Ain't Nobody
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- For the La Toya Jackson single of a similar title, see "(Ain't Nobody Loves You) Like I Do".
| “Ain't Nobody” | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single by Rufus & Chaka Khan from the album Stompin' at the Savoy |
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| Released | 1983 | |
| Genre | Pop/Soul/R&B | |
| Length | 4:41 | |
| Writer(s) | Hawk Wolinski | |
"Ain't Nobody" is a 1983 hit single by Chaka Khan, recorded with her group Rufus and released as a studio bonus track on the band's live album Stompin' at the Savoy. Now one of Khan's best-known and most-played songs, "Ain't Nobody" reached #1 on the U.S. R&B chart and #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Today it is regarded as one of the essential soul vocal recordings, and enjoys the status of being a "legendary record".
Rufus keyboardist David "Hawk" Wolinski wrote the song around an unusual, ethereal repeating Roger Linn keyboard loop. Legendary producer Quincy Jones (who had previously worked with Rufus), wanted Wolinski to give "Ain't Nobody" to Michael Jackson for the album that would become the all-time blockbuster, Thriller; but Wolinski had already promised it to producer Russ Titelman, who ultimately had the band record it as a vocal showcase for Khan.
The song was also included in the soundtrack of the movie "Breakin'" or "Breakdance: The Movie." The credits are given as below in the Breakin' website:
"AIN’T NOBODY”
Written by Hawk Wolinkski,
Performed by RUFUS with CHAKA KHAN
Contents |
[edit] Being Nobody
| “Being Nobody” | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by Richard X vs Liberty X from the album Being Somebody / Richard X Presents His X-Factor Vol. 1 |
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| Released | March 24, 2003 | |
| Genre | Pop | |
| Length | 3:40 | |
In 2003, the song was lyrically covered by Liberty X, but as a mash-up with an instrumental interpolation of The Human League track "Being Boiled". It was produced by Richard X and released (under the name Richard X vs. Liberty X) as a single, retitled as "Being Nobody". It reached #3 in the UK in 2003, and appears on both Liberty X's second album Being Somebody, and Richard X's CD, Richard X Presents His X-Factor Vol. 1.
[edit] Track listing
UK CD Single
- "Being Nobody" (Main Mix)
- "Being Nobody" (Richard X Remix)
- "Being Nobody" (X-Clusive)
European 2 track
- "Being Nobody" (Main Mix)
- "Being Nobody" (Richard X Remix)
[edit] Other Cover versions/Remixes
| “Ain't Nobody” | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by LL Cool J from the album Beavis and Butthead Do America Soundtrack |
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| Released | 1997 | ||||
| Format | CD single, cassette single, | ||||
| Recorded | 1996 | ||||
| Genre | Pop/Soul/R&B | ||||
| Length | 4:10 | ||||
| Label | Def Jam | ||||
| LL Cool J singles chronology | |||||
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[edit] Chart versions
In 1995, Diana King recorded the song for her album Tougher Than Love. It was released as a single, reaching #95 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #13 on the UK charts.
The most successful cover of "Ain't Nobody" was by rapper LL Cool J, who recorded an interpolation of the song for the soundtrack to the 1996 film Beavis and Butthead Do America. Released as the soundtrack's second single in 1997, this version reached #1 on the UK charts.
The song was also a hit in the UK for Gwen Dickey and KWS (reaching #21), Jaki Graham (#44), and Course (#8).
[edit] Other versions
- House music pioneer Frankie Knuckles offered his remix of the record for the "Life Is A Dance" project (the first-ever double album of outside remixes of a single artist's catalogue) in 1988. He stayed true to the original arrangement of the recording while taking it into the electronic realm. This remix is regarded as the first example of what would become Knuckles (and business partner David Morales) "Def Classic Mix" style.
- Kelly Price was featured in the 2003 film Bringing Down the House, performing a cover of "Ain't Nobody".
- Keyboardist Jeff Lorber had a major Smooth Jazz radio hit with his instrumental version of "Ain't Nobody" in 2005.
- Another lyrical cover by Daniel and Natasha Bedingfield appeared on the B-side for the latter's fourth European single, "I Bruise Easily".
- Irish band The Walls recorded a cover version of the song for the Even Better than the Real Thing Vol. 1 charity album.
- George Michael performed "Ain't Nobody" during his performance in the Rock in Rio concert.
- KT Tunstall has recorded the track as the b-side for the single Saving My Face.
- 2 Skinnee J's recorded a version titled "The Best" on their album SuperMercado!.
| Preceded by "Cold Blooded" by Rick James |
Billboard's Hot R&B Songs number one single (Rufus & Chaka Khan version) October 15, 1983 |
Succeeded by "All Night Long (All Night)" by Lionel Richie |
| Preceded by "Beetlebum" by Blur |
UK Singles Chart Number 1 single (LL Cool J version) 2 – 9 February 1997 |
Succeeded by "Discothèque" by U2 |
