What Am I Living For Explained

What Am I Living For
Type:	single
Artist:	Chuck Willis
B-Side:	Hang Up My Rock and Roll Shoes
Genre:	R&B
Label:	Atlantic
Prev Title:	Betty and Dupree
Prev Year:	1957
Next Title:	Thunder and Lightning
Next Year:	1958

"What Am I Living For" is a song written by Fred Jay and Art Harris and performed by Chuck Willis featuring the Reggie Obrecht Orchestra and Chorus. It reached No. 1 on the U.S. R&B chart and #9 on the U.S. pop chart in 1958.^[1]

Chuck Willis’s version was the first rock and roll record released in stereo, "engineered by Tom Dowd of Atlantic Records".^[2]

Other charting versions

• Ernest Tubb released a version of the song which reached No. 19 on the U.S. country chart in 1959.^[3]
• Conway Twitty released a version of the song which reached No. 26 on the U.S. pop chart in 1960.^[4]
• Percy Sledge released a version of the song which reached No. 91 on the U.S. pop chart in 1967.^[5]
• Twitty re-released a version of the song which reached No. 59 on the U.S. country chart in 1971.^[6]
• Ray Charles released a version of the song which reached No. 20 on the U.S. adult contemporary chart and #54 on the U.S. pop chart in 1971.^[7]

