"Like I've Never Been Gone" is a song written by

Paul Hampton Paul Hampton (born August 20, 1937) is an American actor, singer, lyricist and writer. He is listed as one of one hundred major architects of American rock and roll in the British rock journal "Footsoldiers and Kings." While he was a sophomore ...

and Camille Monte and first released by American

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while the ...

singer Chase Webster in July 1962. In February 1963, English singer

Billy Fury Ronald Wycherley (17 April 1940 – 28 January 1983), better known as Billy Fury, was an English singer, musician, songwriter, and actor. An early star of rock and roll, he equalled the Beatles' record of 24 hits in the 1960s and spent 332 week ...

released a cover of the song which peaked at number 3 on the ''

Record Retailer ''Record Retailer'' was the only music trade newspaper for the UK record industry. It was founded in August 1959 as a monthly newspaper covering both labels and dealers. Its founding editor was Roy Parker (who died on 27 December 1964). The title ...

'' Top 50.

Billy Fury version

Release and reception

"Like I've Never Been Gone" was released with the B-side "What Do You Think You're Doing Of", written by Fury. The phrase 'what are you doing of' was another way of saying 'what are you doing'. Reviewing for '' Disc'',

Don Nicholl Donald Nicholl (August 9, 1925 – July 5, 1980) was an English-American screenwriter and producer. His production company Nicholl Ross West (with Mickey Ross and Bernie West) wrote for the situation comedies ''All in the Family'', ''The Jeffer ...

wrote that "Like I've Never Been Gone" "is the kind of song I can imagine

Presley Presley is a surname and given name. Etymology The name ''Presley'' is derived from the Old English ''preost'', meaning "priest", and ''leah'' meaning "forest clearing". History Most instances of the surname ''Presley'' and variants ''Pressley' ...

wishing he'd got his hands on. Instead it's going to make another hit for Fury. A sultry Latin beater which he sings in his most commercial voice. First-class backing, including chorus, is directed by

Ivor Raymonde Ivor Raymonde (born Ivor Pomerance; 22 October 1926 – 4 June 1990) was a British musician, songwriter, arranger and actor, best known for his distinctive rock-orchestral arrangements for Dusty Springfield and others in the 1960s. Life and care ...

". In ''

New Record Mirror ''Record Mirror'' was a British weekly music newspaper between 1954 and 1991 for pop fans and record collectors. Launched two years after the ''NME'', it never attained the circulation of its rival. The first UK album chart was published in ''Re ...

'', the song was described as "a semi-bluesy, semi-ballady thing with a good tune and an especially good lyric. Powerful Presley-type vocalising from Billy – this could be a really big one".

Track listing

7": Decca / F 11582 # "Like I've Never Been Gone" – 2:01 # "What Do You Think You're Doing Of" – 2:59

Charts

References

{{authority control 1963 singles 1963 songs Decca Records singles Billy Fury songs Songs written by Paul Hampton Song recordings produced by Mike Smith (British record producer)