Ain't No Doubt

"Ain't No Doubt" is a 1992 song by English actor and singer-songwriter Jimmy Nail. Composed by Nail with Guy Pratt, Danny Schogger and Charlie Dore,[1] the song features additional vocals by Sylvia Mason-James. Six years after his debut album, Nail revived his singing career during the success of his television drama series Spender.

"Ain't No Doubt"
Single by Jimmy Nail
from the album Growing Up in Public
B-side"What Can I Say"[1]
ReleasedJune 1992 (1992-06) (United Kingdom)
Genre
Length3:57
LabelEastWest Records[1]
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Guy Pratt
  • Danny Schogger
  • Jimmy Nail[1]
Jimmy Nail singles chronology
"Love Don't Live Here Anymore"
(1985)		 "Ain't No Doubt"
(1992)		 "Laura"
(1992)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help

"Ain't No Doubt" is Nail's most successful hit worldwide, peaking at number one in Ireland and the United Kingdom, as well as reaching the top 10 in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Sweden. It also became Nail's only hit in North America,[2][3] reaching number 58 in Canada.

Composition

Bassist and co-writer Guy Pratt stated that the song was conceived during a writing session between him, Jimmy Nail and Danny Schogger. He said that the song was based around the bassline, which he wrote to copy the military cadences he had recently seen in the film Full Metal Jacket.[4]

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard called the song a "slick, R&B/pop shuffler", adding that "storytelling verses are offset by hummable chorus that sticks in your brain after the first listen. Overall relaxed vibe of track will easily open AC doors."[5] Randy Clark from Cashbox wrote that it "has its roots in seventies soul and disco, which is enjoying a club popularity in the UK right now." He added, "Jimmy talks a little on the verses, borrows a girl voice for the bridge then sings the almost military-march sounding chorus."[6] Daily Mirror complimented Mason-James, stating that "it's her lung-busting voice that has made the song such a delight".[7] Tom Ewing from Freaky Trigger said it is a "one-of-a-kind meeting of pub rock and swingbeat: ruminative, finger-pointing spoken passages broken up by a two-fisted funk chorus that lunges at you like a closing time drunk." He added that "it's also an unintentionally funny record."[8] Dave Sholin from Gavin Report commented, "A full-blown pop production with a rhythmic groove provides this artist, voted England's "sexiest man", with dynamic material. He complimented its "bright instrumentation" and "a superb vocal arrangement" that gives the song a "fresh appeal".[9] Music & Media noted that from BBC detective series "Spender" actor Nail "has now started spending time on the top slot in the UK singles chart. The spoken verses and sung chorus together make a nice pop/dance tune in the no man's land between Jason Donovan and Simply Red."[10] Newcastle Journal described it as a "mournful song [where] he sings and talks".[11]

Subject matter

The lyrics discuss a failing relationship, and the difference between her words and what he believes she means. In the first verse, like in the second, Jimmy Nail provides the female's line, by saying; "She says 'it's not you, it's me'", a statement which is clichéd in break ups, and is usually considered to be a white lie.

During the lyrics sung by Sylvia Mason-James, in the first part of the chorus, phrases such as "I don't want nobody else, I love you", and "there won't be somebody else, and that's true", Jimmy Nail interjects with "she's lying". This line, like many others is simply spoken, not sung. The second part of the chorus claims that there "Ain't no doubt" that a "woman like you is no good for me".

The second verse has Jimmy Nail speaking the lines of the female character once more; "she says 'it's like in the song, remember? / If you love somebody, set them free?'"

After he describes her speech, he says "and then she kisses me, and somewhere I hear a door slam. So I say 'fine', and just hope that I'm a better liar than she is," exploring the idea that while she lies to try to keep from hurting him, he does so in order to 'prove' he doesn't care and to hopefully hurt her in return.

Charts and certifications

References
  1. "Jimmy Nail – Ain't No Doubt (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
  2. "Results : RPM Weekly – "jimmy nail"". RPM. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  3. "Jimmy Nail". Billboard. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  4. Pratt, Guy (29 March 2020). "Guy Pratt's LockDown Licks 01 'Ain't no doubt'". YouTube. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  5. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 6 February 1993. p. 70. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  6. Clark, Randy (5 September 1992). "Music Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Cashbox. p. 5. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  7. Daily Mirror. 28 July 1992. p. 11. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  8. "Jimmy Nail – "Ain't No Doubt"". Freaky Trigger. 30 August 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  9. Sholin, Dave (21 August 1992). "Gavin Picks: Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. p. 56. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  10. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 1 August 1992. p. 27. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  11. Newcastle Journal. 14 July 1992. p. 17. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  12. "Australian-charts.com – Jimmy Nail – Ain't No Doubt". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  13. "Austriancharts.at – Jimmy Nail – Ain't No Doubt" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  14. "Ultratop.be – Jimmy Nail – Ain't No Doubt" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  15. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1863." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  16. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9 no. 38. 19 September 1992. p. 20. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  17. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9 no. 31. 1 August 1992. p. 33. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  18. "Offiziellecharts.de – Jimmy Nail – Ain't No Doubt". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  19. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Ain't No Doubt". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  20. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 37, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  21. "Dutchcharts.nl – Jimmy Nail – Ain't No Doubt" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  22. "Charts.nz – Jimmy Nail – Ain't No Doubt". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  23. "Swedishcharts.com – Jimmy Nail – Ain't No Doubt". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  24. "Swisscharts.com – Jimmy Nail – Ain't No Doubt". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  25. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  26. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1992". ARIA. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  27. "Jaaroverzichten 1992" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  28. "1992 Year-End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9 no. 51/52. 19 December 1992. p. 17. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  29. "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1992" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  30. "Year End Charts: Top Singles". Music Week. 16 January 1993. p. 8.
  31. "British single certifications – Jimmy Nail – Ain't No Doubt". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
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