NORMIE ROWE
Ain't Nobody Home
(Jerry Ragovoy)
Australia 1966
#2 Sydney #1 Melbourne #1 Brisbane #4 Adelaide

Single on Sunshine label, double-sided hit with Ooh La La.

Melbourne singer Normie Rowe became Australia's top teen idol of the late 60s and the star of Ivan Dayman's Sunshine label. He had a string of hits in Australia from 1965, recorded four singles in London, toured Britain and America, and even inspired a tribute song, Norman-Normie. After he was conscripted to serve in Vietnam he never regained his earlier 'King of Pop' status, but he re-established himself as a respected performer, especially on stage, starring in such productions as Les Miserables and Annie.

Further reading: Detailed biography at Milesago. The official site is at www.normierowe.com
HOWARD TATE
Ain't Nobody Home
(Jerry Ragovoy)
USA 1966
Original version

Howard Tate: legendary and influential soul singer, notably produced by Jerry Ragovoy. Active from the early 60s to the mid-70s, he reappeared after years of obscurity to record a new album, Rediscovered, produced by Ragovoy, released in 2003.

Jerry Ragovoy's writing credits include Time Is On My Side (Rolling Stones) and - with Bert Berns - Piece Of My Heart (Janis Joplin).

Ain't Nobody Home: single on Verve charted #12 on R&B charts and in the #60s on mainstream US charts. Also appeared on 1966 Verve album Get It While You Can.)
DINAH WASHINGTON
Ain't Nobody Home
(Marvin Fisher - Jack Segal)
USA 1957
Red herring

Same title but not the same song as "Ain't Nobody Home" by Normie Rowe.

Single on Mercury label.

Later versions:

CLIFF BENNETT & THE REBEL ROUSERS
Ain't Nobody Home
(Jerry Ragovoy)
UK 1967
Later version

Recorded at Abbey Road in 1967, released in 1998 on Cliff Bennett at Abbey Road.

Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers were first formed in 1959, recorded with Joe Meek from 1961, and were signed to Brian Epstein in 1964. Their best known song was a hit version of The Beatles' Got To Get You Into My Life (1966, #6 UK), produced by Paul McCartney.

References, further reading: 1. Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers at British Beat Boom. 2. Recording details at MusicPopInfo.com.

 
B.B. KING
Ain't Nobody Home
(Jerry Ragovoy)
USA 1971
Later version
#46 USA

Single on ABC label.

 

 
BONNIE RAITT
Ain't Nobody Home
(Jerry Ragovoy)
USA 1974
Later version

On 1974 album Streetlights, produced by Jerry Ragovoy.

 

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