"Ain't No Woman" is a 1973 hit single written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter, released as a single by the Four Tops

Four Tops

The Four Tops are an American vocal quartet, whose repertoire has included doo-wop, jazz, soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, hard rock, and showtunes...

 on the ABC/Dunhill

ABC Records

ABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....

 record label, from the album Keeper of the Castle

Keeper of the Castle

Keeper of the Castle is an album by R&B group the Four Tops.-Track listing:All tracks composed by Brian Potter and Dennis Lambert; except where indicated#"Keeper of the Castle"#"Ain't No Woman "#"Put a Little Love Away"...

.

The song was originally recorded by the singing trio of Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds

Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds

Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds was a 1970s AM soft rock trio from Los Angeles. The original members were Dan Hamilton , Joe Frank Carollo , and Tommy Reynolds , all of whom had previously played in The T-Bones, a 1960s band noted for the instrumental hit "No Matter What Shape ".The group first hit...

 and released on their 1972 album, Hallway Symphony

Hallway Symphony

Hallway Symphony was the second studio album of the band Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, released in 1972. It was their final album for the Dunhill label...

.

The Four Tops' hit version was led by longtime singer Levi Stubbs

Levi Stubbs

Levi Stubbles , better known by the stage name Levi Stubbs, was an American baritone singer, best known as the lead vocalist of the Motown R&B group Four Tops...

, and included special co-lead spots by the other Tops, Lawrence Payton

Lawrence Payton

Lawrence Albert Payton was an American tenor, songwriter and record producer for the popular Motown quartet, the Four Tops....

, Renaldo "Obie" Benson and Abdul "Duke" Fakir, in that respective order during the song's chorus. The song explains the love a man feels for the woman he's in love with.

Their second single release on ABC after leaving Motown in 1972, the song became their most successful post-Motown Top 40 hit, reaching number four on the US Pop Singles

Billboard Hot 100

The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...

 chart. It was also another big success for the group on the US R&B Singles

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...

 chart, where it peaked at number two.

Additional cover versions include Bloodfire Posse; Mel Brown; East Coast Band; The Friends of Distinction; Home T; Kashif

Kashif (musician)

Kashif Saleem is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and record producer.-Career:Kashif became well-known from playing keyboards in the renowned funk band B.T. Express. He played synthesizer bass using the miniMoog while touring with the group...

; Louie; The Mamas & the Papas

The Mamas & the Papas

The Mamas & the Papas were a Canadian/American vocal group of the 1960s . The group recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968 with a short reunion in 1971, releasing five albums and 11 Top 40 hit singles...

; Johnny Mathis

Johnny Mathis

John Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...

; and Melvin Sparks

Melvin Sparks

Melvin Sparks was an American soul jazz, hard bop and jazz blues guitarist. He recorded a number of albums for Prestige Records, later recording for Savant Records...

.
The song was later reinterpreted by Jay-Z

Jay-Z

Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...

 and Foxy Brown in their 1996 hit, "Ain't No Nigga".

Personnel

• Lead and background vocals by Levi Stubbs
  Levi Stubbs
  Levi Stubbles , better known by the stage name Levi Stubbs, was an American baritone singer, best known as the lead vocalist of the Motown R&B group Four Tops...
  
  , Lawrence Payton
  Lawrence Payton
  Lawrence Albert Payton was an American tenor, songwriter and record producer for the popular Motown quartet, the Four Tops....
  
  , Renaldo "Obie" Benson and Abdul "Duke" Fakir
• Produced by Dennis Lambert