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Don't Let Him Go

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Wikipedia article


{{Infobox song

| name = Don't Let Him Go

| cover = Don't_Let_Him_Go_cover.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = REO Speedwagon

| album = Hi Infidelity

| B-side = I Wish You Were There

| released = May 1981

| recorded = August 19, 1980

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Hard rock, power pop

| length = 3:47

| label = Epic

| writer = Kevin Cronin

| producer = Kevin Beamish
Kevin Cronin
Alan Gratzer
Gary Richrath

| prev_title = Take It on the Run

| prev_year = 1980

| next_title = In Your Letter

| next_year = 1981

| misc =

}}

'"Don't Let Him Go"' is a song written by Kevin Cronin. It was originally released as the opening song for REO Speedwagon's #1 album 'Hi Infidelity'. It was also released as a single, reaching #24 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 chart. "Don't Let Him Go" has appeared on several REO Speedwagon greatest hits albums.

Cronin recalls "Don't Let Him Go" being the first song he wrote for 'Hi Infidelity'. Like the #1 single from the album, "Keep on Loving You," the lyrics of "Don't Let Him Go" are about breaking up with a longtime girlfriend. According to Joseph Timmons of 'Seattle Post Intelligencer', the song is a "warning to not take the man you love for granted." Casandra Armour of vintagerock.com described the lyrics as having the singer pleading on behalf of a friend who has "a lot of swag but not much substance" but "just needs a chance to grow." Cronin has said that the song is based on the experiences of all the band members and is basically a plea to all their girlfriends to have patience with them.

Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine remarked on the song's "insistent beat." He and other critics have also pointed out that the song was influenced by Bo Diddley. Cronin himself has stated that it is based on a slightly modified Bo Diddley beat. Author Chuck Eddy described it as a "Bo Diddleyed do-si-do." Armour describes the music as "a jaunty kind of hand-jive peppered with power chords." Pete Bishop of 'The Pittsburgh Press' described "Don't Let Him Go" as a "straight-ahead melodic rocker." Allmusic critic Barry Weber described the song as an "underrated rocker."

"Don't Let Him Go" was also included on the compilation albums 'The Hits' and 'The Essential REO Speedwagon'. A live version was included on 'The Second Decade of Rock and Roll, 1981-1991', 'Arch Allies: Live at Riverport', and 'Setlist: The Very Best of REO Speedwagon Live'. In 1981, the band performed the song on the television show 'America's Top 10'.

The band routinely opens its concerts with this song.

Personnel



'REO Speedwagon'

*Kevin Cronin - lead vocals, rhythm guitar

*Gary Richrath - lead guitar

*Bruce Hall - bass, backing vocals

*Neal Doughty - keyboards

*Alan Gratzer - drums, backing vocals

Charts



Weekly charts

{|class="wikitable sortable"

!Chart (1981)

!Peak
position

|-

|Canada ('CHUM'). CHUM. Retrieved 18 February 2015.

|align="center"|2

|-

|Canadian 'RPM' Singles Chart

|align="center"|10

|-

|-

|Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)

|align="center"|22

|-

|-

|-

|US 'Billboard' Hot 100

|align="center"|24

|-

|US Top Tracks

|align="center"|11

|-

|US 'Cash Box'. 'Cash Box' magazine. Retrieved 18 February 2015.

|align="center"|26

|-

|US 'Record World'

|align="center"|22

|-

|US 'Radio & Records (R&R)'[http://wweb.uta.edu/faculty/gghunt/charts/reospeedwagon.html REO Speedwagon][http://wweb.uta.edu/faculty/gghunt/charts/chart.html Charts!]

|align="center"|20

|}

Year-end chart



References



Category:REO Speedwagon songs

Category:1980 songs

Category:1981 singles

Category:Songs written by Kevin Cronin

Category:Epic Records singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Kevin Beamish

Category:Song recordings produced by Gary Richrath

Category:Song recordings produced by Kevin Cronin

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