It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be

"It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" is a duet recorded between Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston, and appeared on Franklin's 1989 album Through the Storm. The song was released on June 10, 1989, as the second single from the album by Arista Records.

"It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be"
Single by Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston
from the album Through the Storm
B-side"If Ever a Love There Was"
ReleasedJune 10, 1989
Genre
Length
  • 5:37
  • 4:49 (single edit)
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Aretha Franklin singles chronology
"Through the Storm"
(1989)
"It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be"
(1989)
"Gimme Your Love"
(1989)
Whitney Houston singles chronology
"I Know Him So Well"
(1988)
"It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Ever Gonna Be"
(1989)
"I'm Your Baby Tonight"
(1990)
Music video
"It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be " on YouTube

The original album version was written by Albert Hammond and Diane Warren and produced by Narada Michael Walden, and the re-mixed version was produced by Teddy Riley. In the US, the single reached No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 5 on the R&B Singles chart. On the UK Singles Chart, it peaked at No. 29.

Critical reception edit

AllMusic editor William Ruhlmann retrospectively panned "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be", calling it "an embarrassing failure for both Franklin and the previously pop-perfect Whitney Houston."[2]

Versions edit

  • Album Version – 5:37
  • Single Edit – 4:49
  • Single Remix/Teddy Riley Mix – 4:02
  • Extended Remix – 6:12
  • Hip Hop Remix – 4:57
  • House Radio Mix – 5:05
  • New Jack Swing Dub Mix – 6:20
  • After Hours Club Mix – 7:35
  • 1989 Vogue Dub Mix

Personnel edit

Charts edit

Weekly charts edit

Chart (1989) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[3] 43
Ireland (IRMA)[4] 14
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[5] 6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[6] 40
UK Singles (OCC)[7] 29
US Billboard Hot 100[8] 41
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[9] 5
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[10] 18

Year-end charts edit

Chart (1989) Position
US Top Black Singles (Billboard)[11] 84

References edit

  1. ^ "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. June 24, 1989. p. 85. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  2. ^ Ruhlmann, William. Aretha Franklin – Through the Storm: Review at AllMusic. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  3. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6425." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  4. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Aretha Franklin". Irish Singles Chart.
  5. ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 38, 1989". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  6. ^ "Aretha & Whitney – It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  7. ^ "Aretha Franklin: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  8. ^ "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  9. ^ "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  10. ^ "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  11. ^ "Greatest Hits and Hitmakers of the '80s" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 101, no. 51. 23 December 1989. p. Y-28. Retrieved 16 October 2017.