- I (Who Have Nothing)
Infobox Single
Name = I (Who Have Nothing)
Artist =Ben E. King
Album = Ben E. King's Greatest Hits
B-side =
Released = 1963
Format =
Recorded =
Genre =
Length =
Label =Atco Records
Writer = Carlo Donida, Mogol, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
Producer =
Certification =
Last single =
This single =
Next single ="I (Who Have Nothing)" (sometimes billed as "I Who Have Nothing") is a song originally released by
Ben E. King in 1963. It has been covered by many artists, including most recently by "American Idol " contestantJordin Sparks and the winner of Idols 4 the Dutch version ofPop Idol Nikki Kerkhof ."I (Who Have Nothing)" is based on the Italian song "Uno dei tanti," (English: "One of the Many") with music by Carlo Donida and lyrics by Giulio "Mogol" Rapetti. [cite web |title="Second Hand Songs - Song:Uno dei tanti - Joe Sentieri" |url=http://www.secondhandsongs.com/song/25880.html | accessdate = 2007-07-28] "Uno dei tanti" was released by
Joe Sentieri in 1961. The lyrics for "I (Who Have Nothing)" were translated into English byJerry Leiber and Mike Stoller . Some critics believe that part of this song's melody was later copied in "Nights in White Satin ," released by theMoody Blues in 1967. [cite web | title="Allmusic - Nights in White Satin" | url= http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:bt7m964ojeq7~T001 | accessdate = 2007-07-28]Versions
The original Ben E. King version was released in 1963 and reached #29 on the Billboard charts. Tom Jones released the song, which peaked at #14 in 1970. Other version which reached the Billboard charts were performed by
Terry Knight and the Pack in 1966 (#46), by Liquid Smoke in 1970 (#82), and by Sylvester in 1979 (#40).Shirley Bassey released this song (produced byGeorge Martin ) in September 1963, reaching #6 on the UK charts. She performs the song at almost every live concert she gives, and it is on many of her compilation albums, including "I Am What I Am" with the London Symphony Orchestra, and her 1989 album "La Mujer" where she sings it in Spanish ("Hoy No Tengo Nada"). [ cite web | title="The Songs of Shirley Bassey: Song Info" |url= http://www.songsofshirleybassey.co.uk/song/sng63006.html |accessdate = 2007-07-30 ]Other versions of "I (Who Have Nothing)" have been recorded by
Tom & Mick ,Petula Clark ,The Spectres ,Roberta Flack &Donny Hathaway , Hodges, James & Smith,Luther Vandross &Martha Wash ,Brook Benton ,Neil Diamond ,Joe Cocker ,Normie Rowe ,Katherine Jenkins , andManfred Mann's Earth Band .Jordin Sparks sang the song during British Invasion Week on the sixth season of "American Idol". A studio recording of her performance reached #74 on the Billboard Hot 100 following her win.References
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