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"
Format	7", 12"
Recorded	Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Genre	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	Jerry Cohen, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead
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 disco song performed by R&B duo McFadden & Whitehead from their debut album, McFadden & Whitehead. They wrote and produced this along with keyboard player Jerry Cohen.^[1] Released from their self-titled debut album in 1979, 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] The bass hook was played by Philadelphia International Records house musician Jimmy Williams. The song eventually sold over 2 million copies and went platinum.

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

Covers

Luther Vandross did a cover version of this song for his 1994 cover album Songs.^[4] His version of the song was also performed as a duet with British girl group the Spice Girls for their An Audience With... special on the UK's ITV1 in 1997, and later appeared as a B-Side to their single Stop. In 1996, the jazz fusion\contemporary jazz group, The Rippingtons recorded a cover version for their album Brave New World, and also Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson, both of The B-52s, recorded the song for the 96's soundtrack The Associate.^[5] Additionally, in 2005, urban jazz\contemporary jazz artist Ben Tankard did a gospel/jazz rendition of the song on his "Piano Prophet" CD as well as Wayman Tisdale, who recorded a cover version of this song for his album "Hang Time."^[6][7] The song was supposedly a declaration on how far African Americans had come from the past. The song has served as a celebration of black achievements. However, 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 Gamble and Huff, who for many years preferred that they remain as house songwriters and not performers. Their first hit song for Gamble and Huff was Back Stabbers recorded by the O'Jays. George Michael covered the song during his Cover to Cover tour in 1991. He also released a demo version under the name "Trojan Souls".

The Chipmunks and The Chipettes covered this song for the Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked: Music from the Motion Picture album and for the upcoming "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked" film. This version is mashed with Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" and Katy Perry's "Firework".

Popular usage

The song is frequently played at sporting and political events, and TV shows often use it.

• "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" was played at the 2008 Democratic National Convention on the night Illinois Senator Barack Obama accepted the Democratic Party (United States) nomination for President of the United States.
• "Ain’t No Stoppin' Us Now" is the Theme Song for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Marching Band, Known As "The Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South also known as "M4". The UAPB Marching Band,under the direction of Professor John R.Graham,Jr. performed the song as they marched by the viewing stand for the 56th Inaugural Parade for President Barack Obama..
• The song served as the 1980 theme song for the Philadelphia Phillies, 1980-81 Philadelphia Eagles and 2000-2001 Philadelphia 76ers. (McFadden and Whitehead sung a Phillies, Eagles and Sixers version of Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now. For example, "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now, the Phillies got the groove").
• The song served as the theme song for former heavyweight champion of the world and boxing hall-of-famer Larry Holmes.
• Davidson samples this song in his song "All I Wanna Do", heard on the Grand Theft Auto 2 soundtrack.
• This song is also the ring walk song of the former WBA Heavyweight title holder and former The Ring WBA,WBC & WBO Cruiserweight champion of the world, David Haye
• This song was also featured in the movie Boogie Nights.
• Colson Whitehead refers to the song in his novel Sag Harbor as "the black national anthem" during the 1980s.
• Diddy-Dirty Money references the song in his song "Coming Home"^[8]
• Jocko Henderson samples this song in his 1979 single "Rhythm Talk"
• Lethal P used this song on his 2005 mixtape 'Always Outnumbered, Always Scarper'

References