All Woman

Written by Stansfield with Ian Devaney and Andy Morris, the song's lyrics is told from the perspective of a hardworking and long-suffering{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Holden|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/lisastansfield/albums/album/247522/review/5944484/real_love|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090910063209/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/lisastansfield/albums/album/247522/review/5944484/real_love|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 September 2009|title=Lisa Stansfield - Real Love|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=9 January 1992|accessdate=9 March 2020|author-link=Stephen Holden}} housewife who is hurt by her husband's insensitive remarks.{{cite magazine|first= Daniel S. |last= Housman |title= The Inimitable Spirit and Lush Voice of Lisa Stansfield |magazine= Miscellany News |date= 31 January 1992 |page= 9 |accessdate= 23 April 2020 |url= https://news.hrvh.org/veridian/cgi-bin/senylrc?a=d&d=vcmisc19920131-01.2.23}} Telling about a typical day in her life, the lyrics starts off describing the end of that day. Her man comes home from work, worn and weary, only to snap at the toll the day's labors have taken on her appearance.Considine, J.D. (1992). "She's The Heart And The Soul Of 'All Woman'". The Baltimore Sun. – via The Record. (4 August 1992).

J.D. Considine from The Baltimore Sun said about the lyrics, "It's an archetypal romantic confrontation, starting off with tempers flaring and ending with a tender reconciliation. And unlike a lot of love songs, it seemed to spring from real life, not fantasy-land." Larry Flick from Billboard felt that the lyrics are "poignant". Clark and DeVaney from Cashbox viewed them as "a cry for renewed love in relationships that have lost their spark and gently reminds us of the complacency trap couples fall into when they start to take each other for granted."{{cite magazine|first1= Randy |last1= Clark |first2= Bryan |last2= DeVaney |title= Music Reviews: Singles |magazine= Cashbox |date= 22 February 1992 |page= 6 |accessdate= 1 November 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1992/CB-1992-02-22.pdf}} Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report described the lyrics as a "slice of real life [to] stir human emotions".{{cite magazine |first= Dave |last= Sholin |title= Gavin Picks > Singles |magazine= Gavin Report |issue= 1892 |date= 14 February 1992 |page= 100 |accessdate= 16 April 2018 |url= http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Gavin-Report/90/92/Gavin-1992-01-18.pdf }}{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} David Quantick from NME felt the song "has a nice sort of determined lyric",{{cite magazine|first=David|last=Quantick|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52507738635/|title=Long Play|magazine=NME|date=23 November 1991|page=32|access-date=2 May 2023|author-link=David Quantick}} while Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel felt it has the "best lyrics" on the album, "about a woman whose marriage has gone stale: Yes, I look a mess, but I don't love you any less."Gettelman, Parry (3 January 1991). "Lisa Stansfield". Orlando Sentinel. Mike Joyce from The Washington Post remarked that they "explore the darker side of a working-class relationship, a portrait that is, by turns, despairing, defiant and optimistic."

"All Woman" was a sizeable hit on the charts all over the world. In Europe, the song entered the top 20 in Italy (11) and the UK, where it peaked at number 20 in its fourth week on the UK Singles Chart on 5 January 1992.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19920105/7501/|title=Official Singles Chart Top 75 05 January 1992 - 11 January 1992|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=19 March 2023}} It debuted as number 35, and climbed to number 23 and 22, before peaking at number 20. It did also chart on the UK Dance Singles Chart, peaking at number 17. Additionally, the single entered the top 30 in Belgium (28) and the Netherlands (21), and the top 40 in Spain (38) and Sweden (38). On the Eurochart Hot 100, it reached number 39, but was far more successful on the European Dance Radio Chart, peaking at number six.

Outside Europe, "All Woman" reached number one on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, number 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 21 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. In Canada, the song peaked at number nine on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart and number 50 on the RPM Top Singles chart. In Zimbabwe, it was very successful, peaking at number five. In Australia, it was a top 60 hit, peaking at number 52.

