It is rare that I prefer a later version to the original of a song. And, even rarer that I prefer another over Ben E. King, for he’s a longtime favourite. But, I have to admit that my preference for I Who Have Nothing is none other than that Welshman, Tom Jones.
King’s version, released in 1963, went to #29 on the U.S. charts, but didn’t play well elsewhere, from what I can find. Then it was covered by:
1966 Terry Knight and the Pack (who later became Grand Funk Railroad) (#46)
1970 Liquid Smoke (#82)
1970 Tom Jones (#14)
The song’s melody was based on an Italian song, “Uno Dei Tanti,” (English: “One of Many”), which King had heard in Italy. King’s producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller translated the lyrics into English.
As far as I can tell, the Tom Jones version hit #16 in the UK, but I could not verify that, so if anybody is aware of anything different, please feel free to correct me. This wasn’t his most successful song, but since it was stuck in my head this evening, I decided it must be the song of the day!
I shall offer up both Tom Jones’ and Ben E. King’s versions …
I Who Have Nothing Tom Jones
I, I who have nothing I, I who have no one Adore you and want you so I’m just a no one with nothing to give you but, oh I love you
He, he buys you diamonds Bright, sparkling diamonds But, believe me, dear, when I say That he can give you the world, but he’ll never love you the way I love you
He can take you any place he wants To fancy clubs and restaurants But I can only watch you with My nose pressed up against the window pane
I, I who have nothing I, I who have no one Must watch you go dancing by Wrapped in the arms of somebody else when, darling, it’s I Who loves you
I first played this song in October 2018, so it’s not too soon for a redux, is it?
There have been over 400 recorded versions of this song, performed by many artists, including John Lennon and Muhammad Ali — yes, that Muhammad Ali — “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee …”
My favourite, however, remains the original sung by Ben E. King and written by King, Jerry Leiber, and Mike Stoller. It was featured in the 1986 film of the same name, based on a Stephen King novella and directed by Rob Reiner.
In 2015 King’s original version was inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress, as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”, just under five weeks before his death. Later in the year, the 2015 line up of the Drifters recorded it, in tribute to him.
Released in 1961, Stand By Me hit #1 on the US R&B charts, but only made it to #27 in the UK. Anyway … have a listen, see what you think …
Stand By Me Ben E. King
When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we see
No I won’t be afraid
No I won’t be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
And darling, darling stand by me
Oh, now, now, stand by me
Stand by me, stand by me
If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
And the mountain should crumble to the sea
I won’t cry, I won’t cry
No I won’t shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
And darling, darling stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Stand by me, stand by me, stand by me
Whenever you’re in trouble won’t you stand by me
Oh, now, now, stand by me
Oh, stand by me, stand by me, stand by me
Darling, darling stand by me
Stand by me
Oh stand by me, stand by me, stand by me
Seems that every song that popped into my head tonight has already been played in the last six months or so … some nights are just like that. But, I just let the music play for a bit until I hit on this one and … yeah, it’s a good one.
This R&B classic was written by the songwriting team of Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. First recorded by The Drifters in January 1960, it was one of the few Drifters tracks where Ben E. King sang lead – he left the group later in 1960. The Drifters version spent 11 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 16 on April 2, 1960. As far as I can tell, it did not chart outside the U.S.
In 1968, Jay and the Americans released a version of the song, which became the song’s most widely successful release. Their version spent 14 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #6 on March 1, 1969, while reaching #1 in Canada. While I really like both versions, my preference is The Drifters version, but I have a feeling most will prefer Jay and the Americans, so I will offer up both and let you choose.
This Magic Moment Song by The Drifters
This magic moment
So different and so new
Was like any other
Until I kissed you
And then it happened
It took me by suprise
I knew that you felt it too
By the look in your eyes
Sweeter than wine
Softer than the summer night
Everything I want I have
Whenever I hold you tight
This magic moment
While you lips are close to mine
Will last forever
Forever til the end of time
Oh…
Oh…
Mm…
Sweeter than wine
Softer than the summer night
Everything I want I have
Whenever I hold you tight
This magic moment
While your lips are close to mine
Will last forever
Forever til the end of time
Oh…
Magic moment…
Magic moment…
Magic moment…
For no reason at all, while I was folding laundry yesterday, this one popped into my head. I haven’t heard it in years, but once it found its way into my head, it refused to leave! So …
Spanish Harlem is a section of New York City with a large Latino population and a rich cultural heritage. This song is about a rose that grows through the concrete in the city, always shaded from the sun. The singer is enchanted by this beautiful flower and dreams of taking it to his garden.
This was one of the first songs written by the legendary producer Phil Spector. He wrote it with Jerry Leiber, the lyricist of the famous songwriting team Leiber and Stoller. Spector learned his craft working with Leiber and Stoller, and quickly made a name for himself as a top producer.
