What Am I Living For

"What Am I Living For"
"What Am I Living For"
Single by Chuck Willis
B-side	"Hang Up My Rock and Roll Shoes"
Released	March 1958
Genre	R&B
Length	2:24
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Fred Jay, Art Harris
Chuck Willis singles chronology

"What Am I Living For" is a song written by Fred Jay and Art Harris and performed by Chuck Willis featuring the Reggie Obrecht Orchestra and Chorus. It reached No. 1 on the U.S. R&B chart and #9 on the U.S. pop chart in 1958.^[2]

Chuck Willis’s version was the first rock and roll record released in stereo, "engineered by Tom Dowd of Atlantic Records".^[3]

Other charting versions

Ernest Tubb released a version of the song which reached No. 19 on the U.S. country chart in 1959.^[4]
Conway Twitty released a version of the song which reached No. 26 on the U.S. pop chart in 1960.^[5]
Percy Sledge released a version of the song which reached No. 91 on the U.S. pop chart in 1967.^[6]
Twitty re-released a version of the song which reached No. 59 on the U.S. country chart in 1971.^[7]
Ray Charles released a version of the song which reached No. 20 on the U.S. adult contemporary chart and #54 on the U.S. pop chart in 1971.^[8]

Other versions

Jack Scott released a version of the song as a single in 1960, but it did not chart.^[9]
Ernie Freeman released a version of the song as a single in 1962, but it did not chart.^[10]
Carl McVoy released a version of the song as a single in 1962, but it did not chart.^[11]
Kitty Wells featuring The Jordanaires released a version of the song on her 1962 album Queen of Country Music.^[12]
Billy Fury released a version of the song on his 1963 album Am I Blue. It was produced by Dick Rowe.^[13]
Wanda Jackson released a version of the song on her 1963 album Love Me Forever. It was produced by Ken Nelson.^[14]
Millie Small released a version of the song as the B-side to her 1964 single "Sweet William".^[15]
The Everly Brothers released a version of the song on their 1965 album Beat & Soul. It was produced by Dick Glasser.^[16]
The Animals released a version of the song on their 1966 album Animalisms. It was produced by Tom Wilson.^[17]
Filipino singer Eddie Peregrina released a version of the song in 1966, later released on his 1968 album of the same name. In 1977, he later recorded a Filipino version of the song titled "Nabubuhay Ako, Dahil Sa Iyo" on his 1977 compilation album, Hanggang Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan, released posthumously. Almost four decades later, singer April Boy Regino sang a Filipino version of the song titled "Paano ang Puso Ko?" as theme of the 1997 film of the same name.
Rodger Collins released a version of the song as the B-side to his 1967 single "Hands Off My Girl".^[18]
Danny and The Velaires released a version of the song as a single in 1967, but it did not chart.^[19]
Z. Z. Hill released a version of the song on his 1967 album A Whole Lot of Soul.^[20]
Archie Campbell and Lorene Mann released a version of the song on their 1968 album Archie and Lorene Tell It Like It Is. It was produced by Bob Ferguson.^[21]
Solomon Burke released a version of the song as the B-side to his 1969 single "Proud Mary".^[22]
Wilbert Harrison released a version of the song on his 1969 album Let's Work Together. It was produced by Juggy Murray.^[23]
Johnny Tillotson released a version of the song on his 1969 album Tears on My Pillow. It was produced by Jimmy Bowen.^[24]
Andy Williams released a version of the song as the B-side to his 1969 single "A Woman's Way". It was produced by Dick Glasser.^[25]
Bill Phillips released a version of the song on his 1970 album Little Boy Sad. It was produced by Owen Bradley.^[26]
Lon Satton released a version of the song as the B-side to his 1970 single "Someone Is Standing Outside".^[27]
Jimmy Capps released a version of the song as the B-side to his 1972 single "Free Wheelin'".^[28]
Sonny James released a version of the song as the B-side to his 1973 single "Surprise, Surprise".^[29]
Little Joe Y La Familia Inc. released a version of the song as the B-side to their 1975 single "Paso Del Norte".^[30]
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown released a version of the song on his 1989 album Standing My Ground.^[31]
Carl Perkins released a version of the song on his 1993 album This Old House.^[32]
Taj Mahal released a version of the song on his 1996 album Phantom Blues. It was produced by John Porter.^[33]
Alan Price and The Electric Blues Company released a version of the song on their 1996 album A Gigster's Life for Me.^[34]
Jimmy Clanton released a version of the song on his 1997 compilation album Go, Jimmy, Go!: The Very Best of Jimmy Clanton.^[35]
The Band released a version of the song on their 2001 re-release of the album Moondog Matinee.^[36]
Julie Hanify, David Mahler, and Larry Polansky released a version of the song on their 2005 album Too Late.^[37]
Van Morrison released a version of the song on his 2006 album Pay the Devil.^[38]
Gene Taylor Blues Band featuring Dave Alvin released a version of the song on their 2008 album Live!!! 605 Boogie!!!^[39]
Dawn McCarthy and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy released a version of the song on their 2013 album What the Brothers Sang.^[40]
Pine Leaf Boys released a version of the song on their 2013 album Danser. It was produced by Joel Savoy.^[41]
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver released a version of the song on their 2017 album Life Is a Story.^[42]

