My World Is Empty Without You

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 one, peaking at number five 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]

Personnel[]

Lead vocals by Diana Ross
Background vocals by Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard
Instrumentation by the Funk Brothers

Charts[]

Weekly charts[]

Chart (1965-1966)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[4]	88
Canada (Billboard)^[5]	1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[6]	29
Singapore (Billboard)^[5]	7
US Billboard Hot 100^[7]	5
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[8]	10
US Cashbox Top 100^[9]	5
US Cashbox R&B^[10]	7
US Record World 100 Top Pops^[11]	4
US Record World Top 40 R&B^[12]	12

Year-end charts[]

Chart (1966)	Rank
US Billboard Hot 100^[13]	81
US Cashbox Top 100^[14]	55

Certifications[]


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States	—	1,000,000^[15]^[16]

References[]

^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Company. 78 (10): 18. 1966. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
^ "The Supremes, Dave Clark Five, Richard Kiley". The Ed Sullivan Show. Season 19. Episode 23. New York City. 20 February 1966. CBS. WCBS.
^ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. January 8, 1966. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
^ "Every Unique AMR Top 100 Single of the 1966". Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD". Billboard. 5 March 1966. p. 34.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5703." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
^ "The Supremes Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
^ "The Supremes Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles". Cashbox. February 26, 1966. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
^ "The CASH BOX Top 50 In R&B Locations". Cashbox. March 5, 1966. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
^ "100 TOP POPS: Week of February 19, 1966" (PDF). Record World. worldradiohistory.com. February 19, 1966. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
^ "TOP 40 R&B: Week of February 19, 1966" (PDF). Record World. worldradiohistory.com. February 19, 1966. p. 20. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
^ "Top 100 Hits of 1964/Top 100 Songs of 1966". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
^ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1966". Cashbox. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
^ Jay Warner (20 January 1973). "Announcing Motown's Yesteryear Series: two million-selling singles on one record". Billboard. Vol. 85 no. 3. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 63. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
^ Joseph Murrells (1984). "THE SUPREMES". Million Selling Records from the 1900s to the 1980s: An Illustrated Directory. London, W1H: B.T. Batsford. p. 233. ISBN 0-7134-3843-6.CS1 maint: location (link)

External links[]

show v t The Primettes (1959–1960) / The Supremes (1960–1967) / Diana Ross & The Supremes (1967–1970) / The Supremes (1970–1977)
Florence Ballard Cindy Birdsong Susaye Greene Lynda Laurence Barbara Martin Betty McGlown Scherrie Payne Diana Ross Jean Terrell Mary Wilson
Studio albums	Meet The Supremes (1962) Where Did Our Love Go (1964) More Hits by The Supremes (1965) I Hear a Symphony (1966) The Supremes A' Go-Go (1966) The Supremes Sing Holland–Dozier–Holland (1967) Reflections (1968) Love Child (1968) Let the Sunshine In (1969) Cream of the Crop (1969) Right On (1970) New Ways but Love Stays (1970) Touch (1971) Floy Joy (1972) The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb (1972) The Supremes (1975) High Energy (1976) Mary, Scherrie & Susaye (1976)
Collaborative albums	Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations (1968) Together (1969) The Magnificent 7 (1970) The Return of the Magnificent Seven (1971) Dynamite (1971)
Live albums	The Supremes at the Copa (1965) Live at London's Talk of the Town (1968) TCB (1968) On Broadway (1969) Farewell (1970) The Supremes Live! In Japan (1973)
Other albums	A Bit of Liverpool (1964) The Supremes Sing Country, Western and Pop (1965) We Remember Sam Cooke (1965) Merry Christmas (1965) The Supremes Sing Rodgers & Hart (1967) Diana Ross & the Supremes Sing and Perform "Funny Girl" (1968)
Singles	"Tears of Sorrow" (as The Primettes) "I Want a Guy" "Buttered Popcorn" "Your Heart Belongs to Me" "Let Me Go the Right Way" "My Heart Can't Take It No More" "A Breathtaking Guy" "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes" "Run, Run, Run" "Where Did Our Love Go" "Baby Love" "Come See About Me" "Stop! In the Name of Love" "Back in My Arms Again" "The Only Time I'm Happy" "Nothing but Heartaches" "Things Are Changing" "I Hear a Symphony" "Children's Christmas Song" "My World Is Empty Without You" "Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart" "You Can't Hurry Love" "You Keep Me Hangin' On" "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" "The Happening" "Reflections" "In and Out of Love" "Forever Came Today" "Some Things You Never Get Used To" "Love Child" "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" "I'm Livin' in Shame" "I'll Try Something New" "The Composer" "No Matter What Sign You Are" "The Weight" "I Second That Emotion" "Someday We'll Be Together" "Why (Must We Fall in Love)" "Up the Ladder to the Roof" "Everybody's Got the Right to Love" "Stoned Love" "River Deep – Mountain High" "Nathan Jones" "You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart" "Touch" "Floy Joy" "Automatically Sunshine" "Without the One You Love" "Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love" "I Guess I'll Miss the Man" "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)" "Bad Weather" "Tossin' and Turnin'" "He's My Man" "Where Do I Go from Here" "Early Morning Love" "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking" "High Energy" "You're My Driving Wheel" "Let Yourself Go" "Love, I Never Knew You Could Feel So Good"
Videography	T.A.M.I. Show Greatest Hits: Live in Amsterdam Reflections: The Definitive Performances (1964–1969) Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
Inspired works	Sparkle (1976 film) Dreamgirls (musical) Dreamgirls (film) Sparkle (2012 film)
Related topics	Discography Chronology Members FLOS Farewell concert Return to Love Tour
Category