Spector was an apprentice of sorts to Leiber and Stoller, who took him on as a favor to their music publisher, Lester Still. After a few months, the duo agreed to write a song with him. According to Leiber, they decided to meet at his house at 6:30, and Spector showed up at 5:00. Stoller was having dinner with his family and running late; by the time he was ready to come over, Leiber and Spector had finished the song.
According to Jerry Leiber, who was the lyricist, he had the idea for this song long before Phil Spector came to his house to write it. Since the song was about a rose in Spanish Harlem, he wanted the music to have a Spanish flavor, so he played Spector some music from his collection, including works by Andrés Segovia and Maurice Ravel.
“He started to play a melody that was like Jeff Barry rock and roll. Sort of jazzy and wrong. I played him two or three of those pieces. He has a good ear, and he picked up something in there. I think he even picked up a three or four-bar lick in one of the pieces that were in the strings. And we wrote it together.”
This was the first single Ben E. King released as a solo artist – he left The Drifters after complaining of low wages. The song became the title track of his first solo album, which had a Spanish theme, with songs like Besame Mucho and Perfidia. King recorded this in the same sessions as Stand By Me, which would be his next release and biggest hit.
The Ben E. King version did not chart in the UK, but two years later, in 1962, British musician Cliff Richard released his rendition on his 1962 album 32 Minutes and 17 Seconds, that went to #3 in the UK.
Spanish Harlem Ben E. King
There is a rose in Spanish Harlem A red rose up in Spanish Harlem It is a special one, it’s never seen the sun It only comes out when the moon is on the run And all the stars are gleaming It’s growing in the street right up through the concrete But soft and sweet and dreaming
There is a rose in Spanish Harlem A red rose up in Spanish Harlem With eyes as black as coal Then look down in my soul And starts a fire there And then I lose control I have to beg your pardon
I’m going to pick that rose And watch her as she grows in my garden
I’m going to pick that rose And watch her as she grows in my garden
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem) La la la, la la la, la la la la (There is a rose in Spanish Harlem) La la la, la la la, la la la la (There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
Writer/s: Jerry Leiber, Phil Spector Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind
I first played this song in October 2018, so it’s not too soon for a redux, is it?
There have been over 400 recorded versions of this song, performed by many artists, including John Lennon and Muhammad Ali — yes, that Muhammad Ali — “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee …”
My favourite, however, remains the original sung by Ben E. King and written by King, Jerry Leiber, and Mike Stoller. It was featured in the 1986 film of the same name, based on a Stephen King novella and directed by Rob Reiner.
In 2015 King’s original version was inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress, as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”, just under five weeks before his death. Later in the year, the 2015 line up of the Drifters recorded it, in tribute to him.
Released in 1961, Stand By Me hit #1 on the US R&B charts, but only made it to #27 in the UK. Anyway … have a listen, see what you think …
Stand By Me Ben E. King
When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we see
No I won’t be afraid
No I won’t be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
And darling, darling stand by me
Oh, now, now, stand by me
Stand by me, stand by me
If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
And the mountain should crumble to the sea
I won’t cry, I won’t cry
No I won’t shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
And darling, darling stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Stand by me, stand by me, stand by me
Whenever you’re in trouble won’t you stand by me
Oh, now, now, stand by me
Oh, stand by me, stand by me, stand by me
Darling, darling stand by me
Stand by me
Oh stand by me, stand by me, stand by me
I was rolling smokes a while ago, doing a mental checklist. Comments answered? Check. Jolly Monday scheduled? Check. Email cleaned up? Check. Music post? Oops … I knew I had forgotten something. So, the song I was whistling at that moment was Tom Jones’ I Who Have Nothing, which is a great song, but … I already played that one last September, and I did promise new content after last night’s redux. The other song that I found myself whistling, then humming, was this one … Save the Last Dance for Me. I knew I had done songs by The Drifters before, but lo and behold! I haven’t played this one yet!
This song tells the story of a couple at a dance. He tells his wife that she is free to dance and socialize with other men throughout the evening, but she should not forget that she is going home with him. Inspiration for the song came from a very personal experience.
The songwriting team of Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman wrote this song. In Lonely Avenue: The Unlikely Life & Times of Doc Pomus, Alex Halberstadt explains that one night, Pomus found a wedding invitation in a hatbox, and back came his most vivid memory from his wedding: watching his brother Raoul dance with his new wife while Doc, who had polio, sat in his wheelchair. Inspired, he stayed up all night writing the words to this song on the back of the invitation. Shuman had played him a soaring Latin melody that afternoon, and he wanted the words to sound like a poem translated into English – something along the lines of Pablo Neruda. By the second verse, a hint of jealousy and vulnerability creeps in with the lyrics, “If he asks if you’re all alone, can he take you home, you must tell him no.” Pomus ended his night of songwriting by writing down the words that would become the title: Save The Last Dance For Me.
Pomus and Shuman were writers for Atlantic Records, where they worked with the team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who produced this song. Leiber and Stoller were great with Latin rhythms, which is what they used here and what Pomus had in mind with the flow of the lyrics. Leiber and Stoller were using The Coasters to record most of their songs at the time, and had asked Pomus and Shuman to write songs for The Drifters.
