Ain't Nobody's Business

Our version of this Public Domain blues song.

From Wikipedia:

Ain't Nobody's Business"(originally "Tain't Nobody's Biz-ness if I Do") is a 1920s blues song that became one of the first blues standards. It was published in 1922 by Porter Grainger and Everett Robbins.The song features a lyrical theme of freedom of choice (and Bud re-wrote the lyrics for the last 2 stanzas) and a vaudeville jazz–style musical arrangement. It was first recorded, as "'Tain't Nobody's Biz-ness if I Do", in 1922 by Anna Meyers, backed by the Original Memphis Five.

The song has been covered by numerous artists.

Janice Merritt - Arrangement, Lead & Harmony vocals.
Me - Arrangement & Guitar.
Bud recorded Janice and provided mixing and mastering assistance.

The Band:
RealTracks in style: ~~481:Bass, Acoustic, Jazz Ballad Sw 085
MIDI SuperTracks in song: 1889:Piano, Solo-Accompaniment CountrySwingJohn Sw 085
RealTracks in song: ~~425:Organ, B3, Background Blues Sw 120
RealDrums [in Song:PopRockShuffle: a: Snare, Closed Hatb: Snare, Open Hat

Ain’t Nobody’s Business

There ain't nothin' I can do or nothin' I can say
That folks don't criticize me but I'm going to do
Just as I want to anyway
And don't care just what people say

If I should take a notion to jump into the ocean
Ain't nobody's business if I do
If I go to church on Sunday, then cabaret all day Monday
Ain't nobody's business if I do

If my man ain't got no money and I say, "Take all of mine, honey"
Ain't nobody's business if I do
If I give him my last nickel and it leaves me in a pickle
Ain't nobody's business if I do

I’d rather leave my friends than listen to them no end
Ain’t nobody’s business if I do
I’m gonna live my own life, ain’t putting up with no strife
Ain’t nobody’s business if I do

Ain’t nobody's business if I do

Brilliant, don't know if that's what you call a faux ending, but it sure worked to great effect on me. Fantastic vocals, searing guitar, and so well put together!

Hi Guys,

Interesting arrangement of this classic and you have sure put a lot of work into it.

I was on the point of posting my version of this song but it was not quite coming together.

One of my all time favourite songs - Well done all of you.

Best Regards
Nigel

"Ain't nobody's business if I do, if I do."
The repeat of "if I do" had a really cool Harry Nilsson vibe to it.

This is a wonderful rendition.
The expectation that was built in me during the piano/vocal only section, in anticipation of the band and particularly the guitar was very interesting. Brain battling the options, likelihoods and enjoys what already was.

Well, the anticipation/expectations was met by a great band section and cool soloing...lovely tone on guitar and vocals.
A thoroughly fab collab.

Hi guys,

Cool arrangement, Peter, holding off on bringing in the band until the outro.

Janice sounds great as per usual, as do you.

Nice take on an old classic, enjoyed!

Peter, Janice & Bud,

This is one of the coolest arrangements of this song that I have heard to date.

Stellar vocal and mix - outstanding instrumentation and love the way the band kicks in for the last minute or so.

Keep these old PDs coming...

Bob

Wow, what a great arrangement!! This again is the best version of an old classic that I've ever heard. Janice, your vocals always bring out the best feel for the song. That piano is outstanding. It brings us back to sitting in a smoky bar with just the strong singing voice and that piano man with a perpetual cup o' grog on the keys. Then the scene changes to the present with the same strong voice and that piano guy made a lot of cool friends. Man, that's they way to show the history in a wonderful song. Magic, guys!!

Thanks, we all had a LOT of fun with this one!

Janice

Peter & Janice (& Bud)...

Had to immediately look back to see what the piano was. Sounds great. What plugin was used to render the MST?

Janice. You are a Star. Great! Excellent harmonies, too.

Love the arrangement. Killer guitar work, Peter. Excellent mix.

