I Can't See Nobody
{{Short description|1967 song by the Bee Gees}}
{{Infobox song
| name = I Can't See Nobody
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = the Bee Gees
| album = Bee Gees' 1st
| A-side = New York Mining Disaster 1941
| released =
- April 1967 (UK)
- May 1967 (US)
- June 1967 (Australia)
| recorded = 7, 13 March 1967
| studio = IBC (London)
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 3:45
| label =
- Polydor (UK)
- Atco (US)
- Spin Records (Australia)
| writer =
| producer =
| chronology = Bee Gees flipsides
| prev_title = Big Chance
| prev_year = 1967
| next_title = Close Another Door
| next_year = 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,{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Bee-Gees-New-York-Mining-Disaster-1941-I-Cant-See-Nobody/master/20942 |title=Bee Gees - New York Mining Disaster 1941 / I Can't See Nobody |author=Discogs.com|website=Discogs |year=1967 }} and included on the group's third LP, Bee Gees' 1st.{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/master/22314?text=Bee-Gees-1st |title=Bee Gees - Bee Gees' 1st |author=Discogs.com|website=Discogs |year=1967 }} "I Can't See Nobody" charted for one week at number 128 on the Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 in July 1967.{{Cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Joel Whitburn's Bubbling Under the Hot 100 1959–1981|publisher=Record Research|year=1982|isbn=9780898200478|pages=16}}
Writing and recording
It was written by Barry and Robin Gibb{{citation|author1=Gilliland, John |author2=Dayton, Bob |title= Pop Chronicles Interviews #49 - The Bee Gees, part 1, audio recording, 1967/1968|year= 1967|url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1692137/m1/#track/6|access-date= July 2, 2020|via= University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library}} in 1966 towards the end of the family's time living in Australia. Maurice Gibb has sometimes been listed as a co-writer for the song, most notably on the compilation Bee Gees Gold. 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/66.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1966 |author=Joseph Brennan}}
At the Bee Gees' 1st sessions, this song was recorded on 7 March, with remixing and overdubbing on 13 March.{{cite web |url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/67.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1967 |author=Joseph Brennan}} Robin sang lead on the verses while all three brothers featured on the chorus.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KugbDQHX0R8C&q=tales+of+the+brothers+gibb |title=The Bee Gees - Tales Of The Brothers Gibb |last=Hughes |first=Andrew |year=2009 |isbn=9780857120045 |access-date=21 December 2012}} 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
- Robin Gibb – lead vocals
- Barry Gibb – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Maurice Gibb – bass guitar, piano, harpsichord, backing vocals
- Colin Petersen – drums
- Bill Shepherd – orchestral arrangement
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.{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Nina-Simone-To-Love-Somebody-I-Cant-See-Nobody/master/316358 |title=Nina Simone - To Love Somebody / I Can't See Nobody |author=Discogs.com|website=Discogs |year=1968 }} The two songs were included on her 1969 album To Love Somebody.{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Nina-Simone-To-Love-Somebody/master/122311 |title=Nina Simone - To Love Somebody (album) |author=Discogs.com|website=Discogs |year=1969 }}
Le Orme covered this song and recorded and released in the same year "Mita Mita" in Italy.
=The Marbles version=
{{Infobox song
| name = I Can't See Nobody
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = the Marbles
| album = The Marbles
| B-side = "Little Boy"
| released =
- May 1969 (US)
- August 1969 (Germany)
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Big band
| length = 3:23
| label =
| writer =
| producer = Barry Gibb
| prev_title = The Walls Fell Down
| prev_year = 1969
| next_title = Breaking Up Is Hard to Do
| next_year = 1970
}}
The Marbles covered the song, their version being released in August 1969 as their third single in the United States. 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 brothers were not involved on the Marbles version. The arrangement was by Jimmy Horowitz. Its flipside was "Little Boy" was also written by the Gibb brothers.{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Marbles-I-Cant-See-Nobody/release/2625896 |title=The Marbles - I Can't See Nobody |author=Discogs.com|website=Discogs |date=August 1969 }}
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".{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Marbles-The-Marbles/master/90117 |title=The Marbles - The Marbles (album) |author=Discogs.com|website=Discogs |year=1970 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Bee Gees singles}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Barry Gibb
Category:Songs written by Robin Gibb
Category:Song recordings produced by Robert Stigwood
Category:Polydor Records singles