Since I Don't Have You#Guns N' Roses version
{{Short description|1958 song by the Skyliners}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Since I Don't Have You
| image = Since I Don't Have You by The Skyliners US single (variant 2).png
| alt =
| caption = One of pressings of the US single
| type = single
| artist = the Skyliners
| album =
| B-side = One Night, One Night
| released = December 1958
| recorded = 1958
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Doo-wop
| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=40}}
| label = Calico
| writer =
- Jackie Taylor
- James Beaumont
- Janet Vogel
- Joseph Rock
- Joe Verscharen
- Lennie Martin
- Wally Lester
| producer = Joseph Rock
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = This I Swear
| next_year = 1959
}}
"Since I Don't Have You" is a song written and composed by Jackie Taylor, James Beaumont, Janet Vogel, Joseph Rock, Joe Verscharen, Lennie Martin, and Wally Lester. It was first a 1958 hit single for the doo-wop group the Skyliners on the US Billboard Hot 100. Country music singer Ronnie Milsap had a hit with the song in 1991. American hard rock band Guns N' Roses also had some success in 1994 with their version of the song which reached the top 10 on the UK Singles Chart.
The Skyliners version
=Background=
Taken from their self-titled album and released in late 1958, the single reached number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number seven on the Cash Box Top 100.{{Cite web|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/50s_files/19590502.html|title=Cash Box Top Singles 5/02/59|website=Cashboxmagazine.com|access-date=27 April 2021}} It was also a top five hit on the 1959 R&B chart.
=Charts=
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
| class="wikitable" |
| Weekly chart (1959)
! Peak |
|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100
| style="text-align:center;"|12 |
| US Hot R&B Sides (Billboard){{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=532}}
| style="text-align:center;"|3 |
| US Cash Box Top 100
| style="text-align:center;"|7 |
{{col-2}}
| class="wikitable" |
| Year-end chart (1959)
! Rank |
|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1959.htm |title=Top 100 Hits of 1959/Top 100 Songs of 1959 |website=Musicoutfitters.com |access-date=2016-08-29}}
| style="text-align:center;"|65 |
| US Cash Box Top 100{{Cite web|url=https://tropicalglen.com/Archives/50s_files/1959YESP.html|title=Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1959|website=Tropicalglen.com|access-date=27 April 2021}}
| style="text-align:center;"|41 |
{{col-end}}
Don McLean version
{{Infobox song
| name = Since I Don't Have You
| cover = Since_I_Don't_Have_You_-_Don_McLean.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Don McLean
| album = Chain Lightning
| B-side = Your Cheatin' Heart
| released = April 1981
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Easy listening
| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=32}}
| label = Millennium
| writer =
- Jackie Taylor
- James Beaumont
- Janet Vogel
- Joseph Rock
- Joe Verscharen
- Lennie Martin
- Wally Lester
| producer = Larry Butler
| prev_title = Crying
| prev_year = 1980
| next_title = It's Just the Sun
| next_year = 1981
}}
Don McLean's 1981 rendition reached number 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number six on the Adult Contemporary chart.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1981-06-13 |title=Archived copy |magazine=Billboard |access-date=2016-10-16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120182953/http://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1981-06-13 |archive-date=2016-11-20 }} In Canada, it peaked at number two on its AC chart.[http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=6078&]{{dead link|date=December 2016|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}
=Charts=
{{clear}}
Ronnie Milsap version
{{Infobox song
| name = Since I Don't Have You
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Ronnie Milsap
| album = Back to the Grindstone
| B-side = I Ain't Gonna Cry No More
| released = July 13, 1991
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Country
| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=10}}
| label = RCA
| writer =
- Jackie Taylor
- James Beaumont
- Janet Vogel
- Joseph Rock
- Joe Verscharen
- Lennie Martin
- Wally Lester
| producer =
- Ronnie Milsap
- Rob Galbraith
- Richard Landis
| prev_title = Are You Lovin' Me Like I'm Lovin' You
| prev_year = 1991
| next_title = Turn That Radio On
| next_year = 1991
}}
=Background=
Country music artist Ronnie Milsap's version was a number six hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1991.{{cite book |title= The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=233}}
The single was taken from his album Back to the Grindstone, released on RCA Nashville. It was produced by Milsap, Rob Galbraith, and Richard Landis.
