| I've Got to Use My Imagination | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Gladys Knight & the Pips |
| Album: | Imagination |
| B-Side: | I Can See Clearly Now |
| Released: | November 1973 |
| Length: | 3:29 |
| Label: | Buddah |
| Producer: | Kenny Kerner |
| Prev Title: | Midnight Train to Georgia |
| Prev Year: | 1973 |
| Next Title: | Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me |
| Next Year: | 1974 |
"I've Got to Use My Imagination" is a song recorded by Gladys Knight & the Pips. Released from the hit album, Imagination, which was their debut album with Buddah Records. It was a success on the soul and pop charts, spending a week at number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart in early 1974 and peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot 100.[1] It became one of the band's highest charting songs and eventually sold more than one million copies.
On the television series A Different World, Whitley, Jaleesa and another classmate perform the song to audition to sing backup for Gladys Knight (who made a special guest appearance on the show).
The song has been covered by such artists as Joan Osborne, Professor RJ Ross, Bobby Bland, Joe Cocker and The Rides. Ian Moss recorded a version for his sixth studio album, Soul on West 53rd (2009).
| Chart (1973-1974) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 4 | |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles | 1 |