Tryin' To Live My Life Without You

Infobox Single
Name = Trying To Live My Life Without You


Artist = Otis Clay

from Album = Trying To Live My Life Without You
B-side =
Released = 1972
Format =
Recorded =
Genre = R&B
Length =
Label = Hi Records
Writer = Eugene Williams
Producer =
Chart position = #24 (US Black Singles) [ [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:jifqxqw5ldte] Allmusic; Otis Clay]
Last single =
This single =
Next single =

Infobox Single
Name = Tryin' To Live My Life Without You


Artist = Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band

from Album = Nine Tonight
B-side = "Brave Strangers (Live)"
Released = 1981
Format =
Recorded =
Genre = Rock
Length = 4:04
Label = Capitol Records
Writer =
Producer = Punch
Chart position = #5 (US pop singles)
Last single =
This single =
Next single =

"Tryin' To Live My Life Without You" is a song written by Eugene Williams, originally popularized by soul singer Otis Clay. It has since been covered by several other artists, most notibly Bob Seger on his 1981 "Nine Tonight" album.

Writing

The song is sung from the point of view of a man who is addressing his former lover. During the song's verses the narrator tells of various habits he has had over his lifetime, such as smoking "five packs of cigarettes a day" and drinking "four or five bottles of wine." In the prechorus, he states that breaking those former habits was difficult, but not nearly as difficult as getting over the girl and forgetting the love they shared.

eger's Version

Seger's cover of the song is the most successful version of the song, reaching #5 on the pop singles charts. It is known for Seger's spoken prelude on top of the bassline: "Alright, you guys feel funky tonight? ... This is an old Memphis song, old Memphis song...." The "Nine Tonight" liner notes claim that Seger's saxophone player, Alto Reed, played all the saxophones heard on that song, at the same time. Most likely this is possible from studio overdubbing on top of the live performance.Seger has claimed that he recorded the song to show how the Eagles stole the song's melody in their song "The Long Run". Seger highlights the similarities between the two songs in the arrangement his version, in the bassline especially. [ [http://segerfile.com/ninetonight.html] SegerFile; "Nine Tonight"]

References