Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now

"Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now"
Single by McFadden & Whitehead
from the album McFadden & Whitehead
B-side "I Got the Love"
Released April 1979
Format 7", 12"
Recorded Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Genre Funk, disco
Length 7:02 (album version)
3:38 (single edit)
10:45 (12" version)
Label Philadelphia International
Writer(s) Jerry Cohen, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead
Producer(s) Jerry Cohen, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead
Certification Platinum (RIAA)
McFadden & Whitehead singles chronology
"Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now"
(1979)
"I've Been Pushed Aside"
(1979)

"Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" is a 1979 disco song performed by R&B duo McFadden & Whitehead, from their debut album McFadden & Whitehead. They wrote and produced the song along with keyboard player Jerry Cohen.[1] Released as the lead single from the album, the song spent a week at number one on the R&B singles chart. It also proved to be a successful crossover hit, peaking at number thirteen on the Billboard Hot 100, and reached number 5 in the UK.[2] The single also made it to number ten on the disco charts.[3] It eventually went double platinum, selling over 2 million copies.

"Ain't No Stopping Us Now" is about succeeding despite having faced previous disadvantages ("so many things that held us down"). It was widely interpreted to be about the experience of the African American community, and after attaining popularity, became referred to as "the new black national anthem"[4][5] (the original being the 1900 song "Lift Every Voice and Sing").

McFadden & Whitehead would revisit the song in their 1984 single "Ain't No Stoppin' (Ain't No Way)."

Production

Despite being seen as social commentary, in an interview conducted by Philadelphia video producer Bob Lott, John and Gene revealed that the song was actually about their frustration with Philadelphia International Records owners Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, who for many years preferred that they remain as house songwriters and not performers. Gamble has confirmed that upon first hearing "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now", he tried unsuccessfully to convince McFadden and Whitehead to give the song to The O'Jays, as he felt it was better to write and produce for the prominent recording artists of the day than to try to compete with them as on-stage performers.[6]

The bass hook was played by Philadelphia International Records house musician Jimmy Williams.

Chart performance

Weekly singles charts

Chart (1979) Peak
position
Canada RPM [7] 25
UK 5
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 13
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B 1
U.S. Billboard Disco 10
U.S. Cashbox Top 100 [8] 12

Year-end charts

Chart (1979) Rank
Canada [9] 169
UK [10] 53
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [11] 65
U.S. Cash Box [12] 82

Cover versions

Soundtrack appearances

Other appearances

References

  1. "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now by McFadden & Whitehead Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 390.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 172.
  4. A House on Fire: The Rise and Fall of Philadelphia Soul, John A. Jackson, 2004, page 228
  5. Sag Harbor, Colson Whitehead, 2009
  6. "John Whitehead". Celebrity Crime Files. August 2013. TV One.
  7. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
  8. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
  9. "Chart Archive – 1970s Singles". everyHit.com. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  10. "Top 100 Hits of 1979/Top 100 Songs of 1979". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
  11. "Songs overview". Allmusic.com.
  12. "The Rippingtons : Discography : Brave New World". Vervemusicgroup.com.
  13. "Hang Time overview". Allmusic.com.
  14. "Wayman Tisdale Continues Retro Run". Allmusic.com.
Preceded by
"I Wanna Be with You (Part 1)" by The Isley Brothers
Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number one single
June 2, 1979
Succeeded by
"We Are Family" by Sister Sledge
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