All On My Mind

Album: Encore (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This slinky stomper was co-penned by Ed Sheeran and his "Shape Of You" songwriting partner, Snow Patrol's Johnny McDaid. The collaboration came about through Gregg Nadel, the president of Elektra records who first heard the Brits' demo for "All On My Mind" through Erik Eger who manages McDaid. "He's a fan of Anderson's," Nadel told Billboard of Eger. "We were listening to a bunch of things, talking about potential mixers and different ideas and, he said, 'Hey man, have you heard this song that Johnny and Ed wrote? It might be a good song for Anderson.'"

    Nadel handles the marketing Sheehan for Atlantic Records in addition to running Elektra, so he already was in contact with the British star. He recalled: "I went to him and said, 'Hey, would it be okay if I played this for Anderson? I'm really really excited about this record we're making and maybe it's a song he would consider cutting.' And he said sure."

    Anderson was keen as soon as he heard the demo. "It has a lot of elements of stuff we've been talking about," Nadel said, "but he really wanted to also make it his own and add his own lyrical twists that he could relate to more personally. Ed, Johnny and everyone was open to that idea so Anderson went in and started working on some of the verses."

    Nadel admitted that when he sent Sheeran a completed version of Anderson East's re-interpreted "All On My Mind," he was "a little nervous." However, the Brit immediately loved it. "He could not have been happier with how it turned out," Nadel said. "He's really excited about it and really hopes it does well."
  • The song topped the Adult Alternative Songs tally dated December 23, 2017 becoming Anderson East's first #1 on any Billboard chart. His previous best had been the besting the #2 peak of his album Delilah on Heatseekers Albums in January 2016. Prior to "All On My Mind", the Alabama native's best-charting song, had been the #18 peak achieved by his first Adult Alternative Songs hit "Satisfy Me" in September 2015.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Cheerleaders In Music Videos

Cheerleaders In Music VideosSong Writing

It started with a bouncy MTV classic. Nirvana and MCR made them scary, then Gwen, Avril and Madonna put on the pom poms.

Shaun Morgan of Seether

Shaun Morgan of SeetherSongwriter Interviews

Shaun breaks down the Seether songs, including the one about his brother, the one about Ozzy, and the one that may or may not be about his ex-girlfriend Amy Lee.

Real or Spinal Tap

Real or Spinal TapMusic Quiz

They sang about pink torpedoes and rocking you tonight tonight, but some real lyrics are just as ridiculous. See if you can tell which lyrics are real and which are Spinal Tap in this lyrics quiz.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.