Ain't Doin' Jack
{{short description|2023 single by Josh Ross}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Ain't Doin' Jack
| cover = Ain't Doin' Jack.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Josh Ross
| album =
| released = {{start date|2023|07|14}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Country rock
| length = 2:40
| label =
- The Core
- Universal Canada
| writer =
- Josh Ross
- Mason Thornley
- Benjamin Stoll
- Sam Martinez
| producer = Matt Geroux
| prev_title = Trouble
| prev_year = 2023
| next_title = Single Again
| next_year = 2024
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|IaF9XPvUNv4|"Ain't Doin' Jack"}}}}
}}
"Ain't Doin' Jack" is a song co-written and recorded by Canadian country artist Josh Ross.{{cite web|url=https://www.universalmusic.ca/press-releases/josh-ross-unveils-his-latest-track-aint-doin-jack-out-now/|title=Josh Ross Unveils His Latest Track "Ain't Doin' Jack" Out Now|work=Universal Music Canada|date=July 14, 2023|access-date=November 13, 2023}} He co-wrote the track with Mason Thornley, Benjamin Stoll, and Sam Martinez, while Matt Geroux produced it.{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/1URccwrkhVDXNb8uowWWhk?si=lNgpv9w7Syy8NAicwH_Qzw|title=Ain't Doin' Jack – Single by Josh Ross|date=July 14, 2023|work=Spotify|access-date=November 12, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/aint-doin-jack-mw0004093432|title=Josh Ross – Ain't Doin' Jack|work=AllMusic|access-date=November 12, 2023}} The song was officially sent to Canadian country radio in November 2023. The song reached number one on the Mediabase Canada Country chart.{{cite web|url= https://news.iheart.com/featured/charts/canada-country/|title=Top Canada Country Song Chart|date=March 11, 2024|work=iHeartRadio Canada|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240311175739/http://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://news.iheart.com/featured/charts/canada-country/|archive-date=March 11, 2024}}
Background
Ross and his fellow songwriters Mason Thornley, Ben Stoll, and Sam Martinez were on a writing retreat in the Smoky Mountains when they wrote "Ain't Doin' Jack".{{cite web|url=https://www.umgnashville.com/josh-ross-unveils-his-latest-track-aint-doin-jack-out-now/|title=Josh Ross Unveils His Latest Track "Ain't Doin' Jack," Out Now|work=UMG Nashville|date=July 14, 2023|access-date=November 13, 2023}} Stoll had the idea of a song where drinking Jack Daniel's whisky was "not doing the trick to get over the girl" after a break up. The four writers initially envisioned the song as a ballad, but during the trip, Ross received news that he would be an opening act on Nickelback's Get Rollin' Tour. This prompted them to reimagine the song as a country rock song that would fit into his live show better.
Critical reception
Lesley Janes of The Nash News favourably reviewed the track, stating that the "lyrics are just as easy to gravitate to as the production behind the track", while adding that there is"something about the way Ross sings about going through heartbreak that makes it feel believable". She noted influence of early 2000s rock music and modern country music in the song.{{cite web|url=https://www.thenashnews.com/post/josh-ross-ain-t-doin-jack-song-review|title=Josh Ross "Ain't Doin' Jack" Song Review|first=Lesley|last=Janes|work=The Nash News|date=July 14, 2023|access-date=November 13, 2023}} Gabby Shukin of CJVR FM called the song "perfect for summer time" and "very catchy", while she also noted the influence of rock music.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cjvr.com/2023/07/21/45812/|title=New Song – Josh Ross – Ain't Doin' Jack|first=Gabby|last=Shukin|date=July 21, 2023|work=CJVR Today's Best Country|location=Melfort, Saskatchewan|access-date=November 13, 2023}} Jeffrey Kurtis of Today's Country Magazine described the song as "purely built for a live show experience, providing several sing-along and fist pumping moments that wrap around the proper amounts of energy that carry an unmistakable, mosh pit type of build".{{cite web|url= https://www.todayscountrymagazine.com/index.php/reviews/single-reviews/3309-single-review-josh-ross-ain-t-doin-jack|title=Single Review: Josh Ross – "Ain't Doin' Jack"|work=Today's Country Magazine|first=Jeffrey|last=Kurtis|access-date=November 13, 2023}} Bee Delores of Countrypolitan positively reviewed the track, opining that "Ross's raspy vocals give the song even greater emotional weight".{{Cite web|url=https://countrypolitanmag.com/2023/07/20/countrypolitan-artist-to-watch-josh-ross-admits-the-drink-aint-doing-jack-review/|title=Countrypolitan Artist To Watch: Josh Ross Admits The Drink 'Ain't Doing Jack' (Review)|date=July 20, 2023|first=Bee|last=Delores|work=Countrypolitan|access-date=November 13, 2023}}
Music video
The official music video for "Ain't Doin' Jack" premiered on YouTube on August 7, 2023.{{cite web|title=Josh Ross – Ain't Doin' Jack|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaF9XPvUNv4|via=YouTube|date=August 7, 2023|format=video|access-date=November 12, 2023}}
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from AllMusic.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/aint-doin-jack-mw0004093432#credits|title=Ain't Doin' Jack – Josh Ross, Credits|work=AllMusic|access-date=November 12, 2023}}
- Jim Cooley – mixing
- Tim Galloway – bass guitar, guitar
- Matt Geroux – drums, keyboard, production, programming, recording
- Sol Littlefield – guitar
- Sam Martinez – composition
- Andrew Mendelson – master engineering
- Josh Ross – composition, primary vocals
- Justin Schipper – guitar
- Benjamin Stoll – composition
- Mason Thornley – composition
- Jake Widenhofer – guitar
Charts
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry |region=Canada |award=Platinum|type=single |artist=Josh Ross|title=Ain't Doin' Jack|certyear=2025|certmonth=2 |access-date=February 19, 2025| refname=MC certs}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true | noshipments=true | streaming=true}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Josh Ross}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Josh Ross
Category:Songs written by Mason Thornley