Cover version of the month #124
Harry Nilsson covers Badfinger ... and so does Mariah Carey
I always thought that Without You was a Harry Nilsson song, and ... it kind of is. I guess I came to this conclusion because his name was mentioned regularly back in 1994 when Mariah Carey took the song to number 1. In fact, the song was written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans of the Welsh band Badfinger who released albums via Apple and received huge support from Paul McCartney. Macca wrote Come And Get It for Badfinger in 1969. It's worth checking Paul's demo, where he played all the instruments, that came out Anthology 3. Remarkably, McCartney recorded it all in just 1-hour.
McCartney once described Without You as the killer song of all-time, high praise indeed. The song itself came together in a Beatles-y way, think of Lennon and McCartney merging two songs together for A Day In the Life. That's, kind of, what happened with Badfinger.
Ham wrote a song called If It's Love containing the heartbreaking lyrics
Well I can't forget tomorrow, when I think of all my sorrow
I had you there, but then I let you go
And now it's only fair, that I should let you know ... it it's love
However, Ham wasn't happy with the chorus.
Meanwhile, Evans was besotted with a girl called Marianne who he would go on to marry. However, the relationship wasn't without its challenge. One night Evans was searching for his girlfriend and poured his heart out to her friend Karen, telling her - She's left me. I need her back. I can't live without her. Evans went on to write a song called I Can't Live with the emotional and soulful chorus;
I can't live, if living is without you
I can't give, I can't give any more
Tom Evans and Pete Ham
And so, the two songs became one. And this was just the start of the story for this particular song!
History shows that Ham and Evans are on record as saying that they didn't consider the song to be particularly strong at the time Badfinger recorded it. So, Without You was slotted to close the first side of their 1970 album No Dice. It wasn't a single and probably didn't receive that much attention in the studio.
The guitar, bass and drums are all fine, but did the band and producer (Geoff Emerick) not hear the potential for strings as the band hit the long chorus outro/mantra? Organ is introduced towards the end, over the top of the Harrison-esque guitar riff. Indeed, the song has a Harrison feel to it, you can only imagine what he could have done with it around this time when he was working on All Things Must Pass!
Badfinger's recording of the song, in comparison to Harry Nilsson's 1971 cover, sounds like a demo. It's still really good, the vocal for the chorus is beautifully stretched, however, it does feel like it's missing something - I guess it is easy to say this having originally heard the song via Mariah Carey! It's a shame that their producer Geoff Emerick didn't hear the potential that other artists, musicians or producers heard.
Listen to this and then play Harry Nilsson's version immediately afterwards.
Nilsson's version, released as a single in October 71 and also included on his outstanding album Nilsson Schmilsson, is over a minute shorter than the Badfinger original. He makes the most of every single second, beginning over sparse piano, strings are introduced for the second verse, his voice is heartachingly beautiful. When he hits the chorus, the drums come in, the strings become more orchestral and Nilsson sings with all his soul.
Well I can't forget this evening, or you face as you were leaving
But I guess that's just the way the story goes
You always smile, but in your eyes your sorrow shows
Yes it shows
And then ......Nilsson hits the chorus for the second time and it is skyscrapingly epic. There is no need to revisit it like Badfinger do for their long outro. Nilsson has said his piece, he has nothing more to say and most likely, nothing more to give after that performance!
Pete Ham and Tom Evans received an Ivor Novello song for Best Song Musically and Lyrically in 1972. Tragically, both songwriters committed suicide. Ham, aged just 27 and only 3-years after the Novello award.
Badfinger, like many 60's artists, had been poorly managed, disgracefully advised and were taken advantage of financially. 'Manager' Stan Polley channelled millions into his personal control. Ham died in 1975, penniless, despite the huge success of Without You through Nilsson that should have earned him hundred of thousands, if not millions. His suicide note called Polley a soulless bastard.
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Evans continued to fight for royalties and he toured as Badfinger, however he too hanged himself in 1983 following a sad, bitter challenge from bandmate Joey Molland who contested the songwriting royalties.
Two years later, frozen royalties were paid to the surviving family of Ham and Evans. Both had died believing they would never receive them.
Without You would go on to earn even more in publishing royalties following a cover version by Mariah Carey, originally released on her 1993 album Music Box, and then as a single in February 1994. Carey decided to cover the song after hearing Nilsson's version in a restaurant and coming to the immediate conclusion that it could be a smash hit. Mariah was right. The emotion contained in Nilsson's version was absolutely perfect for her. Carey's cover was a monumental hit, spending 21 weeks in the US Billboard Top 40 and hitting number one in dozens of countries worldwide.
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Written with heartache at the fore, Without You has broken hearts throughout its rollercoaster history, reaching huge peaks with Nilsson and Carey, but tragically its authors were not able to benefit from the songs success. At the time of writing, Nilsson's version has been streamed 205 million times, while Carey's version has been streamed a colossal 373,918,083 times! Incidentally, the song has been covered by over 180 artists.
Badfinger's original and the covers by Harry Nilsson and Mariah Carey are added to my Everything Flows Cool Cover Versions playlist on Spotify which also features all of the songs listed below. Search for the title or CLICK HERE
Previous covers of the month blogs
40. Jumpin' Jack Flash
44. Witchi Tai To
45. Our Lips Are Sealed
46. Sunshine Of Your Love
47. Here Comes The Sun
48. I Think We're Alone Now
49. Don't Let Me Down
50. It's Oh So Quiet
51. Alcoholiday
52. Summer Holiday
53. Who Do You Think You Are?
54. Head On
55. Nothing Compares 2 U
