Released November 1973 Length 3:29 | Genre Psychedelic soul
Funk Label Buddah | |
B-side "I Can See Clearly Now" Writer(s) Gerry Goffin, Barry Goldberg | ||
"I've Got to Use My Imagination" is a song recorded by Gladys Knight & the Pips. Released from the hit album, Imagination, which was their debut album with Buddah Records, the song was a success on the soul and pop charts. It spent a week at number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart in early 1974 and peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of their highest charting songs. It eventually sold over one million copies.
On the series A Different World, Whitley, Jaleesa and another classmate perform the song to audition to sing backup for Gladys Knight (who made a special guest appearance on the show).
The song has been covered by such artists as Joan Osborne, Professor RJ Ross, Bobby Bland, Joe Cocker, The Rides and Latrice Royale.