Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)
{{Short description|1993 single by Sub Sub}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)
| cover = Ain't No Love Sub Sub UK CD.png
| alt =
| border = yes
| caption = UK and Australian artwork
| type = single
| artist = Sub Sub featuring Melanie Williams
| album = Full Fathom Five
| released = {{start date|1993|3|29|df=y}}{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-03-27.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=27|date=27 March 1993|access-date=20 June 2021}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre =
- Dance{{Cite web|url=http://www.whatsonlive.co.uk/birmingham/news/doves-to-perform-one-off-gig-at-perry-park-after-a-nine-year-hiatus/44250|title=Doves to perform one-off gig at Perry Park after a nine-year hiatus|website=Whatsonlive.co.uk}}
- disco
| length =
- 5:17 (original mix)
- 2:47 (radio edit)
| label = Rob's
| writer =
- Jez Williams
- Jimi Goodwin
- Andy Williams
- Melanie Williams
| producer = Sub Sub
| chronology = Sub Sub
| prev_title = Coast EP
| prev_year = 1992
| next_title = Respect
| next_year = 1994
| misc = {{Extra album cover
| header = Alternative cover
| type = single
| cover = Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use).jpg
| border =
| alt =
| caption = European artwork
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|pRguEi3wufQ|"Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)"}}}}
}}
"Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" is a song by British dance music act Sub Sub, released on 29 March 1993 by independent label Rob's Records as the second single from their debut album, Full Fathom Five (1994). It features Temper Temper's Melanie Williams on vocals. The song was the act's biggest single, reaching number three on the UK Singles Chart and number one on the UK Dance Singles Chart; it became one of many dance singles in 1993 to cross over into mainstream popularity in the UK.{{cite news |first=Alexis |last=Petridis |title=Where did it all go right? |date=17 April 2002 |newspaper=The Guardian |url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/mercury2002/story/0,,765798,00.html |access-date=3 April 2010 |author-link=Alexis Petridis }} In the accompanying music video, Jimi Goodwin plays bass, Jez Williams plays keyboards and percussion, and Jez' twin brother Andy Williams plays keytar. After struggling to repeat the success of the single, and after a fire destroyed the band's Ancoats studio in 1996, the group eventually reformed with a radically different sound as Doves in 1998.
Background and release
The song features a sample of "Good Morning Starshine" by Revelation, a record Andy Williams owned because he won it at a fair as a teenager. Jimi Goodwin learned to play the bassline on a Roland Juno-106 keyboard, and the whole track came together quickly. There is also another well-known sample on there, but it has never been officially known what it is, only that it is a sound, rather than a song. {{Quote box|width=25%|align=left|quote="I made a pact years ago that I would never complain about the song – however many times I had to sing it – or get upset about people not knowing other things that I've done, because it was such a privilege to be a part of."|source=—Melanie Williams talking about the song.{{cite web|last=Welch|first=Andy|title=How we made Sub Sub's Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jun/18/sub-sub-aint-no-love-aint-no-use-feat-melanie-williams|work=The Guardian|date=18 June 2019|access-date=5 March 2020}}
}} Seeking a vocalist, the band contacted singer Melanie Williams (no relation to the band members) from the soul band Temper Temper, who was dating Jimi's best friend, Joe Roberts. Melanie Williams also wrote the third verse for the song. The track was then recorded at Revolution Studios in Manchester. Sub Sub's manager Dave Rofe, Rob's Records' Pete Robinson and North South's promoter Karen Hampton were targeting BBC Radio 1 DJ Pete Tong to give the song a listen, which resulted in the song having a major boost in popularity.{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-05-15.pdf|title=No Substitute For Know-How|magazine=Music & Media|volume=10|issue=20|page=14|date=15 May 1993|access-date=7 March 2020}} The band and Williams also performed the song on the British music chart television programme Top of the Pops after they were the highest new entry at number ten on the UK Singles Chart. The single sold in 700,000 copies and peaked at number three in April 1993.
