T'ain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)
Encyclopedia
"It Ain't What You Do" is a calypso
song written by jazz musicians Melvin "Sy" Oliver
and James "Trummy" Young
. It was first recorded in 1939 by Jimmie Lunceford
, Harry James
, and Ella Fitzgerald
. The "shim-sham" is often danced to the Lunceford recording of this song.
song with ska elements in 1982. With the title slightly altered to "It Ain't What You Do....", it was included on Fun Boy Three's
debut self-titled album, but it was not available on a Bananarama
album until 1988's Greatest Hits Collection
.
Terry Hall
of Fun Boy Three owned a copy of Bananarama's previous single "Aie a Mwana
" and after seeing an article about the trio in The Face
he decided he wanted them to sing background vocals on this song, solely based on the fact that he liked their look. "It Ain't What You Do...." became a big hit in the UK, climbing to number four in the UK singles chart
. The success of this single also prompted Bananarama to return the favour and have Fun Boy Three sing on their next single "Really Saying Something".
12" single
+ available on the Fun Boy Three album "Fun Boy Three"
++ available as 2 separate tracks on the Fun Boy Three album "Fun Boy Three"
Calypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
song written by jazz musicians Melvin "Sy" Oliver
Sy Oliver
Melvin "Sy" Oliver was a jazz arranger, trumpeter, composer, singer and bandleader...
and James "Trummy" Young
Trummy Young
James "Trummy" Young was a trombonist in the swing era. Although he was never really a star or a bandleader himself, he did have one hit with his version of "Margie," which he played and sang with Jimmie Lunceford's Time-Life Orchestra.-Biography:Growing up in Savannah, GA and Richmond, VA, Young...
. It was first recorded in 1939 by Jimmie Lunceford
Jimmie Lunceford
James Melvin "Jimmie" Lunceford was an American jazz alto saxophonist and bandleader in the swing era.-Biography:...
, Harry James
Harry James
Henry Haag “Harry” James was a trumpeter who led a jazz swing band during the Big Band Era of the 1930s and 1940s. He was especially known among musicians for his astonishing technical proficiency as well as his superior tone.-Biography:He was born in Albany, Georgia, the son of a bandleader of a...
, and Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
. The "shim-sham" is often danced to the Lunceford recording of this song.
Cover versions
The jazz tune was transformed into a popPop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
song with ska elements in 1982. With the title slightly altered to "It Ain't What You Do....", it was included on Fun Boy Three's
Fun Boy Three
Fun Boy Three were a short-lived but successful English New Wave Pop band which ran from 1981 to 1983 and was formed by singers Terry Hall, Neville Staple and Lynval Golding after they left The Specials.-History:...
debut self-titled album, but it was not available on a Bananarama
Bananarama
Bananarama are an English female pop duo who have had success on the pop and dance charts since 1982. Rather than relying on a two part harmony, the duo generally sings in unison, as do their background vocalists. Although there have been line-up changes, the group enjoyed their most popular...
album until 1988's Greatest Hits Collection
Greatest Hits Collection (Bananarama album)
The Greatest Hits Collection is a compilation album released by Bananarama which features their single releases and greatest hits. It was issued by London Records in 1988, shortly after the departure of group member Siobhan Fahey...
.
Terry Hall
Terry Hall (singer)
Terry Hall is the lead singer of The Specials, and formerly of Fun Boy Three, The Colourfield, Terry, Blair & Anouchka and Vegas. He has released two solo albums and has also collaborated with many artists including David A...
of Fun Boy Three owned a copy of Bananarama's previous single "Aie a Mwana
Aie a Mwana
"Aie a Mwana" is the best-known title of a song originally written by the French-Belgian writing and production team of Daniel Vangarde and Jean Kluger....
" and after seeing an article about the trio in The Face
The Face (magazine)
The Face was a British music, fashion and culture monthly magazine started in May 1980 by Nick Logan.-1980s:Logan had previously created the teen pop magazine Smash Hits, and had been an editor at the New Musical Express in the 1970s before launching The Face in 1980.The magazine was influential in...
he decided he wanted them to sing background vocals on this song, solely based on the fact that he liked their look. "It Ain't What You Do...." became a big hit in the UK, climbing to number four in the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. The success of this single also prompted Bananarama to return the favour and have Fun Boy Three sing on their next single "Really Saying Something".
Track Listings
7" single- "It Ain't What You Do (It's The Way That You Do It)" 2:54
- "The Funrama Theme" 2:56 +
12" single
- "It Ain't What You Do..." / "Just Do It" (Extended Version) 5:55 ++
- "The Funrama Theme" (Extended Version) 5:55 +
+ available on the Fun Boy Three album "Fun Boy Three"
++ available as 2 separate tracks on the Fun Boy Three album "Fun Boy Three"
Charts
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
4 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
49 |
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
55 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart | 37 |
| Dutch Singles chart MegaCharts MegaCharts is responsible for the composition and exploitation of a broad collection of official charts in the Netherlands, of which the Mega Top 50 and the Mega Album Top 100 are the most known ones. Mega Charts also provides information to the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, of which the Dutch Top... |
3 |