The Drifters lead singer for this song was Ben E. King, who a few months later started scoring solo hits with Spanish Harlem and Stand By Me. When they were recording the song Atlantic Records boss Ahmet Ertegun told King how the song was inspired by Pomus watching his wife dance with another man at his wedding, and King drew on that story to wring out the emotion in his vocals.
In a rare bonehead move by Atlantic Records honchos Ertegun and Jerry Wexler, they relegated this song to the B-side of another Pomus/Shuman composition called Nobody But Me. It was Dick Clark who broke the song when he flipped the single and played Save The Last Dance for Me on his show American Bandstand. The song gave The Drifters their only #1 hit.
Emmylou Harris in 1979 and Dolly Parton in 1984 have had Country hits with this song, and Michael Bublé reached #99 in the US with his version. But, with apologies to Harris, Parton and Bublé , I still prefer the Drifters.
Save The Last Dance For Me The Drifters
You can dance every dance with the guy
Who gives you the eye, let him hold you tight
You can smile every smile for the man
Who held your hand ‘neath the pale moonlight
But don’t forget who’s taking you home
And in whose arms you’re gonna be
So darlin’, save the last dance for me, hmm
Oh, I know that the music’s fine (oh, I know, yes I know)
Like sparkling wine go and have your fun
Laugh and sing but while we’re apart
Don’t give your heart to anyone
But don’t forget who’s taking you home
And in whose arms you’re gonna be
So darlin’, save the last dance for me, hmm
Baby, don’t you know I love you so?
Can’t you feel it when we touch?
I will never, never let you go
I love you, oh, so much
You can dance, go and carry on
‘Till the night is gone and it’s time to go
If he asks, if you’re all alone
Can he take you home, you must tell him, no
‘Cause don’t forget who’s taking you home
And in whose arm’s you’re gonna be
So darlin’, save the last dance for me
‘Cause don’t forget who’s taking you home
And in whose arm’s you’re gonna be
So darlin’, save the last dance for me, hmm
Save the last dance for me, hmm, hmm
Save the last dance for me, hmmm
Save
It is rare that I prefer a later version to the original of a song. And, even rarer that I prefer another over Ben E. King, for he’s a longtime favourite. But, I have to admit that my preference for I Who Have Nothing is none other than that Welshman, Tom Jones.
King’s version, released in 1963, went to #29 on the U.S. charts, but didn’t play well elsewhere, from what I can find. Then it was covered by:
1966 Terry Knight and the Pack (who later became Grand Funk Railroad) (#46)
1970 Liquid Smoke (#82)
1970 Tom Jones (#14)
The song’s melody was based on an Italian song, “Uno Dei Tanti,” (English: “One of Many”), which King had heard in Italy. King’s producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller translated the lyrics into English.
As far as I can tell, the Tom Jones version hit #16 in the UK, but I could not verify that, so if anybody is aware of anything different, please feel free to correct me. This wasn’t his most successful song, but since it was stuck in my head this evening, I decided it must be the song of the day!
I shall offer up both Tom Jones’ and Ben E. King’s versions …
I Who Have Nothing Tom Jones
I, I who have nothing
I, I who have no one
Adore you and want you so
I’m just a no one with nothing to give you but, oh
I love you
He, he buys you diamonds
Bright, sparkling diamonds
But, believe me, dear, when I say
That he can give you the world, but he’ll never love you the way
I love you
He can take you any place he wants
To fancy clubs and restaurants
But I can only watch you with
My nose pressed up against the window pane
I, I who have nothing
I, I who have no one
Must watch you go dancing by
Wrapped in the arms of somebody else when, darling, it’s I
Who loves you
There have been over 400 recorded versions of this song, performed by many artists, including John Lennon and Muhammad Ali — yes, that Muhammad Ali — “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee …”
My favourite, however, remains the original sung by Ben E. King and written by King, Jerry Leiber, and Mike Stoller. It was featured in the 1986 film of the same name, based on a Stephen King novella and directed by Rob Reiner.
In 2015 King’s original version was inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress, as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”, just under five weeks before his death. Later in the year, the 2015 line up of the Drifters recorded it, in tribute to him.
Released in 1961, Stand By Me hit #1 on the US R&B charts, but only made it to #27 in the UK. Anyway … have a listen, see what you think …
Stand By Me Ben E. King
When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we see
No I won’t be afraid
No I won’t be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
And darling, darling stand by me
Oh, now, now, stand by me
Stand by me, stand by me
If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
And the mountain should crumble to the sea
I won’t cry, I won’t cry
No I won’t shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
And darling, darling stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Stand by me, stand by me, stand by me
Whenever you’re in trouble won’t you stand by me
Oh, now, now, stand by me
Oh, stand by me, stand by me, stand by me
Darling, darling stand by me
Stand by me
Oh stand by me, stand by me, stand by me
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