by tris992000 on December 17th, 2006
"Without You" is a song originally recorded by Badfinger for their album No Dice (1970), and written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans and produced by Geoff Emerick. Its verse was composed by Ham, originally titled "If It's Love", but had lacked a strong chorus. Evans had written a chorus without a strong verse, so the duo fused the two sections together. The protagonist of this ballad lets a lover know that they "can't live if living is without you". Badfinger's recording of the song, which is more brusque than its successors' versions, languished as an obscure album track until it was noticed a year later by Harry Nilsson. Both Ham and Evans later committed suicide, Ham on 24 April 1975, and Evans on 19 November 1983. The suicides were unrelated.
"Without You" became a hit single after being covered by Nilsson for his album Nilsson Schmilsson in 1971; it stayed at number-one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks, from February 13 to March 11, 1972. It replaced "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green, and was replaced by Neil Young's "Heart of Gold". The song has been covered by several other artists, including:
Shirley Bassey, for the album And I Love You So released in August 1972;
the rock band Heart, for the album Magazine released in April 1978;
the band Air Supply, for the album The Earth Is... released in 1991;
Mariah Carey, for the album Music Box released in 1993;
Jade Kwan, for the album Jade-2 Special Edition released in January 2003;
Clay Aiken, for the album A Thousand Different Ways released in September 2006.
Mariah Carey version
Mariah Carey co-produced her cover of the song with Walter Afanasieff, and the production is based on Harry Nilsson's version. It was released as the album's third single in the first quarter of 1994, and in the United States it was released on January 24, 1994, the day that Nilsson died of heart failure. In the U.S. it was promoted as a double A-side with "Never Forget You" and reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100, remaining in the top forty for twenty-one weeks. Both radio airplay and sales were strong, and it was certified gold by the RIAA. It was ranked sixteenth on the Hot 100 1994 year-end charts.
"Without You" was Carey's biggest hit outside the U.S. (until "We Belong Together") and was largely successful across Europe. It became her first UK number-one single, and still remains her only number one there as a solo artist. It stayed at number one for four weeks and became her third number-one single in Brazil. It was also her first chart-topper in Italy, but was most successful in Switzerland (with ten non-consecutive weeks at number one) and the Netherlands (twelve weeks). It also topped the singles chart in Germany for four weeks and Austria for eight weeks, where Carey's success had previously been limited. It was able to make the top three in Canada, France, Norway and Australia. "Without You" was later included on some non-U.S. pressings of her compilation album #1's (1998).
The single's video, directed by Larry Jordan, is derived from Carey's 1993 concert at Proctor Theatre. In addition to "Never Forget You", the UK CD single for "Without You" included a live recording of "Dreamlover" (1993).
by KinKStar on December 5th, 2006
The song is "Without You" by P. Ham and T. Evans, sung in 1991 by Air Supply
No, I can't forget this evening
Or your face as you were leaving
But I guess that's just the way the story goes
You always smile but in you eyes your sorrow shows
Yes, it shows
No I can't forget tomorrow
When I think of all my sorrow
When I had you there but then I let you go
And now its only fair that I should let you know
What you should know
Chorus:
I can't live if living is without you
I can't give, I can't give anymore
Can't live if living is without you
Can't give, I can't give anymore
No, I can't forget this evening
Or your face as you were leaving
But I guess that's just the way the story goes
You always smile but in you eyes your sorrow shows
Yes, it shows
Chorus(2x)
Make Note: Use Google to find a song title, when all you know is a line, or part of one. Just put quotes around what you know in the search line and there you go! Tons of lyrics sites will come up for you, offering up what you need/want. It's easy!
by Ankhorite on January 29th, 2007
A group called Badfinger wrote it and performed it first on an album called "No Dice." The first person to make it famous was Harry Nilsson, who performed it on his album "Nilsson Schmilsson" in the 1970s. Anyone else who performed it since -- Mariah Carey, Air Supply, and Whitney Houston, for example -- is also doing just a "cover" of the Badfinger tune.
Amazon.Com will let you play a sample of Nilsson's version -- see #10 here:
http://www.amazon.com/Harry-Nilsson-All-Time-Greatest-Hits/dp/B000002WD4/sr=8-1/qid=1170109904/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-7443513-9613729?ie=UTF8&s=music
This question is a duplicate of
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/96302
by - retroglide - on March 6th, 2007
Many artists have released this song. It was written by Pete Hamm and Tom Evans.
Badfinger originally released the song in 1970 on their album "No Dice". It basically went unnoticed.
Harry Nilsson released it in 1971 on his album "Nilsson Schmilsson". This release becomes a hit.
Shirley Bassey, for the album "And I Love You So" released it in August 1972.
Cilla Black for her January 1973 record, "Day By Day With Cilla" released it.
The band Air Supply, for the album "The Earth Is..." released it in 1991.
Mariah Carey, for the album Music Box released in 1993.
Jade Kwan, for the album Jade-2 Special Edition released in January 2003.
Clay Aiken, for the album "A Thousand Different Ways" released in September 2006.
