All I Ask of You

"All I Ask of You" is a song from the 1986 English musical The Phantom of the Opera, between characters Christine Daaé and Raoul, originally played on stage by Sarah Brightman and Steve Barton, respectively. It was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe, and solely produced by Lloyd Webber. An operatic pop piece, its lyrics serve as dialogue between the two characters and discuss themes such as commitment and romance. Like Lloyd Webber's song "The Music of the Night", "All I Ask of You" was compared to the music found in Giacomo Puccini's 1910 opera La fanciulla del West.

For the Marina Prior album of the same name, see All I Ask of You (album).

"All I Ask of You"
Single by Cliff Richard and Sarah Brightman
from the album The Phantom of the Opera
B-side
  • "The Phantom of the Opera Overture (Act II)"
  • "Only You"
Released26 September 1986
Recorded1986
GenreOperatic pop
Length4:11
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Andrew Lloyd Webber
Cliff Richard singles chronology
"Born to Rock 'n' Roll"
(1986)		 "All I Ask of You"
(1986)		 "Slow Rivers"
(1986)
Sarah Brightman singles chronology
"The Phantom of the Opera"
(1986)		 "All I Ask of You"
(1986)		 "Doretta's Dream"
(1987)
Music video
"All I Ask of You" on YouTube

Critically, the song has generally been regarded as one of the finest cuts made for The Phantom of the Opera. It was released as a single by Polydor Records on 26 September 1986 on 7" and 12", performed by Brightman and Cliff Richard. The song achieved commercial success in several territories, including in Ireland and South Africa, where it topped the charts and the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number three. It was later certified Silver in the latter country for shipments of 250,000 copies. "All I Ask of You" has been covered by multiple artists, including The Shadows, Lloyd Webber's brother Julian, Elaine Paige, and Jackie Evancho. Susan Boyle and Donny Osmond, Josh Groban and Kelly Clarkson, and Marina Prior and Mark Vincent have also continued with duet versions of the song.

A notable cover of "All I Ask of You" was recorded by Barbra Streisand for her studio album Till I Loved You (1988). It was released as the record's second single on 15 December 1988 by Columbia Records as a 7", 12", and CD. It was generally noted as a standout track on Till I Loved You and was commercially successful, entering the charts in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and on the United States' Adult Contemporary chart.

Background and release
Andrew Lloyd Webber, co-writer and sole producer of "All I Ask of You".

"All I Ask of You" was written and produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber, whereas Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe provided the lyrics for the track.[1] It was created specifically for the 1986 English musical The Phantom of the Opera, which was developed by Lloyd Webber and served as a live adaptation of Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel of the same name. It is performed by characters Christine Daaé and Raoul, where the former protests and asks for love of the latter.[2] The song appears towards the end of Act I, immediately after it is revealed that the two characters "have met again and felt a sexual attraction".[3] The single version of "All I Ask of You" is performed by Cliff Richard and Sarah Brightman, although Richard's vocals are replaced by Steve Barton's during the musical production and its accompanying inclusion on the live album.[4]

In the early 2000s, Lloyd Webber was sued by the estate of Giacomo Puccini for similarities between the former's song "The Music of the Night" (1986), also from The Phantom of the Opera, and a melody titled "Quello che tacete" which was used in Puccini's 1910 opera La fanciulla del West.[5][6] The matter was settled out of court between the two parties soon after the lawsuit was revealed.[7] However, author John Snelson, who wrote a biography on Lloyd Webber in 2009, further compared "All I Ask of You" to the same aforementioned melody, citing similar "motivic connections" and "operatic and emotional cross-references" as his evidence.[2]

Polydor, an English-based record label, first released "All I Ask of You" as a single on 26 September 1986.[8] It was distributed in several formats. The 7" single features the track plus B-side "The Phantom of the Opera Overture (Act II)", which is performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.[1] The 12" version features the same two aforementioned songs, but it includes a second B-side "Only You", which was featured in Lloyd Webber's 1984 musical Starlight Express.[9] Along with its placement as the 13th track on the album for The Phantom of the Opera, a reprise of "All I Ask of You" follows on the track listing. During the reprise, lead character the Phantom, voiced by Michael Crawford, provides vocals.[4]

