Ai n't No Sunshine - wikipedia Ai n't No Sunshine `` Ai n't No Sunshine '' Single by Bill Withers from the album Just As I Am B - side `` Harlem '' Released 1971 Format 7 '' record Genre Soul R&B blues Length 2 : 03 Label Sussex Songwriter ( s ) Bill Withers Producer ( s ) Booker T. Jones Bill Withers singles chronology `` Ai n't No Sunshine '' ( 1971 ) `` Grandma 's Hands '' ( 1971 ) `` Ai n't No Sunshine '' is a song by Bill Withers from his 1971 album Just As I Am, produced by Booker T. Jones. The record featured musicians Donald `` Duck '' Dunn on bass guitar, Al Jackson, Jr. on drums and Stephen Stills on guitar. String arrangements were done by Booker T. Jones, and recorded in Memphis by engineer Terry Manning. The song is in the key of A minor. The song was released as a single in 1971, becoming a breakthrough hit for Withers, reaching number six on the U.S. R&B Chart and number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Billboard ranked it as the No. 23 song for 1971. The song also appears on the original soundtrack album for the film When We Were Kings ( 1997 ), and in FX 's first season ( 2016 ) of the anthology limited series American Crime Story, which focuses on the 1994 murder trial of O.J. Simpson. The song reached the Top 40 again in 2009, sung by Kris Allen in the 8th season of American Idol. Contents 1 History 2 Chart history 2.1 Weekly charts 2.2 Year - end charts 3 Michael Jackson version 4 Boris Gardiner version 5 Rockmelons featuring Deni Hines version 5.1 Weekly charts 6 Ladysmith Black Mambazo featuring Des'ree version 6.1 Weekly charts 7 Other covers 8 References 9 External links History Withers was inspired to write this song after watching the 1962 movie Days of Wine and Roses. He explained, in reference to the characters played by Lee Remick and Jack Lemmon, `` They were both alcoholics who were alternately weak and strong. It 's like going back for seconds on rat poison. Sometimes you miss things that were n't particularly good for you. It 's just something that crossed my mind from watching that movie, and probably something else that happened in my life that I 'm not aware of. '' For the song 's third verse, Withers had intended to write more lyrics instead of repeating the phrase `` I know '' 26 times, but then followed the advice of the other musicians to leave it that way : `` I was this factory worker puttering around, '' Withers said. `` So when they said to leave it like that, I left it. '' Withers, then thirty - one years old, was working at a factory making toilet seats for 747s at the time he wrote the song. On the American Top 40 program of November 6, 1976, Casey Kasem reported that when the song went gold, the record company presented Withers with a golden toilet, marking the start of his new career. `` Ai n't No Sunshine '' was the first of Withers ' three gold records in the U.S. The song was originally released as the B - side to another song called `` Harlem ''. Disc jockeys played `` Ai n't No Sunshine '' as the single instead, and it became a huge hit, the first for Withers. `` Harlem '' was subsequently covered by The 5th Dimension, which was featured on their Soul and Inspiration album and released as a single. Withers performed the song on The Old Grey Whistle Test. `` Ai n't No Sunshine '' is ranked 285th on Rolling Stone 's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song won the Grammy for Best R&B Song in 1972. Chart history Weekly charts Chart ( 1971 ) Peak position Canada RPM Top Singles 9 US Billboard Hot 100 US Billboard Easy Listening US Billboard R&B 6 US Cash Box Top 100 Chart ( 2009 ) Peak position UK ( OCC ) 40 Year - end charts Chart ( 1971 ) Rank US Billboard Hot 100 23 US Cash Box 24 US R&B / Soul ( Billboard ) 21 Michael Jackson version `` Ai n't No Sunshine '' Single by Michael Jackson from the album Got to Be There B - side `` I Wanna Be Where You Are '' Released July 2, 1972 ( UK only ) Format 7 '' single Recorded 1971 Hitsville West, Los Angeles, California Genre Soul psychedelic soul Length 4 : 09 Label Motown ( Canada and United States ) Songwriter ( s ) Bill Withers Producer ( s ) Hal Davis Michael Jackson singles chronology `` Rockin ' Robin '' ( 1972 ) `` Ai n't No Sunshine '' ( 1972 ) `` Ben '' ( 1972 ) In 1971 singer Michael Jackson recorded a cover version of