Ain't Nobody (Faith Evans song)

"Ain't Nobody" is a song by American singer Faith Evans. It was written by Evans, Sean Combs and Chucky Thompson and produced by the latter two for her debut studio album Faith (1995). Released as the album's third single along with "Kissing You" from the soundtrack of the romance film Waiting to Exhale (1995), "Ain't Nobody" peaked at number 67 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 14 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. On Christmas Day 2015, Evans released a re-recorded version of the song on Faith 20, a six-track album composed of remakes from Faith.[1]

"Ain't Nobody"
Single by Faith Evans
from the album Faith
ReleasedOctober 26, 1995
Length5:13
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Sean Combs
  • Chucky Thompson
Faith Evans singles chronology
"Soon as I Get Home"
(1995)
"Ain't Nobody"
(1995)
"Come Over"
(1996)

Background

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"Ain't Nobody" was written by Evans, Sean Combs and Chucky Thompson and produced by Combs and Thompson for her debut studio album Faith (1995).[2] Thompson said it was influenced by the song "Can't Let Her Get Away" by Michael Jackson from his 1991 album Dangerous, telling Soul Culture in 2014: "I took some pieces from that record, but I took from the soul vibe that we had going on at Bad Boy. The crazy part about this song was I was using this new drum machine device which is called a classic now, but it was the MPC 3000. I found myself trying it out and ended up creating my first beat with it."[3]

When he started on the music, Thompson didn't do the tracking until after Combs came to hear the song and gave him the go ahead to track it.[3] When Thompson attempted the first time after Combs left, the plug came out from the machine and the entire track was erased – which led him having to do it all over again from scratch, though he still favored his original version: "Trust me, the first version of the record was way better than the version you ended up hearing on the album."[3]

Critical reception

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Billboard editor Larry Flick called the song "another pop/R&B-infused hip- hop kicker that casts Evans as a modern-day soul vixen — a role she plays to the hilt. She vamps with style and confidence against a backdrop of her own smooth and silky harmonies. The hook grabs you and never lets go, while the beat skittles and snakes up the spine. A perfect way to usher in the spring season, this is one of those singles that you'll find yourself swaying to even while in chill mode."[4]

Track listings

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US CD single[5]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Ain't Nobody" (album version)
  • Combs
  • Thompson
5:13
2."Kissing You"Kenneth EdmondsBabyface3:23
US maxi single[6]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Ain't Nobody" (album version)
  • Evans
  • Combs
  • Thompson
  • Combs
  • Thompson
5:13
2."Ain't Nobody (Who Could Love Me)" (Puffy & Chucky remix featuring Queen Latifah)
  • Combs
  • Thompson
4:18
3."Kissing You" (album version)EdmondsBabyface3:23
4."Ain't Nobody (Who Could Love Me)" (Puffy & Chucky instrumental)
  • Evans
  • Combs
  • Thompson
  • Owens
  • Wolinski
  • Combs
  • Thompson
3:56
5."Ain't Nobody" (album version)
  • Evans
  • Combs
  • Thompson
  • Combs
  • Thompson
5:12

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of Faith'.[2]

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ "Faith Evans Reaches Back & Celebrates Her Debut Album With 'Faith 20'". Soulbounce. December 25, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Faith (Media notes). Faith Evans. Bad Boy Records. 1995.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^ a b c Williams, Chris (January 2, 2012). "Producer Chucky Thompson recalls crafting Faith Evans' debut album, Faith (1995) | Return To The Classics". soulculture.com. Soul Culture. Archived from the original on March 15, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  4. ^ "Reviews & Previews – Singles". Billboard. March 16, 1996. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  5. ^ Ain't Nobody/Kissing You (US CD single liner notes). Faith Evans. Bad Boy Records, Atlantic Records. 1996.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Ain't Nobody/Kissing You (US maxi single liner notes). Faith Evans. Bad Boy Records, Atlantic Records. 1996.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ "Faith Evans Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  8. ^ "Faith Evans Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  9. ^ "1996 Year End Chart: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2023.