Nothin' Ventured Nothin' Gained

Last updated
"Nothin' Ventured Nothin' Gained"
Single by Sylvia
from the album Knockin' Around (The Lost Album)
B-side "Come to Me"
ReleasedJune 1986 (1986-06)
Genre
Length2:59
Label RCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Brent Maher
  • Don Potter
Sylvia singles chronology
"I Love You by Heart"
(1985)		"Nothin' Ventured Nothin' Gained"
(1986)		"Straight from My Heart"
(1987)

"Nothin' Ventured Nothin' Gained" is a song originally recorded by American singer, Sylvia. Released as a single by RCA Records in 1986, it made the US country songs top 40 and was her final top 40 release in her career. The song was originally planned to be included on Sylvia's studio album with producer, Brent Maher, but the album was shelved until 2024.

Contents

Background and recording

In the 1980s, Sylvia had a series of US country pop top ten hits, including 1982's "Nobody", which crossed over onto the US pop charts. These recordings were produced by Tom Collins, and as the decade progressed, Sylvia became annoyed by her music's over-produced sound. She began working with Brent Maher in 1985 and he recorded two of her albums. The latter project was not released [3] and featured on it was the tune, "Nothin' Ventured Nothin' Gained". [4] The song was co-written by Don Schlitz, Don Potter and Brent Maher. Maher also produced the song alongside Potter. [5]

Release, critical reception and chart performance

"Nothin' Ventured Nothin' Gained" was released as a single by RCA Records in June 1986 and was distributed as a seven-inch vinyl record, featuring the B-side, "Come to Me". [5] Billboard thought the song had an "acoustic" sound that had "positive but not cloying lyrics". [1] Cash Box called it a "catchy" and "easy to like" song. [2] It rose into the US Billboard Hot Country Songs top 40, peaking at number 33 in 1986, becoming Sylvia's final top 40 single there. [6] The song was not released on a proper studio album until RCA and Legacy Recordings issued Sylvia's final album with the label in 2024 called Knockin' Around (The Lost Album). [4]

Track listing

7" vinyl single [5]

Chart performance

Weekly chart performance for "Nothin' Ventured Nothin' Gained"
Chart (1986)Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [7] 33

References

  1. 1 2 "Singles: Country" (PDF). Billboard . June 21, 1986. p. 73. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Country Single Releases: Feature Picks" (PDF). Cash Box . June 28, 1986. p. 27. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  3. ↑ Roland, Tom. "Sylvia Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  4. 1 2 NA, Sylvia (June 7, 2024). "Knockin' Around (The Lost Album) (Liner Notes)". RCA Records/Legacy Recordings . G010005288642Y (digital ID).
  5. 1 2 3 NA, Sylvia (June 1986). ""Nothin' Ventured Nothin' Gained"/"Come to Me" (7" vinyl single)". RCA Records . PB-14375 (7" vinyl single).
  6. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN   978-0-89820-177-2.
  7. ↑ "Sylvia Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
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