Bill Withers ' song for his debut album Got to Be There ( released in early 1972 ). In the UK the song was released as the third ( and final ) single from the album ( after the two singles `` Got to Be There '' and `` Rockin ' Robin '', a cover of Bobby Day 's 1958 song ). ( The song `` I Wanna Be Where You Are '', which was released as the third single in the US, was on the B - side. ) It was a hit, peaking in the UK Singles Chart at number 8 for 3 weeks in September 1972. Boris Gardiner version The Boris Gardiner Happening recorded a version of `` Ai n't No Sunshine '' in 1973 with Paul Douglas singing lead, and Boris Gardiner playing bass guitar, for the album Is What 's Happening. Rockmelons featuring Deni Hines version `` Ai n't No Sunshine '' Single by The Rockmelons feat. Deni Hines from the album Form 1 Planet Released November 1991 Format CD single Length 3 : 20 Label Festival Mushroom Records Songwriter ( s ) Bill Withers Producer ( s ) The Rockmelons The Rockmelons feat. Deni Hines singles chronology `` Boogietron '' ( 1988 ) `` Ai n't No Sunshine '' ( 1991 ) `` That Word ( L.O.V.E. ) '' ( 1992 ) In November 1991, Australian pop band Rockmelons, ( featuring vocalist Deni Hines ) released a version as the lead single from their second studio album, Form 1 Planet ( 1992 ). The song peaked at number 5 and was certified Gold in Australia. Weekly charts Chart ( 1991 / 92 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) 5 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 8 Ladysmith Black Mambazo featuring Des'ree version `` Ai n't No Sunshine '' Single by Ladysmith Black Mambazo feat. Des'ree from the album In Harmony Released October 1999 Format CD single Genre World Length 3 : 50 Label UMTV Songwriter ( s ) Bill Withers Ladysmith Black Mambazo feat. Des'ree singles chronology `` Best Days '' ( 1999 ) `` Ai n't No Sunshine '' ( 1999 ) `` It 's Okay '' ( 2003 ) In 1999, South African male choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, ( featuring vocalist Des'ree ) released a version as a single from their studio album, In Harmony ( 1999 ). The single peaked at number 42 in the UK. Weekly charts Chart ( 1999 ) Peak position UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 42 Other covers In 2013, heavy metal band Black Label Society covered the song on their album Unblackened under the title `` Ai n't No Sunshine When She 's Gone ''. Their version was subsequently released as a single, which peaked at # 42 on the Canadian Rock Chart. References Jump up ^ The Mojo Collection : 4th Edition, LyricsFreak, Broken Radio, About. comOldies Music - In The Spotlight : Bill Withers Jump up ^ Stephenson, Ken ( 2002 ). What to Listen for in Rock : A Stylistic Analysis, p. 89. ISBN 978 - 0 - 300 - 09239 - 4. ^ Jump up to : `` Ai n't No Sunshine ''. Songfacts.com. Archived from the original on 8 April 2009. Retrieved 2009 - 04 - 03. ^ Jump up to : `` News ''. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 03. Jump up ^ The Old Grey Whistle Test ( DVD ). Warner Home Video. 2003. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2012 - 07 - 11. Retrieved 2012 - 06 - 30. Jump up ^ `` Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada ''. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Missing or empty url = ( help ) ; access - date = requires url = ( help ) Jump up ^ Joel Whitburn 's Top Pop Singles 1955 - 1990 - ISBN 0 - 89820 - 089 - X Jump up ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, October 9, 1971 Jump up ^ Musicoutfitters.com Jump up ^ Cash Box Year - End Charts : Top 100 Pop Singles, December 25, 1971 Jump up ^ Billboard. Books.google.com. 1971 - 12 - 25. p. 15. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Michael Jackson -- full Official Chart History ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2016 - 05 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Michael Jackson ''. chartstats.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2008. Retrieved 15 March 2015. Jump up ^ `` ChartArchive - Michael Jackson - Ai n't No Sunshine ''. Archived from the original on August 25, 2012. Retrieved 2016 - 05 - 09. CS1 maint : Unfit url ( link ) Jump up ^ The Boris Gardiner Happening ( 1973 ) Is Whats Happening. ReggaeRecord.com. Web. Retrieved 16 November 2016. < http://www.reggaerecord.com/en/catalog/description.php?code=2024 > Jump up ^ Ryan, Gavin ( 2011 ). Australia 's Music Charts 1988 - 2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia : Moonlight Publishing. Jump up ^ `` Australian-charts.com -- Rockmelons -- Ai n't No Sunshine ''. ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 1 June 2016. Jump up ^ `` Charts.nz -- Rockmelons -- Ai n't No Sunshine ''. Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 1 June 2016. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company ''. Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 July 2016. Jump up ^ Cubarrubia, RJ ( August 9, 2013 ). `` Black Label Society Cover Bill Withers ' ' Sunshine ' -- Song Premiere ''. Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone Magazine. Retrieved 26 May 2016. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Bill Withers Studio albums Just as I Am Still Bill +'Justments Making Music Naked & Warm Menagerie ' Bout Love Live Albums Live at Carnegie Hall Songs `` Ai n't No Sunshine '' `` Grandma 's Hands '' `` Everybody 's Talkin ' '' `` Let It Be '' `` Use Me '' `` Lean on Me '' `` Lovely Day '' `` Just the Two of Us '' `` Who Is He ( And What Is He to You ) ? '' Related Still Bill ( film ) Michael Jackson songs Discography 1970s `` Got to Be There '' `` Ai n't No Sunshine '' `` I Wanna Be Where You Are '' `` Rockin ' Robin '' `` Love Is Here and Now You 're Gone '' `` You 've Got a Friend '' `` Ben '' `` Everybody 's Somebody 's Fool '' `` My Girl '' `` Shoo - Be-Doo - Be-Doo - Da - Day '' `` We 've Got a Good Thing Going '' `` With a Child 's Heart '' `` Morning Glow '' `` All the Things You Are '' `` Happy '' `` Too Young '' `` Doggin ' Around '' `` Music and Me '' `` We 're Almost There '' `` One Day in Your Life '' `` Just a Little Bit of You '' `` You Ca n't Win '' `` Ease on Down the Road '' `` A Brand New Day '' `` Do n't Stop ' Til You Get Enough '' `` Rock with You '' `` Working Day and Night '' `` Off the Wall '' `` Girlfriend '' `` She 's Out of My Life '' `` It 's the Falling in Love '' 1980s `` The Girl Is Mine '' `` Wanna Be Startin ' Somethin ' '' `` Thriller '' `` Beat It '' `` Billie Jean '' `` Human Nature '' `` P.Y.T. ( Pretty Young Thing ) '' `` You 've Really Got a Hold on Me '' `` Here I Am ( Come and Take Me ) '' `` I Hear a Symphony '' `` Lonely Teardrops '' `` That 's What Love Is Made Of '' `` I Was Made to Love Her '' `` I Just Ca n't Stop Loving You '' `` Bad '' `` The Way You Make Me Feel '' `` Speed Demon '' `` Liberian Girl '' `` Just Good Friends '' `` Another Part of Me '' `` Man in the Mirror '' `` Dirty Diana '' `` Smooth Criminal '' `` Leave Me Alone '' `` Twenty - Five Miles '' 1990s `` Black or White '' `` Jam '' `` In the Closet '' `` Remember the Time '' `` Ca n't Let Her Get Away '' `` Heal the World '' `` Who Is It '' `` Give In to Me '' `` Will You Be There '' `` Gone Too Soon '' `` Dangerous '' `` Come Together '' `` Someone Put Your Hand Out '' `` Scream '' `` Childhood '' `` They Do n't Care About Us '' `` Stranger in Moscow '' `` This Time Around '' `` Earth Song '' `` D.S. '' `` You Are Not Alone '' `` Tabloid Junkie '' `` HIStory '' `` Smile '' `` Mind Is the Magic '' `` Blood on the Dance Floor '' `` Ghosts '' `` Is It Scary '' `` On the Line '' 2000s `` Speechless '' `` You Rock My World '' `` Heaven Can Wait '' `` Butterflies '' `` Cry '' `` One More Chance '' `` Cheater '' `` The Way You Love Me '' `` Fall Again '' `` This Is It '' 2010s `` Breaking News '' `` Hold My Hand '' `` Hollywood Tonight '' `` Monster '' `` ( I Ca n't Make It ) Another Day '' `` Behind the Mask '' `` Do n't Be Messin ' ' Round '' `` Price of Fame '' `` Love Never Felt So Good '' `` Chicago '' `` Loving You '' `` A Place with No Name '' `` Slave to the Rhythm '' `` Blue Gangsta '' Other `` We Are the World '' `` What More Can I Give / Toro Para Ti '' `` We Are the World 25 for Haiti '' Featured `` Night Time Lover '' `` Papa Was a Rollin ' Stone '' `` State of Independence '' `` Muscles '' `` Say Say Say '' `` Somebody 's Watching Me '' `` Do n't Stand Another Chance '' `` Centipede '' `` Tell Me I 'm Not Dreamin ' ( Too Good to Be True ) '' `` Eaten Alive '' `` Get It '' `` 2300 Jackson Street '' `` Do the Bartman '' `` Whatzupwitu '' `` Why '' `` I Need You '' `` Girls, Girls, Girls ( Part 2 ) '' `` All