Ain't That Just the Way

"Ain't That Just the Way"
Single by Barbi Benton
A-side "The Reverend Bob"
Released 1975 (1975)
Format 45 rpm record
Length 2:55
Label Playboy
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Stu Phillips
Barbi Benton singles chronology
"Roll You Like a Wheel"
(1975)		 "Ain't That Just the Way"
(1975)		 "Staying Power"
(1976)

"Ain't That Just The Way" is a song written by Bruce Belland, Glen Larson and Stu Phillips. Barbi Benton originally recorded it for release as the B-side of her 1975 single "The Reverend Bob". It became a major hit in Sweden, topping the Swedish singles chart for 10 weeks in 1977. In 1978, it appeared on her album with the same name. The song was performed in the McCloud TV series.[1] In 1996 Lutricia McNeal's cover of "Ain't That Just the Way" became a huge hit in Europe.

Chart positions

Chart (1976-1977) Peak
position
Norway[2] 2
Sweden[3] 1
Finland[4] 1

Lutricia McNeal version

"Ain't That Just the Way"
Single by Lutricia McNeal
from the album My Side of Town
Released 1996 (1996)
Format CD single
Genre
Length 3:34
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Daniel Bäckström
  • Daniel Papalexis
  • Josef Svedlund
  • Rami Yacoub
Lutricia McNeal singles chronology
"Ain't That Just the Way"
(1996)		 "My Side of Town"
(1997)
Music video
"Ain't That Just the Way" on YouTube

American singer Lutricia McNeal released her version of "Ain't That Just the Way" in 1996. It was a huge hit in Europe and was also included on her debut-album My Side of Town in 1997. The single topped the charts of Sweden in mid-November 1996. It also reached number two in Austria, France, Holland and New Zealand.

Background and release

Lutricia McNeal first came to notice as the lead singer of Swedish dance act Rob'n'Raz. Their 1993-hit "In Command" went to number 1 in Sweden. In 1995 their manager, Jonas Siljemark, convinced McNeal to try some solo recordings for his own Siljemark label. She recorded an cover on Barbi Benton's 1975 song "Ain't That Just the Way", which topped the Swedish singles chart for 10 weeks in 1977.

After peaking at number 1 in Sweden in 1996, "Ain't That Just the Way" was picked up by Dutch radio programmers early in 1997. It sold 55,000 units there and then the record broke into neighbouring Germany. And later into Belgium, Austria and Switzerland.[5] In February 1998 "Ain't That Just the Way" went to number 6 at the UK Singles Chart.

McNeal won the Best Newcomer award for "Ain't That Just The Way" at the 1997 Swedish Dance Awards.[6]

Critical reception

Billboard wrote about the song: "McNeal earns high marks on her first single if only for not falling into the trap of mimicking Mary J. Blige or Brandy like nearly every other jeep-soul diva in waiting. Instead, she aims to forge her own original path, belting with little attitude and absolutely no affectation. The result is a wonderfully charming, instantly infectious recording that leaves you hankering for more. For trend followers, the groove chugs at a spirited hip-hop pace, blossoming into a full-bodied pop sing-along at the chorus. It's anyone's guess which format will climb aboard first—and it hardly matters since this smacks with across-the-board appeal. "[7]

The Gavin Report wrote: "American-born Lutricia McNeal had to travel over-seas to follow her star, but based on this debut single, that star is about to follow her home. Originally from Oklahoma City, she wound up in Sweden where she fell in love, got married, and also hit the top of the charts. That success has since spread to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This song is next set to hit the streets in the U.S.A. and the UK. It's easy to get caught up in the flow of this cool entry."[8]

Music video

The music video for "Ain't That Just the Way" was directed by Swedish director and photographer Patric Ullaeus.