References

^ "secondhandsongs.com". secondhandsongs.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
^ "Chuck Willis, "What Am I Living For" Chart Positions". Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ TIMELINE OF MUSICAL STYLES & GUITAR HISTORY
^ "Ernest Tubb, "What Am I Living For" Chart Position". Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Conway Twitty, "What Am I Living For" 1960 Chart Position". Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Percy Sledge, "What Am I Living For" Chart Position". Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Conway Twitty, "What Am I Living For" 1971 Chart Position". Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Ray Charles, "What Am I Living For" Chart Position". Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Jack Scott, "What Am I Living For" Single Release". Discogs. June 1960. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Ernie Freeman, "What Am I Living For" Single Release". Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Carl McVoy, "What Am I Living For" Single Release". Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Kitty Wells, Queen of Country Music". Discogs. 1963. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Billy Fury, Am I Blue". Discogs. 1963. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Wanda Jackson, Love Me Forever". Discogs. 1963. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Millie Small, "Sweet William" Single Release". Discogs. 1964. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "The Everly Brothers, Beat & Soul". Discogs. 1965. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "The Animals, Animalisms". Discogs. May 1966. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Rodger Collins, "Hands Off My Girl" Single Release". Discogs. 1967. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Danny and The Velaires, "What Am I Living For" Single Release". Discogs. 1967. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Z. Z. Hill, A Whole Lot of Soul". Discogs. 1967. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Archie Campbell and Lorene Mann, Archie and Lorene Tell It Like It Is". Discogs. 1968. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Solomon Burke, "Proud Mary" Single Release". Discogs. 1969. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Wilbert Harrison, Let's Work Together". Discogs. 1969. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Johnny Tillotson, Tears on My Pillow". Discogs. 1969. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Andy Williams, "A Woman's Way" Single Release". Discogs. 1969. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Bill Phillips, Little Boy Sad". Discogs. 1970. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Lon Satton, "Someone is Standing Outside" Single Release". Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Jimmy Capps, "Free Wheelin" Single Release". Discogs. 1972. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Sonny James, "Surprise, Surprise" Single Release". Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Little Joe Y La Familia Inc., "Paso Del Norte" Single Release". Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Standing My Ground". Discogs. 1989. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Carl Perkins, This Old House". Discogs. 1993. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Taj Mahal, Phantom Blues". Discogs. 1996. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Alan Price and The Electric Blues Company, A Gigster's Life for Me". Discogs. 1995. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Jimmy Clanton, Go, Jimmy, Go!: The Very Best of Jimmy Clanton". AllMusic. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "The Band, Moondog Matinee". Discogs. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Julie Hanify, David Mahler, and Larry Polansky, Too Late". Discogs. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Van Morrison, Pay the Devil". Discogs. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Gene Taylor Blues Band featuring Dave Alvin, Live!!! 605 Boogie!!!". Discogs. 10 November 2008. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Dawn McCarthy and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, What the Brothers Sang". Discogs. 19 February 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Pine Leaf Boys, Danser". Discogs. 31 May 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
^ "Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Life Is a Story". Discogs. 25 August 2017. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[1] "secondhandsongs.com". secondhandsongs.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2021.

[2] "Chuck Willis, "What Am I Living For" Chart Positions". Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[3] TIMELINE OF MUSICAL STYLES & GUITAR HISTORY

[4] "Ernest Tubb, "What Am I Living For" Chart Position". Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[5] "Conway Twitty, "What Am I Living For" 1960 Chart Position". Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[6] "Percy Sledge, "What Am I Living For" Chart Position". Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[7] "Conway Twitty, "What Am I Living For" 1971 Chart Position". Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[8] "Ray Charles, "What Am I Living For" Chart Position". Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[9] "Jack Scott, "What Am I Living For" Single Release". Discogs. June 1960. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[10] "Ernie Freeman, "What Am I Living For" Single Release". Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[11] "Carl McVoy, "What Am I Living For" Single Release". Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[12] "Kitty Wells, Queen of Country Music". Discogs. 1963. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[13] "Billy Fury, Am I Blue". Discogs. 1963. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[14] "Wanda Jackson, Love Me Forever". Discogs. 1963. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[15] "Millie Small, "Sweet William" Single Release". Discogs. 1964. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[16] "The Everly Brothers, Beat & Soul". Discogs. 1965. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[17] "The Animals, Animalisms". Discogs. May 1966. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[18] "Rodger Collins, "Hands Off My Girl" Single Release". Discogs. 1967. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[19] "Danny and The Velaires, "What Am I Living For" Single Release". Discogs. 1967. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[20] "Z. Z. Hill, A Whole Lot of Soul". Discogs. 1967. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[21] "Archie Campbell and Lorene Mann, Archie and Lorene Tell It Like It Is". Discogs. 1968. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[22] "Solomon Burke, "Proud Mary" Single Release". Discogs. 1969. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[23] "Wilbert Harrison, Let's Work Together". Discogs. 1969. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[24] "Johnny Tillotson, Tears on My Pillow". Discogs. 1969. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[25] "Andy Williams, "A Woman's Way" Single Release". Discogs. 1969. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[26] "Bill Phillips, Little Boy Sad". Discogs. 1970. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[27] "Lon Satton, "Someone is Standing Outside" Single Release". Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[28] "Jimmy Capps, "Free Wheelin" Single Release". Discogs. 1972. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[29] "Sonny James, "Surprise, Surprise" Single Release". Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[30] "Little Joe Y La Familia Inc., "Paso Del Norte" Single Release". Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[31] "Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Standing My Ground". Discogs. 1989. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[32] "Carl Perkins, This Old House". Discogs. 1993. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[33] "Taj Mahal, Phantom Blues". Discogs. 1996. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[34] "Alan Price and The Electric Blues Company, A Gigster's Life for Me". Discogs. 1995. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[35] "Jimmy Clanton, Go, Jimmy, Go!: The Very Best of Jimmy Clanton". AllMusic. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[36] "The Band, Moondog Matinee". Discogs. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[37] "Julie Hanify, David Mahler, and Larry Polansky, Too Late". Discogs. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[38] "Van Morrison, Pay the Devil". Discogs. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[39] "Gene Taylor Blues Band featuring Dave Alvin, Live!!! 605 Boogie!!!". Discogs. 10 November 2008. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[40] "Dawn McCarthy and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, What the Brothers Sang". Discogs. 19 February 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[41] "Pine Leaf Boys, Danser". Discogs. 31 May 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