show v t Holland–Dozier–Holland
Brian Holland Lamont Dozier Eddie Holland
Songs	1962 "Dearest One" "Old Love (Let's Try It Again)" "Darling, I Hum Our Song" 1963 "Leaving Here" "Locking Up My Heart" "What Goes Up Must Come Down" / "Come on Home" "Tie a String Around Your Finger" "Come and Get These Memories" / "Jealous Lover" "You Lost the Sweetest Boy" "Heat Wave" / "A Love Like Yours (Don't Come Knocking Everyday)" "(He Won't Be True) Little Girl Blue" "Mickey's Monkey" "Too Hurt to Cry, Too Much in Love to Say Goodbye" / "Come on Home" "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes" / "Standing at the Crossroads of Love" "I Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying" "Quicksand" / "Darling I Hum Our Song" "Live Wire" / "Old Love (Let's Try It Again)" "Run, Run, Run" / "I'm Giving You Your Freedom" "Can I Get a Witness" 1964 "A Tear from a Woman's Eyes" "My Lady Bug Stay Away from That Beatle" "Like a Nightmare" / "If You Were Mine" "In My Lonely Room" "Just Ain't Enough Love" "Where Did Our Love Go" "Baby Don't You Do It" "Guarantee for a Lifetime" "Baby I Need Your Loving" / "Call on Me" "Candy to Me" / "If You Don't Want My Love" "Whisper You Love Me Boy" "Baby Love" / "Ask Any Girl" "Come See About Me" / (You're Gone But) Always in My Heart" "Without the One You Love (Life's Not Worth While)" / "Love has Gone" "You're a Wonderful One" "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" 1965 "Where Did You Go" "Stop! In the Name of Love" / "I'm in Love Again" "You've Been a Long Time Coming" "Who Could Ever Doubt My Love" "Nowhere to Run" "Back in My Arms Again" / "Whisper You Love Me Boy" "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" "The Only Time I'm Happy" "Mother Dear" / "He Holds His Own" "Nothing but Heartaches" / "He Holds His Own" "Love (Makes Me Do Foolish Things)" "It's the Same Old Song" / "Your Love Is Amazing" "Mother Dear" / "Who Could Ever Doubt My Love" "I Hear a Symphony" / "Who Could Ever Doubt My Love" "Something About You" "Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)" "Darling Baby" "There's a Ghost in My House" 1966 "(I'm a) Roadrunner" "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)" "Ask any Man" "My World Is Empty Without You" "Put Yourself in My Place" "There's No Love Left" "Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)" / "Just as Long as You Need Me" "Helpless" / "A Love Like Yours (Don't Come Knocking Everyday)" "Call on Me" "Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart" / "He's All I Got" "Who Could Ever Doubt My Love" "I Like Everything About You" "I Guess I'll Always Love You" "Nothing but Soul" "Love's Gone Bad" / "Put Yourself in My Place" "You Can't Hurry Love" / "Put Yourself in My Place" "Little Darling (I Need You)" "Reach Out I'll Be There" / "Until You Love Someone" "Stay in My Lonely Arms" "You Keep Me Hangin' On" / "I Wanna Mother You, Smother You With Love" "You Keep Me Hangin' On" / "Remove This Doubt" "Standing in the Shadows of Love" / Since You've Been Gone" "I'm Ready for Love" "(Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need" "Heaven Must Have Sent You" 1967 "Just One Last Look" "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" / There's No Stopping Us Now" "Your Love Is Amazing" "Jimmy Mack" / "Third Finger, Left Hand" "Bernadette" / "I Got a Feeling" "My World Is Empty Without You" "The Happening" / "All I Know About You" "Just Ain't Enough Love" "7-Rooms of Gloom" / "I'll Turn to Stone" "I Understand My Man" "Your Unchanging Love" / "I'll Take Care of You" "Reflections" / "Going Down for the Third Time" "One Way Out" "You Keep Me Running Away" / "If You Don't Want My Love" "I Got a Feeling" "In and Out of Love" / "I Guess I'll Always Love You" 1968 "Whisper You Love Me Boy" "Forever Came Today" "I'm in a Different World" 1969 "We've Got a Way Out Love" "Crumbs off the Table" 1970 "Give Me Just a Little More Time" "(You've Got Me) Dangling on a String" "Everything's Tuesday" "Band of Gold" "Westbound #9" 1972 "The Day I Found Myself" "Don't Leave Me Starvin' for Your Love" "Why Can't We Be Lovers" 1973 "You're Gonna Need Me" 1975 "We're Almost There" "Just a Little Bit of You" "Early Morning Love" "Where Do I Go from Here" 1976 "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking" "High Energy" "Let Yourself Go" 1982 "We Can Never Light That Old Flame Again"
Related topics	Motown Hot Wax Records Invictus Records List of songs written by Holland, Dozier and Holland