"All I Know" is a song written by American songwriter

Jimmy Webb Jimmy Layne Webb (born August 15, 1946) is an American songwriter, composer, and singer. He achieved success at an early age, winning the Grammy Award for Song of the Year at the age of 21. During his career, he established himself as one of Am ...

, first recorded by

Art Garfunkel Arthur Ira Garfunkel (born November 5, 1941) is an American singer, actor and poet who is best known for his partnership with Paul Simon in the folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel. Born in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, Garfunkel became acquainte ...

on his 1973 debut solo album, '' Angel Clare,'' released by

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American reco ...

. 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 Easy listening (including mood music) is a popular music genre and radio format that was most popular during the 1950s to the 1970s. It is related to middle of the road (MOR) music and encompasses instrumental recordings of standards, hit s ...

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 ''Ten Easy Pieces'' is the ninth album by American singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb, released in October 1996 by Guardian Records. The album consists of new arrangements of some of Webb's most popular songs. Critical reception In his review for Al ...

'' 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 Linda Maria Ronstadt (born July 15, 1946) is an American singer who has performed and recorded in diverse genres including rock, country, light opera, the Great American Songbook, and Latin music. Ronstadt has earned 11 Grammy Awards, three A ...

to join him in a duet version for his 2010 album ''

Just Across the River Just or JUST may refer to: Arts and entertainment * "Just" (song), 1995, by Radiohead * '' Just!'', Australian author Andy Griffiths' children's story collections * ''Just'', a 1998 album by Dave Lindholm * "Just", a 2005 song on '' Lost and Fo ...

.'' 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 ''Nip/Tuck'' is an American medical drama television series created by Ryan Murphy that aired on FX in the United States for six seasons from 2003 to 2010. The series, which also incorporates elements of crime, black comedy, family drama, sati ...

.'' 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 ''Boy Meets World'' is an American coming-of-age sitcom created by Michael Jacobs and April Kelly that aired on ABC for seven seasons between September1993 and May2000. The series centers on Cory Matthews ( Ben Savage) and his friends and f ...

.''

Recorded versions

* Art Garfunkel on his album ''Angel Clare'' (1973) * Art Garfunkel on his album '' Up 'til Now'' (1993) *

Amy Holland Amy Celeste Boersma (born August 15, 1953), known professionally as Amy Holland, is an American pop and rock singer. Her career spans more than 40 years. She received a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist in 1981, following her Amy Holla ...

and Michael McDonald on the soundtrack album ''One Life to Live'' (1994) * Jimmy Webb on his album ''

'' (1996) *

Michael Feinstein Michael Jay Feinstein (born September 7, 1956) is an American singer, pianist, and music Revivalist artist, revivalist. He is an archivist and interpreter for the repertoire known as the Great American Songbook. In 1988, he won a Drama Desk Spec ...

on his album '' Only One Life: The Songs of Jimmy Webb'' (2003) *

Five for Fighting Vladimir John Ondrasik III (born January 7, 1965), also known by his stage name Five for Fighting, is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. He is best known for his piano-based soft rock, such as the top 40 hits " Superman (It's Not Easy)" ...

on the soundtrack album '' Chicken Little'' (2005) * Jimmy Webb on his album ''

Live and at Large ''Live and at Large'' is the eleventh album by American singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb Jimmy Layne Webb (born August 15, 1946) is an American songwriter, composer, and singer. He achieved success at an early age, winning the Grammy Award for S ...

'' (2007) *

Alan Cumming Alan Cumming (born 27 January 1965) is a Scottish actor, writer and presenter. Known for his roles on stage and screen, he has received numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award, two Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, and an Olivier Award. He re ...

on his album '' I Bought a Blue Car Today'' (2009) * Jimmy Webb and

on the album ''

'' (2010)

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