Wonderful.

fj

T4... The Total Talent Team does it again.
nothing else to say except this top talent on display.
best wishes/respect.
very clever at 3m37secs. superb slide ending note
om

Thanks a lot we appreciate the comments.

Peter

Love the arrangement and production, folks. Like Floyd says, Janice, you're a star. And that guitar player ain't half bad, either.
Regards,
Leon

Glad it worked for you … particularly being one of your favs.

Thanks.

J&B

Thanks a lot.

Peter

Finally the MIDI Super Tracks get some love!

Nice loping version of a classic. Nicely sung, enjoyed the guitar on the outro as well.

Ray, that is exactly the reaction it was hoped that arrangement would elicit. EC was the first to lay it out like that so the high bar had been set. The notion was all Peter’s and we feel he aced it.

Thanks!

J&B

Ray,

Thanks - happy to know I can create a bit of anticipation.

Peter

Great piano sound. I surely was waiting for Peter's guitar. Of course it is wonderful to enjoy Janice's excellent vocals, but I certainly would have enjoyed hearing another virtuoso much earlier But the end is really rewarding. "Ain't Nobody's Business with Janice Merritt on vocals" who can argue with that, at least on the same level as Bessie Smith whose version I listened after hearing yours.

Janne

Thanks Dave glad you liked the arrangement.

Peter

Hi Peter and Janice,



I really, really enjoyed this. I loved the authenticity of this arrangement. In the 1920s, it's more than likely that this song would have been performed exactly as you've arranged it for piano and voice. These are the early days of Tin Pan Alley and pianos were really popular.

Janice, your singing is perfect. I love those slide-up notes and the relaxed easy feel of your performance.

Peter, when the ending came along and the arrangement time-travelled into the 21st century, you stole the limelight. Great playing!

Loved the journey.

All the best,
Noel

Thanks!

J&B

Thanks a lot Bob.

Peter

Nice recording. Good arrangement. Everybody performs well. I love how the electric guitar kicks in at the end. Nice touch. The doubling of Janice's vocals sound wonderful.

Good collaboration to all.

Give my regards to the BIAB piano player too.

Thanks Bob! Peter indeed handed me a gem from the public domain.

Janice

Thanks Marty - the piano player was a nice fit for this one.
Janice always brings out the best in these PD songs.

Peter

Nice job by everyone! Piano only opening is just right! Thanks! Torrey

Peter and Janice:

Really well done—super cover! That piano is so perfect for the tune. Great vocals, great harmonies. And love when the full band kicks in at the end, with that rocking electric guitar solo. Outstanding work!

My best to you both,

Deej

A good breath of modern bringing this oldie to life!

As always love the vocals.
Some hot guitar action to boot.
Arrangement and mixing all spot on.

moto

Thank you Marty. You are very generous!

Janice

Standing ovation. Janice, what on Earth is going on with your voice? I thought it couldn't get any better, and now - both in "Emerald" and here - you seem to have gone up yet another notch and broken a few barriers that no-one thought could be broken, in the quality of vocals, yet again.

The arrangement is stunning. Superb surprise at 3:45 or so.

Congratulations.

Thank you so much for mentioning the vocal and especially the harmony!

Janice

Thanks for your noting of the piano. The sound is from Logic Pro’s large library - Grand Steinway. The processing is via Waves ClA Unplugged.

Bud

Appreciate that floyd.

Peter

Very cool to keep these songs alive. I had never heard this song before. Lovely lyric and backtrack. Loved the vocal Janice. Loved the piano supporting the vocal. Excellent outro Peter. Guitar was very cool. Loved the tone and feel. Well done.

I just sat back in my chair and let this fabulous rendition wash over me.

What a vocal. Oh, that sultry tone!

I was wondering where Peter's guitar was, and then around 3:30, it comes in and kicks my a$$. Wow!!!

Thanks a lot.

Peter

Thank you!

Janice

David

The MST was well suited to this one, I think they generally sound a bit better than the piano RT's in the mix.

