I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself

{{Short description|1964 hit single for Dusty Springfield}}

{{More citations needed|date=March 2016}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}

{{Infobox song

| name = I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself

| cover = Just dont know what to do dusty springfield UK vinyl solid centre.png

| alt =

| caption = Solid centre variant of the UK single

| type = single

| artist = Dusty Springfield

| album = Dusty

| B-side = My Colouring Book

| released = June 1964

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

  • Pop
  • soul{{cite book|first= Craig|last= Reece|editor-first= Robert |editor-last= Dimery |year= 2015 |title= 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die|chapter= Dusty Springfield - "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself|publisher= Universe|location= New York|page= 142}}

| length = 3:01

| label = Philips

| writer = Burt Bacharach and Hal David

| producer = Johnny Franz

| prev_title = All Cried Out

| prev_year = 1964

| next_title = Guess Who

| next_year = 1964

}}

"I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and lyricist Hal David. The song was recorded by Dusty Springfield and it reached No. 3 on the UK chart in 1964.

Composition and early versions

The song's life began in 1962 when Bacharach and David were songwriters at the New York songwriting factory the Brill Building.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/08e48b9c-cbed-11e4-beca-00144feab7de|title=The Life of a Song: 'I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself'|first=David|last=Cheal|date=20 March 2015|website=Ft.com|access-date=7 June 2021}}

"I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself" was first recorded by Chuck Jackson in 1962. This version was shelved and remained unreleased until it appeared on a 1984 compilation on the Kent record label called Mr. Emotion. According to the sleeve notes of that album, Jackson's vocals were substituted for Tommy Hunt's while the original backing track was retained.

The 1962 release by Tommy Hunt, which featured Hunt singing over the original Chuck Jackson backing track, listed Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller as producers. It was released as single Scepter 1236 (B-side "And I Never Knew") in May 1962, but did not chart. The song served as the title track for Hunt's sole album release on Scepter released in April 1963.

The U.K. success of Dusty Springfield's June 1964 cover version led to Scepter's re-releasing the Tommy Hunt recording, at which time it reached the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart in Billboard with a number 119 peak.

Dusty Springfield version

Dusty Springfield recorded "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" in a session at Olympic Studios in Barnes, London with production credited to Philips Records owner Johnny Franz - although Springfield later stated her solo Philips tracks were self-produced - and arranged by Ivor Raymonde who conducted his orchestra; personnel on the session included Big Jim Sullivan on guitar and Bobby Graham on drums. Springfield, whose first solo recordings had included covers of the Bacharach/David compositions "Anyone Who Had a Heart" and "Wishin' and Hopin'{{-"}} - had brought back "I Just Don't Know..." from an overnight trip to New York City where she met up with Bacharach in February 1964.

The third UK single release of Springfield's solo career - following the "Brill Building" Sound-alikes "I Only Want to Be With You" and "Stay Awhile" - "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" was Springfield's first UK single release to display her signature vocal style; rising to number 3 in the summer of 1964 the track remained Springfield's highest UK Singles Chart hit until she reached number 1 in 1966 with "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me", which was Springfield's only UK solo hit to chart higher than "I Just Don't Know...".

A concurrent US release of Springfield's "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" was preempted by the presence of Springfield's "Wishin' and Hopin'" in the US Top Ten over the summer of 1964. Springfield's "I Just Don't Know..." received a belated US release in October 1965 featured on a single with Springfield's current UK hit "Some of Your Lovin'"; that month Springfield made a promotional junket to the US which included performances of both of the single's tracks on the TV shows Hullabaloo and Shindig but neither side reached the Billboard Hot 100.

=Charts=

class="wikitable sortable"

!Chart (1964)

!Peak
position

Australian Singles Chart{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&search=Dusty+Springfield&id=21533&pages=4#652042|title=Chart Positions Pre 1989 – Dusty Springfield|last1=Ryan (bulion)|first1=Gary|publisher=Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung)|date=15 June 2008|access-date=3 July 2012 }}

|align="center"|16

{{single chart|Ireland2|5|song=I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself|access-date=24 November 2018}}
Dutch Singles Chart{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Dusty+Springfield|title=dutchcharts.nl - Discografie Dusty Springfield|publisher=© 2006-2011 Hung Medien|access-date=19 November 2011}}

|align="center"|5

New Zealand Charts[http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20lever&qartistid=37#n_view_location Dusty Springfield - Flavour of New Zealand]. Flavour of New Zealand

|align="center"|3

UK Singles Chart[https://www.officialcharts.com/artists/ Dusty Springfield - UK Charts History]. Official Charts

