I Can't See Nobody

"I Can't See Nobody"
Single by Bee Gees
from the album Bee Gees' 1st
Released April 1967 (UK)
May 1967 (US)
June 1967 (Australia)
Format 7", 45rpm
Recorded 7, 13 March 1967 at IBC Studios, London
Genre Baroque pop, psychedelic pop
Length 3:45
Label Polydor (UK)
Atco (US)
Spin Records (Australia)
Writer(s) Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb
Producer(s) Robert Stigwood, Ossie Byrne
Bee Gees B-side singles chronology
"Big Chance"
(1967)		 I Can't See Nobody
(1967)		 "Close Another Door"
(1967)

"I Can't See Nobody" is a song by the Bee Gees, released first as the B-side of "New York Mining Disaster 1941". With "New York Mining Disaster 1941", this song was issued as a double A in Germany and Japan.,[1] and included on the group's third LP, Bee Gees' 1st.[2]

Writing and recording

It was written by Barry and Robin Gibb in 1966 while they were in Australia. Maurice Gibb has sometimes been listed as a cowriter for the song. The compilation Bee Gees Gold listed Maurice's name on the album cover and on the label as cowriter. According to Nat Kipner, the song was recorded at St. Clair Studios. Robin has said that it was written in Brisbane, Australia, where the band toured in November 1966, but that the first version was not released.[3]

At the Bee Gees' 1st sessions, this song was recorded on 7 March, with remixing and overdubbing on 13 March.[4] Some may have felt Robin's soulful vocal was an acquired taste, but it conveys the song's emotional impact very well. The Gibb brothers' harmony voices was featured on the final chorus, on the line I can't see nobody, no i can't see nobody, my eyes can only look at you, you, and Bill Shepherd's string arrangement pours it on, and this track was a little masterpieces.[5] Robin's voice on this track was higher than the other songs on the album, especially on the line Don't ask me why.

Personnel

Cover versions

Nina Simone recorded and released this song in the UK as the B-side of "To Love Somebody", another cover by Simone lifted from the Bee Gees' 1st album.[6] The two songs were included on her 1969 album To Love Somebody.[7] Le Orme covered this song and recorded and released in the same year "Mita Mita" in Italy.

The Marbles version

"I Can't See Nobody"
Single by The Marbles
Released May 1969 (US)
Format 7"
Genre Big band
Label Polydor (UK)
Cotillion (US)
Writer(s) Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb
The Marbles singles chronology
"The Walls Fell Down"
(1969)		 I Can't See Nobody
(1969)		 "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do"
(1970)

The Marbles covered the song, released as their third single only in the United States where it reached #128. It was only their single that charted in the Billboard Hot 100. The Marbles covered the song in August that year, it was also released as a single in Germany and France. The Marbles had recently worked with the Gibb brothers between 1968 and 1969, but the Gibb brothers is not involved on the Marbles version. The version was arranged by Jimmy Horowitz. Its flipside was "Little Boy" was also written by the Gibb brothers.[8]

The song was included in 1970 on their only self-titled album. Their version was later used as the B-side of the duo's last single "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do".[9]

References

External links