I Can't Let Go#Linda Ronstadt version
{{Short description|1966 song by The Hollies}}
{{For|songs with similar names|Can't Let Go (disambiguation){{!}}Can't Let Go}}
{{Infobox song
| name = I Can't Let Go
| cover = I_Can't_Let_Go_-_The_Hollies.jpg
| caption = Danish picture sleeve
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = the Hollies
| album =
| B-side = {{ubl|"Running Through the Night" (UK)|"I've Got A Way Of My Own" (US)}}
| released = 18 February 1966
| recorded = 13 and 18 January 1966{{Cite web |url=http://hollies.co.uk/music-archive/session-listing.html |title=Session Listing |access-date=2018-10-10 |archive-date=2018-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925220015/http://www.hollies.co.uk/music-archive/session-listing.html |url-status=dead }}
| studio = EMI, London
| length = 2:26
| label = *Parlophone (UK)
- Imperial (US)
| writer = Chip Taylor, Al Gorgoni
| producer = Ron Richards
| prev_title = If I Needed Someone
| prev_year = 1965
| next_title = Bus Stop
| next_year = 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 the blue-eyed soul singer Evie Sands on George Goldner's Blue Cat label, which was popular in New York City in 1965.{{cite web |url=http://www.rockremnants.com/2017/11/11/song-of-the-week-i-cant-let-go-evie-sands-the-hollies-linda-ronstadt/ |first=Tom |last=Muscarella |title=Song of the Week – I Can't Let Go, Evie Sands; The Hollies; Linda Ronstadt |publisher=Rock 'n' Roll Remnants |date=11 November 2017 |access-date=3 December 2017}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.uk-charts.top-source.info/top-100-1966.shtml |title=Top 100 1966 – UK Music Charts |website=Uk-charts.top-source.info |access-date=2016-09-29}} The Hollies' version was praised by Paul McCartney, who thought Graham Nash's soaring tenor in the chorus was a trumpet.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}} Billboard described the song as a "pulsating number with driving dance beat."{{cite news|newspaper=Billboard|accessdate=2021-03-05|date=February 26, 1966|page=12|title=Spotlight Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1966/BB-1966-02-26.pdf}} After "I Can't Let Go" was recorded Haydock was replaced by Bernie Calvert, who played on the band's next single ("Bus Stop").{{cite AV media notes |title=The 30th Anniversary Collection |others=The Hollies |year=1993 |type=CD |publisher=EMI Records |id=D 202205}}
=Chart performance=
Linda Ronstadt version
{{Infobox song
| name = I Can't Let Go
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Linda Ronstadt
| album = Mad Love
| B-side = Look Out For My Love
| released = June 10, 1980
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| length = 2:41
| label = Asylum
| writer = Chip Taylor; Al Gorgoni
| producer = Peter Asher
| prev_title = Hurt So Bad
| prev_year = 1980
| next_title = Get Closer
| next_year = 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.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/P-EpGKXmoe4 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20190522051901/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-EpGKXmoe4 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-EpGKXmoe4| title = Can't Let Go (Cover) - Linda Rondstadt by Foxes and Fossils | website=YouTube| date = 28 August 2013 }}{{cbignore}}
=Chart performance=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Chart (1980)
!Peak |
|---|
| align="left"|U.S. Billboard Hot 100{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/linda-ronstadt/chart-history |title=Hot 100: Linda Ronstadt |date=2019 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=9 May 2019}}
| style="text-align:center;"|31 |
| align="left"|U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/linda-ronstadt/chart-history/asi/ |title=Adult Contemporary: Linda Ronstadt |date=2019 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=9 May 2019}}
| style="text-align:center;"|48 |
| align="left"|U.S. Cashbox Top 100
| style="text-align:center;"|27 |
| align="left"|Canada RPM Top Singles
| style="text-align:center;"|30 |
Other versions
- A group from the Washington, D.C., area, Nobody's Children, released this song on a single in 1967.{{cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/release/2991726-Nobodys-Children-I-Cant-Let-Go-Dontcha-Feel-Like-Cryin | title=Nobody's Children - I Can't Let Go / Don'tcha Feel Like Cryin' | website=Discogs | date=1967 }}
- The Dickies included this song (under the name "Can't Let Go") on their 1998 all-covers album, Dogs from the Hare That Bit Us.
- Les Fradkin covered the song on his 2006 album, Goin' Back.
- Canadian rock band Sloan covered this song on their ersatz-live album, Recorded Live at a Sloan Party.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{The Hollies}}
{{Linda Ronstadt}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Chip Taylor
Category:Songs written by Al Gorgoni