Burning The Ground Exclusive
Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On but the Rent is a song by American singer-songwriter Gwen Guthrie, released in 1986 as the lead single from her fourth studio album, Good to Go Lover. Written and produced by Guthrie herself, the song became the biggest hit of her career, delivering a bold message of financial independence and self-worth wrapped in an irresistibly funky groove.
Blending smooth R&B, dancefloor-ready beats, and assertive lyrics, Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On but the Rent set clear expectations for financial responsibility in relationships. With its unforgettable hook—“You got to have a J-O-B if you wanna be with me”—the track quickly became an anthem of empowerment, particularly resonating with women in the workforce during the mid-’80s.
Chart Performance
Chart-wise, the song had a moderate impact on the U.S. pop chart, peaking at #42 on the Billboard Hot 100, but it dominated the R&B and dance scenes, spending one week at #1 on the Billboard R&B chart and two weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Internationally, the track reached #1 in New Zealand and Zimbabwe and performed well across Europe, peaking at #5 on the UK Singles Chart. A 1993 remix of the song also saw success, reaching #8 on the UK Dance Singles Chart.
Gwen Guthrie’s Legacy
Known for her powerhouse vocals and songwriting talents (she penned hits for Sister Sledge, Ben E. King, and Roberta Flack), left us too soon in 1999, but her music lives on. Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On But The Rent remains a staple of ‘80s dance and R&B culture—a track that demands respect and keeps dancefloors moving to this day.
SIDE A:
Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On But The Rent (12″ Club Mix) 7:16
Edited By – Tony Prendatt
Producer [Additional Production], Remix [Remix By], Edited By [Edits By] – Mark S. Berry*, Tony Prendatt
Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On But The Rent (Dub Mix) 7:43
Edited By – Tony Prendatt
Producer [Additional Production], Remix [Remix By], Edited By [Edits By] – Mark S. Berry*, Tony Prendatt
SIDE B:
Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On But The Rent (Larry Levan 12″ Club Mix) 5:59
Engineer – Matthew “Krash” Kasha*
Mixed By, Edited By – Larry Levan
Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On But The Rent (Larry Levan Dub Mix) 7:04
Engineer – Matthew “Krash” Kasha*
Mixed By, Edited By – Larry Levan
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On But The Rent | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #42 |
| 1986 | Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On But The Rent | U.S. Billboard Dance Club Songs | #1 |
| 1986 | Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On But The Rent | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales | #3 |
| 1986 | Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On But The Rent | U.S. Billboard Hot R&B / Hip-Hop Songs | #1 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Polydor – 885 106-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic, Funk, Soul
Style: Soul, Funk, Garage House
CREDITS:
- Executive-Producer – Jerome Gasper
- Mastered By – José Rodriguez
- Photography By – Bill Wylie
- Producer [Associate] – David “Pick” Conley*
- Producer, Written-By – Gwen Guthrie
NOTES:
From the Polydor LP “Good To Go”
“Promotional Copy Not for Sale” is printed on the labels above catalog number.
Additional information:
The title “Passion Eyes” which is given on the back cover, is actually not present.
Some promo copies were pressed on translucent vinyl which appears gray or brown when held in front of a strong light.
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black PnP MkII
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!
Password: burningtheground
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