Songfacts®:

• This was one of the first songs written by Randy Newman, who became one of the most popular songwriters in the industry. He was working as a staff writer at Liberty Music. Newman writes in a variety of styles, and "I Don't Want To Hear It Anymore" is a story song, about a kid living in a small apartment building who hears the disputes of the neighbors through the thin walls.
• Jerry Butler was the first to record this song. The Soul singer released it as a single in 1964, but it failed to chart. The most popular version of the song was released in 1969 by Dusty Springfield. It "bubbled under" on the Hot 100 chart at #105, and was an integral part of her famous album Dusty in Memphis.
• Shelby Lynne recorded this for the 2008 Dusty Springfield tribute album Just A Little Lovin'. It didn't take much prodding for Lynne to record it, as she felt a connection with the late singer that made it easy to slip into her songs. "She has such a kind of sultry way of tellin' a poignant story," Lynne said. "That's the great thing about Dusty, she could tell a story. A great interpreter can always make you believe what they're saying, and that's one of the things that sold me about Dusty's singin'. Her heart, her soul believed what she was singin'. That's what makes great singers."