|align="center"|3

Dionne Warwick version

{{Infobox song

| name = I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself

| image = I just dont know what to do dionne warwick US single side-A.png

| alt = side-A label

| caption = Side A of the US single

| type = single

| artist = Dionne Warwick

| album = Here Where There Is Love

| B-side = In Between the Heartaches

| released = 1966

| recorded = 1966

| studio = Bell Sound (New York City)

| venue =

| genre = *Pop

| length = 2:50

| label = Scepter

| writer = *Burt Bacharach

| producer = *Burt Bacharach

  • Hal David

| prev_title = Trains and Boats and Planes

| prev_year = 1966

| next_title = The Beginning of Loneliness

| next_title2 = Another Night

| next_year = 1966

}}

Dionne Warwick recorded "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" at Bell Sound Studios in August 1966 with Burt Bacharach producing; released that September the track is from her third album, Here Where There Is Love on Scepter Records. The song was a moderate success reaching number 26 on the US Hot 100 and number 20 on US Hot R&B with its strongest evident regional success in Detroit going Top Ten there.

Warwick released three consecutive Bacharach/David songs as singles: "Message to Michael", "Trains and Boats and Planes", and "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself". Warwick's next Top 40 single, "Alfie", was also a Bacharach/David song; three of the four songs appeared on Warwick's 1967 album Here Where There Is Love.{{Citation |title=Dionne Warwick - Here Where There Is Love Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/here-where-there-is-love-mw0000563797 |language=en |access-date=2022-12-23}}{{original research inline|date=September 2021}}

=Track listing=

  • US 7" Vinyl Single

:A: "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" – 2:50

:B: "In Between the Heartaches" – 2:50

Notes

  • "In Between the Heartaches" - Published By – Blue Seas Music, Inc. / JAC Music Co., Inc. (ASCAP)
    "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" - Published By – Quartet Music Inc. (BMI) Belinda (Canada Litd.)[https://www.discogs.com/Dionne-Warwick-I-Just-Dont-Know-What-To-Do-With-Myself-In-Between-The-Heartaches/release/1774460 "I Just Don't Know"/"In Between the Heartaches" (7" Vinyl, Single)] at Discogs

=Charts=

class="wikitable sortable"

!Chart (1966)

!Peak
position

Canada Top Singles (RPM)RPM Archives. [http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=f74hoacm6uk64inshgv8rde7p7&q1=Dionne+Warwick&q2=&interval=20 Dionne Warwick's Canada Singles History.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316160538/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=f74hoacm6uk64inshgv8rde7p7&q1=Dionne+Warwick&q2=&interval=20 |date=16 March 2016 }}

|align="center"|36

US Billboard Hot 100[http://www.billboard.com/artist/300972/dionne-warwick/chart Billboard Chart History]. Dionne Warwick's Hot 100 History.

|align="center"|26

US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[http://www.billboard.com/artist/300972/dionne-warwick/chart?f=367 Billboard Chart History]. Dionne Warwick's R&B Singles History.

|align="center"|20

US Cashbox Top 100{{Cite web|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/60s_files/60s.html|title=Cash Box Top Singles|website=Cashboxmagazine.com|access-date=7 June 2021|archive-date=10 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210222254/http://www.cashboxmagazine.com/archives/60s_files/60s.html|url-status=dead}}

|align="center"|24

{{clear}}

Marcia Hines version

{{Infobox song

| name = I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Marcia Hines

| album = Shining

| B-side = Trilogy

| released = 1976

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = *Funk

| length = 3:08

| label = Wizard Records

| writer = *Burt Bacharach

| producer = Robie Porter

| prev_title = From the Inside

| prev_year = 1975

| next_title = "Don't Let the Grass Grow

| next_title2 = You Gotta Let Go"

| next_year = 1976

}}

Marcia Hines recorded a version of the track and released it as the lead single from her second studio album, Shining (1976). The B-side "Trilogy" was included on her debut studio album, Marcia Shines (1975).