Critical reception
Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger complimented the song as "excellent" and "tune-heavy, hands-high dance-pop".{{cite web|first=Tom|last=Ewing|url=http://freakytrigger.co.uk/popular/2012/09/dream-things-can-only-get-better/#more-23648|title=D:ream – "Things Can Only Get Better"|publisher=Freaky Trigger|date=21 September 2011|access-date=6 March 2020}} Katrine Ring from Danish Gaffa felt that "it is almost like hearing Deee-Lite. Grooovey!"{{cite magazine|url=https://gaffa.e-pages.pub/titles/gaffa/9520/publications/126/pages/12|first=Katrine|last=Ring|title=Groove|magazine=Gaffa|date=1 September 1993|page=12|access-date=28 March 2020|language=Danish}} In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton said, "A hit almost before it had ever started, this track popular not only in the clubs but also extremely radio friendly. A timely piece of production as well with the Philly-sounding strings and wah-wah guitar making the track sound as if it is straight out of the 1970s. Disco returns with a 90s flavour I suppose and Top 3 is almost guaranteed."{{cite web|last=Masterton|first=James|title=Week Ending April 10th 1993|url=https://chart-watch.uk/archives/1993/week-ending-april-10th-1993|website=Chart Watch UK|date=4 April 1993|accessdate=14 September 2021|author-link=James Masterton}} Chris Roberts from Melody Maker wrote, "Slim volume of metropolitan soul, slick as a Ming vase, graced by the Gold Blends ads-scripted-by-Mishima voice of Melanie Williams, previously with the criminally underrated Temper Temper. Trembles becomingly in the slipstream of Candi Staton and the Source's 'You Got the Love'."{{cite magazine|first=Chris|last=Roberts|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52846557010/|title=Singles|work=Melody Maker|date=10 April 1993|page=28|access-date=5 May 2023}} A reviewer from The Mix praised it as "great".{{cite magazine|url=http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/monitor-mix/8170|first=|last=|title=Monitor Mix — This Month's Mixes That Matter|magazine=The Mix|date=September 1994|page=85|accessdate=23 August 2021}} Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "The arrangements are smoothly funky and combined with a voice that soothes like honey and rings like a bell, you can feel that real party enthusiasm which is so reminiscent of late '70s disco."{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-05-15.pdf|title=No Substitute For Know-How|magazine=Music & Media|volume=10|issue=20|date=15 May 1993|page=14|access-date=7 March 2020}} The song was also described as "70s disco in a trendy club style".{{cite magazine|first= |last= |title= New Releases: Albums |magazine= Music & Media |volume= 11 |issue= 39 |date= 24 September 1994 |page= 14 |access-date= 15 March 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-09-24.pdf}}
Andy Beevers from Music Week said it "is something of a revelation – a fresh, funky and very different disco-influenced track with excellent catchy vocals. It has been generating a huge buzz in the clubs and should be a big hit."{{cite magazine|first= Andy |last= Beevers |title= Market Preview: Dance |magazine= Music Week |date= 27 March 1993 |page= 30 |access-date= 24 March 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-03-27.pdf}} Ian McCann from NME wrote, "So: this is nicked from an old Evelyn 'Champagne' King record, it is disco, right down to the fast string breaks separating one section from the other, but my, is this a spendid item? Well, yes it is. Funky, irresistibly dancesational, terrific vocal [...], with a suitably empty lyric, and the Hey, what's happenin' bits just make it all the more marvellous. Top disco stretch satin boob tube of the week, and no mistake."{{cite magazine|first=Ian|last=McCann|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52830699745/|title=Singles|work=NME|date=20 March 1993|page=19|access-date=5 May 2023}} Another NME editor, Mandi James, felt the track "grinds to a P-Funk hustle, replete with creamy guitars and hot, hot vocal courtesy of Temper Temper's Melanie Williams."{{cite magazine|first=Mandi|last=James|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52830481874/|title=Nautilus By Nature|work=NME|date=20 March 1993|page=23|access-date=5 May 2023}} James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update described it as a "smash-bound jaunty leaper like Deee-Lite combining Eric Burdon & War's 'Spill the Wine' with Marvin Gaye's 'Got to Give It Up'".{{cite magazine|first= James |last= Hamilton |title= Djdirectory |magazine= Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) |date= 3 April 1993 |page= 2 |access-date= 25 March 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-04-03.pdf |author-link= James Hamilton (DJ and journalist)}} Siân Pattenden from Select wrote, "Deny that Sub Sub's 'Ain't No Love' was one of the best records of the couple of years and we shall be forever consigned to the Devil's cloakroom duty when it comes to come-uppances."{{cite magazine|first=Siân|last=Pattenden|url=https://selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk/showpage.php?file=wp-content/uploads/2014/06/albums42.jpg|title=New Albums|work=Select|date=October 1994|page=106|access-date=3 January 2025|author-link=Siân Pattenden}}
Chart performance
"Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" reached top five in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number three during its third week on the UK Singles Chart, on 18 April 1993. The single spent six weeks inside the UK top 10. On both the Music Week Dance Singles chart and Record Mirror Club Chart, it was even more successful, reaching the number one position. It was a top-20 hit in Ireland and the Netherlands, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it peaked at number 11 in May 1993. "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" was also a hit in Belgium, where it reached number 47. Outside Europe, it charted in Australia, peaking at number 11. The single earned a silver record in the UK, after 200,000 units were shipped there.
