Official Chart Pop Gem: Dina Carroll, Ain’t No Man

Dina’s classic ‘stand by your man’ anthem from 1992 is our latest Pop Gem.

Sometimes you hear a voice and know its owner is destined for stardom. When Dina Carroll first appeared back in February 1991, we knew we were witnessing something special. As vocalist on Quartz’s cover of the Carole King classic It’s Too Late, Dina scored a Top 10 hit on the Official Singles Chart, and a star was born.

But surely Dina’s powerful pipes, which could go from silky smooth to full-on belt in the blink of an eye, deserved a hit all of their own?

We didn’t have too long to wait – in July 1992, Dina scored her very first solo hit. Ain’t No Man was an upbeat testimony that true love really did conquer all, and was a staple of the radio that summer and for quite a few summers to come. It was the start of a stellar year for Ms Carroll.

The track was picked as a Pop Gem by our Facebook fan Ross Carter, who says: "Dina Carroll changed my approach toward dance music and music in general and I started to appreciate soul music through her. Ain't No Man was also important for me personally – I was 16 years old and had developed a huge crush, on a guy! This song summed up my feelings during that time. Dina made me realise there was nothing wrong with my feelings." See the power of a Pop Gem?

Ain’t No Man wasn’t as big a hit as you might remember – it reached only Number 16 on the Official Singles Chart, despite having Number 1 written all over it. While her album sold well, other singles also failed to break the Top 10 until the super-ballad Don’t Be A Stranger broke the spell and peaked at Number 3 in late 1993, her biggest hit to date.

But all that was yet to come. For now, it’s still 1992 and Dina Carroll’s super-positive “I’ve got your back, baby” to the luckiest man in the universe is about to take up residence in your radio all summer long.

We’ll admit we seriously debated in the OfficialCharts.com office which Dina track to choose, and Special Kind Of Love very nearly edged it, but we had to go with the one that made it all happen. It had to be Ain’t No Man.

Isn’t it time you gave us another Pop Gem, Dina? We miss you!

Dina Carroll - Ain't No Man on MUZU.TV.

What is a Pop Gem?

We know a good song when we hear one, and, boy, do we love to hear one. But, have you ever wondered what happens to some songs when they disappear out of the charts, off radio playlists, pulled from music TV channels, never to be seen again?

They could be absolute corkers, seemingly everywhere for a whole summer, yet they vanish. Or perhaps they were an 'unsung hero' – the overlooked single that didn’t even make it into the Top 10 but made you tingle with love for pop music all the same.

And now they’re gone, into a puff of smoke they went – last year, five years ago, 12 years ago, 20 years ago, whatever year they were from… they were fantastic, then disappeared into obscurity, destined to be forgotten. Until NOW.

We’re bringing some of these long-lost lovelies back into the spotlight, and crowning them as an Official Chart Pop Gem. We’ve picked some beauties, but we’re turning it over to you, too. If you’ve got a forgotten classic, a lesser-loved anthem, hit us up on popgem@officialcharts.com. If we pick yours, you get a prize! Ooooh!