AllMusic editor Alex Henderson complimented the song as a "poigant and heartbreaking ballad".{{cite web|first=Alex|last=Henderson|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/real-love-mw0000270157|title=Lisa Stansfield - Real Love|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=15 February 2020}} J.D. Considine from The Baltimore Sun felt it "had the feel of an instant classic. "All Woman" seems to be an instant masterpiece, the sort of soul song that will sound just as fresh in 20 years as it does today." David Taylor-Wilson from Bay Area Reporter stated that it’s the ballad "that's going to sell this set."{{cite magazine|first=David|last=Taylor-Wilson|title= Lisa Stansfield Real Love (Arista) |magazine= Bay Area Reporter |date= 26 December 1991 |accessdate= 23 April 2020 |url= https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=BAR19911226.1.35}} Larry Flick from Billboard described it as a "deeply affecting ballad", and "easily Stansfield's strongest performance to date; she is caressed by muted strings and a soft, R&B-grounded bass line."{{cite magazine|first=Larry|last=Flick|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1992-02-08.pdf|title=Single Reviews|magazine=Billboard|date=8 February 1992|accessdate=12 February 2020|page=72|author-link=Larry Flick}} He also noted that the song "reveal a distinctive and confident style."{{cite magazine|first= Larry |last= Flick |title= Dance Trax: Lisa Stansfield Puts Real Emotions Into New Album |magazine= Billboard |date= 23 November 1991 |page= 29 |accessdate= 11 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-11-23.pdf |author-link= Larry Flick}} Another Billboard editor praised it as "glorious".{{cite magazine|title= Album Reviews: Spotlight |magazine= Billboard |date= 16 November 1991 |page= 80 |accessdate= 23 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-11-16.pdf}} A reviewer from Boston Herald wrote that the "husky-voiced singer purrs through a string of lushly orchestrated dance/pop love ballads", as "All Woman"."Discs Brit singer Stansfield proves 'Real Love' is intoxicating". Boston Herald. 15 November 1991. Clark and DeVaney from Cashbox commented, "This beautifully sung, tender and soulful ballad".

Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report noted that Stansfield "puts all her heart" into the song. Another Gavin Report editor stated, "Lest there by any doubt...Ms. Stanfield can carry a tune and this song of feminine affirmation is a home run."{{cite magazine|title= A/C: Reviews |magazine= Gavin Report |date= 7 February 1992 |page= 30 |accessdate= 17 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Gavin-Report/90/92/Gavin-1992-02-07.pdf}} Daniel S. Housman from Miscellany News declared it as "a smoldering ballad". Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote that it is a "smooth ballad, not heard anymore since the top days of Shirley Bassey", adding that Stansfield "should be an excellent choice to sing lead on a future 007 soundtrack."{{cite magazine|url=http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-01-18.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=9|issue=3|date=18 January 1992|page=20|accessdate=29 April 2018}} Stephen Holden from Rolling Stone called it a "gem" from the Real Love album, "that sounds tailor-made for Gladys Knight, although Knight would have a hard time topping Stansfield's version." Caroline Sullivan from Smash Hits felt that "she raises the hairs on your neck".{{cite magazine|first= Caroline |last= Sullivan |title= Review: LPs |magazine= Smash Hits |date= 13 November 1991 |page= 54 |accessdate= 20 October 2020 |url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/46195302254/in/album-72157706186680835/}} Mike Joyce from The Washington Post named "All Woman" "the album's most moving performance", having Stansfield venturing "far beyond the usual radio fodder".Joyce, Mike (22 December 1991). "Britain's Gutsy, Lusty Female Vocalists". The Washington Post. p. G08.

• European/US 7" single / Japanese CD single

1. "All Woman" (Edit) – 4:49
2. "Everything Will Get Better" – 5:00

• European CD single

1. "All Woman" (Edit) – 4:49
2. "Everything Will Get Better" (Extended Mix) – 8:03
3. "Change" (Metamorphosis Mix) – 7:04

• US 12" single

1. "All Woman" – 5:16
2. "Everything Will Get Better" (Sax on the Beach Mix) – 6:35
3. "Everything Will Get Better" (Ian & Andy 12") – 8:01
4. "Everything Will Get Better" (Underground Club Mix) – 9:54

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• List of number-one R&B singles of 1992 (U.S.)

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Lisa Stansfield}}

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Category:1991 songs

Category:1991 singles

Category:Lisa Stansfield songs

Category:Songs written by Lisa Stansfield

Category:Songs with feminist themes

Category:Arista Records singles

Category:Songs written by Ian Devaney

Category:Songs written by Andy Morris (musician)

Category:Soul ballads

Category:1990s ballads