Song of the Day 7/23: McFadden & Whitehead, “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now”

The Harris for President people have their hands full, so I doubt anyone has thought about what the campaign’s theme song should be. I humbly propose this 1979 disco hit, which captures the sudden burst of enthusiasm Democrats are feeling with passing of the torch. Philadelphia sports fans of a certain age might remember the Phillies and Eagles using it as a rally song in the early ’80s.

Childhood friends Gene McFadden and John Whitehead formed a soul group called the Epsilons when they were still teens. Otis Redding was so impressed by them he added them to his tour, a gig that ended when Redding died in a plane crash in 1967. The duo then joined Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff at Philadelphia International Records, where they became house producers and songwriters, best known for co-writing the O’Jays hit “Back Stabbers.”

They wanted to return to performing, but Gamble and Huff wanted them to concentrate on providing songs for the label’s established acts. They formed their duo in 1977 despite their bosses’ objections, and had their big (and only) hit two years later. “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now” went to No. 1 on the R&B chart and No. 13 on the Hot 100.

The lyrics were read as a social statement on Black empowerment, but the duo revealed later that it was actually about breaking free of Philadelphia International. Gamble admitted that when he heard the demo of the song he wanted McFadden and Whitehead to produce it for the O’Jays.