Peak
1
Weeks
22
Score
4,479
Chart Year
1978
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The disco classic "If I Can't Have You" was written by the Bee Gees, as was much of the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. The Bee Gees were the first to record the song, and used it as the B-side of their "Stayin' Alive" single, but the version in the movie that was released as an A-side single was by Yvonne Elliman. At this time, the Bee Gees had to farm out some of their songs to other singers because there was already too much of them on the radio. The song is a great example of lyrical dissonance, as the upbeat disco groove accompanies a lyric of loneliness and despair. The singer has lost her (or his - note how it's gender-neutral) love, and wonders if she can find the strength to go on. Yvonne Elliman got her start as a backup singer for Eric Clapton and performed on many of his '70s hits including "I Shot the Sheriff." This song made her the first Asian/Pacific Islander to have a #1 hit - she hails from Honolulu, Hawaii. This song was produced by Freddie Perren and recorded at his Los Angeles studio: Mom & Pop's Company Store. Perren was a former Motown producer who found success in the '70s producing Peaches & Herb and a number of disco artists. Saturday Night Fever producer Robert Stigwood commissioned him to record some songs for the soundtrack, which ended up being this track and "More Than A Woman" by Tavares. On both tracks, Perren used his favorite session musicians: Scott Edwards on bass, Bob "Boogie" Bowles on guitar, James Gadson on drums, and Sonny Burke on piano. In our interview with Scott Edwards, he explained how these musicians contributed to the songs: "Most of the hits were stuff that we came up with ourselves. We'd have a basic chord chart, because at the time the people who were arranging had good ideas for the strings and horns. But as far as the rhythm section, most people, if they were smart, they left the rhythm section alone. Because to get the drums and bass to really lock and still be functional, you really can't control them too much if you're not a drummer or a bass player yourself." The huge success of this song resulted in Elliman being remembered as a disco artist, but this style of music was an exception to the medium-tempo ballads that she specialized in, and which comprised the bulk of her recordings. She sang the role of Mary Magdalene in the original album Jesus Christ Superstar and in the subsequent Broadway and film versions, and achieved her first hit single with the ballad "I Don't Know How to Love Him." This performance led to a 1974 Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, making her the first Pacific Islander to be nominated for a Golden Globe in acting in a leading role. >> Kim Wilde recorded this song in 1993, taking it to #12 in the UK and #3 in Australia.
Don't know why I'm survivin' every lonely day When there's got to be no chance for me My life would end And it doesn't matter how I cry My tears, so far, are a waste of time If I turn away Am I strong enough to see it through Go crazy is what I will do If I can't have you I don't want nobody baby If I can't have you, uh-huh, oh If I can't have you I don't want nobody baby If I can't have you, uh-ho, oh-oh-oh Can't let go and it doesn't matter how I try I gave it up So easily To you my love To dreams that never will come true Am I strong enough to see it through Go crazy is what I will do If I can't have you I don't want nobody baby If I can't have you, uh-huh, oh If I can't have you I don't want nobody baby If I can't have you, uh-ho, oh If I can't have you I don't want nobody baby If I can't have you, uh-huh, oh If I can't have you I don't want nobody baby If I can't have you, uh-ho oh If I can't have you I don't want nobody baby If I can't have you, uh-huh, oh If I can't have you I don't want nobody baby If I can't have you, uh-ho, oh If I can't have you
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 28, 1978 | 89 | 37 |
| 2 | Feb 4, 1978 | 78 | 48 |
| 3 | Feb 11, 1978 | 65 | 61 |
| 4 | Feb 18, 1978 | 53 | 73 |
| 5 | Feb 25, 1978 | 40 | 86 |
| 6 | Mar 4, 1978 | 29 | 97 |
| 7 | Mar 11, 1978 | 21 | 105 |
| 8 | Mar 18, 1978 | 14 | 112 |
| 9 | Mar 25, 1978 | 9 | 117 |
| 10 | Apr 1, 1978 | 6 | 120 |
| 11 | Apr 8, 1978 | 5 | 121 |
| 12 | Apr 15, 1978 | 5 | 121 |
| 13 | Apr 22, 1978 | 2 | 124 |
| 14 | Apr 29, 1978 | 2 | 124 |
| 15 | May 6, 1978 | 2 | 124 |
| 16 | May 13, 1978 | 1 | 125 |
| 17 | May 20, 1978 | 5 | 121 |
| 18 | May 27, 1978 | 7 | 119 |
| 19 | Jun 3, 1978 | 19 | 107 |
| 20 | Jun 10, 1978 | 31 | 95 |