[42] "Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Life Is a Story". Discogs. 25 August 2017. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

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v t e Conway Twitty
Studio albums	Sings Saturday Night with Conway Twitty Lonely Blue Boy The Rock & Roll Story I Can't See Me Without You Honky Tonk Angel I'm Not Through Loving You Yet Linda on My Mind The High Priest of Country Music Now and Then I've Already Loved You in My Mind Georgia Keeps Pulling on My Ring Cross Winds Heart & Soul Rest Your Love on Me Mr. T Southern Comfort Dream Maker Lost in the Feeling By Heart Don't Call Him a Cowboy Chasin' Rainbows Fallin' for You for Years Borderline Still in Your Dreams House on Old Lonesome Road Crazy in Love Even Now Final Touches
Collaboration albums	We Only Make Believe Lead Me On Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man Country Partners Dynamic Duo
Compilation albums	Number Ones Classic Conway Conway's Latest Greatest Hits Volume 1 Greatest Hits Volume III 25 Number Ones
Notable singles	"It's Only Make Believe" "Mona Lisa" "Danny Boy" "Lonely Blue Boy" "What Am I Living For" "Next in Line" "I Love You More Today" "To See My Angel Cry" "Hello Darlin'" "Fifteen Years Ago" "How Much More Can She Stand" "I Can't See Me Without You" "(Lost Her Love) On Our Last Date" "I Can't Stop Loving You" "She Needs Someone to Hold Her (When She Cries)" "You've Never Been This Far Before" "There's a Honky Tonk Angel (Who'll Take Me Back In)" "I'm Not Through Loving You Yet" "I See the Want To in Your Eyes" "Linda on My Mind" "Touch the Hand" "This Time I've Hurt Her More Than She Loves Me" "After All the Good Is Gone" "The Games That Daddies Play" "I Can't Believe She Gives It All to Me" "Play Guitar Play" "I've Already Loved You in My Mind" "Georgia Keeps Pulling on My Ring" "Boogie Grass Band" "Your Love Had Taken Me That High" "Don't Take It Away" "I May Never Get to Heaven" "Happy Birthday Darlin'" "I'd Love to Lay You Down" "Rest Your Love on Me" "Tight Fittin' Jeans" "Red Neckin' Love Makin' Night" "The Clown" "Slow Hand" "We Did But Now You Don't" "The Rose" "We Had It All" "Lost in the Feeling" "Heartache Tonight" "Three Times a Lady" "Somebody's Needin' Somebody" "I Don't Know a Thing About Love (The Moon Song)" "Ain't She Somethin' Else" "Don't Call Him a Cowboy" "Between Blue Eyes and Jeans" "Desperado Love" "Fallin' for You for Years" "Julia" "I Want to Know You Before We Make Love" "That's My Job" "Goodbye Time" "Saturday Night Special" "I Wish I Was Still in Your Dreams" "She's Got a Single Thing in Mind" "House on Old Lonesome Road" "Fit to Be Tied Down" "Crazy in Love" "I Couldn't See You Leavin'" "Rainy Night in Georgia"
Collaboration singles	"After the Fire Is Gone" "Lead Me On" "Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man" "Feelins'" "The Letter" "I Can't Love You Enough" "Making Believe" "Don't Cry Joni"
Related articles	Discography Discography with Loretta Lynn Joni Lee

v t e Percy Sledge
Albums	Take Time to Know Her (1968)
Songs	"When a Man Loves a Woman" "Love Me Tender" "What Am I Living For" "Take Time to Know Her" "True Love Travels on a Gravel Road" "Many Rivers to Cross"