Ain't Nobody

Infobox Single
Name = Ain't Nobody


Artist = Rufus & Chaka Khan
from Album = Stompin' at the Savoy
Released = 1983
Format =
Recorded =
Genre = Pop/Soul/R&B
Length = 4:41
Label =
Writer = Hawk Wolinski
Producer =
Certification =
Last single =
This single =
Next single =

"Ain't Nobody" is a 1983 hit single by Rufus along with Chaka Khan and released as a studio bonus track on the band's live album "Stompin' at the Savoy". It reached #1 on the U.S. R&B chart and #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. It has become one of Khan's best-known and most-played songs. Today it is regarded as one of the essential soul vocal recordings, and enjoys the status of being a "legendary record".fact|date=July 2008

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 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.fact|date=July 2008

The song was also included in the soundtrack of the movie "Breakin'" or "Breakdance: The Movie." [ [http://www.fast-rewind.com/break/findex.htm Breakin'] ]

Being Nobody

Infobox Single
Name = Being Nobody


Artist = Richard X vs Liberty X
from Album = Being Somebody / Richard X Presents His X-Factor Vol. 1
Released = March 24, 2003
Length = 3:40
Genre = Pop

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 "Being Nobody". It reached #3 in the UK and appears on both Liberty X's second album, "Being Somebody", and Richard X's CD, "Richard X Presents His X-Factor Vol. 1".

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)

Other Cover versions/Remixes

Infobox Single
Name = Ain't Nobody


Artist = LL Cool J
from Album = Beavis and Butt-Head Do America Soundtrack
B-side = Come to Butt-Head
Released = November 26, 1996
Format = CD single, Cassette single
Recorded = 1996
Genre = R&B/Hip hop
Length = 4:37
Label = Geffen, Universal
Writer = James Todd Smith, Hawk Wolinski
Producer = Rashad Smith, LL Cool J
Last single = "Loungin" (1996)
This single = "Ain't Nobody" (1996)
Next single = "Hit 'Em High (The Monstars' Anthem)" (1997)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Beavis and Butthead Do America Soundtrack
Type = soundtrack
prev_track ="Love Rollercoaster"
prev_no = 2
this_track = "Ain't Nobody"
track_no = 3
next_track = "Ratfinks, Suicide Tanks and Cannibal Girls"
next_no = 4

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, this version reached #1 on the UK charts. In the US, the song peaked at #46 on the Billboard Hot 100, #4 on the Hot Rap Singles Chart and #27 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart.

The song was also a hit in the UK for Gwen Dickey and KWS (reaching #21), Jaki Graham (#44), and Course (#8).

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!".

References