Pop Archives

Normie Rowe - I (Who Have Nothing) (1965)

(Carlo Donida - Mogol [Giulio Rapetti]- Jerry Leiber - Mike Stoller)
Australia Australia
#10 Sydney #4 Melbourne #23 Brisbane #6 Adelaide #6 Perth

Single on Sunshine label, July 1965.

Also recorded in Australia by The Dave Bridge Trio (1966) and Rob E. G. (1964/65).

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: Full biography at Milesago. The official site is at www.normierowe.com


Shirley Bassey - I (Who Have Nothing) (1963)

(Carlo Donida - Mogol [Giulio Rapetti]- Jerry Leiber - Mike Stoller)
UK UK
#6 UK #19 Sydney #10 Brisbane

Singer with a powerful delivery, born in Cardiff in 1937, popular on TV and in cabaret.


Ben E. King - I (Who Have Nothing) (1963)

(Carlo Donida - Mogol [Giulio Rapetti]- Jerry Leiber - Mike Stoller)
USA USA
Original English language version
#29 USA #22 Sydney #15 Melbourne #20 Perth

Pop/soul singer born in North Carolina in 1938, real name Benjamin Earl Nelson. First became known as lead singer with the Drifters from 1959, on such songs as Save The Last Dance For Me (1959). His solo career included the hits Stand By Me (1960) and Spanish Harlem (1961).


The Ben E. King record uses the same backing track as the Italian original by Joe Sentieri.
See posts to Spectropop group by Mick Patrick and Randy Poe, February 2007.


Also recorded, for example, by The Righteous Brothers (1967), Leslie Uggams (1967), Little Milton (1968), Cockney Rebel (1974), Sylvester 1979).


Joe Sentieri - Uno Dei Tanti (1961)

(Carlo Donida - Mogol [Giulio Rapetti])
Italy Italy
Original version

The record that became I (Who Have Nothing) with English lyrics written by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller and dubbed by Ben E. King.

Lyricist Giulio Rapetti (Mogol) also co-wrote the original Italian-language version if (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice.

Merci à Philippe pour la soustraction de deux ans.


Tom Jones - I (Who Have Nothing) (1970)

(Carlo Donida - Mogol [Giulio Rapetti]- Jerry Leiber - Mike Stoller)
UK UK
Later version
#40 Sydney #20 Melbourne #27 Adelaide #44 Perth

Tom Jones had a hit in 1968 with Help Yourself, an English-language version of another Carlo Donida – Mogol song, Gli Occhi Miei.


The Spectres - I (Who Have Nothing) (1966)

(Carlo Donida - Mogol [Giulio Rapetti]- Jerry Leiber - Mike Stoller)
UK UK
Later version

Single on Piccadilly by band that became Status Quo (with some name and personnel changes along the way).

References: The Spectres at British Beat Boom. Status Quo at: All Music Guide, Wikipedia.
Version alert from Terry Stacey.


The Easybeats - I (Who Have Nothing) (1965)

(Carlo Donida - Mogol [Giulio Rapetti]- Jerry Leiber - Mike Stoller)
Australia Australia

Unreleased demo

Recorded at radio station 2UE for Albert Productions in early 1965. Four songs were recorded, of which two became The Easybeats’ first single, For My Woman/Say That You’re Mine, released on EMI’s Parlophone label in March 1965.

References: 1. Milesago’s Easybeats history. 2. Jonas Worstad’s Easybeats discography.

Thanks to Gareth Jones for additional research.


Terry Knight & The Packs - I (Who Have Nothing) (1966)

(Carlo Donida - Mogol [Giulio Rapetti]- Jerry Leiber - Mike Stoller)
USA USA
Later version
#46 USA

Single on Lucky Eleven by Michigan band led by Terry Knight whose 1969 solo release Saint Paul became a #1 hit in New Zealand when it was covered by Shane.

Two members of The Pack, Mark Farner and Don Brewer, became two-thirds of the original line-up of Grand Funk Railroad, a band that was formed, managed and produced by Terry Knight.

For more about Terry Knight see under ShaneSaint Paul.