All by Myself

"All by Myself"
Single by Eric Carmen
from the album Eric Carmen
B-side "Everything"
Released December 1, 1975[1]
Format 7" single
Genre
Length 7:10 (album version)
4:22 (single edit)
Label Arista
Songwriter(s) Eric Carmen
Producer(s) Jimmy Ienner
Eric Carmen singles chronology
"All by Myself"
(1975)		 "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again"
(1976)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicNo rating[4]

"All by Myself" is a song by American artist Eric Carmen released in 1975. The verse is based on the second movement (Adagio sostenuto) of Sergei Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Opus 18. The chorus is borrowed from the song "Let's Pretend", which Carmen wrote and recorded with the Raspberries in 1972.[5]

The song was the first released on Carmen's first solo LP after leaving the power pop group the Raspberries and was released as the first single in December 1975, to great acclaim. It reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 1 on Cash Box Top 100 Singles and number 3 in Canada. The single sold more than one million copies in the United States and was certified gold by the RIAA in April 1976.[6] "All By Myself" was Carmen's first of eight US Top 40 hits. In the UK, however, this was his only Top 40 success, peaking at number 12. In a 2006 poll for UK's Five programme Britain's Favourite Break-up Songs, Eric Carmen's version of this song was voted seventeenth.

Rachmaninoff's music was in the public domain in the United States and Carmen thought no copyright existed on it, but it was still protected outside the U.S. Subsequent to the release of the album, he was contacted by the Rachmaninoff estate and informed otherwise.[7] An agreement was reached in which the estate would receive 12 percent of the royalties from "All by Myself" as well as from "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again", which was based on the third movement from Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2.[8][9]

Carmen has stated that he also incorporated part of another melody into this song. The melody was taken from his previous hit with the Raspberries, "Let's Pretend", as noted above.[10]

Carmen's original version has spawned numerous cover versions by such artists as Rico J. Puno in 1976, Celine Dion in 1996, Frank Sinatra, Igudesman & Joo, Il Divo, and Only Men Aloud!.

The slide guitar solo was performed by famed studio guitarist Hugh McCracken.[11]

Television performance

Carmen performed "All By Myself" and his follow-up hit, "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again," on The Midnight Special television program on July 23, 1976 (season 4, episode 37). The show was hosted by The Spinners.[12]

Chart performance

Celine Dion version

"All by Myself"
Single by Celine Dion
from the album Falling into You
Released October 7, 1996
Format
Recorded 1995;
Genre
Length 5:09 (album version)
4:30 (single version)
3:54 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) David Foster
Celine Dion singles chronology
"The Power of the Dream"
(1996)		 "All by Myself"
(1996)		 "Les derniers seront les premiers"
(1996)
Music video
"All by Myself" on YouTube

One of the most notable cover versions of "All by Myself" was recorded by Celine Dion in 1996. It was the fourth (or third, depending on the country) hit single from her album Falling into You.[29] Produced by David Foster at Compass Point Studios in The Bahamas, it was released on October 7, 1996 in Europe, January 13, 1997 in Australia, and March 11, 1997 in North America.

There were three music videos made. The first one was released in October 1996. It contains fragments from Dion's photo session for the Falling into You album cover and some scenes from her Live à Paris concert. It was made for the single version and it was directed by Nigel Dick. The second version was made for the UK market with the same white T-shirt scenes but adding footage of a young couple in love at Christmas time, instead of scenes from Dion's concert. This was made for the album version. Finally, a live music video was released in March 1997 in North America (from the 1996 concert in Montreal).

Dion performed this song many times during world tours, TV shows and music events such as the Grammy Awards (1997), Billboard Music Awards (1997) and Bambi Awards (1996). A performance from her 2008-2009 Taking Chances Tour can be found on the Taking Chances World Tour: The Concert DVD/CD. It is currently included in the set list of Dion's Las Vegas residency show Céline which premiered on March 15, 2011. The song was also performed during the 2013 Sans attendre Tour; the Quebec City performance was included in the Céline... une seule fois / Live 2013 CD/DVD.[30] The song was also performed in Dion's 2017 European tour, and 2018 tour.

