| Like I've Never Been Gone | |
| Cover: | Billy Fury Like I've Never Been Gone.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Billy Fury |
| B-Side: | What Do You Think You're Doing Of |
| Recorded: | 14 December 1962[1] |
| Studio: | Decca Studios, London |
| Genre: | Pop |
| Label: | Decca |
| Producer: | Mike Smith |
| Prev Title: | Because of Love |
| Prev Year: | 1962 |
| Next Title: | When Will You Say I Love You |
| Next Year: | 1963 |
"Like I've Never Been Gone" is a song written by Paul Hampton and Camille Monte and first released by American country singer Chase Webster in July 1962. In February 1963, English singer Billy Fury released a cover of the song which peaked at number 3 on the Record Retailer Top 50.
"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'.[2]
Reviewing for Disc, Don Nicholl wrote that "Like I've Never Been Gone" "is the kind of song I can imagine Presley 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".[3] In New Record Mirror, 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".[4]
7": Decca / F 11582
| Chart (1963) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Israel (Kol Yisrael)[5] | 3 | |
| New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[6] | 7 | |
| UK Disc Top 30[7] | 3 | |
| UK Melody Maker Pop 50[8] | 3 | |
| UK New Musical Express Top 30[9] | 3 | |
| UK Record Retailer Top 50[10] | 3 |