| "I Can't Let Go" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Danish picture sleeve | ||||
| Single by the Hollies | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | 18 February 1966 | |||
| Recorded | 13 and 18 January 1966[1] | |||
| Studio | EMI, London | |||
| Genre | Power pop, beat | |||
| Length | 2:26 | |||
| Label |
| |||
| Songwriters | Chip Taylor, Al Gorgoni | |||
| Producer | Ron Richards | |||
| The Hollies singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"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.[2] 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.
"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.[3] The Hollies' version was praised by Paul McCartney, who thought Graham Nash's soaring tenor in the chorus was a trumpet.[citation needed] Billboard described the song as a "pulsating number with driving dance beat."[4] After "I Can't Let Go" was recorded Haydock was replaced by Bernie Calvert, who played on the band's next single ("Bus Stop").[5]
| Chart (1966) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Finland (Soumen Virallinen)[6] | 34 |
| West Germany (GfK)[7] | 30 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8] | 20 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[9] | 3 |
| New Zealand (Listener)[10] | 9 |
| Norway (VG-lista)[11] | 2 |
| South Africa (Springbok)[12] | 14 |
| Sweden | 10 |
| United Kingdom (Record Retailer)[13] | 2 |
| United Kingdom (NME)[14] | 1 |
| United States (Billboard Hot 100) | 42 |
| Canada (RPM)[15] | 44 |
| "I Can't Let Go" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Linda Ronstadt | ||||
| from the album Mad Love | ||||
| B-side | "Look Out For My Love" | |||
| Released | June 10, 1980 | |||
| Genre | New wave[16] | |||
| Length | 2:41 | |||
| Label | Asylum | |||
| Songwriters | Chip Taylor; Al Gorgoni | |||
| Producer | Peter Asher | |||
| Linda Ronstadt singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
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.[17]
| Chart (1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[18] | 31 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks[19] | 48 |
| U.S. Cashbox Top 100 | 27 |
| Canada RPM Top Singles | 30 |
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
Linda Rondstadt's New Wave period was essentially limited to 1980's Mad Love, but she made the most of it by covering Neil Young's "Look Out For My Love," the Hollies' "I Can't Let Go," and no less than three Elvis Costello tunes...
