worldwide, peaking at number one in the UK and Australia. The single sold 1.2 million copies in the UK alone (receiving a double platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry
) and won the group two BRIT Awards
in 1998: Best British Single and Best British Video. The album All Saints was released in November 1997, reached number two on the UK Album Chart, and was BPI-certified five times platinum in the UK for sales of 1.5 million. The third single from the album was the double A-side "Under the Bridge / Lady Marmalade
", which became their second UK number-one single in May 1998, earning a gold certification for 400,000 copies sold. The same month, the album was re-released with a slightly different track listing. "Bootie Call
", the fourth single, also went to number one, and the silver-certified "War of Nerves
" (the fifth and final release) peaked at number seven, selling 200,000 copies.
The album achieved success in countries such as Australia (double platinum
, selling 140,000 copies), Canada (triple platinum
, 300,000 copies), and the United States, where All Saints was certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of one million and produced two top forty singles on the Billboard Hot 100
: "I Know Where It's At" and "Never Ever". In November 1998, All Saints received the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Breakthrough Artist and performed at the ceremony, although Blatt was absent due to her pregnancy.
", written by Shaznay Lewis
and William Orbit
for the soundtrack of the film The Beach
(starring Leonardo DiCaprio
). "Pure Shores" was their fourth number-one single in the UK and the second best-selling single of 2000, with 600,000 copies sold; it also became their first and only number-one single in Ireland and was a substantial hit across Europe and Australia. The song won an Ivor Novello Award for Most Performed Work. All Saints performed the song at the 2000 MTV Europe Music Awards
.
Also in 2000, the Appleton sisters and Blatt made their film debut with Honest, which was directed by former Eurythmics
member Dave Stewart
. Honest is a black comedy set in Swinging London
in the late 1960s, in which the singers playing three street-wise, saucy sisters who head "up West" to pursue a life of crime. The film became most notable for the topless scenes by the Appleton sisters
. Their performances were widely panned; one critic remarked, "It is the worst kind of rubbish, the kind that makes you angry you have wasted 105 minutes of your life watching it."
In October 2000, All Saints released the single "Black Coffee
", which became their fifth and final number-one single in the UK, selling 200,000 copies. This preceded their second studio album, Saints & Sinners, which debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, eventually reaching double platinum certification in the UK for sales of 600,000 copies. The second and final single was "All Hooked Up
" in January 2001, which peaked at number seven.
In November 2001, London Records
released a greatest hits
compilation entitled All Hits
. It contains the group's hit singles and Blatt's first solo single, "TwentyFourSeven", a collaboration with Artful Dodger. The album peaked at number eighteen on the UK Albums Chart and was later certified gold, selling 100,000 copies. In 2008, a slightly altered edition of the album was given away for free as part of a promotion with The Mail on Sunday
.
. They subsequently began work on their third studio album, Studio 1
. The first single, "Rock Steady" (released in November 2006), reached number three on the UK Singles Chart. Studio 1 entered the albums chart at number forty, falling significantly short of the success of "Rock Steady" and the group's previous releases; it has since sold 60,000 copies according to the BPI, being certified silver.
A second single, "Chick Fit
", followed in February 2007, but promotional appearances and a physical release were cancelled and it failed to reach the top 200. It was subsequently reported that All Saints and Parlophone had parted ways and the group canceled their planned UK tour.
, during which Blatt said that they had a record deal with an undisclosed company in a conversation with housemate Nathan Fagan-Gayle
.
In February 2008, in a press release for the Wideboys
' single with Shaznay Lewis ("Daddy O") posted on the official website of All Around the World
, it was stated that All Saints were recording in the studio and would be back with new material before the end of 2008. Because no record label was mentioned in the update, fans assumed that the group's new label was All Around the World. In September 2008, All Around the World discredited claims that All Saints had been signed with them with a post at their official website.
In August 2009, Melanie Blatt told the London Lite
: "All Saints are never getting back together again. I never want to sing again. I recently did the Brits with Nic and we just went round chatting to people and then got drunk. That's my goal—to get paid for chatting to people and getting drunk!".
A second compilation album, Pure Shores: The Very Best of All Saints
, was released in September 2010. This two-disc collection features the group's hit singles alongside a selection of album tracks and B-sides.
was the first member to record after the group disbanded. In September 2001, she collaborated with Artful Dodger on the track "TwentyFourSeven", which peaked at number six in the UK. In February 2002, Blatt replaced Kelis
's vocals on the UK release of the track "I'm Leavin'" by Outsidaz
and Rah Digga
; the single reached number forty-two. Her third single, "Do Me Wrong
", was released in August 2003 through London Records
and peaked at number eighteen. Blatt was dropped by the label due to low sales, and the album she was working on at the time never materialised.
