"So Much in Love" is a song written by George Williams, Billy Jackson, and Roy Straigis (initially under the name John Joseph). It was originally performed by Williams's American soulvocal groupthe Tymes and was released in the summer of 1963 on Cameo Parkway Records, which produced many pre-Beatles hits of the 1960s such as The Twist. It quickly became The Tymes' first hit single, topping the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart on August 3, 1963, and remaining there for one week,[3] as well as peaking at No. 4 on the Hot R&B Singles chart.[4]
American R&B vocal group All-4-One released their cover version of "So Much in Love" in late 1993 by Atlantic and Blitzz as their debut single from their first album, All-4-One (1994). It was produced by Tim O'Brien and Gary St. Clair, and peaked at No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1994. The single was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), selling 600,000 copies.[5][6] It also reached No. 3 in New Zealand, No. 29 in Belgium and No. 49 in the UK. All-4-One's version is based on a version by a group called AFD whose version was released not long before All-4-One's. A rare music video was also produced to promote the single.[7]
The group had not previously heard the original song by the Tymes. One of the producers of the cover record, Gary St. Clair, had reached out with the idea of asking for the group to be part of the new recording. "So Much in Love" was also the first work All-4-One had done together; the doo-wop sound had not been stylistically an intention for the group.[8]
Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report wrote, "Recalling those street corner harmonies of old, this sensational cover of the Tymes' 1963 summer smash caught fire at the tail end of 1993. It's one of those songs that gets on the air and within seconds, captures the audience. Strong request activity."[9] Dennis Hunt from Los Angeles Times named it a "glorious remake" and "a highlight of this excellent album".[10] Alan Jones from Music Week gave it a score of three out of five, saying the group's "close harmony is very similar to that of Boyz II Men. One mix is virtually a capella, the other slips a slow shuffle under the song. It should get enough support to be a mid-charter."[11] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "The a capella wind of early last year has somewhat calmed down, but could easily be blowing again, if you choose for the right mix without instruments. Of 'Caravan of Love' class."[12] Pete Stanton from Smash Hits also gave it three out of five, noting that "So Much in Love" "is even slower [than 'I Swear'], with not an instrument in sight."[13]
^Caputo, Salvatore (January 1, 1998). "All-4-One". In Graff, Gary; du Lac, Josh; McFarlin, Jim (eds.). MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. p. 11.
