I (Who Have Nothing)

{{short description|English language cover of Italian song (1963)}} {{Distinguish|I Have Nothing}} {{Infobox song | name = Uno dei tanti | cover = | alt = | type = | artist = | album = | released = | format = | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = | length = | label = | writer = Giulio "Mogol" Rapetti (lyrics) Carlo Donida (music) | producer = }}

"'''I (Who Have Nothing)'''" (sometimes billed as "I Who Have Nothing") is an English-language cover of the Italian song "'''''Uno dei tanti'''''" (English: "One of Many"), with music by Carlo Donida and lyrics by Giulio "Mogol" Rapetti.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LVZDDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT34 |title=Status Quo: Song by Song|first= Graeme |last=Stroud |date=2017 |publisher=Fonthill Media }}</ref> The original version, "Uno dei Tanti", was performed by Joe Sentieri in 1961. The song was first recorded in English, with new lyrics from Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller,<ref>{{Cite web |title=ACE Repertory |url=https://www.ascap.com/ace/#/ace/search/title/I%20(Who%20Have%20Nothing)?at=true&searchFilter=SVW&page=1 |access-date=2025-10-10 |website=www.ascap.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://repertoire.bmi.com/Search/Search?Main_Search_Text=I%20%28Who%20Have%20Nothing%29&Main_Search=Title&Sub_Search=Please%20Select&Search_Type=all&View_Count=0&Page_Number=0}}</ref> and performed by Ben E. King in 1963. King's 2001 re-recording of the song was selected for ''The Sopranos''{{'}} ''Peppers & Eggs'' soundtrack CD.

Other successful cover versions were released by Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, and Sylvester.<ref>{{cite web|title=Second Hand Songs - Song:Uno dei tanti - Joe Sentieri |website=SecondHandSongs |url=http://www.secondhandsongs.com/song/25880.html |access-date=2016-05-22 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070114081307/http://www.secondhandsongs.com/song/25880.html |archive-date=January 14, 2007 }}</ref>

==Ben E. King version== {{Infobox song | name = I (Who Have Nothing) | cover = | alt = | type = single | artist = Ben E. King | album = Young Boy Blues | B-side = The Beginning of Time | released = June 1963 | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = Soul | length = 2:30 | label = Atco | writer = Carlo Donida, Mogol, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller | producer = Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller | prev_title = How Can I Forget | prev_year = 1963 | next_title = I Could Have Danced All Night | next_year = 1963 }} The English lyrics for "I (Who Have Nothing)" were written by Jerry Leiber. The title is a translation of a line in the Italian lyrics "''Io, che non ho niente''", but otherwise the English lyrics were written afresh by the lyricists. Leiber and Stoller also produced the first English language release, performed by Ben E. King in 1963. Leiber and Stoller previously had co-written and produced the song "Stand by Me" with Ben E. King in 1961.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XI4-VnSrEcAC&pg=PA21|title=Stars of David: Rock'n'roll's Jewish Stories|first= Scott R. |last=Benarde |date= 2003 |isbn=9781584653035|page=21 |publisher=Brandeis University Press}}</ref> The record used the same arrangement from Joe Sentieri's record (orchestra conducted by Luis Enriquez Bacalov).

In the US, the Ben E. King version reached No. 29 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 charts and No. 16 on the Hot R&B Singles chart.<ref>{{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=325}}</ref>

===Charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Chart (1963) !Peak position |- |Australia (''Music Maker'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VQsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA28 |title=Hits of the World |magazine=Billboard|date= August 31, 1963|page= 28}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|8 |- |US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VgsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA28 |title=Hot 100 |magazine=Billboard|date= August 24, 1963|page= 28}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|29 |- |US Middle-Road Singles (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VgsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA51|title=Middle-Road Singles |magazine=Billboard|date= August 31, 1963|page= 51}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|10 |- |US Hot R&B Singles (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bwsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA19 |title=Hot R&B Singles |magazine=Billboard|date= September 14, 1963|page= 19}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|16 |- |}

==Shirley Bassey version== {{Infobox song | name = I (Who Have Nothing) | cover = | alt = | type = single | artist = Shirley Bassey | album = | B-side = How Can You Tell? | released = September 1963 | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = Pop | length = 2:38 | label = Columbia | writer = Carlo Donida, Mogol, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller | producer = George Martin | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = | next_year = }} Shirley Bassey recorded the song with producer George Martin as the song by Ben E. King was rising in the chart in the US, and released the song in the UK in September 1963. Her version reached No. 6 on UK charts. Bassey has performed the song at almost every live concert she gave, and it is included in many of her compilation albums, such as a version in ''I Am What I Am'' recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra, and a version in Spanish ("Hoy No Tengo Nada") in her 1989 album ''La Mujer''. She has also performed with the song's composer Donida who conducted his own music on Italian television.<ref>{{ cite web|title=The Songs of Shirley Bassey: Song Info |url=http://www.songsofshirleybassey.co.uk/song/sng63006.html |access-date=2016-05-22 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070328185955/http://www.songsofshirleybassey.co.uk/song/sng63006.html |archive-date=2007-03-28 }}</ref><ref>BBC episode of ''Biography'' (ca. 2000)</ref>

===Charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Chart (1963) !Peak position |- |Australia (''Music Maker'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SAsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA28 |title=Hits of the World |magazine=Billboard|date= 7 December 1963|page= 28}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|4 |- |New Zealand (''Lever Hit Parade'')<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20lever&qartistid=104#n_view_location |title=Shirley Bassey |work=Flavour of New Zealand}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|6 |- {{single chart|Ireland2|10|artist=Shirley Bassey |song=I Who Have Nothing}} |- {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|6|artist=Shirley Bassey |artistid=4336 }} |}

==Tom Jones version== Tom Jones recorded a version which was released in 1970. The song is the title track of his album ''I Who Have Nothing''.<ref name=":0">{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pSkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA35 |title= Album Reviews |magazine=Billboard |date=November 7, 1970 |page=35}}</ref> This became the most popular version of the song in the United States, peaking at No. 14 in 1970 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, No. 2 on the Easy Listening chart,<ref name=":2">{{cite book |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2002 |publisher=Record Research |page=131}}</ref> and No. 10 in Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.4363.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - September 26, 1970}}</ref> This version also peaked at No. 11 in ''Cashbox''.

===Charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Chart (1970) !Peak position |- {{single chart|Flanders|6|artist=Tom Jones |song=I (Who Have Nothing)}} |- {{single chart|Wallonia|21|artist=Tom Jones |song=I (Who Have Nothing)}} |- {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|10|artist=Tom Jones |chartid=4363}} |- {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|16|artist=Tom Jones |artistid=11640 }} |- {{single chart|Billboardhot100|14|artist=Tom Jones}} |- {{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|2|artist=Tom Jones}} |}

==Sylvester version== {{Infobox song | name = I (Who Have Nothing) | cover = | alt = | type = single | artist = Sylvester | album = Stars<ref>{{cite web|title=www.allmusic.com|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000851427|website=allmusic.com|accessdate=May 23, 2023}}</ref> | B-side = I Need Somebody to Love Tonight | released = March 1979 | recorded = 1979 | studio = | venue = | genre = Soul, Disco | length = 3:59 | label = Fantasy | writer = Carlo Donida, Mogol, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller | producer = Sylvester, Harvey Fuqua | prev_title = You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) | prev_year = 1978 | next_title = Stars | next_year = 1979 }} Sylvester recorded a disco version in 1979. The orchestral arrangement for the song was recorded at Island Records' Basing Street Studios.<ref name="neibur">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=16lVEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA87 |title=Menergy: San Francisco's Gay Disco Sound |first= Louis|last= Niebur |date=2022 |isbn=9780197511077 |publisher=Oxford University Press |pages=87–88 }}</ref> This version reached No. 40 in US and No. 86 Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.4745b.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - May 26, 1979}}</ref>

===Charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Chart (1979) !Peak position |- {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|86|artist=Sylvester |chartid=4745b}} |- {{single chart|Ireland2|23|artist=Sylvester }} |- {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|46|artist=Sylvester |artistid=17078 }} |- {{single chart|Billboardhot100|40|artist=Sylvester}} |}

==Other versions==

Other versions which reached the ''Billboard'' charts were performed by Terry Knight and the Pack in 1966 (No. 46 US, No. 36 Canada),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.10035.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - January 28, 1967}}</ref> Liquid Smoke in 1970 (No. 82 US, No. 66 Canada),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5120.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - May 23, 1970}}</ref> and Warhorse in 1972.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}} The song was also recorded in Australia by Normie Rowe (1965), the Easybeats, the Dave Bridge Trio (1966) and Rob E. G. (1964/65), and in New Zealand by Shane.

British rock band the Spectres, later known as Status Quo, released their version of the song produced by John Schroeder in September 1966 as a single on Piccadilly Records. This was their debut single, nearly a year before changing their name and finding their way to mainstream popularity. The single, however, failed to chart.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WJsEDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA134 |title=All for the Love of Music |first= John |last=Schroeder |author-link=John Schroeder (musician) |date= 2016 |pages=134–135 |isbn=9781785891656 |publisher=Matador }}</ref>

Swedish pop group Tom & Mick & Maniacs recorded the song sporadically between 5–7 and 15 October 1967 at Europafilm Studio in Bromma,<ref name=":0" /> Stockholm together with producer Anders Henriksson.<ref name=":13223">''Tom Mick & Maniacs'' (liner notes pg. 10). Brandels, Göran. Tom & Mick & Maniacs. Riverside Records. 2013.</ref> In December of that year, it was released on their album ''Tom & Mick Maniacs'',<ref name=":1323">''Tom Mick & Maniacs'' (liner notes pg. 4). Brandels, Göran. Tom & Mick & Maniacs. Riverside Records. 2013.</ref> and in February 1968, it was extracted as a single on Columbia Records, backed by "Pandemonium", an original composition.<ref name=":2" /> It reached No. 8 on ''Tio i Topp'', becoming their final chart hit.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last1=Hallberg |first1=Eric |title=Tio i Topp - med de utslagna "på försök" 1961–74 |last2=Henningsson |first2=Ulf |publisher=Premium |year=2012 |isbn=978-91-89136-89-2 |page=378 |language=sv}}</ref> Neil Diamond covered the song which was included on the album ''Up on the Roof: Songs from the Brill Building'', released in 1993 on Columbia Records. No-wave band James Chance & the Contortions recorded it for their 2016 album ''The Flesh Is Weak'' (2016). It was also recorded by the Righteous Brothers (1967), Leslie Uggams (1967), Little Milton (1968), Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway (1972), Cockney Rebel (1974), Brian May & Kerry Elli, and Luther Vandross (1991).

== References == {{reflist}}

Category:1963 songs Category:1963 singles Category:1966 singles Category:1970 singles Category:1979 singles Category:Ben E. King songs Category:Shirley Bassey songs Category:Sylvester (singer) songs Category:Songs written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller Category:Songs written by Mogol (lyricist) Category:Song recordings produced by George Martin Category:Torch songs Category:Atco Records singles Category:Columbia Graphophone Company singles Category:Fantasy Records singles Category:Songs written by Carlo Donida Category:Cover songs

it:Uno dei tanti/Cara cara