I Don't Want to Go On Without You explained

I Don't Want To Go On Without You
Cover:	I_Don't_Want_to_Go_On_Without_You.png
Type:	single
Artist:	The Drifters
Released:	June 1964
Genre:	Soul, pop
Label:	Atlantic 2237
Producer:	Bert Berns

"I Don't Want to Go On Without You" is a soul ballad written by Bert Berns and Jerry Wexler and produced by Bert Berns for The Drifters in 1964.^[1]

History

Originally intended to be the A-side to "Under the Boardwalk", the song was recorded in May 1964 under the direction of songwriter and producer Bert Berns. The night before the session, The Drifters' lead singer, Rudy Lewis, died of a heroin overdose. Longtime Drifters tenor Charlie Thomas took over the vocal.^[2]

Covers

"I Don't Want to Go On Without You" has been covered by Nazareth,^[3] The Escorts (1965), The Moody Blues, The Searchers, Patti LaBelle and The Bluebelles, and Van Morrison. Dusty Springfield also performed the song on her television series Dusty.^[4] The performance was included on the Dusty Springfield DVD release Live at the BBC.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Book: Millward, Stephen . Changing Times: Music and Politics In 1964 . Matador . 2012 . 978-1-78088-344-1 . 63.
2. Book: Selvin, Joel . Joel Selvin . Here Comes the Night: The Dark Soul of Bert Berns and the Dirty Business of Rhythm and Blues . . 2014 . 978-1-61902-378-9 . 121.
3. Book: Strong, Martin Charles . The Great Rock Discography . . 1998 . 978-0-86241-827-4 . 565.
4. Dusty Springfield . I Don't Want to Go On Without You . 1966 . video .
5. Web site: Unterberger . Richie . Live at the BBC - Dusty Springfield . AllMusic . en.