Besides the accompanying live album to the musical, Richard and Brightman's version of "All I Ask of You" was not featured on any compilation album or greatest hits album until Richard released Private Collection: 1979–1988 in November 1988.[10] Brightman did not include "All I Ask of You" on any albums either until her compilation titled The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection was released in the United States in 1997.[11]

Composition and lyrics

Personnel working on the album for The Phantom of the Opera included recording engineer Martin Levan, conductor Michael Reed, Steve Pierce on clarinet, and Richard Wall on trumpet. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was headed by Lloyd Webber and David Cullen whereas the musical direction was led by Harold Prince and David Caddick.[4]

"All I Ask of You" is a piano ballad;[12][13] according to the official sheet music published by Alfred Publishing, it is written in the key of D♭ major with the partners' vocals ranging from A♭3 to A♭5. It contains a common time with a "heartfelt" tempo consisting of 60 beats per minute.[14] Author Ethan Mordden described the track's genre as operatic pop and noted the high vocals achieved by the singers.[15] Lyrically, Daaé's character is singing about her desire for romance when she demands, "Say you love me every waking moment".[2] In exchange, Raoul claims that he can fulfill her wants as long as she will "let [him] be [her] freedom".[3] In an additional comparison to Puccini's opera, John Snelson claimed that the song's lyrics contained similar symbolism to the music found in La fanciulla del West; however, he stated that there were several differences between the two works. Although they both featured romantic symbolism, Snelson wrote that Puccini's work was much longer and contained a vocal-heavy delivery when compared to Lloyd Webber's work.[2]

Reception

Author and music historian Ethan Mordden stated that the song contains "lyrical magnificence" and noted that its brilliance helped it "accomplish wonderful things" on stage.[15] The song was described as one of the biggest and most commercially successful hits from The Phantom of the Opera by the staff at Show Music.[16]

"All I Ask of You" was commercially successful in several territories internationally. In the United Kingdom, it became Richard's 52nd top ten single by peaking at number three on 4 October 1986.[17] Its success allowed it to be listed on the year-end chart in that country, where it was ranked at number 31.[18] The song was later certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry on 1 October 1986 for shipments of 250,000 physical copies.[17] It topped the Irish Singles Chart for one week, replacing Status Quo's cover of "In the Army Now" (1986).[19] The song reached the same peak in South Africa on the country's Springbok Radio chart,[20] while in Australia, it peaked at number 24, according to the Kent Music Report.[21]

Track listings

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[8] Silver 250,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

Several musicians have created their own versions of "All I Ask of You". The Shadows created an instrumental version of the song in 1989 for their covers album, Steppin' to the Shadows.[23] As a duet, Stephanie Lawrence and Carl Wayne included it on The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection in 1991.[24] It is covered by Webber's younger brother and cello player Julian on the 2001 album, Lloyd Webber Plays Lloyd Webber.[25] A separate choral arrangement of "All I Ask of You" appears on The King's Singers's Chanson d'Amour (1992).[26] Elaine Paige released a solo version for Essential Musicals in 2006.[27] American vocalist Jackie Evancho's version of "All I Ask of You" was included on her 2011 studio album Dream with Me and peaked at number four on Billboard's Classical Digital Songs component chart following its release.[28][29]

On Susan Boyle's album Standing Ovation: The Greatest Songs from the Stage (2012), she and featured artist Donny Osmond recorded a cover of "All I Ask of You"; in addition, Boyle also recorded two other Lloyd Webber compositions.[30] American singers Josh Groban and Kelly Clarkson performed the duet for the former's musical-influenced seventh studio album, Stages (2015).[31][32] After its release, it entered and peaked on the Pop Digital Songs in the United States at number 32.[33] Groban had previously performed "All I Ask of You" to David Foster during an audition to sing "The Prayer" live at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards with Celine Dion.[34] Marina Prior and Mark Vincent, both Australian vocalists, covered it for their 2016 collaborative effort, Together.[35]

Barbra Streisand version
"All I Ask of You"
Single by Barbra Streisand
from the album Till I Loved You
B-side
Released15 December 1988
Length4:02
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
  • Andrew Lloyd Webber
  • Charles Hart
  • Richard Stilgoe
Producer(s)Phil Ramone
Barbra Streisand singles chronology
"Till I Loved You"
(1988)		 "All I Ask of You"
(1988)		 "What Were We Thinking Of"
(1989)

