I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself

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"I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself"
Dusty Springfield – I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself.jpg
Single by Dusty Springfield
from the album Dusty
B-side"My Colouring Book"
ReleasedJune 1964
GenrePop
Length3:01
LabelPhilips
Songwriter(s)Burt Bacharach and Hal David
Producer(s)Johnny Franz
Dusty Springfield singles chronology
"All Cried Out"
(1964) 		"I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself"
(1964) 		"Guess Who"
(1964)

"I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and lyricist Hal David.

Composition[]

The song’s life began in 1962, when Bacharach and David were songwriters at New York songwriting factory the Brill Building.[1]

Original version[]

"I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself" was first recorded by Chuck Jackson in 1962.[1] This version was shelved and remained unreleased until it appeared on a 1984 compilation on the Kent record label called Mr. Emotion. According to the sleeve notes of that album, Tommy Hunt's vocals were substituted for Jackson's whilst the original backing track was retained.

The song was then recorded, also in 1962, by Tommy Hunt in a session produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, with Burt Bacharach arranging and conducting. It was released as single Scepter 1236 (B-side "And I Never Knew") in May 1962, but did not chart. The song served as the title track for Hunt's sole album release on Scepter released in April 1963. The success in the UK of the Dusty Springfield version of "I Just Don't Know..." in the summer of 1964 led to Scepter's re-releasing the original, at which time it reached the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart in Billboard with a number 119 peak.

Dusty Springfield version[]

Dusty Springfield recorded "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" in a session at Olympic Studios in Westminster with production credited to Philips Records owner Johnny Franz - although Springfield later stated her solo Philips tracks were self-produced - and arranged by Ivor Raymonde who conducted his orchestra; personnel on the session included Big Jim Sullivan on guitar and Bobby Graham on drums. Springfield, whose first solo recordings had included covers of the Bacharach/David compositions "Anyone Who Had a Heart" and "Wishin' and Hopin' " - had brought back "I Just Don't Know..." from an overnight trip to New York City where she met up with Bacharach in February 1964.

The third UK single release of Springfield's solo career - following the "Brill Building" Sound-alikes "I Only Want to Be With You" and "Stay Awhile" - "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" was Springfield's first UK single release to display her signature vocal style; rising to number 3 in the summer of 1964 the track remained Springfield's highest UK Singles Chart hit, until she reached number 1 in 1966 with "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me", which was Springfield's only UK solo hit to chart higher than "I Just Don't Know...".

A concurrent US release of Springfield's "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" was preempted by the presence of Springfield's "Wishin' and Hopin'" in the US Top Ten over the summer of 1964. Springfield's "I Just Don't Know..." received a belated US release in October 1965 featured on a single with Springfield's current UK hit "Some of Your Lovin'"; that month Springfield made a promotional junket to the US which included performances of both of the single's tracks on the TV shows Hullabaloo and Shindig but neither side reached the Billboard Hot 100.

Charts[]

Chart (1964) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart[2] 16
Ireland (IRMA)[3] 5
Dutch Singles Chart[4] 5
New Zealand Charts[5] 3
UK Singles Chart[6] 3

Dionne Warwick version[]

"I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself"
I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself - Dionne Warwick.jpg
Single by Dionne Warwick
from the album Here Where There Is Love
B-side"In Between the Heartaches"
Released1966
RecordedAugust 1966
GenrePop, soul
Length2:50
LabelScepter
Songwriter(s)Burt Bacharach and Hal David
Producer(s)Burt Bacharach and Hal David
Dionne Warwick singles chronology
"Trains Boats and Planes"
(1966) 		"I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself"
(1966) 		"The Beginning of Loneliness" / "Another Night"
(1966)

Dionne Warwick recorded "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" at Bell Sound Studios in August 1966 with Burt Bacharach producing; released that September the track is from her third album, Here Where There Is Love on Scepter Records. The song was a moderate success reaching number 26 on the US Hot 100 and number 20 on US Hot R&B with its strongest evident regional success in Detroit going Top Ten there.