In April 2005, Blatt returned to the music industry with a new single, "See Me
", which was included on the Robots
film soundtrack and peaked at number seventy-eight in the UK. The single was released through Swollen Ankle Ltd, with whom Blatt began working on an album. During mid 2005, she played small venues in the UK and performed material from the album, which was shelved when All Saints reunited in early 2006.
After All Saints' split, Natalie
and Nicole Appleton
wrote and recorded their own album, formed the duo Appleton
and signed a contract with Polydor Records
. In September 2002, the Appleton sisters launched their first single, "Fantasy", which reached number two in the UK. Their autobiography, Together, was published the following month. Their second single, "Don't Worry
", was released in March 2003 and reached number five in the UK before the release of their first album, Everything's Eventual
, the same month. The album peaked at number nine; its final single was "Everything Eventually
", which was released in July 2003 and peaked at number thirty-eight. Appleton and Polydor subsequently parted ways.
Shaznay Lewis
released her first solo single, "Never Felt Like This Before
", in July 2004; it reached number eight in the UK. Her album Open followed two weeks later via London Records and peaked at number twenty-two, although the second single, "You
", charted only at number fifty-six. In November 2004, Lewis was one of the artists involved in the Band Aid 20
re-recording of "Do They Know It's Christmas?
". In early 2008, Lewis collaborated with Wideboys
on the UK top forty hit "Daddy O".
Compilations
Singles
| rowspan="7"| 1998
| rowspan="2"| "Never Ever" || BRIT Award for Best British Single
||
|-
| BRIT Award for Best British Video ||
|-
| All Saints || BRIT Award for Best British Breakthrough Act ||
|-
| "Never Ever" || MTV Europe Music Award for Best Song ||
|-
| All Saints || MTV Europe Music Award for Best Album ||
|-
| rowspan="2"| All Saints
| MTV Europe Music Award for Best Group ||
|-
| MTV Europe Music Award for Best New Act ||
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1999
| "Under the Bridge" / "Lady Marmalade"
|| BRIT Award for Best British Video ||
|-
| rowspan="2"| All Saints
| BRIT Award for Best British Dance Act ||
|-
| 2000 || MTV Europe Music Award for Best Pop ||
|-
| rowspan="5"| 2001
| rowspan="2"| "Pure Shores" || BRIT Award for Best British Single ||
|-
| BRIT Award for Best British Video ||
|-
| All Saints || BRIT Award for Best British Group ||
|-
| "Pure Shores" || Ivor Novello Award for Most Performed Work ||
|-
| All Saints || NME Award
for Best Pop Act ||
|-
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
/Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
. Founded in 1993 as All Saints 1.9.7.5, the group consisted of founding members Melanie Blatt
Melanie Blatt
Melanie Ruth Blatt is a singer, actress, television personality and was a member of the multi-million selling girl group All Saints. Following their split she launched a solo career.-Early life:...
and Shaznay Lewis
Shaznay Lewis
Shaznay Lewis is a British female singer-songwriter and a former member of All Saints.-Biography:...
, and sisters Nicole Appleton
Nicole Appleton
Nicole Marie Appleton-Gallagher is a Canadian pop singer and actress who rose to fame as a member of All Saints. She was formerly a member of Appleton along with her older sister Natalie.-Early life:...
and Natalie Appleton
Natalie Appleton
Natalie Jane Appleton Howlett is a Canadian pop singer and actress who rose to fame as a member of the band All Saints. During All Saints' five years of inactivity, she was a member of Appleton with her younger sister Nicole.-Biography:...
. They became one of the most successful British pop groups of the 1990s, with nine top ten singles (including five number-ones), two platinum albums, two gold albums and record sales in excess of ten million worldwide.
All Saints were formed as a trio in 1993 with Blatt, Lewis and Simone Rainford, who released two singles before Rainford's departure in 1995. Natalie and Nicole Appleton joined the group for the production of their debut album, All Saints
All Saints (album)
-Album charts:-Certifications:-External links:*...
(1997), which produced three UK number-one singles, including the BRIT Award-winning "Never Ever". Their second album, Saints & Sinners (2000), was also a success and yielded two number-one hits, although the group broke up in 2001. They later reformed for a third album, Studio 1 (2006), but it sold poorly. All Saints were confirmed to have split up for a second time in 2009, and Melanie Blatt has said that the group will never reform.
