"All I Know" is a song written by American songwriter
Jimmy Webb, first recorded by
Art Garfunkel on his 1973 debut solo album, ''
Angel Clare
''Angel Clare'', the debut solo studio album by Art Garfunkel, released on September 11, 1973, is his highest-charting solo album, peaking at No. 5. It includes his only Top 10 hit in the US as a solo artist, "All I Know", which peaked at No. 9 ...
,'' released by
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...
. Instrumental backing was provided by members of the
Wrecking Crew, L.A. session musicians. Garfunkel's version is the best known and highest-charting version, peaking at number nine on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number one on the
Easy Listening chart for four weeks in October 1973.
Garfunkel's version begins with a solo piano, before he begins to sing. When the orchestration is beginning to fade out, the solo piano takes over, playing melodic passages to the song's end.
Reception
In his review for ''Allmusic,'' Joe Viglione wrote that Jimmy Webb's own version of the song, recorded for ''
Ten Easy Pieces'' in 1996, had "none of the gloss" of Garfunkel's hit version, but more soul.
Viglione continued:
Chart history
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
The Linda Ronstadt connection
More recently, Webb invited
Linda Ronstadt to join him in a duet version for his 2010 album ''
Just Across the River.'' Ronstadt had just announced her retirement from singing when Webb sent her an email describing his new CD of duets. Webb asked if she would sing "All I Know" with him, with just a guitar backup. Ronstadt called him and said, "Damn it, you've gotten me interested in that song." Webb later recalled, "There was a poignancy to that moment ... because I didn’t know if she'd ever sing again. Her voice sounds elegantly beautiful on 'All I Know' ... I loved the meticulous way she covered my voice."
Elsewhere in popular culture
The song continues to appear in popular culture. It was featured in the season 2 finale and the series finale of the American drama series ''
Nip/Tuck.''
Garfunkel's second rendition of the song was also used in a video montage in the ending credits of "The Grass Is Always Greener," Episode 12 in Season 3 of the American comedy-drama series ''
Boy Meets World.''
Recorded versions
* Art Garfunkel on his album ''Angel Clare'' (1973)
* Art Garfunkel on his album ''
Up 'til Now
''Up 'til Now'' is the third compilation album by Art Garfunkel. The album is a mixture of three previously released solo tracks (including a track from ''The Animals' Christmas''), seven new songs (including a duet with James Taylor and a track fr ...
'' (1993)
*
Amy Holland and
Michael McDonald on the soundtrack album ''One Life to Live'' (1994)
* Jimmy Webb on his album ''
Ten Easy Pieces'' (1996)
*
Michael Feinstein on his album ''
Only One Life: The Songs of Jimmy Webb'' (2003)
*
Five for Fighting on the soundtrack album ''
Chicken Little'' (2005)
* Jimmy Webb on his album ''
Live and at Large'' (2007)
*
Alan Cumming
Alan Cumming (born 27 January 1965) is a British actor. His London stage appearances include ''Hamlet'', the Maniac in ''Accidental Death of an Anarchist'' (for which he received an Olivier Award), the lead in '' Bent'', The National Theatre o ...
on his album ''
I Bought a Blue Car Today'' (2009)
* Jimmy Webb and
Linda Ronstadt on the album ''
Just Across the River'' (2010)
See also
*
List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1973 (U.S.)
References
External links
*
{{authority control
1973 singles
Art Garfunkel songs
Michael McDonald (musician) songs
Amy Holland songs
Songs written by Jimmy Webb
Pop ballads
Song recordings produced by Roy Halee
Male–female vocal duets
1973 songs
Columbia Records singles