After "Message to Michael" and "Trains and Boats and Planes" Warwick's "I Just Don't Know..." was her third consecutive single release comprising a previously recorded Bacharach/David song and Warwick's next Top 40 single "Alfie" would also fit in this category; three of the four appeared on Warwick's 1967 album Here Where There Is Love.

Formats and track listing[]

  • US 7" Vinyl Single
  1. "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" – 2:50
  2. "In Between the Heartaches" – 2:50

Notes

  • "In Between the Heartaches" - Published By – Blue Seas Music, Inc. / JAC Music Co., Inc. (ASCAP)
    "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" - Published By – Quartet Music Inc. (BMI) Belinda (Canada Litd.)[7]

Charts[]

Chart (1966) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8] 36
US Cashbox Top 100[9] 24
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 26
US Billboard Hot R&B Singles[11] 20

Marcia Hines version[]

"I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself"
Single by Marcia Hines
from the album Shining
B-side"Trilogy"
Released1976
GenreFunk music, Soul music, Pop music
Length3:08
LabelWizard Records
Songwriter(s)Burt Bacharach and Hal David
Producer(s)Robie Porter
Marcia Hines singles chronology
"From the Inside"
(1975) 		"I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself"
(1976) 		""Don't Let the Grass Grow" / "You Gotta Let Go""
(1976)

Marcia Hines recorded a version of the track and released it as the lead single from her second studio album, Shining (1976). The B-Side was "Trilogy" was included on her debut studio album, Marcia Shines (1975).

Track listing[]

7" Single (ZS-153)

Weekly charts[]

Chart (1975/76) Position
Australian Kent Music Report[12] 10

Year-end charts[]

Chart (1976) Position
Australian Kent Music Report[12] 23

See also[]

  • List of Top 25 singles for 1976 in Australia

The White Stripes version[]

"I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself"
The White Stripes – I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself.jpg
Single by The White Stripes
from the album Elephant
Released1 September 2003
Recorded19 November 2001
GenreAlternative rock, garage rock, blues rock
Length2:46
LabelXL Recordings
Songwriter(s)Burt Bacharach and Hal David
Producer(s)Jack White
The White Stripes singles chronology
"Seven Nation Army"
(2003) 		"I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself"
(2003) 		"The Hardest Button to Button"
(2003)

In 2003, "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" was released as a single by the American alternative rock band The White Stripes. It was the second single released from their album Elephant, reaching the top 40 in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

The black-and-white music video, directed by Sofia Coppola, cinematographed by Lance Acord and choreographed by Robin Conrad, features Kate Moss pole dancing in a black bra and black underwear.[13][14]

Formats and track listing[]

UK CD Promo

  1. "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" (BBC Radio 1 Evening Session) (Burt Bacharach, Hal David)
  2. "Who's to Say..." (Dan Miller)
  3. "Lafayette Blues" (BBC Radio 1 Evening Session)
  4. "I'm Finding It Harder to Be a Gentleman "(Live on the John Peel Show)

US 7" Vinyl

  1. "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" (BBC Radio 1 Evening Session)
  2. "Who's to Say..."

UK CD Single

  1. "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" (BBC Radio 1 Evening Session)
  2. "Who's to Say"
  3. "I'm Finding It Harder to Be a Gentleman" (Live on the John Peel Show)

UK DVD Single

  1. "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" (audio only)
  2. "Lafayette Blues" (BBC Radio 1 Evening Session) (audio only)
  3. "Black Math" (Masonic Temple Theatre, 16 April 2003)

Charts[]

Chart (2003) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[15] 54
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16] 92
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17] 34
Poland (LP3)[18] 1
Scotland (OCC)[19] 9
UK Singles (OCC)[20] 13
UK Indie (OCC)[21] 2
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[22] 25

Other versions[]

