Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)



"Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)" was a UK #1 single in August 1975 for three weeks by The Stylistics.

After splitting from record producer Thom Bell in 1974, songwriters/producers Hugo & Luigi and George David Weiss took over, with arrangements by Van McCoy. Although the split with Bell proved disastrous in the U.S., The Stylistics continued to be popular in the UK and this was their first and only UK #1 single. The track reached #51 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #18 on the corresponding U.S. R&B chart.

In 1975, French female singer Nicoletta sang a French version of this song entitled "A Quoi Sert de Vivre Libre". This song appeared in the film 8 Femmes (2002) directed by Francois Ozon. In the film, the song was performed by Fanny Ardant.

In 1991, it was covered by the German singer Thomas Anders as well as Hong Kong artist, Gloria Yip, who released a Japanese version.

In 1996, the song was covered by Irish boyband OTT.

In 2006, it was used as the base for a Japanese advertisement campaign by Gatsby, to launch their new male hair styling product, 'Moving Rubber'. The campaign was successful due to the tune and that the commercial featured one of Japan's most popular celebrities, Takuya Kimura, of the pop group, SMAP. They were also featured guests on SMAP's television show SMAP×SMAP, one of the highest rated shows in Japan.

Thomas Anders version
The cover version by Thomas Anders was the second single off his second album, Whispers. The single included versions in both English and Spanish ("Más que amor").

Track listings

 * 7" Single EastWest 9031-75025-7 (Warner), 08.1991
 * 1) Can't Give You Anything (But My Love) — 4:10
 * 2) Más que amor — 4:09


 * 12" Single EastWest 9031-76005-0 (Warner), 08.1991
 * 1) Can't Give You Anything (But My Love) (Basic Love Mix) — 5:07
 * 2) Más que amor (Spanish Club Mix) — 5:09
 * 3) Can't Give You Anything (But My Love) (Instrumental Groove Mix) — 5:11


 * CD-Maxi EastWest 9031-75026-2 (Warner), 08.1991
 * 1) Can't Give You Anything (But My Love) (Radio versión) — 4:10
 * 2) Can't Give You Anything (But My Love) (Extended versión) — 6:43
 * 3) Más que amor (Extended Version) — 6:44
 * 4) Más que amor — 4:09

Chart positions
The single stayed five weeks on the German charts, from October 14 to November 24, 1991, peaking at #73.

Credits

 * Producer: Mike Paxman and Paul Muggleton
 * Publisher: Music Sales Crop, Melodie der Welt MV
 * Mix: Mark "Tufte" Evans
 * Lyrics: George David Weiss
 * Spanish lyrics: Gómez y Argandoña G.
 * Music: George David Weiss
 * Chorus: Judie Tzuke, Paul Muggleton, Don Snow, Deborah Robson