Wednesday 18 March 2015

Gwen Guthrie 'Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But The Rent'

Chart Peak: 5
YouTube

Only seems like last week I was posting about Gwen Guthrie, probably because it was. Her signature hit is the only one of the four tracks unique to Now Apostrophe 86 that was actually a hit in the second half of 1986, but it was a summer hit so I suppose the inclusion of her later hit on Now 8 makes a bit of sense. Posterity certainly favours this single, particularly since the controversy around the lyric perceived as as demeaning to unemployed people has largely been forgotten. What remains is a solid club soul track written and produced by Guthrie herself, though it does quote from other song that would presumably have been familiar to fans of the genre.

It's actually a relatively minimal track which if anything sounds slightly underproduced, rather a rarity among big hits in this era. It's quite likable and undoubtedly catchy though it's one of those tracks that seems to sound better in my memory than when I'm actually listening to it.

Also appearing on: Now 8
Available on: Gold - '80s Soul

1 comment:

  1. I think the track works better as an extended cut - see Now Dance '86.

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