Formation
Both Melanie BlattMelanie Blatt
Melanie Ruth Blatt is a singer, actress, television personality and was a member of the multi-million selling girl group All Saints. Following their split she launched a solo career.-Early life:...
and Shaznay Lewis
Shaznay Lewis
Shaznay Lewis is a British female singer-songwriter and a former member of All Saints.-Biography:...
started their career by singing backing vocals at Sarm West Studios, the ZTT recording studios near All Saints Road, London. In 1993, Blatt, Lewis and the original third member Simone Rainford, were signed to ZTT Records
ZTT Records
ZTT Records is a record label founded in 1983 by NME journalist Paul Morley, record producer Trevor Horn, and businesswoman Jill Sinclair. The label's name was also printed as "Zang Tumb Tuum" and "Zang Tuum Tumb" on various releases....
, and music manager Ron Tom decided the trio should become a group.
All Saints 1.9.7.5 were launched as a trio in the vein of girl group Eternal
Eternal (band)
Eternal were an English R&B girl group formed in 1992. The group featured two sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett, alongside Kelle Bryan and Louise Nurding...
. In 1994, All Saints 1.9.7.5. performed for their first time at the Touch Magazine stage at the Notting Hill
Notting Hill
Notting Hill is an area in London, England, close to the north-western corner of Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
Carnival. They released two singles together, but they were not successful. Additionally, Rainford and Blatt had conflicting visions of the band's musical direction which caused tensions in the band.
By 1994, the complicated recording sessions had produced the group's first single, "Silver Shadow
Silver Shadow (song)
"Silver Shadow" is a song by American R&B group Atlantic Starr, released as the third single from their successful 1985 album As the Band Turns. Lead vocals were performed by Barbara Weathers....
", and the three girls performed throughout the UK. In mid 1995, Rainford left the band and ZTT Records dropped the remaining duo from their label. Regardless, Blatt and Lewis set out to find a replacement for Rainford. Conducting many auditions, Blatt's father met Nicole Appleton
Nicole Appleton
Nicole Marie Appleton-Gallagher is a Canadian pop singer and actress who rose to fame as a member of All Saints. She was formerly a member of Appleton along with her older sister Natalie.-Early life:...
whom she knew from her days at the Sylvia Young Theatre School
Sylvia Young Theatre School
Sylvia Young Theatre School is an independent fee-paying stage school, in Westminster, London, named after its founder and Principal, Sylvia Young.-Outline:...
. Appleton's sister Natalie subsequently became a fourth member of the group.
1997–1998: All Saints
After forming a new group in May 1996, the four singers met with Karl "K-Gee" Gordon, a former band member of Outlaw PosseOutlaw Posse
Outlaw Posse was a British hip hop group formed by Bello B and K-Gee . They also recorded together as Outlaw and Brothers Like Outlaw, before the group finally split in 1992.-Biography:...
, who recorded a demo for "I Know Where It's At
I Know Where It's At
"I Know Where It's At" is a song by All Saints released as the debut single from their self titled album: All Saints. On 9 August 1997 the song was debuted on the National Lottery Live and the first performance on Top of the Pops was on 2 September 1997....
". The band began looking for a new record deal, but most record labels wanted to model them after the Spice Girls
Spice Girls
The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
, who had become an international sensation by that time. The demo made its way to London Records
London Records
London Records, referred to as London Recordings in logo, is a record label headquartered in the United Kingdom, originally marketing records in the United States, Canada and Latin America from 1947 to 1979, then becoming a semi-independent label....
, where John Benson
John Benson Brooks
John Benson Brooks was an American jazz pianist, songwriter, arranger, and composer....
finalised the recording deal in November 1996. All Saints recorded their debut album, All Saints, with producers such as Cameron McVey
Cameron McVey
Cameron Andrew McVey is a British music producer, best known for his work with Neneh Cherry, Massive Attack, Portishead, All Saints, and Sugababes.-Family:...
, Magnus Fiennes
Magnus Fiennes
Magnus Fiennes is an English cross-genre composer, record producer and songwriter. He has worked with artists such as Shakira, Pulp, Tom Jones and Morcheeba...
, Karl "K-Gee" Gordon, John Benson
John Benson
John Benson was a British television announcer, best known for saying "And Now ... from Norwich, it's the quiz of the week" at the start of each edition of the UK's long-running Sale of the Century, which ran on ITV from 1971 to 1983....
, Johnny Douglas
Johnny Douglas
John "Johnny" William Henry Tyler Douglas was a cricketer who was captain of the England team and an Olympic boxer.-Early life:...
