In All the Right Places

"In All the Right Places" is a song by British singer-songwriter and actress Lisa Stansfield for the 1993 drama film Indecent Proposal, starring Robert Redford and Demi Moore. It was released as a lead single in the United Kingdom on 24 May 1993 and in other European countries in July 1993 by Arista. The lyrics were written by Stansfield, Ian Devaney and Andy Morris, and the music was composed by John Barry, who created the soundtrack for the film. Devaney and Morris also produced the song which received positive reviews from music critics. It reached number eight in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The accompanying music video was directed by Nick Brandt.

"In All the Right Places"
Single by Lisa Stansfield
from the album Indecent Proposal: Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and So Natural
Released	24 May 1993 (1993-05-24)^[1]
Genre	Pop soul
Length	5:42
Label	Arista
Songwriter(s)	John Barry Lisa Stansfield Ian Devaney Andy Morris
Producer(s)	Ian Devaney Andy Morris
Lisa Stansfield singles chronology
"Someday (I'm Coming Back)" (1992) "In All the Right Places" (1993) "So Natural" (1993)
Music video
"In All the Right Places" on YouTube

The Soul Mix of "In All the Right Places" was included on Stansfield's next studio album, So Natural, which was released in November 1993. Ten years later, "In All the Right Places" was also featured on Biography: The Greatest Hits (2003). In 2014, the soundtrack version of "In All the Right Places" was included on the deluxe 2CD + DVD re-release of So Natural (also on The Collection 1989–2003).^[2][3] The song was nominated for Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Original Song.

Chart performance

"In All the Right Places" enjoyed moderate success on the charts, entering the top 10 in Ireland (8), Portugal (4) and the UK. In the latter, the song peaked at number eight in its fourth week on the UK Singles Chart on 20 June 1993.^[4] Having debuted at number 13, it then climbed to number nine and back to number ten, before peaking at number eight. It also peaked at number ten on the UK Dance Singles Chart. Additionally, the song was a top 20 hit in the Netherlands and a top 30 hit on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it peaked at number 24 in July 1993. It also entered the top 70 in Germany (63). Outside Europe, "In All the Right Places" peaked at number 26 on the Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary chart and number 132 in Australia.

Critical reception

In an retrospective review, Quentin Harrison from Albumism highlighted "In All the Right Places" as one of the album's "most significant compositions", noting that Stansfield "vocally burns the house" on the song.^[5] Larry Flick from Billboard complimented it as a "shimmering pop ballad fueled by Stansfield's positively flawless vocal and an arrangement reminiscent of vintage compositions." He remarked that it "builds from a quiet place to a climax that will leave you with goosebumps."^[6] Ken Capobianco from The Boston Globe declared it as a "solid new track" that "continues her successful streak of sultry pop soul."^[7] Ben Thompson from The Independent felt "In All the Right Places" "has a nice Bond-theme sweep about it".^[8] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton stated, "If ever a record was born to be No.1 this has to be it."^[9]

Alan Jones from Music Week gave it four out of five and named it Pick of the Week, writing that "this typically soulful and sophisticated performance lacks the power of some of her previous singles".^[10] R.S. Murthi from New Straits Times stated that Stansfield "acquits herself with style and grace" on tunes like "In All the Right Places".^[11] James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update described it as an "attractive" and "swaying" ballad.^[12] Damon Albarn and Alex James of Blur reviewed the song for Smash Hits, giving it five out of five. James said, "I think this is really good. She's really British. She's our Whitney Houston. It's so tasteful, understated and undramatic."^[13]

Music video

A black-and-white music video was produced to promote the single, directed by English photographer Nick Brandt. It depicts Stansfield lying on a divan while she performs the song. In between, there are clips from the Indecent Proposal movie (also they are in black-and-white). In other scenes, the singer stands in the room and/or leans towards the wall. Later she is seen hovering in the air over the divan, while she sings. The video was later made available on Stansfield's official YouTube channel in November 2009.^[14]

Track listings

UK CD single "In All the Right Places" (Edit) – 5:17 "In All the Right Places" (Soul Mix) – 6:03 "Someday (I'm Coming Back)" (Classic 12" Club Mix) – 7:43 "Someday (I'm Coming Back)" (Classic Reprise Mix) – 5:48 UK 7-inch single "In All the Right Places" (Edit) – 5:17 "In All the Right Places" (Soul Mix) – 6:03

UK 12-inch single "In All the Right Places" (Soul Mix) – 6:03 "Someday (I'm Coming Back)" (Classic 12" Club Mix) – 7:43 "Someday (I'm Coming Back)" (Classic Reprise Mix) – 5:48 European CD single "In All the Right Places" (Edit) – 5:17 "In All the Right Places" (Soul Mix) – 6:03 "In All the Right Places" (Instrumental) – 3:10

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1993) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[15] 132 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[16] 26 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)^[17] 24 Europe (European Hit Radio)^[18] 8 Germany (Official German Charts)^[19] 63 Ireland (IRMA)^[20] 8 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[21] 20 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[22] 24 Portugal (AFP)^[23] 4 UK Singles (OCC)^[24] 8 UK Dance (Music Week)^[25] 10

Year-end charts Chart (1993) Position Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[26] 160 UK Singles (OCC)^[27] 60

References

1. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 22 May 1993. p. 21.
2. . lisa-stansfield.com. 2 October 2014. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
3. "Exclusive: First pictures takes you inside the reissues 'The Collection 1989–2003'". lisastansfield.net. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
4. "Official Singles Chart Top 75 20 June 1993 - 26 June 1993". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
5. Harrison, Quentin (6 November 2018). "Lisa Stansfield's 'So Natural' Turns 25: An Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
6. Flick, Larry (29 May 1993). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 91. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
7. Capobianco, Ken (20 May 1993). "Various Artists – Indecent Proposal: Original Soundtrack". p. 8. The Boston Globe.
8. Thompson, Ben (14 November 1993). "Records". The Independent.
9. Masterton, James (30 May 1993). "Week Ending June 5th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
10. Jones, Alan (22 May 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles - Pick of the Week" (PDF). Music Week. p. 9. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
11. Murthi, R.S. (22 December 1993). "Sermon of soul from Rev Green". New Straits Times. p. 28. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
12. Hamilton, James (5 June 1993). "Djdirectory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 7. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
13. Albarn, Damon; James, Alex (12 May 1993). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 48. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
14. "Lisa Stansfield - In All the Right Places". YouTube. 15 November 2009. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
15. . imgur.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
16. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1001." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
17. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
18. "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 32. 7 August 1993. p. 18. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
19. "Lisa Stansfield - In All the Right Places" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
20. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – In All the Right Places". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
21. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 32, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
22. "Lisa Stansfield – In All the Right Places" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
23. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 32. 7 August 1993. p. 16. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
24. "Lisa Stansfield: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
25. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 5 June 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
26. "Jaarlijsten 1993" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
27. "Top 100 Singles 1993". Music Week. 15 January 1994. p. 24.