Songs with Earlier Histories Than the Hit Version

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I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself

First recorded by Chuck Jackson (1962, released 1984).
First released by Tommy Hunt (1962).
Hit versions by Dusty Springfield (UK #3/IRE #5/AUS #16/NETH #5 1964), Dionne Warwick (US #26/R&B #20/CAN #26 1966), White Stripes (ALT #25/UK #13/AUS #54/NZ #34 2003).

From the wiki: “‘I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself’ was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, and was first recorded by by Chuck Jackson (‘Any Day Now‘) in 1962 in a session produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, with Burt Bacharach arranging and conducting.

“Jackson’s version was shelved and remained unreleased until it appeared on a 1984 compilation titled Mr. Emotion. The same backing track and Bacharach arrangement was then used later the same year when Tommy Hunt (‘Any Day Now‘) covered the song. Hunt’s version was released as single in May 1962, but it did not chart.

“Dusty Springfield recorded ‘I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself’ in 1964 following an overnight trip to New York City where she met up with Bacharach. (Springfield would record a number of Bacharach-David songs, including ‘Wishin’ and Hopin‘.) The third UK single release of Springfield’s solo career, ‘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 #3 in the summer of 1964. A concurrent US release of the song was preempted by the presence of Springfield’s ‘Wishin’ and Hopin” in the US Top-10 over the summer of 1964. Springfield’s ‘I Just Don’t Know…’ received a belated US release in October 1965 but did not chart in the US.

“Dionne Warwick recorded ‘I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself’ at Bell Sound Studios in August 1966 with Burt Bacharach producing, charting US Top-30 and R&B Top-20.

“In September 2003, ‘I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself’ was released as a single by 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 and choreographed by Robin Conrad, features Kate Moss pole dancing in black underwear.”

Tommy Hunt, “I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself” (1962):

Dusty Springfield, “I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself” (1964):

Dionne Warwick, “I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself” (1966):

The White Stripes, “I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself” (2003):

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