, and Nellee Hooper
Nellee Hooper
Nellee Hooper is a British producer/remixer/composer best known for his work with Björk, No Doubt/Gwen Stefani, Madonna, Sinéad O'Connor, Garbage, Andrea Corr, U2, Sneaker Pimps, Soul II Soul and Massive Attack...
.
In mid 1997, the single "I Know Where It's At" broke the group into the mainstream, reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. Their second single, "Never Ever", was issued in November 1997 and launched them worldwide, peaking at number one in the UK and Australia. The single sold 1.2 million copies in the UK alone (receiving a double platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry
British Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
) and won the group two BRIT Awards
Brit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
in 1998: Best British Single and Best British Video. The album All Saints was released in November 1997, reached number two on the UK Album Chart, and was BPI-certified five times platinum in the UK for sales of 1.5 million. The third single from the album was the double A-side "Under the Bridge / Lady Marmalade
Under the Bridge / Lady Marmalade
"Under the Bridge" / "Lady Marmalade" was the third single released from the All Saints debut album, All Saints. It became their second number-one single in the UK....
", which became their second UK number-one single in May 1998, earning a gold certification for 400,000 copies sold. The same month, the album was re-released with a slightly different track listing. "Bootie Call
Bootie Call
"Bootie Call" is a song performed by British-Canadian girl group All Saints from their debut album, All Saints . The song was co-written by group member Shaznay Lewis in collaboration with its producer, Karl Gordon. "Bootie Call" was first released on 31 August 1998 by London Records as All Saints'...
", the fourth single, also went to number one, and the silver-certified "War of Nerves
War of Nerves
"War of Nerves" is a song by All Saints, which was released as the fifth and final single from their debut album, All Saints. In the UK it peaked at #7 in the charts.-Song information:-Charts:-Track listing:...
" (the fifth and final release) peaked at number seven, selling 200,000 copies.
The album achieved success in countries such as Australia (double platinum
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
, selling 140,000 copies), Canada (triple platinum
Cria
A cria is the name for a baby camelid such as a llama, alpaca, vicuña, or guanaco. It comes from the Spanish word cría, meaning "baby". Its false cognate in English, crya , was coined by British sailors who explored Chile in the 18th century and were quick to describe the camelids onomatopoeically...
, 300,000 copies), and the United States, where All Saints was certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of one million and produced two top forty singles on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
: "I Know Where It's At" and "Never Ever". In November 1998, All Saints received the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Breakthrough Artist and performed at the ceremony, although Blatt was absent due to her pregnancy.
1999–2001: Saints & Sinners and film debut
All Saints returned in February 2000 with the single "Pure ShoresPure Shores
"Pure Shores" is a song by All Saints, released as the first single from their second album, Saints & Sinners. The song was written for the film The Beach and produced by William Orbit.-Reception:...
", written by Shaznay Lewis
Shaznay Lewis
Shaznay Lewis is a British female singer-songwriter and a former member of All Saints.-Biography:...
and William Orbit
William Orbit
William Orbit is an English musician, composer and record producer, perhaps best known to most for his work on Madonna's album Ray of Light. He has also co-produced several unreleased Madonna songs originally recorded for other albums...
for the soundtrack of the film The Beach
The Beach (film)
The Beach is a 2000 adventure drama film directed by Danny Boyle and based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Alex Garland, which was adapted for the film by John Hodge. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and features Tilda Swinton, Robert Carlyle, Virginie Ledoyen and Guillaume Canet...
(starring Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio is an American actor and film producer. He has received many awards, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his performance in The Aviator , and has been nominated by the Academy Awards, Screen Actors Guild and the British Academy of Film and Television...
). "Pure Shores" was their fourth number-one single in the UK and the second best-selling single of 2000, with 600,000 copies sold; it also became their first and only number-one single in Ireland and was a substantial hit across Europe and Australia. The song won an Ivor Novello Award for Most Performed Work. All Saints performed the song at the 2000 MTV Europe Music Awards
MTV Europe Music Awards
The MTV Europe Music Awards were established in 1994 by MTV Networks Europe to celebrate the most popular music videos in Europe. Originally beginning as an alternative to the American MTV Video Music Awards, the MTV Europe Music Awards is today a popular celebration of what MTV viewers consider...
.
Also in 2000, the Appleton sisters and Blatt made their film debut with Honest, which was directed by former Eurythmics
Eurythmics
Eurythmics were a British pop rock duo, formed in 1980, currently disbanded, but known to reunite from time to time. Consisting of members Annie Lennox and David A...
member Dave Stewart
David A. Stewart
David Allan Stewart , often known as Dave Stewart, is an English musician, songwriter and record producer, best known for his work with Eurythmics. He is usually credited as David A. Stewart, to avoid confusion with other musicians named "Dave Stewart".-Early life:Stewart was born in Sunderland,...