  • 1964: A French version of the song by Michèle Vendôme and Claude Carrère, "Oui, il faut croire", was released by yéyé-singer Sheila.
  • 1967: A band from Gadsden, Alabama The BLEUS, recorded a version of the song at Muscle Shoals Studio, with Eddie Hinton producing, released on the AMY label. The recording met with great success in the southeast U.S.
  • 1968: An Italian translation by Franco Migliacci, "Se mi vuoi bene", was recorded by Patty Pravo. The original English version was also recorded by Cissy Houston in the same year.
  • 1970: In October 1970 a Richard Perry-produced version of the song was released as the first solo single by Gary Puckett; primarily supported by Easy Listening radio, the track reached number 61 on the Hot 100 in Billboard magazine whose Easy Listening chart afforded Puckett's "I Just Don't Know..." a number 14 peak.
  • 1970: Isaac Hayes released his version in the same year.
  • 1972: The Dells.
  • 1978: Elvis Costello & The Attractions; Demis Roussos. Costello later wrote of his version, "It was a measure of how backwards things were in 1977 that some people actually thought I was making a joke when The Attractions and I began performing "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself". I was not being ironic. I was being extremely literal."[23]
  • 1980: The Photos (featuring Wendy Wu).
  • 1991: The Stylistics.
  • 1994: Linda Ronstadt on Winter Light.
  • 1997: The soundtrack to My Best Friend's Wedding included a version by Nicky Holland. In the film, Cameron Diaz sings the song in a karaoke scene.
  • 2003: Steve Tyrell.
  • 2006: The song was performed and included in the soundtrack for Shout! The Mod Musical.
  • 2007: Trijntje Oosterhuis; Tina Arena.
  • 2009: Scottish pop singer and songwriter Jimmy Somerville recorded the song for his album, Suddenly Last Summer.
  • 2011: Ronan Keating recorded the song for his album, When Ronan Met Burt.
  • 2012: Melanie C recorded the song for her musical-theatre-inspired album, Stages.
  • 2016 Mari Wilson recorded the song on her album Pop Deluxe [24]
  • 2021 Colin Hay recorded the song and named his 2021 covers album after it.


Although the recording year is unknown, a 2002 release of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' Away We a Go-Go includes their version of "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself".

Bibliography[]

  • Serene Dominic. Burt Bacharach, Song by Song: The Ultimate Burt Bacharach Reference for Fans. Schirmer Trade, New York 2003. ISBN 0-8256-7280-5

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Cheal, David (20 March 2015). "The Life of a Song: 'I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself'". Ft.com. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  2. ^ Ryan (bulion), Gary (15 June 2008). "Chart Positions Pre 1989 – Dusty Springfield". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  3. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  4. ^ "dutchcharts.nl - Discografie Dusty Springfield". © 2006-2011 Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  5. ^ Dusty Springfield - Flavour of New Zealand. Flavour of New Zealand
  6. ^ Dusty Springfield - UK Charts History. Official Charts
  7. ^ "I Just Don't Know"/"In Between the Heartaches" (7" Vinyl, Single) at Discogs
  8. ^ RPM Archives. Dionne Warwick's Canada Singles History. Archived 16 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Cash Box Top Singles". Cashboxmagazine.com. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  10. ^ Billboard Chart History. Dionne Warwick's Hot 100 History.
  11. ^ Billboard Chart History. Dionne Warwick's R&B Singles History.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b "Australian Chart Books". Australianchartbooks.com.au. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  13. ^ Lynn Hirschberg (31 August 2003). "The Coppola Smart Mob". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  14. ^ Sofia Coppola and Stephen Dorff (19 November 2010). "Sofia Coppola and Stephen Dorff". Interview. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  15. ^ "Issue 709" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  16. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – The White Stripes – I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  17. ^ "Charts.nz – The White Stripes – I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  18. ^ "Notowanie nr1162" (in Polish). LP3. 7 May 2004. Retrieved 10 March 2019. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  19. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  20. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  21. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  22. ^ "The White Stripes Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  23. ^ Elvis Costello (13 October 2015). Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink. Viking. p. 505. ISBN 978-0241003466.
  24. ^ "Pop Deluxe - Mari Wilson | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 February 2019.

External links[]

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