=Track listing=

7-inch Single (ZS-153)

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
scope="col"|Chart (1975–76)

!scope="col"|Position

scope="row"|Australian Kent Music Report{{Cite web|url=https://www.australianchartbooks.com.au/|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20160305064644/http://www.austchartbook.com.au/|url-status=dead|title=Australian Chart Books|archive-date=5 March 2016|website=Australianchartbooks.com.au|access-date=7 June 2021}}

|style="text-align:center;"|10

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
scope="col"|Chart (1976)

!scope="col"|Position

scope="row"|Australian (Kent Music Report){{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/QxANsEK|title= National Top 100 Singles for 1976|publisher= Kent Music Report |issue= 131 |via= Imgur |date= December 27, 1976 |access-date= January 11, 2022 }}

|style="text-align:center;"|23

=See also=

The White Stripes version

{{Infobox song

| name = I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself

| cover = The White Stripes – I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = the White Stripes

| album = Elephant

| B-side = Who's to Say...

| released = {{start date|2003|9|1|df=y}}

| recorded = 7 November 2001{{cite AV media notes|title= Elephant UHQR |last= Blackwell |first= Ben |year= 2023 |type= booklet |publisher= Third Man Records}}

| studio = Maida Vale Studios

| venue =

| genre = Punk rock{{cite book|first= Craig|last= Reece|editor-first= Robert |editor-last= Dimery |year= 2015 |title= 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die|chapter= Dusty Springfield - "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself|publisher= Universe|location= New York|page= 142}}

| length = 2:46

| label = V2, XL

| writer = Burt Bacharach, Hal David

| producer = Jack White

| prev_title = Seven Nation Army

| prev_year = 2003

| next_title = The Hardest Button to Button

| next_year = 2003

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|wzDG0jA3XVY|"I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself"}}}}

}}

In September 2003, "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" was released as a single by American alternative rock band the White Stripes. It was the second single released from their album Elephant, reaching the top 40 in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

The black-and-white music video, directed by Sofia Coppola, cinematographed by Lance Acord and choreographed by Robin Conrad, features Kate Moss pole dancing in black underwear.{{cite web|title=The Coppola Smart Mob|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/31/magazine/31COPPOLA.html|website=The New York Times|access-date=19 December 2017|author=Lynn Hirschberg|date=31 August 2003}}{{cite web|title=Sofia Coppola and Stephen Dorff|url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/sofia-coppola-and-stephen-dorff|website=Interview|access-date=19 December 2017|author=Sofia Coppola and Stephen Dorff|date=19 November 2010}}

=Track listings=

UK CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself|others=The White Stripes|year=2003|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=XL Recordings|id=XLS 166 CD}}

  1. "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself"
  2. "Who's to Say..."
  3. "I'm Finding It Harder to Be a Gentleman" (live on the John Peel Show)

UK 7-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself|others=The White Stripes|year=2003|type=UK 7-inch single sleeve|publisher=XL Recordings|id=XLS 166}}

:A. "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself"

:B. "Who's to Say..."

UK DVD single{{cite AV media notes|title=I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself|others=The White Stripes|year=2003|type=UK DVD single liner notes|publisher=XL Recordings|id=XLS 166 DVD}}

  1. "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" (audio)
  2. "Lafayette Blues" (audio)
  3. "Black Math" (filmed at the Masonic Temple, Detroit)

=Charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!scope="col"|Chart (2003)

!scope="col"|Peak
position

{{single chart|Australiapandora|54|url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20031006140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20031007-0000/Issue709.pdf|urltitle=Issue 709|rowheader=true|access-date=23 September 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|92|artist=The White Stripes|song=I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself|rowheader=true|access-date=8 December 2018}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|34|artist=The White Stripes|song=I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself|rowheader=true|access-date=8 December 2018}}
{{single chart|Scotland|9|date=20030913|rowheader=true|access-date=8 December 2018}}
{{single chart|UK|13|date=20030913|rowheader=true|access-date=8 December 2018}}
{{single chart|UKindie|2|date=20030913|rowheader=true|access-date=8 December 2018}}
{{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|25|artist=The White Stripes|rowheader=true|access-date=8 December 2018}}

=Release history=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|1 September 2003

|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|CD|DVD}}

|rowspan="2"|XL

|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2003/Music-Week-2003-08-30.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=23|date=30 August 2003|access-date=8 September 2021}}

scope="row"|Australia

|15 September 2003

|CD

|{{cite web|url=http://remotecontrolrecords.com.au/releaseDetail.asp?ReleaseID=443|title=White Stripes – I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself|publisher=Remote Control Records|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050623191355/http://remotecontrolrecords.com.au/releaseDetail.asp?ReleaseID=443|archive-date=23 June 2005|access-date=19 February 2025}}

scope="row"|United States

|19 January 2004

|Active rock radio

|V2

|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2004/RR-2004-01-16.pdf|title=Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1538|page=24|date=16 January 2004|access-date=8 September 2021}}

Bibliography

  • Serene Dominic. Burt Bacharach, Song by Song: The Ultimate Burt Bacharach Reference for Fans. Schirmer Trade, New York 2003. {{ISBN|0-8256-7280-5}}

References

{{Reflist}}