Tryin' To Live My Life Without You
Encyclopedia
"Tryin' To Live My Life Without You" is a song written by Eugene Williams, originally popularized by soul
singer Otis Clay
. It has since been covered by several other artists, most notably Bob Seger
on his 1981 Nine Tonight
album.
song, old Memphis song...." The Nine Tonight liner notes
claim that Seger's saxophone player, Alto Reed, played all the saxophones heard on that song, at the same time. Most likely this is possible from studio overdubbing on top of the live performance.
Seger has claimed that he recorded the song to show how the Eagles stole the song's melody in their song "The Long Run
". Seger highlights the similarities between the two songs in the arrangement his version, in the bassline especially.
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer Otis Clay
Otis Clay
Otis Clay is an American R&B and soul singer, who started in gospel music.-Life and career:...
. It has since been covered by several other artists, most notably Bob Seger
Bob Seger
Robert Clark "Bob" Seger is an American rock and roll singer-songwriter, guitarist and pianist.As a locally successful Detroit-area artist, he performed and recorded as Bob Seger and the Last Heard and Bob Seger System throughout the 1960s...
on his 1981 Nine Tonight
Nine Tonight
Nine Tonight is a live album by American rock band Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, released in 1981 . The album was recorded at Cobo Hall in Detroit, Michigan, in June 1980 and at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts in October 1980. "Tryin' To Live My Life Without You" was a U.S...
album.
Writing
The song is sung from the point of view of a man who is addressing his former lover. During the song's verses the narrator tells of various habits he has had over his lifetime, such as smoking "five packs of cigarettes a day" and drinking "four or five bottles of wine." In the prechorus, he states that breaking those former habits was difficult, but not nearly as difficult as getting over the girl and forgetting the love they shared.Seger's Version
Seger's cover of the song is the most successful version of the song, reaching number five on the pop singles charts. It is known for Seger's spoken prelude on top of the bassline: "Alright, you guys feel funky tonight? ... This is an old MemphisMemphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
song, old Memphis song...." The Nine Tonight liner notes
Liner notes
Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
claim that Seger's saxophone player, Alto Reed, played all the saxophones heard on that song, at the same time. Most likely this is possible from studio overdubbing on top of the live performance.
Seger has claimed that he recorded the song to show how the Eagles stole the song's melody in their song "The Long Run
The Long Run (song)
"The Long Run" is a song written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey and recorded by the Eagles. The sound of the song is viewed as a tribute to the Stax / Memphis R&B sound...
". Seger highlights the similarities between the two songs in the arrangement his version, in the bassline especially.