I Won't Last a Day Without You

"I Won't Last a Day Without You" is a song composed by Paul Williams and Roger Nichols. Williams released his version as a single in 1973, but garnered only minor success. Maureen McGovern recorded the song and also released it as a single in 1973 (and included on her album The Morning After), with results similar to those of Williams. It became a hit single for The Carpenters in 1974, reaching number eleven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number one on the easy listening chart,^[1] becoming their ninth number one on the chart.

In 1972, Richard Carpenter had learned of a new song from his partners, Paul Williams and Roger Nichols (composers of the famous Carpenters singles "We've Only Just Begun" and "Rainy Days and Mondays"), and he put it on their A Song for You album. Shortly after, Diana Ross heard it and put it on her album Touch Me in the Morning the following year. In 1974, Barbra Streisand included the song on her album ButterFly. Mel Torme also sang a version of the song, culminating in holding one of the longest last notes in showbiz history, with a full six and a half four-counts.

Chart

See also

• List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1974 (U.S.)

References