The operatic pop band Il Divo, for the album Siempre released in November 2006.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Without_You
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Nilsson
by Sketchy Mess Jeoffory on January 29th, 2007
Mariah Carey also did a cover of it on her first album.
by Sarita1 Goes Bollywood on January 29th, 2007
air supply
by Firebrand on January 29th, 2007
Mariah Carey she wrote the lyrics too
by Psyonic on December 17th, 2006
I read that too quickly and thought you said Eric Cartman!
by JUSTNORMAL on December 17th, 2006
No it was Air Supply
by gerrik on December 5th, 2006
mariah carey covered that track too
by HasntBeen on December 29th, 2009
That was written and first performed by Harry Nillson
by jimihen on March 6th, 2007
Actually if you listen to the second movement 'Adagio Sostenuto' from Rachmaninov's Piano concerto No 2 in C minor you will find that the verse for this song has been ripped right from it.
by Firebrand on January 29th, 2007
Can't Live (If Living Is Without You) Lyrics - Mariah Carey
Copied and pasted from Wilkedia
by cloggy1 on October 31st, 2009
Take No Doubt's "It's My Life" for instance, all the youngies thought it was one of those brilliant Gwenn-Songs, in fact it was a cracker from a not-too-well-known trio called Talk Talk, really major in the early '80's, they wrote and made it famous, well in Europe that is.
Nilsson was the guy who made this one great, greater, greatest, and will always be the man who made "Can't Live" the top hit.
by theintimminator on September 1st, 2009
Actually Airsupply and Mariah Carey did covers of this sang.
It was made famous in the 70's by a gentleman named "Harry Nielson"
He was the dude who sang "Put the Lime in the Coconut"
by cha on April 4th, 2009
The original artist that sang "I Can't Live" is Harry Nilson in the 70's. Mariah Carey popularized this song in recent years also.
by Angiegirl on February 27th, 2007
Well you learn somthing new every day. thought nilsson was the original.
shows how much i know!!!!!!!
Not quite so bright Angie X
by Universe Of Life on March 6th, 2007
Nilsson in the 70's
No, I can't forget this evening
Or your face as you were leaving
But I guess that's just the way the story goes
You always smile but in your eyes your sorrow shows
Yes it shows
No I can't forget tomorrorow
When I think of all my sorrow
When I had you there but then I let you go
And now it's only fair that I should let you know
What you should know
I can't live if living is without you
I can't live, I can't give any more
Can't live if living is without you
I can't give, I can't give any more
Well I can't forget this evening
Or your face as you were leaving
But I guess that's just the way the story goes
You always smile but in your eyes your sorrow shows
Yes it shows
Can't live if living is without you
I can't live, I can't give anymore
I can't live if living is without you
I can't live, I can't give anymore
(Living is without you)
by HeidiT on January 28th, 2007
Celine Dion and Heart also did versions of this song.
by Frickfrac on December 22nd, 2006
Wasn't that Mariah Carey. Depends on the version of the song. If the next line is... I Can't Give, Can't give anymore!
by XxrawrxX on December 17th, 2006
it twas harry neilson.
1971 roughly.
x
by MyThyme on April 8th, 2008
I know this question was posed quite awhile ago but I found it under Harry Nillson. On the music download site PIOLET.
by littleluvbutton on April 27th, 2008
Originally, Hearry Nilson did int he 70's! You kids somehow think that just because a good song comes on the radio, someone in "your time" wrote it and sang it......sorry to burst your bubble, but there are a lot of song out there now that came from the 60's and 70's originally. The songwriters of today have to look to the past to come up with good material......sorry kids, but your mothers and fathers are cooler than you think!
by Nerd Thuggery awakens. on March 3rd, 2009
Lots of great info here about the song, and it's a great song.
I'm confident of all the releases, Harry Nilsson's version and Air Supply's version are the two that are universally recognized.
When I first read the question, I immediately thought of the Harry Nilsson release.
by duncanmackay on December 29th, 2009
Answered correctly and comprehensively by tris992000. Why on earth people post less informative stuff after that, I do not get. In brief, originally, artists Badfinger, on album No Dice, 1970. Made a hit a bit later by Harry Nilsson on album Nilsson Schmilssson, 1971, and covered ever since inc. by Mariah Carey q. recently.
by boosgrammy on March 2nd, 2009
Without You....Nilsson (Harry Nilsson)I have this record, no it is not Air Supply like someone answered.
by Alaskaforgetmenot on February 12th, 2009
Badfinger did it originally. I still have the original vinyl. I also have the original Nilsson vinyl. I miss those old LP days.
Isn't Il Divo wonderful? Theirs is done opera style in Italian.
by keithold thanks all baggers on April 27th, 2008
G'day Smurf10,
Thank you for your question.
It was originally written and performed by Badfinger and performed by every man and his dog since.
Regards
by boosgrammy on April 14th, 2009
Without You....Nilsson
who else sang the song Sugar Britches other than Jewel Bass, the other one sounds much better.
by Pam BMW on January 21st, 2010
| 1 person likes this
Who sings the song in the Honda Accord Crosstour commercial?
by jocie_1233 on January 18th, 2010
| 1 person likes this
Whats that reggae song that goes "....brrrup.....brrrrup" ?
by skittleater on January 26th, 2010
| 2 people like this
The name of the song / who sings it that has these lyrics -"I miss the sound of your voice", "faith and desire" & "the swing of your hips"?
by cbcinnamon on January 25th, 2010
| 1 person likes this
Lyrics: When i come your gonna see me. When you wake up it will be my phone that's ringing in your ear. Sounds Country Female Who sings it?
by kitty_n_rock on January 25th, 2010
| 1 person likes this
You're reading Who sang "I can't live if living is without you"?
- which can also be phrased in the following ways:
Who originally sang "I can't live, if living is without you?" Was it Eric Carman?
Who sang cant live if living is without you?
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Comments
Thanks so much. This was what I was looking for.
by kpollock on December 18th, 2006
You are welcome
by tris992000 on December 18th, 2006
Great detail!
by VOD on December 30th, 2006
Thanks that did help! IL DIVO DOES A BEAUTIFUL RENDISION OF THIS SONG ALSO.
Thanks again!!
by Harleygirl16 on January 1st, 2007