"I Won't Last a Day Without You" is a song by the

Carpenters Carpentry is a skilled trade and a craft in which the primary work performed is the cutting, shaping and installation of building materials during the construction of buildings, ships, timber bridges, concrete formwork, etc. Carpenters t ...

with lyrics written by Paul Williams and music composed by Roger Nichols. It was released in the U.K. in September 1972, paired with " Goodbye to Love" as a double-A side. The single reached No. 9 and spent 14 weeks on the chart. It was later released in the U.S. and became a hit single for them in 1974, reaching No. 11 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart and number one on the

easy listening Easy listening (including mood music) is a popular music genre and radio format that was most popular during the 1950s to 1970s. It is related to middle-of-the-road (MOR) music and encompasses instrumental recordings of standards, hit songs, n ...

chart. It was the Carpenters' ninth No. 1 on the

chart.

Background

In 1972, Richard Carpenter had learned of a new song by Williams and Nichols, who had already contributed "

We've Only Just Begun "We've Only Just Begun" is a single by the Carpenters, written by Roger Nichols (music) and Paul Williams (lyrics). It was ranked at No. 414 on ''Rolling Stone'' magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time." Song information The so ...

" and "

Rainy Days and Mondays "Rainy Days and Mondays" is a 1971 song by the Carpenters, with instrumental backing by L.A. session musicians from the Wrecking Crew, that went to number 2 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. It's Too Late/I Feel the Earth Move by Carole King ...

" to the Carpenters. He included it on their 1972 album '' A Song for You'', but it would not be released as a single until 1974.

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Personnel

Karen Carpenter Karen Anne Carpenter (March 2, 1950 – February 4, 1983) was an American singer and drummer, who formed half of the sibling duo the Carpenters alongside her older brother Richard. With a distinctive three-octave contralto range, she was prais ...

lead and backing vocals * Richard Carpenterbacking vocals, piano,

Wurlitzer electric piano The Wurlitzer electronic piano is an electric piano manufactured and marketed by Wurlitzer from the mid-1950s to mid-1980s. Sound is generated by striking a metal reed with a hammer, which induces an electric current in a pickup. It is concept ...

, orchestration * Joe Osbornbass guitar *

Tony Peluso Anthony F. Peluso (March 28, 1950 – June 5, 2010) was an American guitarist and record producer. He was lead guitarist for pop duo Carpenters from 1972 to 1983. Peluso played the fuzz guitar solo on the Carpenters' song " Goodbye to Love". He ...

electric guitar *

Hal Blaine Hal Blaine (born Harold Simon Belsky; February 5, 1929 – March 11, 2019) was an American drummer and session musician, thought to be among the most recorded studio drummers in the music industry, claiming over 35,000 sessions and 6,000 singles. ...

drums * Louie Sheltonelectric guitar *Earl DumlerEnglish horn *Uncreditedtambourine

Other versions

Many artists have released other versions of "I Won't Last a Day Without You". Among the most notable are: * Diana Ross included it on her 1973 album '' Touch Me in the Morning''; she also made it the B side of the title track single release, which became a No. 1 hit. *Paul Williams, on the 1972 album '' Life Goes On'', and as a single in 1973, but his rendition garnered only minor success (US No. 106). *

Maureen McGovern Maureen Therese McGovern (born July 27, 1949) is an American singer and Broadway actress, well known for her renditions of the songs " The Morning After" from the 1972 film '' The Poseidon Adventure''; " We May Never Love Like This Again" from '' ...

released it as a single in 1973 (and included it on her album '' The Morning After''), reaching No. 89 ''Billboard'', No. 72 ''Cash Box'' and No. 14 Adult Contemporary. In Canada, her version reached No. 12 AC.RPM Adult Contemporary, November 30, 1973
/ref> The Carpenters released their single the following year. * Al Wilson created a medley of "I Won't Last a Day Without You" with another Nichols/Williams composition " Let Me Be The One" for his 1974 album ''La La Peace Song.'' The medley was issued as a single in December 1974 and went to No. 18 on the

R&B chart The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by ''Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 p ...

in '' Billboard'' magazine; it crossed over to both ''Billboards

Adult Contemporary chart The Adult Contemporary chart is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine and lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary radio stations in the United States. The chart is compiled based on airplay data submitted to ''Billboard'' by sta ...

(No. 39) and to the mainstream Pop chart the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 (No. 70).

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:I Won't Last a Day Without You 1973 singles 1974 singles Songs written by Paul Williams (songwriter) Songs written by Roger Nichols (songwriter) Maureen McGovern songs The Carpenters songs Barbra Streisand songs Andy Williams songs Oricon International Singles Chart number-one singles 1973 songs A&M Records singles