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

"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
Songwriters
Producers
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

"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.

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

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."[3]

Track listings and formats

  • UK, CD maxi single[4]
  1. "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" (Single Remix) – 4:02
  2. "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" (Extended Mix) – 6:12
  3. "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" (Hip Hop Remix) – 4:57
  4. "Think" (1989) – 3:39
  • US, 12" Vinyl single[5]
A1: "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" (Extended Radio Mix) – 6:12
A2: "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" (House Radio Mix) – 5:05
B1: "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" (Hip Hop Radio Mix) – 4:57
B2: "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" (New Jack Swing Dub Mix) – 6:20
B3: "Think" (1989) – 3:36
  • Japan, CD mini single[6]
  1. "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" (Single Edit) – 4:49
  2. "If Ever a Love There Was" – 4:47
  • US, 12" Vinyl promo[7]
A1: "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" (Extended Radio Mix) – 6:12
A2: "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" (Dub Mix) – 5:05
B1: "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" (After Hours Club Mix) – 7:35
B2: "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" (1989 Vogue Dub Mix) – 5:36
  • German, CD maxi single[8]
  1. "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" (Extended Radio Mix) – 6:12
  2. "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" (Single Edit) – 4:49
  3. "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" (Hip Hop Mix) – 4:57
  4. "Think" (1989) – 3:39

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1989) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[9] 43
European Hot 100 Singles (Music & Media)[10] 95
Ireland (IRMA)[11] 14
Italy Airplay (Music & Media)[12] 4
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[13] 6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] 40
UK Singles (OCC)[15] 29
US Billboard Hot 100[16] 41
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[17] 5
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[18] 18

Year-end charts

Chart (1989) Position
US Top Black Singles (Billboard)[19] 84

References

  1. ^ "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. June 24, 1989. p. 85. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  2. ^ Molanphy, Chris (November 15, 2024). "Say a Little Prayer Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  3. ^ Ruhlmann, William. Aretha Franklin – Through the Storm: Review at AllMusic. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  4. ^ It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be (UK CD Single liner notes). Whitney Houston. UK: Arista. 1989. 662545.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be". Discogs. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  6. ^ I Know Him So Well (JAP CD Single liner notes). Whitney Houston. Japan: Arista. 1989. A10D-131.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be". Discogs. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  8. ^ It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be (GER CD Maxi Single liner notes). Whitney Houston. Germany: Arista Records. 1989. 662484.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Image 6425". RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  10. ^ "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 39. September 30, 1989 – via World Radio History.
  11. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Aretha Franklin". Irish Singles Chart.
  12. ^ "Playlist Report: RAI - Italy" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 22. 3 June 1989. p. 7.
  13. ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 38, 1989". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  14. ^ "Aretha & Whitney – It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  15. ^ "Search results for "Aretha Franklin" | Official Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  16. ^ "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  17. ^ "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  18. ^ "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  19. ^ "Greatest Hits and Hitmakers of the '80s" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 101, no. 51. 23 December 1989. p. Y-28. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
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