Peter

Team,
Sorry, late for the party.
Excellent take on classic! Stunning arrangement. Peter, amazing guitar playing, outro shines. Janice's vocals and harmony sounds very powerful and natural. Bud, Peter super mix. Enjoyed it! Hmm, I think I should steal that piano Thank you for sharing.

Misha.

Thank you! He is pretty good!

Janice





Thanks David!

Janice

Thanks Janne much appreciated.
Peter

Thank you Janne. You are very kind!

Janice

I'm late to the party, again.

As usual everything I wanted to say already has been said. So all I can add is when I see those three names on a song I know it will be a winner and this is definitely a winner for sure.

Loved it.

Thank you so much Noel!!

Janice

Noel
Thanks from me as well

Peter

Ah! Just what I'd like to say to a few.
Lovely piece with a good bit of talent to boot.

Vic

Thanks Torrey

Peter



Thanks (will do).

Peter

Sounds great and it's great to hear some super tracks. Vocal and guitar spot on.

Thank you!
Janice





Thanks!
Janice



Thank you Deej. I'm glad you liked the harmony.

Janice

I've heard so much talk about "ear candy" that you when you hear something like, you realize a seven course meal when you get one. You know that meal that's SO good that your one serving wasn't enough, so you go back for seconds, then thirds. Yeah that.

Expected and delivered.

At this point, is this even hard for you three? Not joking.

Hi Peter and Janice,

That song is a successful cooperation between the both of you. Very nice indeed.
Those beautiful vocal(s) and guitar, but also the saloon piano were superb!
I wouldn't mind if that had stayed this way the whole song, so the playing of the rest of the band in the second part came as a surprise. Not a bad surprise though.

And Janice, I am also not surprised you don't care what people might say about you. These lines are written for you, so to say.
I enjoyed it,
Hans

Well, Peter, Janice; with you guys in the project nothing to be expected but excellency.

Thanks!

Appreciate the comments.

Peter



Thanks Deej.

Peter

Thank you! And, yes, Peter’s outro was special.

Janice




Thank you so much. I love these old public domain songs!

Janice




Thank you Scott. It was fun!

J&B

Thought You Didn't Do Covers Janice!!!

I appreciate that! And, yes, Peter certainly announced his presence:)

Janice




I’m glad you liked the vocals and thanks for mentioning the harmony. Bud said that you will need Logic Pro’s Grand Steinway sound if you steal the piano

Janice




Thanks!

Janice

Much appreciated.

Peter



Thanks Scott
Peter



Thanks

Peter

Thanks guys!

Janice

Thanks Misha interested to hear what you do with the piano.

Peter

Thanks Vic

Peter



Thanks Mario

Peter

Thank you

Peter

Thank you!!!

Janice

Thanks Hans

Peter



Thanks,it's great to work on these songs with Janice & Bud.

Peter

Thanks.

Peter

In fact we have done numerous Public Domain songs, not covers as such.

If you go to Janice & Bud's Soundcloud page you will find many excellent examples.

Janice has a way of interpreting these old songs that breathes new life into them.

It's always a treat to hear what she comes up with.

Peter

thought you didn't do covers?????

An interpretation of a public domain song (in the US earlier than Jan 1, 1925) gives the artist full ownership of the song, i.e. you own the copyright. SoundCloud, Youtube, other hosting platforms and all the streaming services (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, etc.) recognize this. You cannot claim ownership of a song not in the public domain and that you did not create - what in the industry is typically referred to as a cover song. You can license it but you do not own it. After ten years of creating and posting our fully copyrighted versions of public domain songs I feel we would’ve been informed were it not acceptable. Several of our PD songs posted here and created with BiaB have been licensed to large companies who obviously have no issues with our copyright.

Perhaps nothing but nomenclature.

Bud

Thank you Hans! Now, now … of course I care

Janice

Thanks for listening and the nice comment!

Janice