Tryin' to Live My Life Without You

"Trying to Live My Life Without You"
Single by Otis Clay
from the album Trying to Live My Life Without You
B-side "Let Me Be the One"
Released December 1972
Genre R&B
Length 2:50
Label Hi
Writer(s) Eugene Williams
"Tryin' to Live My Life Without You"
Single by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
from the album Nine Tonight
B-side "Brave Strangers (Live)"
Released September 1981
Recorded October 6, 1980
Genre Rock
Length 4:04
Label Capitol
Writer(s) Eugene Williams
Producer(s) Punch
Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band singles chronology
"Her Strut"
(1981)		 "Tryin' to Live My Life Without You"
(1981)		 "Feel Like a Number"
(1981)

"Trying to Live My Life Without You" is a song written by Eugene Williams, originally popularized by soul singer Otis Clay. In early 1973 it reached #102 on the Billboard Bubbling Under chart. It has since been covered by several other artists, most notably Bob Seger on his 1981 Nine Tonight album, and Brinsley Schwarz. On February 17, 1973, Clay performed the song on Soul Train.[1]

Writing

The song is sung from the point of view of a man who is addressing his former lover. During the song's verses the narrator tells of various habits he has had over his lifetime, such as smoking "five packs of cigarettes a day" and drinking "four or five bottles of wine." In the prechorus, he states that breaking those former habits was difficult, but not nearly as difficult as getting over the girl and forgetting the love they shared.

Chart performance

Weekly singles charts (1973) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard 102
U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 24
U.S. Cash Box Top 100 [2] 70

Bob Seger version

Bob Seger's cover of the song is the most successful version of the song, reaching number five on the pop singles charts. It is known for Seger's spoken prelude on top of the bassline: "Alright, you guys feel funky tonight? ... This is an old Memphis song, old Memphis song...." The Nine Tonight liner notes claim that Seger's saxophone player, Alto Reed, played all the saxophones heard on that song, at the same time. Most likely this is possible from studio overdubbing on top of the live performance. Seger has claimed that he recorded the song to show how the Eagles stole the song's melody in their song "The Long Run". Seger highlights the similarities between the two songs in the arrangement of his version, in the bassline especially.[3]

Chart performance

Weekly singles charts

Chart (1981-82) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[4] 5
U.S. Cash Box Top 100 8
U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks 2
Canadian RPM 11
WLS survey (Chicago) [5] 4

Year-end charts

Chart (1981) Position
Canada [6] 66
U.S. Billboard [7] 62
U.S. Cash Box [8] 81
WLS survey (Chicago) [9] 47

References

  1. ↑ http://www.sidereel.com/Soul_Train/season-2/episode-20
  2. ↑ http://50.6.195.142/archives/70s_files/19730120.html
  3. ↑ http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=3073
  4. ↑ [Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-2002]
  5. ↑ http://www.oldiesloon.com/il/wls102481.htm
  6. ↑ http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.4689&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=ks1pjeq18s2jmeunghr0qjndg6
  7. ↑ http://www.chartjunkie.com/1981all.htm
  8. ↑ http://50.6.195.142/archives/80s_files/1981YESP.html
  9. ↑ http://www.oldiesloon.com/il/wls89of81.htm

External links

Song Lyrics

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