. Honest is a black comedy set in Swinging London
Swinging London
Swinging London is a catch-all term applied to the fashion and cultural scene that flourished in London, in the 1960s.It was a youth-oriented phenomenon that emphasised the new and modern. It was a period of optimism and hedonism, and a cultural revolution. One catalyst was the recovery of the...
in the late 1960s, in which the singers playing three street-wise, saucy sisters who head "up West" to pursue a life of crime. The film became most notable for the topless scenes by the Appleton sisters
Appleton (music duo)
Appleton were a Canadian musical duo comprising Natalie Appleton and her sister Nicole. The sisters were perhaps best known as members of the girl group All Saints.-Biography:...
. Their performances were widely panned; one critic remarked, "It is the worst kind of rubbish, the kind that makes you angry you have wasted 105 minutes of your life watching it."
In October 2000, All Saints released the single "Black Coffee
Black Coffee (All Saints song)
"Black Coffee" was the second single released from the Saints & Sinners album of All Saints. It became their fifth and most recent #1 single in the UK. Its total sales are of 212,707.-Background:...
", which became their fifth and final number-one single in the UK, selling 200,000 copies. This preceded their second studio album, Saints & Sinners, which debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, eventually reaching double platinum certification in the UK for sales of 600,000 copies. The second and final single was "All Hooked Up
All Hooked Up
"All Hooked Up" is a song by All Saints, released as the third single from their third album, Saints & Sinners. It peaked at No.7 in the UK charts. It also was All Saints' last single to be released from the aforementioned album...
" in January 2001, which peaked at number seven.
2001: Break-up and All Hits
In February 2001, All Saints announced that they were to take a break so that they "could clear the air between themselves". Melanie Blatt said later that year that it was uncertain if they would reform, citing their difficulties with the financial and business aspects of the group. Shaznay Lewis later explained that the catalyst for the break-up was a disagreement over who would wear a certain jacket for a photoshoot: "I would never in a million years have put money on the group ending over a jacket incident. But when that incident happened, it fired up so strong, it had to be over. And the way I was then, the state we'd got into then, there was no way she was getting that stupid jacket."In November 2001, London Records
London Records
London Records, referred to as London Recordings in logo, is a record label headquartered in the United Kingdom, originally marketing records in the United States, Canada and Latin America from 1947 to 1979, then becoming a semi-independent label....
released a greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
compilation entitled All Hits
All Hits
All Hits is the compilation album of the greatest hits of All Saints and also featured a song by Melanie Blatt and The Artful Dodger called "TwentyFourSeven".-Track listing:-Charts:...
. It contains the group's hit singles and Blatt's first solo single, "TwentyFourSeven", a collaboration with Artful Dodger. The album peaked at number eighteen on the UK Albums Chart and was later certified gold, selling 100,000 copies. In 2008, a slightly altered edition of the album was given away for free as part of a promotion with The Mail on Sunday
The Mail on Sunday
The Mail on Sunday is a British conservative newspaper, currently published in a tabloid format. First published in 1982 by Lord Rothermere, it became Britain's biggest-selling Sunday newspaper following the closing of The News of the World in July 2011...
.
2006–2007: Reunion and Studio 1
On 24 January 2006, it was announced that the band had reformed and signed a record deal with ParlophoneParlophone
Parlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
. They subsequently began work on their third studio album, Studio 1
Studio 1 (album)
-Special edition DVD:-Singles:-Release history:-Charts:-External links:*...
. The first single, "Rock Steady" (released in November 2006), reached number three on the UK Singles Chart. Studio 1 entered the albums chart at number forty, falling significantly short of the success of "Rock Steady" and the group's previous releases; it has since sold 60,000 copies according to the BPI, being certified silver.
A second single, "Chick Fit
Chick Fit
"Chick Fit" is a song performed by British-Canadian recording girl group All Saints from their third and final studio album Studio 1. It was released as a promotional single from the album on 26 February 2007...
", followed in February 2007, but promotional appearances and a physical release were cancelled and it failed to reach the top 200. It was subsequently reported that All Saints and Parlophone had parted ways and the group canceled their planned UK tour.
2008–2009: Later activities
In January 2008, Nicole Appleton and Melanie Blatt served as "hijackers" on E4's Big Brother: Celebrity HijackBig Brother: Celebrity Hijack
Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack was an E4 temporary replacement to Celebrity Big Brother, a spin-off series of the British reality television programme Big Brother, airing on E4, with a number of closely associated programmes also airing on the same channel...