Impact and legacy
The Face ranked "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" number eight in their list of "Singles of the Year".{{CN|date=December 2023}} NME ranked it number 23,{{CN|date=December 2023}} while Select ranked it number 25 in their "Singles of the Year" lists.{{CN|date=December 2023}} Robert Dimery featured it in his 2015 book, 1,001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die, and 10,001 You Must Download.{{CN|date=December 2023}} Australian music TV channel Max included "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" in their list of "1000 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2012.{{cite web |title= Top 1000 Greatest Songs Of All Time – 2012 |publisher= Max |date= 2012 |access-date= 26 April 2020 |url= https://www.maxtv.com.au/top-1000-greatest-songs-of-all-time-2 |archive-date= 25 April 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200425172245/https://www.maxtv.com.au/top-1000-greatest-songs-of-all-time-2 |url-status= dead }}
Track listings
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
- UK and Australian CD single, Australian cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)|others=Sub Sub|year=1993|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Rob's Records|id=CDROB9}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)|others=Sub Sub|year=1993|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Rob's Records, Liberation Records|id=D11498}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)|others=Sub Sub|year=1993|type=Australian cassette single sleeve|publisher=Rob's Records, Liberation Records|id=C 11498}}
- "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" (radio edit)
- "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" (original mix)
- "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" (Parkside mix)
- "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" (On the House mix)
- UK 7-inch and cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)|others=Sub Sub|year=1993|type=UK 7-inch single sleeve|publisher=Rob's Records|id=7ROB9}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)|others=Sub Sub|year=1993|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Rob's Records|id=C ROB9}}
- "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" (original edit)
- "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" (Parkside mix)
- UK 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)|others=Sub Sub|year=1993|type=UK 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Rob's Records|id=12ROB9}}
:A1. "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" (original mix)
:B1. "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" (Parkside mix)
:B2. "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" (Parkside raw dub)
{{col-2}}
- UK 12-inch single—On remixes{{cite AV media notes|title=Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)|others=Sub Sub|year=1993|type=UK 12-inch remix single sleeve|publisher=Rob's Records|id=12 ROB 9R}}
- "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" (On the Floor)
- "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" (On the House)
- "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" (On Yer Face)
- "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" (radio edit) – 2:46
- "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" (Parkside mix) – 7:43
- Australian CD and cassette single—remixes{{cite AV media notes|title=Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)|others=Sub Sub|year=1993|type=Australian remix CD single liner notes|publisher=Rob's Records, Liberation Records|id=D11577}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)|others=Sub Sub|year=1993|type=Australian remix cassette single sleeve|publisher=Rob's Records, Liberation Records|id=C11577}}
- "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" (Rubber Band mix)
- "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" (original 12-inch mix)
- "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" (Parkside raw dub mix)
- "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" (radio edit)
{{col-end}}
Charts
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{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Year-end chart performance for "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" !Chart (1993) !Position |
scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)
| 66 |
---|
scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite magazine|title=Top 100 Singles 1993|magazine=Music Week|page=24|date=15 January 1994}}
| 41 |
scope="row"|UK Airplay (Music Week){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-01-15.pdf|title=Airplay Top 50 1993|magazine=Music Week|date=15 January 1994|page=41|access-date=3 May 2024}}
| 17 |
scope="row"|UK Club Chart (Music Week){{cite magazine|first= |last= |title=The RM Club Chart 93|work=Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert)|date=25 December 1993|page=4|accessdate=3 February 2023|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-12-25.pdf}}
| 3 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1993|certyear=1993|source=book|id=270|refname=ARIA2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Sub Sub|title=Ain't No Love|award=Silver|relyear=1993|certyear=1993|id=343-37-1|access-date=27 June 2020}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|118658|Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)|type=single}}
{{Doves}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Melanie Williams songs
Category:Music Week number-one dance singles
Category:Songs written by Andy Williams (Doves)
Category:Songs written by Jez Williams