"Everything I Own"

Single by Ken Boothe
from the album Everything I Own
B-side	"Drum Song"
Released	1974
Genre	Reggae
Length	3:49
Label	Wild Flower/Federal (Jamaica) Trojan (UK)
Writer(s)	David Gates
Producer(s)	Lloyd Charmers

"Everything I Own"

Single by Boy George

from the album Sold

B-side

"Use Me"

Released

1987

Format

7", 12", cassette , CD

Recorded

1986 in Montserrat

Genre

Reggae

Length

4:00

Boy George singles chronology

"Gusto Blusto" (with Culture Club) (1986)

"Everything I Own" (1987)

"Keep Me in Mind" (1987)

"Everything I Own" is a song written by David Gates. It was originally recorded by Gates's rock band Bread for their 1972 album Baby I'm-a Want You.

Although initial listeners may have interpreted it as a song about a broken relationship, Gates would later reveal that it was a song about the passing of his father. "According to the book 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, at his father's funeral, a friend took David Gates aside and said, "Your dad was so proud of what you were doing." David agreed by replying, "My success would have been so special to him as he was my greatest influence. So I decided to write and record "Everything I Own" about him. If you listen to the words, 'You sheltered me from harm, kept me warm, gave my life to me, set me free,' it says it all.”

The original hit number five on the American Billboard Hot 100. Billboard ranked it as the No. 52 song for 1972. "Everything I Own" also reached number five in Canada.

Jamaican artist Ken Boothe's reggae version of the song "Everything I Own" in 1974 was featured on his Trojan Records album release of the same name, entitled Everything I Own (album). It reached Number One in the UK Singles charts on October 26, 1974, and stayed at the top of the charts for three weeks.

The version by Boy George reached number one on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in March 1987, becoming his first hit and only UK number one as a solo artist. It was also his first solo single after a departure from his band, Culture Club. Owing more to the Ken Boothe version, the sweet reggae style was reminiscent of his earlier debut hit with Culture Club, "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?". Coming at the time of his arrest for possession of heroin, it provided a major boost to his career. Other than the UK, it was a number one in many countries (including Canada, Ireland, Italy, Norway and South Africa) and top 10 in many markets too. The track was recorded during the "Sold" sessions at Air Studios Montserrat and produced by Stewart Levine. The musicians were Ian Maidman (later aka Jennifer Maidman) bass and guitar, Vic Martin keyboards, Glen Nightingale guitar, Richie Stevens drums, and Paul 'Wix' Wickens keyboards .

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Wikipedia