No Good (Start The Dance)

• 16th May 1994, 12” XL-Recordings XLT-51
• 16th March 1994, Cassette XL-Recordings XLC-51
• 16th March 1994, CD XL-Recordings XLS-51CD
• 9th July 1996, Dancepool 66285 2
• Other versions

No Good (Start The Dance) is the 7th single by The Prodigy, and the second single from their forthcoming album Music For The Jilted Generation. Since the release of the album, the composition was changed several times, and Liam doubted that it should be released on a single. The original version, called "Start The Dance", sounded at an unusual speed for a techno style. The American mix of this track sounded slower, due to which this version later ceased to suit the group, and the original tempo was later returned.

16 May 1994 released single peaked at number four in the UK and number seven in Norway. The No Good single sold over 235 000 copies in the UK during 1994.

The original sample with the phrase "You're no good for me, I don't need nobody" was taken from the Kelly Charles song You're No Good For Me" (1987, London Records LONX153)  Liam, however, was not sure that this composition had exactly the hook and mood that the single needed, so after much hesitation, he decided to put female vocals on the instrumental background.

Howlett was still not completely happy with the decision, despite the success of the single:

"I feel like I'm embarrassed by putting this female vocal on top of the instrumental. The melody was great anyway, but I wasn't sure if it was good enough or not. If I think something is good commercially, but not  musically, I don't use it. You have to be clear about what sounds good and what sells well. I had my doubts about "Start the Dance", it was too contagious. The same thing happened with "Out of Space", but at that time  there were a lot of similar things released, every time I write a tune, I'm afraid to fall into a certain category, so the female vocals in "Start the Dance" was a pretty bold move - we could just get laughed at. All this shitty European techno with  female vocals are cheap and "Prodigy" managed to avoid being labeled as such, but "Start the Dance" is my last piece of that kind.  dance number, and in the context of the time it sounded good."

It is possible the track was influenced by Hithouse's single "Jack to the Sound of the Underground" (1988), which itself was the first dance track to sample Kelly Charles.