Conway Twitty’s 1972 album, I Can’t See Me Without You is one-quarter of BGO Records’ latest release on the country music star. How does the album itself hold up, 53 years on?
In 1971, Conway Twitty was recording for Mercury Records. Following the success of songs such as Hello Darlin’, I Love You More Today, and Next In Line, he released a single entitled I Can’t See Me Without You. It peaked at number four in the country charts, with an album of the same name to follow in 1972.
This 11-track album follows the same vein as his previous country albums. It contains a balanced mixture of up-tempo and heartfelt numbers. These encompass Twitty compositions as well as covers of the hits of his contemporaries and material from other songwriters.
No Twitty album would be complete without an impassioned heartbreak song. Here the track which affords Conway the chance to use his country chops to their full sorrowful potential is his self-penned title song, as well as the slightly more subtle She Knows What She’s Crying About. Conway had such emotive resonance in his voice. Even when modern sensibilities tell us that the style or subject matter could be handled with more sophistication, we also can’t help but be moved by that quality of deep feeling.
Having said this, he also handled the faster, up-beat romps with energy and vigour. His little respectful nod to Charley Pride in his cover of Kiss An Angel Good Morning, alongside his truthful rending of the song, is infectious and joyful.
The surprise track for me was the closing number. A lightly soul-flavoured cover of It’s A Crying Shame feels like a departure from the rest of the material. But it is not unwelcome. I think its placing, particularly in view of the album’s original release format, might have worked better as a palate cleanser at the end of side one or beginning of side two. It feels a little strange to leave that flavour in the mouth as the album closes, rather than something more identified with Twitty’s usual vibe. But as a track in itself, it is pleasing and shows his versatility as a performer.
Sound Quality
All tracks on this album were remastered by Andrew Thompson in 2024, so the quality is brilliant. The sound is as vibrant and dynamic as it should be. It feels fresh, with none of the signs of age one might expect from recordings over 50 years old.
Track Listing
- I Can’t See Me Without You
- Looking Through My Glass
- It’s Been One Heck of a Day
- Kiss An Angel Good Morning
- I Didn’t Lose Her (I Threw Her Away)
- I’ll Never Make It Home Tonight
- This Road That I Walk
- She Knows What She’s Crying About
- She’s All I Got
- One More Sunrise
- It’s A Crying Shame
In Conclusion…
Given the quality of the recordings here, the fact that its title track was a top-ten hit and the continuing popularity of Conway Twitty, it is very surprising that I Can’t See Me Without You has only just been issued on CD for the first time.
These eleven tracks deserve the celebration they are now receiving from BGO Records. For fans of Conway Twitty, this album is an essential. It is part of the journey from the heartbreak songs, through the beginnings of Twitty’s exploration of, and compassion for, female feelings. There would be another two albums before the controversial You’ve Never Been This Far Before was released. The Twitty of this album is a fun but reserved country gentleman of his time. He is beginning to evolve, with songs such as I Didn’t Lose Her (I Threw Her Away).
For this reason, I Can’t See Me Without You stands up today as a part of the transition into Conway Twitty’s enduring image.