, during which Blatt said that they had a record deal with an undisclosed company in a conversation with housemate Nathan Fagan-Gayle
Nathan Fagan-Gayle
Nathan Abraham Lauren Fagan-Gayle known commercially as Nathan and more recently Starboy Nathan is a British R&B singer, most famous for his Top 40 Singles "Come into My Room" and "Diamonds".-Early life:...
.
In February 2008, in a press release for the Wideboys
Wideboys
The Wideboys are UK house, Bassline and UK garage Record producers and remixers.The Wideboys are managed by Matt Waterhouse from MWR/Hyperactive. In 2008, they signed to Sony ATV Music Publishing. Prior to this, The Wideboys had been signed in various deals with the likes of Warner, Univeral and...
' single with Shaznay Lewis ("Daddy O") posted on the official website of All Around the World
All Around The World (record label)
All Around the World Productions Limited is a record label from Blackburn, England. The label specialises in Dance Music and most recently R&B.-History:AATW was founded by directors Matt Cadman & Cris Nutall in 1991....
, it was stated that All Saints were recording in the studio and would be back with new material before the end of 2008. Because no record label was mentioned in the update, fans assumed that the group's new label was All Around the World. In September 2008, All Around the World discredited claims that All Saints had been signed with them with a post at their official website.
In August 2009, Melanie Blatt told the London Lite
London Lite
London Lite was the trading name of a British free daily newspaper, published by Associated Newspapers , and now defunct. It was available Monday to Friday afternoons and evenings from street distributors in Central London only...
: "All Saints are never getting back together again. I never want to sing again. I recently did the Brits with Nic and we just went round chatting to people and then got drunk. That's my goal—to get paid for chatting to people and getting drunk!".
A second compilation album, Pure Shores: The Very Best of All Saints
Pure Shores: The Very Best of All Saints
Pure Shores: The Very Best of All Saints is the second compilation album of the greatest hits of All Saints released on 27 September 2010. The 2-disc collection features the group's hit singles, a collection of album tracks and their most stand-out B-sides, as well as a song by Melanie Blatt and...
, was released in September 2010. This two-disc collection features the group's hit singles alongside a selection of album tracks and B-sides.
Solo careers
Melanie BlattMelanie Blatt
Melanie Ruth Blatt is a singer, actress, television personality and was a member of the multi-million selling girl group All Saints. Following their split she launched a solo career.-Early life:...
was the first member to record after the group disbanded. In September 2001, she collaborated with Artful Dodger on the track "TwentyFourSeven", which peaked at number six in the UK. In February 2002, Blatt replaced Kelis
Kelis
Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers (born August 21, 1971 is an American musical artist. She is a BRIT Award, Q Award and NME Award winner and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. She has had nine top 10 singles on the UK Singles Chart...
's vocals on the UK release of the track "I'm Leavin'" by Outsidaz
Outsidaz
The Outsidaz was a hip hop group from Newark, New Jersey, perhaps best known through their affiliation with fellow New York area rappers, the Fugees, and Detroit area rappers D12.-History:...
and Rah Digga
Rah Digga
Rah Digga is an American rapper. Well known as a long time member of the Flipmode Squad, a hip hop group led by Busta Rhymes, she parted ways amicably with the group in 2007. She has been called "one of rap's most prominent women MCs" by Allmusic and "one of hip-hop's most skilled female MCs" in...
; the single reached number forty-two. Her third single, "Do Me Wrong
Do Me Wrong
"Do Me Wrong" is a solo single by Melanie Blatt of All Saints, credited as . It peaked at #18 in the UK charts.-Tracklist:-Charts:-Video:...
", was released in August 2003 through London Records
London Records
London Records, referred to as London Recordings in logo, is a record label headquartered in the United Kingdom, originally marketing records in the United States, Canada and Latin America from 1947 to 1979, then becoming a semi-independent label....
and peaked at number eighteen. Blatt was dropped by the label due to low sales, and the album she was working on at the time never materialised.
In April 2005, Blatt returned to the music industry with a new single, "See Me
See Me
"See Me" is a single by Melanie Blatt written for the Robots movie. It peaked at #78 in the UK charts.. The single was not released on the Robots soundtrack.-Tracklist:-Song information:-Charts:-Video:...
", which was included on the Robots
Robots (film)
Robots is a 2005 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Blue Sky Studios for 20th Century Fox, and was released theatrically on March 11, 2005. The story was created by Chris Wedge and William Joyce, a children's book author/illustrator. The two were trying to create a film version of...
film soundtrack and peaked at number seventy-eight in the UK. The single was released through Swollen Ankle Ltd, with whom Blatt began working on an album. During mid 2005, she played small venues in the UK and performed material from the album, which was shelved when All Saints reunited in early 2006.