=Charts=
{{col-begin|width=74%}}
{{col-2}}
==Weekly charts==
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Weekly chart (1991)
! Peak |
|---|
| {{singlechart|Canadacountry|7|chartid=1640|publishdate=October 5, 1991|access-date=August 16, 2013}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardadultcontemporary|25|artist=Ronnie Milsap}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardcountrysongs|6|artist=Ronnie Milsap}} |
{{col-2}}
==Year-end charts==
| class="wikitable" |
| scope="col"|Year-end chart (1991)
!scope="col"|Rank |
|---|
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM){{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.1700&type=1&interval=24|title=RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1991|work=RPM|date=December 21, 1991|access-date=August 16, 2013}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 84 |
| US Country Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine | url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1991/hot-country-songs| title=Best of 1991: Country Songs | magazine=Billboard | publisher=Prometheus Global Media | year=1991| access-date=August 16, 2013}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 67 |
{{col-end}}
Guns N' Roses version
{{Infobox song
| name = Since I Don't Have You
| cover = Since I Don't Have You by Guns N' Roses US cassette artwork.jpg
| caption = Standard artwork (commercial US/UK cassette single pictured)
| type = single
| artist = Guns N' Roses
| album = "The Spaghetti Incident?"
| B-side = "You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory" (LP version)
| released = February 1994
| recorded =
| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=20}}
| label = Geffen
| producer = Guns N' Roses
| prev_title = Estranged
| prev_year = 1993
| next_title = Sympathy for the Devil
| next_year = 1994
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|IYOYlqOitDA|"Since I Don't Have You"}}}}
}}
=Background=
The song was covered by rock band Guns N' Roses for their fifth studio album, "The Spaghetti Incident?" (1993). This was Guns N' Roses' 18th single release overall, and the second single released from "The Spaghetti Incident?". The single was released in early 1994, reaching No. 69 on the US Hot 100 and the top ten in the UK. The music video features actor Gary Oldman – then a popular casting choice for Hollywood villains{{cite magazine|url=https://entertainment.time.com/2012/07/20/gothams-commissioner-gordon-gary-oldman-talks-the-dark-knight-rises/|title=Commissioner Gordon: Gary Oldman on the Secrets and Surprises of Dark Knight|last=Abrahams|first=Stephanie|date=July 20, 2012|magazine=Time|access-date=June 10, 2017}} – as a smiling demon who is constantly mocking singer Axl Rose. The video was the last to feature original members Duff McKagan and Slash as well as drummer Matt Sorum and rhythm guitarist Gilby Clarke.
=Critical reception=
Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote, "Here to compete with the successful "Estranged" (taken from the Use Your Illusion opus) is this swaying cover of the Skyliners' pop classic. Guns N' Roses, with its own inimitable slash'n'burn delivery, leaves its marks all over it. All would be fine if only Axl could just once refrain from launching his voice into earsplitting, upper-octave shrilling. But hey, that's what makes 'em Guns N' Roses, right?"{{cite magazine|first=Larry|last=Flick|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1994/BB-1994-01-22.pdf|title=Single Reviews: Pop|magazine=Billboard|date=January 22, 1994|page=61|access-date=April 30, 2025|author-link=Larry Flick}}
=Personnel=
- W. Axl Rose{{snd}}lead vocals, keyboards
- Slash{{snd}}lead guitar
- Duff McKagan{{snd}}bass
- Matt Sorum{{snd}}drums
- Dizzy Reed{{snd}}piano
- Gilby Clarke{{snd}}acoustic guitar
=Charts=
{{col-begin|width=74%}}
{{col-2}}
==Weekly charts==
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (1993–1995)
!Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Australia|47|artist=Guns N' Roses|song=Since I Don't Have You|rowheader=true|access-date=March 26, 2017}} |
| {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|20|chartid=2456|rowheader=true|access-date=February 20, 2020}} |
| scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-06-18.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=25|page=14|date=June 18, 1994|access-date=May 30, 2020}}
|align="center"|35 |
| {{single chart|France|28|artist=Guns N' Roses|song=Since I Don't Have You|rowheader=true|access-date=March 26, 2017}} |
| scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40){{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2621281?iabr=on#page/n1/mode/2up/|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (23.–29.12. '93)|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=38|date=December 23, 1993|access-date=February 20, 2020}}
|align="center"|1 |
| {{single chart|Ireland2|16|artist=Guns N' Roses|rowheader=true|access-date=March 26, 2017}} |
| scope="row"|Italy Airplay (Music & Media){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-01-29.pdf|title=Regional Airplay: South|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=5|page=31|date=29 January 1994}}
|align="center"|7 |
| {{single chart|New Zealand|48|artist=Guns N' Roses|song=Since I Don't Have You|rowheader=true|access-date=March 26, 2017}} |