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (1996-1998) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[9] 2
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[10] 13
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia) 29
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[11] 10
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[12] 15
France (SNEP)[13] 2
Germany (Official German Charts)[14] 5
Hungary (Mahasz)[15] 10
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[16] 8
Ireland (IRMA) 16
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[17] 2
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18] 2
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[19] 2
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[20] 25
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[21] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[22] 3
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[23] 6
UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[24] 2
Year-end charts

Year-end charts

Chart (1997) Position
Germany (Official German Charts)[25] 27
Chart (1998) Position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[26] 15

Track listings

Sweden: CD Single (1996)

  1. Ain't That Just The Way (Original Version) (3:34)
  2. Ain't That Just The Way (Extended Version) (4:28)

Sweden: CD Single (The Remixes) (1996)

  1. Ain't That Just The Way (Radio Edit) (3:22)
  2. Ain't That Just The Way (Hurb's Mix) (4:53)
  3. Ain't That Just The Way (Extended Version) (4:27)
  4. Ain't That Just The Way (EZ's Vinyl Version) (4:21)
  5. Ain't That Just The Way (Stripped Extended Version) (3:54)
  6. Ain't That Just The Way (Original Version) (3:34)

UK & Ireland: CD Maxi (1997)

  1. Ain't That Just The Way (Original Mix) (3:11)
  2. Ain't That Just The Way (Steve Antony R&B (Edit)) (4:03)
  3. Ain't That Just The Way (Steve Antony Rok Dat Club Mix) (5:15)
  4. Ain't That Just The Way (Baby Bud Mix) (3:33)
  5. Ain't That Just The Way (In Da City Mix) (6:43)
  6. Ain't That Just The Way (Steve Antony R&B Mix) (5:31)

Other versions

References

  1. ↑ "McCloud (TV Series)" (in Swedish). Internet Movie Database. 1975. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  2. ↑ "Ain't That Just the Way". Norwegiancharts. 1976. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  3. ↑ "Ain't That Just the Way". Swedishcharts. 1976. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  4. ↑ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4. Suuri suomalainen listakirja. Helsinki: Tammi. p. 152. ISBN 951-31-2504-1.
  5. ↑ "Radio is Just The Way for diva McNeal" (PDF). Music & Media (24 January 1998, page 1). Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  6. ↑ "Veterans acts scoop Swedish Dance Awards" (PDF). Music & Media (19 April 1997, page 6). Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  7. ↑ "Billboard: NEW & NOTEWORTHY" (PDF). Billboard magazine. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  8. ↑ Sholin, Dave (14 November 1997). "Gavin Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 2181. p. 54. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  9. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Lutricia McNeal – Ain't That Just the Way" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  10. ↑ "Ain't That Just the Way". Ultratop. 1996. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  11. ↑ "Music & Media: Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media.
  12. ↑ "Ain't That Just the Way". Finnishcharts. 1996. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  13. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Lutricia McNeal – Ain't That Just the Way" (in French). Les classement single.
  14. ↑ "Musicline.de – Lutricia McNeal Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  15. ↑ "Top 10 Hungary" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  16. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (06.03.1997 - 12.03.1997)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  17. ↑ "Lutricia McNeal - Ain't That Just The Way". Top40.nl. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  18. ↑ "Ain't That Just the Way". Dutchcharts. 1996. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  19. ↑ "Charts.nz – Lutricia McNeal – Ain't That Just the Way". Top 40 Singles.
  20. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 15 February 1998 - 21 February 1998". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  21. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Lutricia McNeal – Ain't That Just the Way". Singles Top 100.
  22. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Lutricia McNeal – Ain't That Just the Way". Swiss Singles Chart.
  23. ↑ "Ain't That Just the Way". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  24. ↑ "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  25. ↑ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  26. ↑ "End of Year Charts 1998". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  27. ↑ "Samba Sambero" (in Swedish). Svensk mediedatabas. 2007. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  28. ↑ "Som en sång" (in Swedish). Svensk mediedatabas. 1977. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  29. ↑ "Dance with Me" (in Swedish). Svensk mediedatabas. 2002. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
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