After All Saints' split, Natalie
Natalie Appleton
Natalie Jane Appleton Howlett is a Canadian pop singer and actress who rose to fame as a member of the band All Saints. During All Saints' five years of inactivity, she was a member of Appleton with her younger sister Nicole.-Biography:...
and Nicole Appleton
Nicole Appleton
Nicole Marie Appleton-Gallagher is a Canadian pop singer and actress who rose to fame as a member of All Saints. She was formerly a member of Appleton along with her older sister Natalie.-Early life:...
wrote and recorded their own album, formed the duo Appleton
Appleton (music duo)
Appleton were a Canadian musical duo comprising Natalie Appleton and her sister Nicole. The sisters were perhaps best known as members of the girl group All Saints.-Biography:...
and signed a contract with Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
. In September 2002, the Appleton sisters launched their first single, "Fantasy", which reached number two in the UK. Their autobiography, Together, was published the following month. Their second single, "Don't Worry
Everything's Eventual (album)
Everything's Eventual is the debut, and only, album by the duo Appleton who were formerly part of All Saints. Three singles have been released from the album: "Fantasy" , "Don't Worry" and "Everything Eventually" ....
", was released in March 2003 and reached number five in the UK before the release of their first album, Everything's Eventual
Everything's Eventual (album)
Everything's Eventual is the debut, and only, album by the duo Appleton who were formerly part of All Saints. Three singles have been released from the album: "Fantasy" , "Don't Worry" and "Everything Eventually" ....
, the same month. The album peaked at number nine; its final single was "Everything Eventually
Everything's Eventual (album)
Everything's Eventual is the debut, and only, album by the duo Appleton who were formerly part of All Saints. Three singles have been released from the album: "Fantasy" , "Don't Worry" and "Everything Eventually" ....
", which was released in July 2003 and peaked at number thirty-eight. Appleton and Polydor subsequently parted ways.
Shaznay Lewis
Shaznay Lewis
Shaznay Lewis is a British female singer-songwriter and a former member of All Saints.-Biography:...
released her first solo single, "Never Felt Like This Before
Never Felt Like This Before
"Never Felt Like This Before", Shaznay Lewis' first single from the Open album, was released 2004. It peaked in the UK charts at #8.-Track listing:-Song information:-Charts:-Video:...
", in July 2004; it reached number eight in the UK. Her album Open followed two weeks later via London Records and peaked at number twenty-two, although the second single, "You
You (Shaznay Lewis song)
"You" is Shaznay Lewis' second single from the Open album and was released 2004. It peaked in the UK charts at #56.-Tracklist:-Song information:-Charts:-Remixes:"You"* Housebreakerz Remix* Single edit* Srdjan Radio Remix* Switch Remix...
", charted only at number fifty-six. In November 2004, Lewis was one of the artists involved in the Band Aid 20
Band Aid 20
Band Aid 20 was the 2004 incarnation of the charity group Band Aid. The group, which included Chris Martin of Coldplay, Bono of U2, and Paul McCartney, re-recorded the 1984 song "Do They Know It's Christmas?", written by Band Aid organizers Bob Geldof and Midge Ure.-Recording:The song was recorded...
re-recording of "Do They Know It's Christmas?
Do They Know It's Christmas?
"Do They Know It's Christmas?" is a song written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in 1984 to raise money for relief of the 1984–1985 famine in Ethiopia. The original version was produced by Midge Ure and released by Band Aid on 29 November 1984....
". In early 2008, Lewis collaborated with Wideboys
Wideboys
The Wideboys are UK house, Bassline and UK garage Record producers and remixers.The Wideboys are managed by Matt Waterhouse from MWR/Hyperactive. In 2008, they signed to Sony ATV Music Publishing. Prior to this, The Wideboys had been signed in various deals with the likes of Warner, Univeral and...
on the UK top forty hit "Daddy O".
Discography
Albums- 1997: All Saints
- 2000: Saints & Sinners
- 2006: Studio 1Studio 1 (album)-Special edition DVD:-Singles:-Release history:-Charts:-External links:*...
Compilations
- 1998: The Remix Album
- 2001: All HitsAll HitsAll Hits is the compilation album of the greatest hits of All Saints and also featured a song by Melanie Blatt and The Artful Dodger called "TwentyFourSeven".-Track listing:-Charts:...
