"I (Who Have Nothing)" is a dramatic, baroque soul ballad that became one of Ben E. King's signature songs, showcasing his powerful vocal delivery. It was a significant hit for King, reaching the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- The song was co-written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and produced by them along with King himself. It was released as a single in 1963. It reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 6 on the R&B chart.
- Although the B-side, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," became a bigger hit on its own, "I (Who Have Nothing)" was the intended A-side. It features a prominent string arrangement, a hallmark of Spector-esque production that King and his producers embraced.
- The song has been covered by numerous artists, including Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey, becoming a standard in the soul and pop repertoire. This recording was laid down at Allegro Sound Studios in New York City.
Ben E. King was an American soul singer, born in Harlem and later based in New Jersey. He had a string of hits in the early 1960s, before embarking on a solo career. King had recently left The Drifters, where he had been the lead vocalist, when he recorded this single.
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