Background and release

American singer Barbra Streisand recorded a cover of "All I Ask of You" for her 29th studio album, Till I Loved You (1988).[36] It was released as the album's second single on 15 December 1988 by Columbia Records.[37][38][39] Till I Loved You is a concept album chronicling the different stages during a romantic relationship, where the beginning songs detail the good times and the final tracks discuss a painful breakup;[40] accordingly, "All I Ask of You" was placed as the record's sixth track.[36] It was produced by frequent Streisand collaborator Phil Ramone. Considering its placement on Till I Loved You, it was noted by The New York Times's Stephen Holden as the only song that is not a "nontheatrical pop tune".[41] Streisand would later include her cover on two of her greatest hits albums: A Collection: Greatest Hits...and More in 1989 and The Essential Barbra Streisand in 2002.[42][43]

Streisand's cover was released physically in several formats by Columbia Records. The standard edition 7" release featured B-side track "On My Way to You" while the promotional version used "All I Ask of You" as both the A-side and B-side.[44][45] In Spain, a 7" record with no B-side was distributed.[46] Three different extended plays (EPs) were released in the United Kingdom. The 7" and 12" varieties included tracks such as "Somewhere", "Memory", "Send In the Clowns, "On My Way to You", "Life Story", and "Emotion";[47][48] both of these editions were also released on CD.[49][50] The limited edition EP featured "On My Way to You", "Make No Mistake, He's Mine", "Since I Fell for You", and a large colored poster of Streisand from the Till I Loved You photoshoots.[51]

Reception

Stephen Holden called the song one of the "moments of sweeping majesty" on Till I Loved You. He stated that Streisand "makes a powerful case [by] negotiating its octave vocal dives with a grand finesse while taking the song at a pleasingly brisk pace".[41] Los Angeles Times's Paul Grein highlighted the song as the greatest track on the album. He compared its dramatics to Streisand's 1981 single "Memory" and later wrote, "but [it] is much warmer and less grandiose. It's one of Streisand's greatest recordings".[52]

The single did not enter the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, but it did reach the same publication's Adult Contemporary chart. "All I Ask of You" also entered the charts in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. In the former country, it peaked at number 56 after entering at number 79.[53] In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number 77 and spent five weeks charting.[54]

Track listings and formats

Charts
Chart (1988–1989) Peak
position
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[53] 56
UK Singles (OCC)[54] 77
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[55] 15