Dion also recorded a Spanish version of "All by Myself," called "Sola otra vez" (English: By Myself Again). It was added to the Falling into You Latin American/Spanish edition, and as a B-side to other singles from that album. This version became available worldwide on Dion's later compilation The Collector's Series, Volume One. The CD single was released in 1996 in Brazil only. Dion's "Sola otra vez" was selected the number one Spanish language cover of an English pop song by TheSpanishVersion.Org.[31]

The "All by Myself" single became one of Dion's biggest hits in the United States, reaching number 1 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks (for three weeks) and the Latin Pop Airplay (two weeks). It peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 (number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay and number 5 on the Hot 100 Singles Sales). It was also a top 10 hit in France, United Kingdom, Wallonia in Belgium and the Republic of Ireland. In Canada, "All by Myself" was released as a promotional single only, hitting number 1 on the Adult Contemporary Chart. "All by Myself" was certified gold in the US (500,000), and silver in the UK (200,000) and France (165,000).

The track was included on some editions of Dion's greatest hits All the Way... A Decade of Song in 1999 and on My Love: Essential Collection in 2008.

This version also features on the ITV game show Take Me Out if the contestant leaves the show without a date.

Critical reception

Dion's cover received positive reviews. New York Times editor Stephen Holden wrote that the remake, along with "Because You Loved Me," "are the strongest cuts on an album crammed with formulaic romantic bombast."[32] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report commented: "Demand by both programmers and the public for this rendition of Eric Carmen's 1976 smash made it the obvious choice to be the third single lifted off Celine's multi-platinum and Grammy-nominated album, Falling Into You."[33] Music.uk.launch.yahoo.com editor Dan Leroy wrote: "Trying to out-emote Eric Carmen was almost crazy enough to work."[34] Entertainment Weekly editor Chuck Eddy said:" ...But only in her desolate cover of Eric Carmen's All by Myself does she truly crash through the glass ceiling of passion."[35]

Charts

Certifications and sales

Region CertificationCertified units/Sales
France (SNEP)[70] Silver 164,400[71]
United Kingdom (BPI)[72] Silver 200,000^
United States (RIAA)[73] Gold 500,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history

Country Date Format
United Kingdom[74] December 9, 1996
  • CD
  • cassette
United States[74] March 11, 1997
  • CD
  • cassette
  • 7"

Other cover versions

In 1977 American singer Rosemary Clooney performed this song on her album "Nice To Be".

In 1994, "All By Myself" was covered by New Zealand singer Margaret Urlich. Her version reached #100 in Australia in November 1994,[75] and #26 in New Zealand in March 1995.[76]

The 2001 motion picture Bridget Jones's Diary featured a cover version performed by Jamie O'Neal[77] showing actress Renée Zellweger singing to it in the famous pajamas scene. This track is also played over the other Bridget Jones films Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and Bridget Jones's Baby.

In 2008, the male voice choir Only Men Aloud! covered the song on their self-named album and also released it as a single.

The Carmen version is used in the video introduction for Conan O'Brien's "Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour", when an obese and bearded version of the talk show host struggles to cope with losing his job as host of Tonight Show. The Carmen version is also featured in the second season's episode 17 of the popular 1990s sitcom Friends (set on Joey & Chandler's friendship), and a season 4 episode of the hit sitcom That '70s Show where Eric Forman is depressed because Donna Pinciotti broke up with him. It was also featured in the films Under Wraps, Bridget Jones' Diary and To Die For. The version is used also in the film I nuovi mostri directed by Dino Risi, with Ornella Muti and Yorgo Voyagis. In the Disney film Zootopia, a snippet is heard of it as the main character, Judy Hopps, browses through one depressing song after another on her clock radio. Also, the Carmen version is featured in the fourth season's episode 1 of Scrubs called My Old Friend's New Friend in which J.D., Turk and Carla are shown taking the new scooters out for a ride.


A character is featured performing the song as karaoke in the 2001 Angel episode "Happy Anniversary".

The song was used in advertisements:

