Without You - Nilsson (1972) 6/23/21

I've waited a long time to highlight today's "Great Song of the '70s," mostly because everything surrounding it is rather depressing.

Still, the song is a masterpiece, and perhaps all the sadness attached to the story adds to its greatness.

Pete Ham and Tom Evans of Badfinger co-wrote the song in a very unusual way: Pete had a song called "Is This Love," but couldn't come up with a chorus for it. Tom had a chorus: "I can't live if living is without you" and couldn't come up with any verses. They put the two pieces together, renamed it "Without You," and added it to their second album in 1970.

It was never released as a single.

In 1971, Harry Nilsson came across "Without You" and thought it was a Beatles song. Badfinger was signed to Apple Records, so it was somewhat understandable. Harry decided to record it, and his initial take was slow and dark with only a solo piano to back him up.

His producer, Richard Perry, begged him to add an orchestra. Harry was against it...but agreed anyway--complaining the whole time that the song was ruined.

But Richard was right, and Harry was wrong. In 1972, the single went to #1 in the US, Canada, The UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. It also won the Grammy Award for "Best Male Pop Performance" and was nominated for "Song of the Year."

Harry STILL hated the song, and refused to tour to back it up. (He was notorious for backing out of tours.)

The song made a lot of money for Harry and Harry's label, RCA...but Pete Ham and Tom Evans made almost nothing--because Apple Records closed up shop in 1973 and left them broke--without a label to help them out.

Despondent over his career and legal setbacks, Pete hanged himself in 1975. In 1983, Tom did the same after an argument about royalties.

Harry was a severe alcoholic and died young--in 1994 at age 52.

Ironically, he died the same day Mariah Carey's cover was released. Mariah's version reached #3 on the Hot 100--where it stayed for 6 straight weeks.

So much sadness: In the song itself...and the story behind it. And yet, there's no doubt that "Without You" is a "Great Song of the '70s" (and 1994).

Nilsson:

Mariah Carey:

Badfinger Original Version: