All-4-One "So Much In Love"

Album: All-4-One (Blitzz/ Atlantic; 1994)
Songwriters: Billy Jackson, Roy Stragis and George Williams
R&B Peak Position: #10

"So in love are we too/ Just can't wait to say 'I do'/ So in love/ In a world of our own..."

Classic doo-wop staple "So Much In Love" began as a 1963 #1 Pop charter for Philly vocal quintet The Tymes, before re-emerging as a modest hit single in 1982 by Eagles' bassist Timothy B. Schmit for the Fast Times At Ridgemont High Soundtrack. For it's third trip to the charts, the song was revived by boy band All-4-One, a Californian four piece whose members (Jamie Jones, Delious Kennedy, Alfred Nevarez and Tony Borowiak) had first come together after all being contestants at a local karaoke contest. The quartet eventually scored a single deal with small label, Blitzz Records, and a cover of "So Much In Love" would end up as that recording.

What made the song so special in the first place? Mainly the fact that it perfectly honed in on the youthful innocence and sweet harmony and melody elements that made pop music of the '50's and '60's so endearing. The song documents a young love's precious beginnings to it's eventual trip down the aisle, and it was the couple's adorable harping of their union along the journey, especially expressed through the intricate vocal interplay of The Tymes' in it's original take, that affirmed it as a number to be treasured over for all time.

Like Boyz II Men, another wholesome doo-wop-influenced group enjoying a career high in 1994, All-4-One did a commendable job bringing that old barbershop sound into the modern times, their boyish voices and expert harmonics seeming tailor-made for "So Much In Love"'s timeless romance script. While not everything about it was great (the whole "Baby, I hope you realize that you mean so much to me..."-talked portion is quite cheesy), the a capella-performed tune stood out as a fine bridging to yesteryear that folks of all ages could enjoy, and it made A4O instant pop stars.

Within the span of a year, the group would continue their rapid ascension into a worldwide music sensation, achieving a mega-sized #1 with follow-up single, "I Swear". Originally a country smash for singer John Michael Montgomery (these boys lucked out with covers), All-4-One's take ended up another major success and earned the group a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance By A Duo or Group. More albums would follow into the new millennium, but the attraction of their admittedly stale MOR sound soon waned (at least with most of the world; they continued to score hit singles in Asia).



DL: "So Much In Love" (YFH)