0 The Carmen version is used on The Late Late Show with James Corden in a segment called "Were You Paying Attention?" where audience members are asked questions by Corden on the opening monologue and other parts of the show to see if they were paying attention. If they get the question right, they win a prize; otherwise they lose their seat for the rest of the show to another audience member waiting in the backstage area who was previously denied a seat. As the eliminated audience member leaves the studio, Corden hands him or her a microphone and asks them to sing the song.[78]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hogya, Bernie (2005). ""All By Myself" 30th Anniversary". EricCarmen.com. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  2. ↑ Gary Graff (1996). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. ISBN 978-0-7876-1037-1.
  3. ↑ Bigna, Dan (2016). "Tuned In: Superb songwriting at the heart of David Bowie's musical legacy". The Sydney Morning Herald (January 21). Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  4. ↑ Matthew Greenwald. "All by Myself - Eric Carmen — Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-04-28.
  5. ↑ Gordon Pogoda (1991). "An Interview with Eric Carmen". ericcarmen.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  6. ↑ "RIAA - Gold and Platinum - Search Results - Eric Carmen singles". Archived from the original on May 24, 2012.
  7. ↑ Rust, Victor (2010). The Cliff Richard Recording Catalogue 1958-2010. ISBN 9780956738400. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  8. ↑ Soeder, John. "One Lonely Song, But Many Voices Keep Eric Carmen's Tear-Jerker in Rotation" The Plain Dealer February 12, 2006: J1
  9. ↑ Vandeventer, Mary. "Symphony Promises a Crowd Pleaser" The Beaumont Enterprise January 19, 2007
  10. ↑ "An Interview with Eric Carmen". Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Eric Carmen interview". 2005. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  12. ↑ TV.com. "The Midnight Special". TV.com.
  13. 1 2 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Eric Carmen – All By Myself" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  15. ↑ Canada, Library and Archives (July 17, 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly".
  16. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  17. ↑ http://www.fireballmedia.ie, Jaclyn Ward - Fireball Media Group -. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". www.irishcharts.ie.
  18. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Eric Carmen" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  19. ↑ "Charts.nz – Eric Carmen – All By Myself". Top 40 Singles.
  20. ↑ "SA Charts 1965–1989". Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  21. ↑ "Eric Carmen: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Eric Carmen Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Eric Carmen Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 3/13/76". tropicalglen.com.
  25. ↑ "Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 - 1976". Archived from the original on June 11, 2009. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  27. ↑ Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 25, 1976
  28. ↑ Roberts, Randall (June 11, 2014). "Alone in Las Vegas, man crafts clip for Celine Dion's 'All By Myself'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  29. ↑ Falling into You Archived September 15, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.. Retrieved January 31, 1996.
  30. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 20, 2014. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  31. ↑ "LOS DIEZ: The Spanish Version's Ten Best". Thespanishversion.org. Archived from the original on January 27, 2012.
  32. ↑ "New Releases". The New York Times. April 14, 1996. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  33. ↑ Sholin, Dave (January 24, 1997). "Gavin Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 2140. p. 62. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  34. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 8, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  35. ↑ "Falling Into You - EW.com". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  36. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Céline Dion – All by Myself". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  37. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Céline Dion – All by Myself" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  38. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Céline Dion – All by Myself" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  39. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Céline Dion – All by Myself" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  40. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3210." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  41. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3191." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  42. ↑ Nanda Lwin (1999). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
  43. ↑ "The Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. December 28, 1996. Archived from the original on May 13, 2008. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  44. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Céline Dion – All by Myself" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  45. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Céline Dion – All by Myself". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  46. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (23.01.1997 - 29.01.1997)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  47. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – All by Myself". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  48. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 51, 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  49. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Céline Dion – All by Myself" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  50. ↑ "Charts.nz – Céline Dion – All by Myself". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  51. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Céline Dion – All by Myself". VG-lista. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  52. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  53. ↑ Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  54. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Céline Dion – All by Myself". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  55. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  56. ↑ "Celine Dion Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  57. ↑ "Celine Dion Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  58. ↑ "Celine Dion Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  59. ↑ "Celine Dion Chart History (Hot Latin Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  60. ↑ "Celine Dion Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  61. ↑ "Celine Dion Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  62. ↑ "Celine Dion Chart History (Tropical Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  63. ↑ "Rapports annuels 1996" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  64. ↑ "Classement Singles - année 1996" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  65. ↑ "Jaarlijsten 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  66. ↑ "RPM '97 Year End ...Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. December 15, 1997. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  67. ↑ "RPM '97 Year End ...Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks". RPM. December 15, 1997. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  68. ↑ "Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1997" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on September 22, 2005. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  69. 1 2 3 "The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. December 27, 1997. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  70. ↑ "Certifications Singles Argent - année 1996" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on March 9, 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
  71. ↑ "Les Meilleures Ventes "Tout Temps" de 45 T. / Singles / Téléchargement" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  72. ↑ "British single certifications – Celine Dion – All by Myself". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 11, 2014. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Enter All by Myself in the search field and then press Enter.
  73. ↑ "American single certifications – Celine Dion – All by Myself". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 11, 2014. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  74. 1 2 "Celine Dion – All by Myself". Discogs. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  75. ↑ Gavin Ryan (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  76. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart - The Official New Zealand Music Chart". THE OFFICIAL NZ MUSIC CHART. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  77. ↑ "Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)".
  78. ↑ The Late Late Show with James Corden (2018-09-11), Were You Paying Attention?, retrieved 2018-09-24
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