I Can't Let Go

"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.^[3] 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 recorded 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.^[4] 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."^[5] After "I Can't Let Go" was recorded, Haydock was replaced by Bernie Calvert, who played on the band's next single ("Bus Stop").^[6]

Chart performance

Linda Ronstadt version

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.^[13]

Chart performance

Other versions

• A group from the Washington, D.C., area, Nobody's Children, released this song on a single in 1967.^[16]
• 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

1. ^ "Session Listing". Archived from the original on 2018-09-25. Retrieved 2018-10-10.
2. ^ Greene, Andy (June 19, 2025). "The 50 Best 10th Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 22, 2025. 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...
3. ^ Muscarella, Tom (11 November 2017). "Song of the Week – I Can't Let Go, Evie Sands; The Hollies; Linda Ronstadt". Rock 'n' Roll Remnants. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
4. ^ "Top 100 1966 – UK Music Charts". Uk-charts.top-source.info. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
5. ^ "Spotlight Singles". Billboard. February 26, 1966. p. 12. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
6. ^ The 30th Anniversary Collection (CD). EMI Records. 1993. D 202205.
7. ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish). 1st ed. Helsinki: Tammi. p. 132. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
8. ^ "Flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
9. ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
10. ^ "Artist Chart History Details: Hollies". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
11. ^ Rees, Dafydd; Lazell, Barry; Osborne, Roger (1995). Forty Years of "NME" Charts. 2nd ed. Pan Macmillan. p. 165. ISBN 0-7522-0829-2.
12. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
13. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Can't Let Go (Cover) - Linda Rondstadt by Foxes and Fossils". YouTube. 28 August 2013.
14. ^ "Hot 100: Linda Ronstadt". Billboard. 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
15. ^ "Adult Contemporary: Linda Ronstadt". Billboard. 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
16. ^ "Nobody's Children - I Can't Let Go / Don'tcha Feel Like Cryin'". Discogs. 1967.