"My World Is Empty Without You" is a 1965 song recorded and released as a single by the Supremes for the Motown label.
| "My World Is Empty Without You" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by the Supremes | ||||
| from the album I Hear a Symphony | ||||
| B-side | "Everything Is Good About You" | |||
| Released | December 29, 1965 | |||
| Recorded | 1965 | |||
| Studio | Hitsville U.S.A. (Studio A) | |||
| Genre | Baroque pop, soul | |||
| Length | 2:33 | |||
| Label | Motown M 1089 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Holland–Dozier–Holland | |||
| Producer(s) | Brian Holland Lamont Dozier | |||
| The Supremes singles chronology | ||||
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| I Hear a Symphony track listing | ||||
12 tracks
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Overview
Written and produced by Motown's main production team of Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song's fast tempo accompanies a somber lyric which delves into the feelings of depression which can set in after a breakup.
"My World Is Empty Without You" was one of the few songs written by the team for the Supremes to not reach number 1, peaking at number 5 on the US pop chart for two weeks in February 1966[1] and at number 10 on the R&B chart; the single failed to chart on the UK Singles Chart. The group performed the song on the CBS hit variety program The Ed Sullivan Show on Sunday, February 20, 1966.[2]
Billboard described the song as being "right in their pulsating rhythm groove of 'I Hear a Symphony' with even more excitement in the performance".[3] Cash Box described it as a "throbbing, rhythmic soulful tearjerker about a love-sick girl who spends her days carrying the torch for her ex-boyfriend".[4]
In the view of pop historian Andrew Grant Jackson, the Rolling Stones' later song "Paint It Black" bears a strong resemblance to "My World Is Empty Without You".[5]
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Diana Ross
- Background vocals by Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard
- Instrumentation by the Funk Brothers and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra:[6]
- Earl Van Dyke – organ
- James Gittens – piano
- James Jamerson – bass
- Benny Benjamin – drums
- Joe Messina – guitar
- Jack Ashford – vibraphone
- Mike Terry – baritone saxophone
- Paul Riser – string arrangements
Charts
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States | — | 1,000,000[18][19] |