My World Is Empty Without You

"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
Studio	Hitsville U.S.A., Detroit
Genre	Baroque pop, soul
Length	2:33
Label	Motown
Songwriter(s)	Holland–Dozier–Holland
Producer(s)	Brian Holland Lamont Dozier
The Supremes singles chronology
"I Hear a Symphony" (1965) "My World Is Empty Without You" (1965) "Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart" (1966)
I Hear a Symphony track listing
12 tracks Side one "Stranger in Paradise" "Yesterday" "I Hear a Symphony" "Unchained Melody" "With a Song in My Heart" "Without a Song" Side two "My World Is Empty Without You" "A Lover's Concerto" "Any Girl in Love (Knows What I'm Going Through)" "Wonderful! Wonderful!" "Everything is Good About You" "He's All I Got"

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

Weekly charts Chart (1965–1966) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] 88 Canada (Billboard)[8] 1 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[9] 29 Singapore (Billboard)[8] 7 US Billboard Hot 100[10] 5 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[11] 10 US Cashbox Top 100[12] 5 US Cashbox R&B[13] 7 US Record World 100 Top Pops[14] 4 US Record World Top 40 R&B[15] 12

Year-end charts Chart (1966) Rank US Billboard Hot 100[16] 72 US Cashbox Top 100[17] 55

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States	—	1,000,000[18][19]