Retro Rewind: Joe’s ‘All The Things’ Became His Breakout Hot 100 Hit This Week in 1996

Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.

So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’ allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.

This week it’s all about ‘All the Things (Your Man Won’t Do)’ – the inaugural Hot 100 top 20 hit of R&B veteran Joe.

After striking out with his 1993 debut album, ‘Everything’ (which peaked at #105 on the Billboard 200), a late 90’s transition to JIVE Records saw Joe (born Joseph Thomas) strike gold when his song, ‘All the Things (Your Man Won’t Do),’ was included on the Wayans’ parody film, ‘Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood.’ Despite earning critical acclaim from radio programmers ahead of its official release, ‘Things’ – which debuted just two days before the film hit theaters in January 1996 – was showcased to nationwide audiences courtesy of the flick and its accompanying soundtrack.

The response was so favorable it not only served the then-23-year-old his healthiest helping of national attention to that date, but it also assisted the song’s ascent to the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 (where it was found this week that year). Becoming his breakout hit and a fan favorite among the entries of his prized, yet underrated discography, the tune now hovers over Gold status and helped launch Joe to becoming a forerunner among 90’s and 2000’s R&B male vocalists. Later leading its parent album, Joe’s sophomore effort – ‘All I Am‘ – to a #13 peak on the Billboard 200, it too would go on to be certified Gold.

Look below to see who joined him in the top 25 this week 23 years ago:

Hot 100 This Week in 1996

Hot 100 This Week in 2019

Click here to read the full TGJ Chart Check list.