Ain’t No Sunshine

Written by: Withers
Recorded: 25 January 1991
Producers: Joel Gallen (for MTV), Geoff Emerick

Released: 13 May 1991 (UK), 4 June 1991 (US)

Available on:
Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)

Personnel

Paul McCartney: drums
Hamish Stuart: vocals, acoustic guitar
Robbie McIntosh: piano
Paul ‘Wix’ Wickens: acoustic bass guitar
Blair Cunningham: percussion

Paul McCartney recorded a version of Bill Withers’ ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ for his 1991 album Unplugged (The Official Bootleg).

Withers recorded the song in Memphis for his 1971 album Just As I Am. It was released as a single that year, peaking at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and becoming Withers’ breakthrough hit. It won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in 1972.

For the MTV Unplugged performance McCartney played drums, with Hamish Stuart taking over on vocals and guitar.

I wanted Hamish to do something, and during a break in jams we often swap around instruments – I get on drums and Hamish might start doing ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’. It was good fun, doing it on Unplugged. Any excuse to be loose, as I said before.

I like playing drums, I have a reasonable feel, though I’m not a good technical drummer. But as Elvis Costello told me recently, not many people have got feel. So I thought, right then, I’ll play on telly!

McCartney also performed ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ during some of the dates of his 1993 New World Tour.