- 2010: Pure Shores: The Very Best of All SaintsPure Shores: The Very Best of All SaintsPure Shores: The Very Best of All Saints is the second compilation album of the greatest hits of All Saints released on 27 September 2010. The 2-disc collection features the group's hit singles, a collection of album tracks and their most stand-out B-sides, as well as a song by Melanie Blatt and...
Singles
- 1995: "Silver ShadowSilver Shadow (song)"Silver Shadow" is a song by American R&B group Atlantic Starr, released as the third single from their successful 1985 album As the Band Turns. Lead vocals were performed by Barbara Weathers....
" - 1995: "If You Wanna Party (I Found Lovin)Let's Get Started"Let's Get Started" and "If You Wanna Party " are in fact the same song, but with different titles. It was the second single released by All Saints 1.9.7.5 and All Saints when the band re-launched....
" - 1995: "Let's Get StartedLet's Get Started"Let's Get Started" and "If You Wanna Party " are in fact the same song, but with different titles. It was the second single released by All Saints 1.9.7.5 and All Saints when the band re-launched....
" (Japan release only) - 1997: "I Know Where It's AtI Know Where It's At"I Know Where It's At" is a song by All Saints released as the debut single from their self titled album: All Saints. On 9 August 1997 the song was debuted on the National Lottery Live and the first performance on Top of the Pops was on 2 September 1997....
" - 1997: "Never Ever"
- 1998: "Under the Bridge"/"Lady MarmaladeUnder the Bridge / Lady Marmalade"Under the Bridge" / "Lady Marmalade" was the third single released from the All Saints debut album, All Saints. It became their second number-one single in the UK....
" - 1998: "Bootie CallBootie Call"Bootie Call" is a song performed by British-Canadian girl group All Saints from their debut album, All Saints . The song was co-written by group member Shaznay Lewis in collaboration with its producer, Karl Gordon. "Bootie Call" was first released on 31 August 1998 by London Records as All Saints'...
" - 1998: "War of NervesWar of Nerves"War of Nerves" is a song by All Saints, which was released as the fifth and final single from their debut album, All Saints. In the UK it peaked at #7 in the charts.-Song information:-Charts:-Track listing:...
" - 2000: "Pure ShoresPure Shores"Pure Shores" is a song by All Saints, released as the first single from their second album, Saints & Sinners. The song was written for the film The Beach and produced by William Orbit.-Reception:...
" - 2000: "Black CoffeeBlack Coffee (All Saints song)"Black Coffee" was the second single released from the Saints & Sinners album of All Saints. It became their fifth and most recent #1 single in the UK. Its total sales are of 212,707.-Background:...
" - 2001: "All Hooked UpAll Hooked Up"All Hooked Up" is a song by All Saints, released as the third single from their third album, Saints & Sinners. It peaked at No.7 in the UK charts. It also was All Saints' last single to be released from the aforementioned album...
" - 2006: "Rock Steady"
- 2007: "Chick FitChick Fit"Chick Fit" is a song performed by British-Canadian recording girl group All Saints from their third and final studio album Studio 1. It was released as a promotional single from the album on 26 February 2007...
"
Awards and nominations
|-| rowspan="7"| 1998
| rowspan="2"| "Never Ever" || BRIT Award for Best British Single
Brit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
||
|-
| BRIT Award for Best British Video ||
|-
| All Saints || BRIT Award for Best British Breakthrough Act ||
|-
| "Never Ever" || MTV Europe Music Award for Best Song ||
|-
| All Saints || MTV Europe Music Award for Best Album ||
|-
| rowspan="2"| All Saints
| MTV Europe Music Award for Best Group ||
|-
| MTV Europe Music Award for Best New Act ||
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1999
| "Under the Bridge" / "Lady Marmalade"
Under the Bridge / Lady Marmalade
"Under the Bridge" / "Lady Marmalade" was the third single released from the All Saints debut album, All Saints. It became their second number-one single in the UK....
|| BRIT Award for Best British Video ||
|-
| rowspan="2"| All Saints
| BRIT Award for Best British Dance Act ||
|-
| 2000 || MTV Europe Music Award for Best Pop ||
|-
| rowspan="5"| 2001
| rowspan="2"| "Pure Shores" || BRIT Award for Best British Single ||
|-
| BRIT Award for Best British Video ||
|-
| All Saints || BRIT Award for Best British Group ||
|-
| "Pure Shores" || Ivor Novello Award for Most Performed Work ||
|-
| All Saints || NME Award
NME Awards
The NME Awards is an annual music awards show in the United Kingdom, founded by the music magazine, NME .The first awards show was held in 1953 as the NME Poll Winners Concerts, shortly after the founding of the magazine....
for Best Pop Act ||
|-