Can't Smile Without You
Encyclopedia
"Can't Smile Without You" is a song written by Christian Arnold, David Martin
, and Geoff Morrow
, best known in its rendition by Barry Manilow
.
"Can't Smile Without You" was the first single to be released from Manilow's album Even Now in 1977. The song was released as a single in 1978 where it reached the number one spot on Billboard
's AC chart, and the number three spot on the Billboard Hot 100
. Previously, the song was recorded by The Carpenters
on their album A Kind of Hush in 1976, and was featured as the B-side of their hit "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft
" the following year. Manilow's version had slightly different lyrics from the Carpenters, such as the Carpenters's line "I can't laugh and I can't walk / I'm finding it hard even to talk," was changed in Manilow's version to "I can't laugh and I can't sing / I'm finding it hard to do anything" (the latter is likely the original lyric, changed by the Carpenters because the lyric "I can't sing" when being sung makes no sense). The Carpenters remixed the song for the B-side of "Calling Occupants" in September 1977, again revising the lyric to read "I can't laugh and I can't sleep / I don't even talk to people I meet". Additional orchestration was also included in the remix.
On behalf of the songwriters, publishing company Dick James Music sued George Michael
for plagiarism in the mid-'80s, claiming that the 1984 Wham!
single "Last Christmas
" lifted its melody from "Can't Smile Without You." The case was settled out of court.
Jerry Lewis
often sings the song on his annual Muscular Dystrophy Association
telethon, with altered lyrics that speak of the need for the viewers to call in their pledge.
The song has appeared in such films as Four Weddings and a Funeral
, Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo
, Unconditional Love, Starsky & Hutch
, Hellboy II: The Golden Army and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
.
In 2008, there was an attempt by Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
supporters following their League Cup win
to get the song to Number One, as they see this song as being a part of the club, with the words "Can't Smile Without You" being seen on many flags, banners, and websites as a slogan to the club.
David Martin (poet)
David Martin , known as an Australian poet, was born Lajos or Ludwig Detsinyi, into a Jewish family in Hungary . He used as well the names Louis Adam and Louis Destiny. He also wrote novels and short stories, and plays.He was brought up in Germany, where he first became a communist at age 17...
, and Geoff Morrow
Geoff Morrow
Geoff Morrow is a noted song writer, having written "The Gonk are here for Christmas," as well as a number of songs for Elvis Presley, such as "A Little Bit of Green," "This is the Story," "Let's Be Friends," and "Change of Habit." He is CEO of the ....
, best known in its rendition by Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana ."...
.
"Can't Smile Without You" was the first single to be released from Manilow's album Even Now in 1977. The song was released as a single in 1978 where it reached the number one spot on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
's AC chart, and the number three spot on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. Previously, the song was recorded by The Carpenters
The Carpenters
Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of sister Karen and brother Richard Carpenter. The Carpenters were the #1 selling American music act of the 1970s. Though often referred to by the public as "The Carpenters", the duo's official name on authorized recordings and...
on their album A Kind of Hush in 1976, and was featured as the B-side of their hit "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft
Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft
"Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft " is a song by Klaatu, originally released in 1976 on their first album 3:47 EST. The following year, The Carpenters covered the song, using a crew of 160 musicians...
" the following year. Manilow's version had slightly different lyrics from the Carpenters, such as the Carpenters's line "I can't laugh and I can't walk / I'm finding it hard even to talk," was changed in Manilow's version to "I can't laugh and I can't sing / I'm finding it hard to do anything" (the latter is likely the original lyric, changed by the Carpenters because the lyric "I can't sing" when being sung makes no sense). The Carpenters remixed the song for the B-side of "Calling Occupants" in September 1977, again revising the lyric to read "I can't laugh and I can't sleep / I don't even talk to people I meet". Additional orchestration was also included in the remix.
On behalf of the songwriters, publishing company Dick James Music sued George Michael
George Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
for plagiarism in the mid-'80s, claiming that the 1984 Wham!
WHAM!
Wham! were a short-lived British musical duo formed by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley in the early 1980s. They were briefly known in the United States as Wham! UK due to a naming conflict with an American band....
single "Last Christmas
Last Christmas
"Last Christmas" is a song by British pop duo Wham!, released on Epic Records in 1984, on a double A-side with "Everything She Wants". It was written by George Michael, one half of the duo...
" lifted its melody from "Can't Smile Without You." The case was settled out of court.
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis is an American comedian, actor, singer, film producer, screenwriter and film director. He is best known for his slapstick humor in film, television, stage and radio. He was originally paired up with Dean Martin in 1946, forming the famed comedy team of Martin and Lewis...
often sings the song on his annual Muscular Dystrophy Association
Muscular Dystrophy Association
The Muscular Dystrophy Association is an American organization which combats muscular dystrophy and diseases of the nervous system and muscular system in general by funding research, providing medical and community services, and educating health professionals and the general public...
telethon, with altered lyrics that speak of the need for the viewers to call in their pledge.
The song has appeared in such films as Four Weddings and a Funeral
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Four Weddings and a Funeral is a 1994 British comedy film directed by Mike Newell. It was the first of several films by screenwriter Richard Curtis to feature Hugh Grant...
, Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo
Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo
Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo is a 1999 comedy film starring Rob Schneider. Other cast members include Eddie Griffin, Amy Poehler, Oded Fehr, Arija Bareikis, and William Forsythe....
, Unconditional Love, Starsky & Hutch
Starsky & Hutch (film)
Starsky & Hutch is a 2004 American comedy film directed by Todd Phillips. The film stars Ben Stiller as David Starsky and Owen Wilson as Ken "Hutch" Hutchinson and is a film adaptation of the original television series of the same name from the 1970s....
, Hellboy II: The Golden Army and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (film)
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a 1998 American drama film directed by Terry Gilliam, starring Johnny Depp as Raoul Duke and Benicio del Toro as Dr. Gonzo. It was adapted from Hunter S. Thompson's 1971 novel of the same name....
.
In 2008, there was an attempt by Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
supporters following their League Cup win
2008 Football League Cup Final
The 2008 Carling Cup Final was a football match played on 24 February 2008. It was the first League Cup Final to be played at the new Wembley Stadium, and the first to be played in England since the old Wembley was demolished in 2000. The defending champions were Chelsea, who beat Arsenal in the...
to get the song to Number One, as they see this song as being a part of the club, with the words "Can't Smile Without You" being seen on many flags, banners, and websites as a slogan to the club.