| {{single chart|Scotland|26|date=19940702|rowheader=true|access-date=February 20, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Sweden|40|artist=Guns N' Roses|song=Since I Don't Have You|rowheader=true|access-date=March 26, 2017}} |
| {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|10|artist=Guns N' Roses|artistid=15737|rowheader=true|access-date=May 30, 2020}} |
| scope="row"|UK Airplay (Music Week){{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-06-25.pdf|title=The Airplay Chart|magazine=Music Week|date=June 25, 1994|page=24|access-date=May 23, 2025}}
|align="center"|11 |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|69|artist=Guns N Roses|rowheader=true|access-date=March 26, 2017}} |
{{col-2}}
==Year-end charts==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (1994)
!Position |
|---|
| scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40){{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2723094#page/n15/mode/2up|title=Árslistinn 1994|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=16|date=January 2, 1995|access-date=May 30, 2020}}
|align="center"|20 |
| scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite magazine|title=1994 – Singles|magazine=Hit Music|page=31|date=January 7, 1995}}
|align="center"|136 |
{{col-end}}
=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 States
|February 1994 |{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|cassette}} |rowspan="4"|Geffen |{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} |
|---|
| scope="row"|Europe
|March 1994 |{{hlist|CD}} |
| scope="row"|Japan
|April 21, 1994 |CD |{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/57281/products/424541/1/|title=シンス・アイ・ドント・ハブ・ユー {{!}} ガンズ・アンド・ローゼズ|trans-title=Since I Don't Have You {{!}} Guns and Roses|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=September 11, 2023}} |
| scope="row"|United Kingdom
|May 23, 1994 |{{hlist|CD|cassette}} |{{cite magazine|title=Single Releases|magazine=Music Week|page=27|date=May 21, 1994}} |
Other notable versions
- In 1964, Chuck Jackson went to No. 47 on the Hot 100 with his recording.{{cite book |title= Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012 |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2013 |publisher=Record Research |page=414}}
- Jay and the Americans remade "Since I Don't Have You" for their April 1969 Sands of Time album release,{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/sands-of-time-mw0000855097#trackListing | title=Jay & the Americans - Sands of Time Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic | website=AllMusic }} their rendition serving as B-side for their Top Ten single "This Magic Moment" released November 1968.Record World (Vol 23 #1121) November 30 1968 "Single Reviews" p.8
- The Vogues remade "Since I Don't Have You" for their 1968 album release Memories: the track would also be included on the 1970 album release The Vogues Sing the Good Old Songs and Other Hits from which it was issued as a fourth single in December 1970 to reach #8 on the Billboard Easy Listening hit ranking, marking the Vogues last Top Ten appearance on a national chart.{{cite web | url=https://www.musicvf.com/The+Vogues.art | title=The Vogues Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts }}
- Released in 1978, the motion picture American Hot Wax, a biographical picture about one day in the life of legendary Rock and Roll DJ, Alan Freed, has a fictional character, named Teenaged Louise (a thinly veiled teenaged Carole King; played by Laraine Newman) who demonstrates at the piano one of “her” song-writing compositions, Since I Don’t Have You, to the astonishment of her parents.
- Art Garfunkel reached No. 38 on the UK singles chart in July 1979 with his cover, while peaking at No. 53 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 5 on the adult contemporary chart in the US.{{cite book|first= Joel |last= Whitburn |author-link= Joel Whitburn |year= 1993 |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 |publisher= Record Research |page=94}}
- Dorothy Moore's 1979 Definitely Dorothy album release included the medley "Since I Don't Have You"/"Since I Fell for You".{{cite web | url=https://secondhandsongs.com/release/186363 | title=Tracks on Definitely Dorothy - Dorothy Moore (1979) | SecondHandSongs | website=SecondHandSongs }}
- Peter Weller sang the first part of the song to his future love interest in the movie The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984).
- Barbra Streisand recorded a version of the song for her 1974 album ButterFly.
- Taiwanese singer Fong Fei-fei recorded the Chinese version of the song in 1982.
- In 1965, The British rock group Manfred Mann recorded the song and was placed on their 2nd studio album Mann Made.
- In 2018 Joe Hawley of Tally Hall recorded the song as a single for his YouTube and Bandcamp pages
- it also made an appearance in the 1973 movie American Graffiti.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|FxFBlLIp-E4|The Skyliners - Since I Don't Have You}}
{{Don McLean}}
{{Ronnie Milsap}}
{{Guns N' Roses}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Music videos directed by Deaton-Flanigen Productions
Category:Song recordings produced by Richard Landis
Category:Number-one singles in Iceland
Category:RCA Records Nashville singles
Category:Geffen Records singles