Since I Don't Have You

"Since I Don't Have You"
One of pressings of the US single
Single by the Skyliners
B-side "One Night, One Night"
Released December 1958
Recorded 1958
Genre Doo-wop
Length 2:40
Label Calico
Songwriter(s)
  • Jackie Taylor
  • James Beaumont
  • Janet Vogel
  • Joseph Rock
  • Joe Verscharen
  • Lennie Martin
  • Wally Lester
Producer(s) Joseph Rock
The Skyliners singles chronology
"Since I Don't Have You"
(1958) 		"This I Swear"
(1959)

"Since I Don't Have You" is a song written and composed by Jackie Taylor, James Beaumont, Janet Vogel, Joseph Rock, Joe Verscharen, Lennie Martin, and Wally Lester. It was first a 1958 hit single for the doo-wop group the Skyliners on the Billboard Hot 100. Country music singer Ronnie Milsap had a hit with the song in 1991. American hard rock band Guns N' Roses also had some success in 1994 with their version of the song which reached the top 10 on the UK Singles Chart.

The Skyliners version

Background

Taken from their self-titled album and released in late 1958, the single reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 7 on the Cash Box Top 100. It was also a top five hit on the 1959 R&B chart.

Charts

Don McLean version

"Since I Don't Have You"
Single by Don McLean
from the album Chain Lightning
B-side "Your Cheatin' Heart"
Released April 1981
Genre Easy listening
Length 2:32
Label Millennium
Songwriter(s)
  • Jackie Taylor
  • James Beaumont
  • Janet Vogel
  • Joseph Rock
  • Joe Verscharen
  • Lennie Martin
  • Wally Lester
Producer(s) Larry Butler
Don McLean singles chronology
"Crying"
(1980) 		"Since I Don't Have You"
(1981) 		"It's Just the Sun"
(1981)

Don McLean's 1981 rendition reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 6 on the Adult Contemporary chart. In Canada, it peaked at number two on its AC chart.

Charts

Chart (1981) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles 45
Canada Adult Contemporary 2
US Billboard Hot 100 23
US Billboard Adult Contemporary 6
US Billboard Country 68
US Cash Box Top 100 28

Ronnie Milsap version

"Since I Don't Have You"
Single by Ronnie Milsap
from the album Back to the Grindstone
B-side "I Ain't Gonna Cry No More"
Released July 13, 1991
Genre Country
Length 4:10
Label RCA Nashville
Songwriter(s)
  • Jackie Taylor
  • James Beaumont
  • Janet Vogel
  • Joseph Rock
  • Joe Verscharen
  • Lennie Martin
  • Wally Lester
Producer(s)
Ronnie Milsap singles chronology
"Are You Lovin' Me Like I'm Lovin' You"
(1991) 		"Since I Don't Have You"
(1991) 		"Turn That Radio On"
(1991)

Background

Country music artist Ronnie Milsap's version was a number 6 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1991. The single was taken from his album Back to the Grindstone, released on RCA Nashville. It was produced by Milsap, Rob Galbraith, and Richard Landis.

Charts

Weekly chart (1991) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM) 7
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 25
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard) 6
Year-end chart (1991) Rank
Canada Country Tracks (RPM) 84
US Country Songs (Billboard) 67

Guns N' Roses version

"Since I Don't Have You"
Standard artwork (commercial US/UK cassette single pictured)
Single by Guns N' Roses
from the album "The Spaghetti Incident?"
B-side "You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory" (LP version)
Released March 1, 1994
Length 4:20
Label Geffen
Producer(s) Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses singles chronology
"Estranged"
(1994) 		"Since I Don't Have You"
(1994) 		"Sympathy for the Devil"
(1994)
Music video
"Since I Don't Have You" on YouTube

Background

The song was covered by rock band Guns N' Roses for their fifth studio album, "The Spaghetti Incident?" (1993). This was Guns N' Roses' 18th single release overall, and the second single released from "The Spaghetti Incident?". The single was released in mid-1994, reaching No. 69 on the Hot 100 and the top ten in the UK. The music video features actor Gary Oldman – then a popular casting choice for Hollywood villains – as a smiling demon who is constantly mocking singer Axl Rose. The video was the last to feature original members Duff McKagan and Slash (until 2023’s Perhaps) as well as drummer Matt Sorum and rhythm guitarist Gilby Clarke.

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1993–1995) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) 47
Canada Top Singles (RPM) 20
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 35
France (SNEP) 28
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) 1
Ireland (IRMA) 16
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 48
Scotland (OCC) 26
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) 40
UK Singles (OCC) 10
US Billboard Hot 100 69

Year-end charts

Chart (1994) Position
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) 20

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States March 1, 1994
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • cassette
 Geffen
Japan April 21, 1994 CD
United Kingdom May 23, 1994
  • CD
  • cassette

Other notable versions