All Over the Place is the debut studio album by American pop rock band the Bangles. Released in May 1984 by Columbia Records, the sound is lively and shows more Bangles collaboration and fewer keyboard overdubs than were used later on their more commercially successful albums. Although the album was not a major commercial success – peaking at number 80 on the Billboard 200 albums chart – and did not produce a hit, it sold respectably, mostly through steady airplay on college stations. It also gave them the chance to perform as an opening act for Cyndi Lauper and Huey Lewis and the News, and brought the group to the attention of Prince, who would write "Manic Monday", their first hit.
The album was reissued in 2008 on the Wounded Bird Records label (WOU 9220) adding a bonus track: "Hero Takes a Fall" (Single Remix). In 2010, UK label Cherry Pop re-released the album with one bonus track, their cover of The Grass Roots "Where Were You When I Needed You", which was originally released as the b-side to "Hero Takes a Fall".
Commercial performance
The album spent 30 weeks on the U.S. Billboard album charts and reached its peak position of number 80 in November 1984.[9]
Critical reception
Reviewing for The Village Voice in October 1984, Robert Christgau found the songs "thoroughly realized in both the writing and playing", with "familiar heart-stopping harmonies", and wrote in conclusion: "Though the style is as derivative and even retro as on EP, they don't seem to be dabbling any more. Maybe they project such confidence because they know exactly what they want to say: don't fuck me over."[10]
Cashbox stated "the debut single from this Los Angeles—based all female combo displays a lyrical intelligence while capturing a musical sound appealing to both album oriented and hit radio
formats. Forget about comparisons to that other girl group, the Bangles have forged a unique, commercially satisfying sound. Susanna Hoff’s straight ahead vocals backed by Vicki Peterson’s guitar artistry produce a down
to earth rock and roll cut sure to find its way on to summer playlists."[11]
Allmusic called it "easily their best and most satisfying LP." Their review noted that "it's the record that most openly embraces the folk-rock and garage rock influences that fueled their earliest music...Susanna Hoffs hadn't yet been singled out as the star of the show, and the round-robin lead vocals, stellar harmonies, and tight, concise arrangements make them sound like a real-deal rock band."[12]
"James" was originally sung by Vicki Peterson but the lead vocals were sung by Hoffs by the time the album was recorded. The song's opening chords echo their arrangement of "The Rock and Roll Alternative Program Theme Song",[13] recorded in 1982 for DJ George Gimarc's syndicated radio show (and later included on the band's Ladies and Gentlemen... The Bangles! retrospective of early material, released in 2014).
"Hero Takes a Fall" was given a subtle remix for its single release. It was backed by the non-album track "Where Were You When I Needed You", a cover of The Grass Roots tune by P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri. The single mix and B-side were both included on the Bangles' Greatest Hits compilation in 1990.
