Studio 1 (album)

Studio 1
Studio album by All Saints
Released	10 November 2006 (See release history)
Genre	Pop, dance, electro-R&B
Length	42:53[1]
Label	Parlophone Records
Producer	K-Gee Greg Kurstin Rick Nowels[2]
All Saints chronology
All Hits (2001) Studio 1 (2006) Pure Shores: The Very Best of All Saints (2010)
Singles from All Saints
"Rock Steady" Released: 6 November 2006 "Chick Fit" Released: 26 February 2007

Studio 1 is the third album by the British girl group All Saints. It was released following a five-year hiatus during which the bandmembers had pursued solo careers.

The first single released from the album was "Rock Steady" which was released on 6 November 2006 and peaked at No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart. A second single, "Chick Fit" was a download-only release. The album debuted at No. 40 on the UK Albums Chart. It was certified Gold in the UK.

Background

In October 2000, All Saints released their second studio album "Saints & Sinners".^[3] It scored the number-one hit singles Pure Shores and Black Coffee and debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, eventually reaching double platinum certification in the UK for sales of 600,000 copies.^[4] In February 2001, they 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.^[5] 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."^[6] In November 2001, London Records released a greatest hits compilation entitled All Hits.^[7] The album peaked at number eighteen on the UK Albums Chart and was later certified gold, selling 100,000 copies.^[4] On 24 January 2006, it was announced that the band had reformed and signed a record deal with Parlophone.^[8]

Recording and music

Lewis answered why they were back together, saying: "Because this time round we just want to have a good time and a laugh.”"^[9] While Nicole Appleton stated: "“We weren’t finished,” I think this album is the best we’'ve done."^[9] Blatt said: "I didn't know what to expect. Would it be the same? Would it be worse? But it was actually better, because we've all grown up."^[10] ”

Studio 1 bears the All Saints signature sound, a blend of pop, hip hop, R&B and a bit of rock.^[10] The first track and lead single "Rock Steady" was the first-ever song Shaznay Lewis wrote with Greg Kurstin and the first demo the band sang together in four years.^[9] It is highly influenced from Jamaican music, including ska, rocksteady (as the song title imply), 2 Tone and reggae.^[11] The second track and second single "Chick Fit" was described as "one of those “blast it, getting ready, dance around” tracks" and one of Nicole favourites on the album.^[9] "On and On" was written when member Shaznay was pregnant and got the anticipation of going through the whole thing. For Melanie Blatt, "It'’s the most “old” All Saints sounding one from the William Orbit days.^[9] "Scar" opens with a horn section and then goes off into a bit of a ska direction.^[12] It was called "scar" purely because of the ska influence in the song but someone wrote it “scar and it stayed.^[9] "Not Eazy" has a dub feel, after starting off with a bit of ska/reggae.^[11] According to Nicole Appleton, the song was inspired by bands like Madness and No Doubt who have a "trumpet reggae sound."^[9] It i’s about relationships and things women can relate to.^[9] "Hell No" is a darker R&B track about being cheated on, penned by Shaznay Lewis and Karl “K-Gee” Gordon.^[11] "Tell me who's that bitch I see climbing out your window", they sing.^[12] According to Lewis, "It'’s a totally made-up song about trusting a man. I'’ve checked a few text messages in the past!."^[9]

"One Me And U" is an up-tempo summery song, about being happy in a relationship.^[11] Lewis said that "That'’s one of my favourites. I love the whole Burt Bacharach feel. It’s quite Sixties".^[9] Opening with a hard piano riff and propelling along by some heavy percussion,^[12] "Headlock" is a song about unreliable men.^[9] Lewis said that she "have not just drawn from herself, but from someone in the band and friends."^[9] "Too Nasty" shows indignation on a wayward reggae.^[13] It was called "Tuna Steak" because Melanie’'s daughter Lily came into the studio and when they sang “too nasty” she thought they were singing “tuna steak.^[9] For Blatt, the song was about bestiality. Basically it’ is someone getting it on with a horse, sheep, chicken.^[9] Shaznay said that Greg Wells is very into harmonies and weird, quirky sounds which she was into, so they worked well together on the tenth track "In It To Win It".^[9] "Flashback" was written by Natalie Appleton and Amanda Ghost.^[9] According to herself, she "has a tendency to say things and think, “Oh, I wish I'’d never said that”." So, she "was trying to put that down."^[9] The album closes with "Fundamental". The song features vocal harmonies, including layered vocals, and piano.^[11] According to Lewis, "this is a love song for all four of us and our kids."^[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[14]
The Guardian	[13]
MusicOMH	[12]
The Observer	mixed[15]
Virgin Media	[16]

"Studio 1" received generally mixed to favourable reviews from music critics. Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, writing: "Studio 1 offers a fresh take on their girl-group style. Always R&B-inclined, their harmonies are now judiciously seasoned with reggae and ska."^[13] John Murphy from musicOMH gave the album 3 out of 5 stars, commenting: "Studio 1, despite not bearing much resemblance to the All Saints of yore, will be snapped up eagerly by those who remember them fondly in their heyday. Yet it's unclear who else this will appeal to really – while it's a pleasant enough listen for the most part, there aren't enough strong songs for it to really grab the attention."^[12] Matthew Chisling from Allmusic wrote that "Unfortunately, while all the music is appealing, it lacks personality and character. The tracks, all composed by Shaznay Lewis and Greg Kurstin, bear no emotional value, and the girls' voices are indistinguishable from one another and digitally enhanced to the point of obscurity."^[3]

In a more mixed review, Kitty Empire from The Observer perceived that "despite some flickers of interest – on 'Chick Fit' and 'Hell No' in particular – too much of Studio 1 happens in a thin, tinny place."^[15] Hamish Champ gave the album 2 out of 5 stars, writing that "the album sounds like an attempt to show that while they may be mums now they can still strut their funky stuff. It works, more or less, but the nagging feeling remains that others have entered the musical arena in the intervening years and have stolen the girls' pop tiaras."^[16]

Commercial performance

During the week of the album's release, it faced a chart battle against George Michael's Twenty Five and the Sugababes' Overloaded: The Singles Collection. Although the media predicted sales would be "very close", Studio 1 entered the UK Albums Chart at number forty,^[17] falling significantly short of the success of "Rock Steady" and the group's previous releases. It has since sold 100,000 copies according to the BPI, being certified Gold.^[4]

Track listing

Special edition DVD

Singles

Release history

Charts

References

External links

• Official site