Other versions

• Jack Scott released a version of the song as a single in 1960, but it did not chart.^[8]
• Ernie Freeman released a version of the song as a single in 1962, but it did not chart.^[9]
• Carl McVoy released a version of the song as a single in 1962, but it did not chart.^[10]
• Kitty Wells featuring The Jordanaires released a version of the song on her 1962 album Queen of Country Music.^[11]
• Billy Fury released a version of the song on his 1963 album Am I Blue. It was produced by Dick Rowe.^[12]
• Wanda Jackson released a version of the song on her 1963 album Love Me Forever. It was produced by Ken Nelson.^[13]
• Millie Small released a version of the song as the B-side to her 1964 single "Sweet William".^[14]
• The Everly Brothers released a version of the song on their 1965 album Beat & Soul. It was produced by Dick Glasser.^[15]
• The Animals released a version of the song on their 1966 album Animalisms. It was produced by Tom Wilson.^[16]
• Filipino singer Eddie Peregrina released a version of the song in 1966, later released on his 1968 album of the same name. In 1977, he later recorded a Filipino version of the song titled "Nabubuhay Ako, Dahil Sa Iyo" on his 1977 compilation album, Hanggang Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan, released posthumously. Almost four decades later, singer April Boy Regino sang a Filipino version of the song titled "Paano ang Puso Ko?" as theme of the 1997 film of the same name.
• Rodger Collins released a version of the song as the B-side to his 1967 single "Hands Off My Girl".^[17]
• Danny and The Velaires released a version of the song as a single in 1967, but it did not chart.^[18]
• Z. Z. Hill released a version of the song on his 1967 album A Whole Lot of Soul.^[19]
• Archie Campbell and Lorene Mann released a version of the song on their 1968 album Archie and Lorene Tell It Like It Is. It was produced by Bob Ferguson.^[20]
• Solomon Burke released a version of the song as the B-side to his 1969 single "Proud Mary".^[21]
• Wilbert Harrison released a version of the song on his 1969 album Let's Work Together. It was produced by Juggy Murray.^[22]
• Johnny Tillotson released a version of the song on his 1969 album Tears on My Pillow. It was produced by Jimmy Bowen.^[23]
• Andy Williams released a version of the song as the B-side to his 1969 single "A Woman's Way". It was produced by Dick Glasser.^[24]
• Bill Phillips released a version of the song on his 1970 album Little Boy Sad. It was produced by Owen Bradley.^[25]
• Lon Satton released a version of the song as the B-side to his 1970 single "Someone Is Standing Outside".^[26]
• Jimmy Capps released a version of the song as the B-side to his 1972 single "Free Wheelin'".^[27]
• Sonny James released a version of the song as the B-side to his 1973 single "Surprise, Surprise".^[28]
• Little Joe Y La Familia Inc. released a version of the song as the B-side to their 1975 single "Paso Del Norte".^[29]
• Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown released a version of the song on his 1989 album Standing My Ground.^[30]
• Carl Perkins released a version of the song on his 1993 album This Old House.^[31]
• Taj Mahal released a version of the song on his 1996 album Phantom Blues. It was produced by John Porter.^[32]
• Alan Price and The Electric Blues Company released a version of the song on their 1996 album A Gigster's Life for Me.^[33]
• Jimmy Clanton released a version of the song on his 1997 compilation album Go, Jimmy, Go!: The Very Best of Jimmy Clanton.^[34]
• The Band released a version of the song on their 2001 re-release of the album Moondog Matinee.^[35]
• Julie Hanify, David Mahler, and Larry Polansky released a version of the song on their 2005 album Too Late.^[36]
• Van Morrison released a version of the song on his 2006 album Pay the Devil.^[37]
• Gene Taylor Blues Band featuring Dave Alvin released a version of the song on their 2008 album Live!!! 605 Boogie!!!^[38]
• Dawn McCarthy and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy released a version of the song on their 2013 album What the Brothers Sang.^[39]
• Pine Leaf Boys released a version of the song on their 2013 album Danser. It was produced by Joel Savoy.^[40]
• Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver released a version of the song on their 2017 album Life Is a Story.^[41]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Chuck Willis, "What Am I Living For" Chart Positions. September 3, 2018.
2. https://acousticmusic.org/research/history/timeline-of-musical-styles-guitar-history/ TIMELINE OF MUSICAL STYLES & GUITAR HISTORY
3. Web site: Ernest Tubb, "What Am I Living For" Chart Position. September 3, 2018.
4. Web site: Conway Twitty, "What Am I Living For" 1960 Chart Position. September 3, 2018.
5. Web site: Percy Sledge, "What Am I Living For" Chart Position. September 3, 2018.
6. Web site: Conway Twitty, "What Am I Living For" 1971 Chart Position. September 3, 2018.
7. Web site: Ray Charles, "What Am I Living For" Chart Position. September 3, 2018.
8. Web site: Jack Scott, "What Am I Living For" Single Release. . June 1960 . September 3, 2018.
9. Web site: Ernie Freeman, "What Am I Living For" Single Release. September 3, 2018.
10. Web site: Carl McVoy, "What Am I Living For" Single Release. September 3, 2018.
11. Web site: Kitty Wells, Queen of Country Music. . 1963 . September 3, 2018.
12. Web site: Billy Fury, Am I Blue. . 1963 . September 3, 2018.
13. Web site: Wanda Jackson, Love Me Forever. . 1963 . September 3, 2018.
14. Web site: Millie Small, "Sweet William" Single Release. . 1964 . September 3, 2018.
15. Web site: The Everly Brothers, Beat & Soul. . 1965 . September 3, 2018.
16. Web site: The Animals, Animalisms. . May 1966 . September 3, 2018.
17. Web site: Rodger Collins, "Hands Off My Girl" Single Release. . 1967 . September 3, 2018.
18. Web site: Danny and The Velaires, "What Am I Living For" Single Release. . 1967 . September 3, 2018.
19. Web site: Z. Z. Hill, A Whole Lot of Soul. . 1967 . September 3, 2018.
20. Web site: Archie Campbell and Lorene Mann, Archie and Lorene Tell It Like It Is. . 1968 . September 3, 2018.
21. Web site: Solomon Burke, "Proud Mary" Single Release. . 1969 . September 3, 2018.
22. Web site: Wilbert Harrison, Let's Work Together. . 1969 . September 3, 2018.
23. Web site: Johnny Tillotson, Tears on My Pillow. . 1969 . September 3, 2018.
24. Web site: Andy Williams, "A Woman's Way" Single Release. . 1969 . September 3, 2018.
25. Web site: Bill Phillips, Little Boy Sad. . 1970 . September 3, 2018.
26. Web site: Lon Satton, "Someone is Standing Outside" Single Release. September 3, 2018.
27. Web site: Jimmy Capps, "Free Wheelin" Single Release. . 1972 . September 3, 2018.
28. Web site: Sonny James, "Surprise, Surprise" Single Release. September 3, 2018.
29. Web site: Little Joe Y La Familia Inc., "Paso Del Norte" Single Release. September 3, 2018.
30. Web site: Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Standing My Ground. . 1989 . September 3, 2018.
31. Web site: Carl Perkins, This Old House. . 1993 . September 3, 2018.
32. Web site: Taj Mahal, Phantom Blues. . 1996 . September 3, 2018.
33. Web site: Alan Price and The Electric Blues Company, A Gigster's Life for Me. . 1995 . September 3, 2018.
34. Web site: Jimmy Clanton, Go, Jimmy, Go!: The Very Best of Jimmy Clanton. . September 3, 2018.
35. Web site: The Band, Moondog Matinee. . September 3, 2018.
36. Web site: Julie Hanify, David Mahler, and Larry Polansky, Too Late. . September 3, 2018.
37. Web site: Van Morrison, Pay the Devil. . September 3, 2018.
38. Web site: Gene Taylor Blues Band featuring Dave Alvin, Live!!! 605 Boogie!!!. . 10 November 2008 . September 3, 2018.
39. Web site: Dawn McCarthy and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, What the Brothers Sang. . 19 February 2013 . September 3, 2018.
40. Web site: Pine Leaf Boys, Danser. . 31 May 2013 . September 3, 2018.
41. Web site: Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Life Is a Story. . 25 August 2017 . September 3, 2018.