See also

References

Citations
  1. "All I Ask of You" / "The Phantom of the Opera Overture (Act II)" (Liner notes). Cliff Richard, Sarah Brightman (7" ed.). Polydor. 1986. POSP 802.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. Snelson 2009, p. 180
  3. Hogle 2016, p. 200
  4. The Phantom of the Opera (Liner notes). Various artists. Polydor. 1986. PODV9.CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. Stearns, David Patrick (December 2011). "La fanciulla del West review". Gramophone. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  6. Seckerson, Edward (21 June 2004). "La fanciulla del West, Opera Holland Park London". The Independent. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  7. Ouzounian, Richard (2 January 2006). "Aspects of Andrew". Toronto Star.
  8. "British single certifications – Cliff Richard & Sarah Brightman – All I Ask of You". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 21 August 2017. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type All I Ask of You in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  9. "All I Ask of You" / "The Phantom of the Opera Overture (Act II)" (Liner notes). Cliff Richard, Sarah Brightman (12" ed.). Polydor. 1986. 885 336-1.CS1 maint: others (link)
  10. Thompson, Dave. "Cliff Richard – Private Collection: His Personal Best 1979-1988". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  11. The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection (Liner notes). Sarah Brightman (CD ed.). Really Useful Records. 1997. 314 539 330-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  12. Lloyd Webber, Andrew; Hart, Charles; Stilgoe, Richard (1986). "The Phantom of the Opera 'All I Ask of You' Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  13. Ivie, Devon (25 August 2018). "Kelly Clarkson and Josh Groban Destroy This Phantom of the Opera Ballad in Front of World's Most Intense Audience". Vulture.com. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  14. Lloyd Webber, Andrew; Hart, Charles; Stilgoe, Richard (1986). "The Phantom of the Opera 'All I Ask of You' (Easy Piano) Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  15. Mordden 2015, p. 81
  16. Show Music staff (2002). "New releases, from page 12". Show Music. M.O. Preeo. 18: 57.
  17. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  18. "End Of Year Chart – Top 50 Singles of 1986". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 12 September 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  19. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Cliff Richard". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  20. "South African Charts 1969 - 1989". rock.co.za. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  21. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  22. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1980s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  23. Steppin' to the Shadows (Liner notes). The Shadows. Polydor. 1989. 839 357-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  24. The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection (Liner notes). Various artists. Pickwick Music. 1991. PWKS 4065.CS1 maint: others (link)
  25. Clarke 1998, p. 763
  26. Chanson d'Amour (Liner notes). The King's Singers. RCA Victor. 1992. 09026 61427 2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  27. Essential Musicals (Liner notes). Elaine Paige. W14 Music. 2006. 1709789.CS1 maint: others (link)
  28. Monger, James Christopher. "Jackie Evancho – Dream with Me". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  29. Billboard staff (2 July 2011). "Billboard Digital Songs: Classical". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 123 (23): 47. ISSN 0006-2510.
  30. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Susan Boyle – Standing Ovation: The Greatest Songs from the Stage". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  31. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Josh Groban – Stages". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  32. Waxman, Olivia B. (15 April 2015). "Listen to Kelly Clarkson's and Josh Groban's Duet of 'All I Ask of You' from Phantom of the Opera". Time. Archived from the original on 3 September 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  33. "Chart search". Billboard Pop Digital Songs. 16 May 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  34. Foster 2009, p. 162
  35. "Together – Marina Prior & Mark Vincent". iTunes Store (AU). 15 April 2016. Archived from the original on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  36. Till I Loved You (Liner notes). Barbra Streisand. Columbia. 1988. CK 40880.CS1 maint: others (link)
  37. Okun 1989, p. 1
  38. Okun 1989, p. 25
  39. "For Immediate Release: Barbra Streisand Releases 'All I Ask of You,' Second Single from 'Till I Loved You;' Song Taken from Broadway Smash, 'The Phantom of the Opera;' Albums Hits Top 10". Columbia Records Press & Publicity Department. 13 December 1988. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  40. Kimbrell 1989, p. 401
  41. Holden, Stephen (6 November 1988). "Recordings; Barbra Streisand and the Showstopper Syndrome". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  42. Ruhlmann, William. "Barbra Streisand – A Collection: Greatest Hits...And More". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  43. Ruhlmann, William. "Barbra Streisand – The Essential Barbra Streisand". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  44. "All I Ask of You" / "On My Way to You" (Liner notes). Barbra Streisand (Standard 7" ed.). Columbia. 1988. 38 08026.CS1 maint: others (link)
  45. "All I Ask of You" / "All I Ask of You" (Liner notes). Barbra Streisand (Promotional 7" ed.). Columbia. 1988. 38 08026 PROMO.CS1 maint: others (link)
  46. "All I Ask of You" (Liner notes). Barbra Streisand (Spain 7" ed.). CBS. 1988. 653011 7.CS1 maint: others (link)
  47. "All I Ask of You" / "Memory" (Liner notes). Barbra Streisand (United Kingdom 7" EP ed.). CBS. 1988. BARB EP 3.CS1 maint: others (link)
  48. "All I Ask of You" / "Life Story" (Liner notes). Barbra Streisand (United Kingdom 12" EP ed.). CBS. 1988. BARB EP 3.CS1 maint: others (link)
  49. "All I Ask of You" (Liner notes). Barbra Streisand (United Kingdom CD EP (v. 1) ed.). CBS. 1988. CPBARB3.CS1 maint: others (link)
  50. "All I Ask of You" (Liner notes). Barbra Streisand (United Kingdom CD EP (v. 2) ed.). CBS. 1988. 653011 3.CS1 maint: others (link)
  51. "All I Ask of You" / "Make No Mistake, He's Mine" (Liner notes). Barbra Streisand (United Kingdom 12" EP, limited ed.). CBS. 1988. BARB QT3.CS1 maint: others (link)
  52. Grein, Paul (26 October 1988). "Pop Record Review: Post-'Broadway' Streisand Goes Lush and Romantic". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  53. "Dutchcharts.nl – Barbra Streisand – All I Ask of You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  54. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  55. "Barbra Streisand Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 August 2017.

Bibliography

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