Like I've Never Been Gone

"Like I've Never Been Gone"
Single by Billy Fury
B-side"What Do You Think You're Doing Of"
Released8 February 1963 (1963-02-08)[1]
Recorded14 December 1962[1]
StudioDecca Studios, London
GenrePop
Length2:01
LabelDecca
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Mike Smith
Billy Fury singles chronology
"Because of Love"
(1962) 		"Like I've Never Been Gone"
(1963) 		"When Will You Say I Love You"
(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.[2]

Billy Fury version

Release and reception

"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'.[3]

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".[4] 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".[5]

Track listing

7": Decca / F 11582

  1. "Like I've Never Been Gone" – 2:01
  2. "What Do You Think You're Doing Of" – 2:59

Charts

Chart (1963) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[6] 5
Israel (Kol Yisrael)[7] 3
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[8] 7
UK Disc Top 30[9] 3
UK Melody Maker Pop 50[10] 3
UK New Musical Express Top 30[11] 3
UK Record Retailer Top 50[2] 3

References

  1. ^ a b "Like I've Never Been Gone". www.nic.fi. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Billy Fury | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  3. ^ Victor, Terry; Dalzell, Tom (2007). The Concise New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English. Routledge. p. 206. ISBN 978-1-134-61534-6.
  4. ^ "Disc Date" (PDF). Disc. 8 February 1963. p. 9. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  5. ^ "A Really Big One From Fury" (PDF). Record Mirror. 9 February 1963. p. 9. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  6. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Like I've Never Been Gone". Irish Singles Chart.
  7. ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 6 July 1963. p. 31. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Lever Hit Parade". flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Top 30" (PDF). Disc. 16 February 1963. p. 3. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Pop Fifty". Melody Maker. 30 March 1963.
  11. ^ "NME Music Charts". New Musical Express. 15 March 1963.