Eyez on Me '' `` All in Your Name '' `` There Must Be More To Life Than This '' `` Low '' `` Do n't Matter to Me '' Book Portal Rockmelons Raymond Medhurst, Bryon Jones, Jonathon Jones Studio albums Tales of the City ( 1988 ) Form 1 Planet ( 1992 ) Rockies 3 ( 2002 ) Compilations Serious Fun -- Tales Of The Rockmelons ( 1985 - 2002 ) ( 2015 ) Singles `` Ai n't No Sunshine '' `` That Word ( L.O.V.E. ) '' `` It 's Not Over '' Related articles ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist -- Album Peter Blakeley GANGgajang Deni Hines Wendy Matthews Jeremy Gregory Roxane LeBrasse True Tone Records ( Australian label ) Mushroom Records Festival Records Deni Hines Studio albums Imagination Water for Chocolate The Other Woman The Soul Sessions Remix and compilation albums Remix Your Imagination A Delicious Collection / The Definitive Collection Singles `` It 's Alright '' `` Imagination '' `` I Like the Way '' `` I 'm Not in Love '' `` Pull Up to the Bumper '' `` Son of a Preacher Man '' `` I Only Have Eyes for You '' `` Takin ' It to the Streets '' `` Love Is in Control ( Finger on the Trigger ) '' Featured singles `` Ai n't No Sunshine '' `` That Word ( L.O.V.E. ) '' `` It 's Not Over '' `` Stomp ! '' Related articles Rockmelons Marcia Hines Kirk Pengilly Ben Steel Mushroom Records Mao 's Last Dancer `` Not Enough Time '' Ladysmith Black Mambazo Members Joseph Shabalala Albert Mazibuko Abednego Mazibuko Russel Mthembu Sibongiseni Shabalala Thamsanqa Shabalala Thulani Shabalala Msizi Shabalala Ngane Dlamini Pius Shezi List of albums Amabutho Imbongi Umama Lo ! Isitimela Ukukhanya Kwelanga Amaqhawe Ukusindiswa Shintsha Sithothobala Phezulu Emafini Ushaka Indlela yaseZulwini Ezinkulu Intokozo Nqonqotha Mfana Ulwandle Oluncgwele Phansi Emgodini Umthombo Wamanzi Induku Zethu Ibhayibheli Liyindlela Inkazimulo Inala Ezulwini Siyakhona Shaka Zulu Thandani Zibuyinhlazane Journey of Dreams Izigqi Zendoda Two Worlds, One Heart Inkanyezi Nezazi Liph ' Iqiniso Gift of the Tortoise Thuthukani Ngoxolo Ukuzala - Ukuzelula Heavenly Live at the Royal Albert Hall Lihl ' Ixhiba Likagogo Wenyukela Raise Your Spirit Higher ( 2003 ) Raise Your Spirit Higher ( 2004 ) No Boundaries Long Walk to Freedom Ilembe Ilembe : Honoring Shaka Zulu My Dream -- African Sounds Kobuye Kulunge Songs From A Zulu Farm Ladysmith Black Mambazo & Friends Live : Singing For Peace Around The World Always With Us VHS and DVD releases The Best of Ladysmith Black Mambazo ( 1997 ) Live at the Playhouse, Durban ( 1997 ) Live at the Royal Albert Hall ( 1999 ) On Tiptoe : Gentle Steps to Freedom ( 2004 ) Live at Montreux ( 2005 ) Ladysmith Black Mambazo Live ( 2009 ) Related articles Ladysmith Black Mambazo discography Ladysmith Black Mambazo Foundation Mshengu White Mambazo Isicathamiya Des'ree Studio albums Mind Adventures ( 1992 ) I Ai n't Movin ' ( 1994 ) Supernatural ( 1998 ) Dream Soldier ( 2003 ) Compilation albums Endangered Species ( 2000 ) Singles `` Feel So High '' `` Delicate '' `` You Gotta Be '' `` I 'm Kissing You '' `` Life '' `` Fire '' `` What 's Your Sign ? '' Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ain%27t_No_Sunshine&oldid=853150857 '' Categories : 1971 singles 1971 songs Bill Withers songs Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients Motown singles Songs written by Bill Withers Sussex Records singles 1972 singles 1991 singles 1999 singles Songs about heartache Hidden categories : Pages using web citations with no URL Pages using citations with accessdate and no URL CS1 maint : Unfit url Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from November 2015 Articles which use infobox templates with no data rows Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Singlechart usages for Australia Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for United Kingdom Talk Contents About Wikipedia Azərbaycanca Deutsch Ελληνικά Español فارسی Français Galego Hrvatski Italiano ქართული Kiswahili Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk nynorsk Polski Português Русский Српски / srpski Svenska Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt 13 more Edit links This page was last edited on 2 August 2018, at 19 : 21 ( UTC ). 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Question: who wrote ain't no sunshine when you're gone
Answer: Bill Withers