Written by William Peter Ham / Tom Evans.
Released 1972 on the album And I Love You So which has also been re-released on CD. A live recording had been released on the album Live In Japan. Additionally Shirley Bassey had performed this song on some more live concerts in the early 1970's from which two specials had also been broadcasted on TV.
Shirley Bassey has also recorded this song in Spanish: Sin Ti.
This song has originally been released by the group "Badfinger" on their album "No Dice" November 1970. Pete Ham (born in Wales 1947) was a member of this group. Already as a boy his biggest passion was the music and he began playing the mouth organ at age four and then turned to the guitar. In the early 1960's he formed his first band. The members around him changed very much over the years, and also the names of the band until they choosed the name "The Iveys". First the band mainly covered songs from other artists, but 1966 their new manager encouraged them to write their own songs and Ham proved the most proficient in this. He also sung and played guitar and piano. 1967 Tom Evans (born 1947 in Liverpool) the co-writer of this song became a member of the group. 1969 they choosed the new name "Badfinger". They sometimes worked together with the Beatles and Paul McCartney wrote them a song.
The group believed that the 1970 "No Dice" album was their best album, others prefer the 1971 album "Straight Up". This was the end of their successful era, because of many financial problems and differences in the group. Sadly, this was also the cause that both writers of this song hanged themselves later.
"Without You" became famous through Harry Nilsson (born in Brooklyn 1941). The singer and songwriter released his recording of this song on his album "Nilsson Schmilsson" in November 1971 and it became a big number one hit of 1972.
He completely reochestrated the song and with his great voice exploited the melodrama of the song.
He also worked together with some Beatles members and John Lennon and Paul McCartney named Nilsson as their favorite American singer at a press conference. (Nilsson was sometimes even rumored to be joining the group.)
Nilsson never performed in concert (there were occasional television appearances), preferring to craft his artistry in the studio.
1994 Mariah Carey again had success with this song. Her single reached position number three in the US Billboard.
Special thanks to Samia for his help with this background information.
Well I can't forget this evening
And your face when you were leaving
But I guess that's just the way the story goes
You always smile
No I can't forget tomorrow
When I think about my sorrow
I had you there, then I let you go
And now it's only fair that I should let you know
What you should know
I can't live if living is without you
I can't live
I can't live anymore
I can't live if living is without you
I can't live
I can't live anymore
Well I can't forget this evening
And your face when you were leaving
But I guess that's just the way the story goes
You always smile
I can't live if living is without you
I can't live
I can't live anymore
I can't live if living is without you
I can't live
I can't live anymore
(transcribed by Roman <scribbler@gmx.net>)