Official Charts Pop Gem #53: Lutricia McNeal – Ain’t That Just The Way

Lutricia McNeal’s very first hit from 1997 is the latest overlooked classic to get the Pop Gem nod.

It’s a Friday tradition that we ask our Twitter pals and Facebook friends for your Pop Gems, those big hits that used to be radio’s best buddies but have somehow slipped off pop’s radar.

As we’ve had three Pop Gems from the Noughties in quick succession, we thought it was time to show some love to the Nineties.

The suggestions came thick and fast, as ever, and we had some tough decisions to make. Finally, we got it down to these ten '90s classics.

When faced with ten of the most ‘90s tracks ever, it was always going to be tough, but after a series of nominations in previous weeks, we decided the time was right to honour Lutricia McNeal. Her time as bridesmaid was finally over.

Watch the video for Ain’t That Just The Way before we tell you why Lu got all the love.

Why it had to be Lutricia

Lutricia’s moment in the sun was relatively brief. She was far from a one-hit wonder, but the space between her first and final hits was only just over a year. 12 months of being everywhere, before fading into pop’s dim and distant past. It’s a story that needed to be told. and where else but the Pop Gem Hall Of Fame could do it justice?

The song

We’ve all let that special someone slip through our fingers are one time or another, and few songs talk about that “if only” feeling a well as this track.

Lutricia’s version is the one we’re honouring here, but the original was sung by New York singer Barbi Benton, who first shot to fame as a model in Playboy – she was even married to the magazine’s millionaire owner Hugh Hefner.

Barbi’s version was a huge hit in Europe in the 1970s, and Lutricia repeated that success with her rendition, taking it to Number 6 in the UK and selling over 350,000 copies. Barbi and Lutricia have more than just this song in common – Lutricia too graced the pages of Playboy. Well, if you’ve got it, flaunt it.

Take a look at Barbi’s version:

Lutricia’s chart story

Ms McNeal’s star burned briefly, but it was pretty bright. Ain’t That Just The Way kicked off a run of three consecutive Top 10 hits. Stranded (3) and Someone Loves You Honey (9) followed in 1998. One more Top 40 hit awaited our Lutricia – The Greatest Love You’ll Never Know peaked at Number 17 later that year. Ain’t That Just The Way remains her biggest seller.

Lutricia, it's your time once more! A very worthy Pop Gem.

Video playlist

Take a look at all 10 of our ‘90s Pop Gem contenders from this week. Was Lutricia a worthy winner?

Pop Gem Hall Of Fame

Today's Pop Gem is the latest in a long line of amazing pop songs that have been inducted into our Pop Gem Hall Of Fame. Take a look at all the tracks who've received the honour so far

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