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Monday, December 30, 2019

"All I Want" by Howard Jones

Song#:  2997
Date:  01/24/1987
Debut:  90
Peak:  76
Weeks:  5
Genre:  Synthpop



Pop Bits:  Jones' third album, One to One, got kicked off with the #17 single "You Know I Love You...Don't You?" It wasn't necessarily the best start following a platinum album and a #4 hit, "No One Is to Blame," so it was key that the LP's next single did well in order to keep interest in the album going. This track was selected, but it couldn't get the job done. It stalled quite early on the Pop chart to become his lowest peaking single to-date in the US. The warning signs of a potential chart dud were there since it was actually the album's first single in the UK in the fall of '86 and it stalled at #35 there. In turn, the album would falter and only get to #59, which was a far cry from the #10 peak of his previous LP Dream Into Action.

ReduxReview:  I was a big HoJo fan at the time and I was thrilled when "You Know I Love You" came out. I loved it and looked forward to the album. However, the album ended up being a slight disappointment. It was still a good effort, but the songs just weren't as catchy, quirky or interesting as the ones on his previous albums. Jones was expanding his sound and trying to mature as an artist (he was even phasing out his big 80s hairdo) and that made One to One more of a transition album. Besides "You Know I Love You" there wasn't much in the way of single candidates. I have to agree that this tune was the logical choice for a second single, but I knew it wouldn't get far. It was a more mysterious and darker song for Jones and I don't think folks wanted that from him at the time.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  In 1987, Jones and his manager, David Stopps, got the opportunity to own a restaurant in New York City. Jones and Stopps were vegetarians and when in town they frequented the vegetarian restaurant Macie's Mad Dog Cafe. Owner Joth Arnoldy wanted to open up a bigger vegetarian restaurant/bar and brought up the idea to Jones and Stopps. They jumped on board and a spot for the restaurant was found on Waverly Place in the West Village. Everything came together and the restaurant called Nowhere was opened in October of '87. Unfortunately, just four weeks later, a lit cigarette left on a couch in the bar caused a fire that nearly destroyed the place. They could have closed, but decided to renovate and reopen. The new Nowhere opened in January of '88. The restaurant did well and attracted celebs like Madonna and Lou Reed. It is unknown when Nowhere closed, but it doesn't exist any longer. As of this posting date, it looks like the former space is now the home of Josie Wood's Pub.

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