I Can't Let Go

For the 2013 song, see I Can't Let Go (Smash song).
"I Can't Let Go"
Single by The Hollies
B-side UK: "Running Through the Night" (Ransford)
US: "I've Got A Way Of My Own"
Released 18 February 1966
Format 7" single
Recorded 13 January 1966
Abbey Road Studios
Genre Pop, beat
Length 2:26
Label UK: Parlophone R5409
US: Imperial 66158
Writer(s) Chip Taylor, Al Gorgoni
Producer(s) Ron Richards
The Hollies singles chronology
"If I Needed Someone"
(1965)		 "I Can't Let Go"
(1966)		 "Bus Stop"
(1966)

"I Can't Let Go" is a song co-written by Al Gorgoni and Chip Taylor, who also wrote "Wild Thing". "I Can't Let Go" was originally recorded by blue-eyed soul singer Evie Sands' on George Goldner's Blue Cat label, which was popular in New York City in 1965. The song became popular in 1966 for the group The Hollies, who charted at number two in the UK Singles Chart with their version. Linda Ronstadt covered the song in 1980 and had a number 31 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The Hollies version

Background

"I Can't Let Go" is The Hollies' first 1966 single, and their last with original bassist Eric Haydock. It peaked at number two in the UK and number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. It is ranked as the 37th biggest British hit of 1966.[1] The Hollies' version was praised by Paul McCartney, who thought Graham Nash's soaring tenor in the chorus was a trumpet. After "I Can't Let Go" was recorded Haydock was replaced by Bernie Calvert, who played on the band's next single ("Bus Stop").[2]

Chart performance

Weekly singles chart (1966) Peak
position
Germany (Official German Charts)[3] 30
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[4] 20
New Zealand 8
Norway (VG-lista)[5] 2
Sweden 10
United Kingdom (Record Retailer)[6] 2
United Kingdom (NME)[7] 1
United States (Billboard Hot 100)[8] 44
Canada (RPM)[9] 44

Linda Ronstadt version

"I Can't Let Go"
Single by Linda Ronstadt
from the album Mad Love
B-side "Look Out For My Love"
Released June 1980
Format 7"
Genre Rock, new wave
Length 2:41
Label Asylum
Writer(s) Chip Taylor; Al Gorgoni
Producer(s) Peter Asher
Linda Ronstadt singles chronology
"Hurt So Bad"
(1980)		 "I Can't Let Go"
(1980)		 "Get Closer"
(1982)

Background

Linda Ronstadt released the most successful American version in 1980 from her platinum-certified album, Mad Love. Released as the disc's third single, it was produced by Peter Asher and was issued on Asylum Records. Ronstadt's cover of "I Can't Let Go" reached number 27 on the Cash Box Top 100 and number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the summer of 1980.

Chart performance

Weekly singles chart (1980) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [10] 31
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks 48
U.S. Cashbox Top 100 27
Canada RPM 30

Other versions

References

  1. ↑ http://www.uk-charts.top-source.info/top-100-1966.shtml
  2. ↑ The 30th Anniversary Collection (CD). The Hollies. EMI Records. 1993. D 202205.
  3. ↑ "Musicline.de – Hollies, The Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  4. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Hollies – I Can't Let Go" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  5. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – The Hollies – I Can't Let Go". VG-lista.
  6. ↑ "Artist Chart History Details: Hollies". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  7. ↑ Rees, Dafydd; Lazell, Barry; Osborne, Roger (1995). Forty Years of "NME" Charts (2nd ed.). Pan Macmillan. p. 165. ISBN 0-7522-0829-2.
  8. ↑ "allmusic ((( The Hollies > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Allmusic. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  9. ↑ http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5750&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=h91hbobrh5e2mh2dcd34geerg4
  10. ↑ http://www.top40db.net/lyrics/?SongID=77163&By=Artist&Match=Eric+Carmen

External links

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