"I Don't Want You to Go" is a song written by Bruce Roberts and

Allee Willis Alta Sherral "Allee" Willis (November 10, 1947 – December 24, 2019) was an American songwriter, multi-media artist, collector, and art director. Willis co-wrote hit songs including "September" and "Boogie Wonderland" by Earth, Wind & Fire. She ...

. It has been recorded by a number of different artists.

Lani Hall version

The song was published on May 7, 1980 and its copyright registered on June 30 of that year. "I Don't Want You to Go" first appeared on

Lani Hall Lani Hall (born November 6, 1945) is an American singer, lyricist, and author. From 1966 to 1971 she performed as lead vocalist for Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66. In 1972 Hall released her first solo album, ''Sun Down Lady''. She may be best know ...

's studio album ''Blush'' in 1980. It was later modified by

Herb Alpert Herb Alpert (born March 31, 1935) is an American trumpeter who led the band Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass in the 1960s. During the same decade, he co-founded A&M Records with Jerry Moss. Alpert has recorded 28 albums that have landed on the ...

for her 1984 compilation album ''Collectibles...''

Personnel

Harvey Mason Harvey William Mason (born February 22, 1947) is an American jazz drummer, record producer, and member of the band Fourplay. Mason, who attended Berklee in the 1960s, received an Honorary Doctorate at Berklee's 2015 Commencement Ceremony for ...

- drums *

Gary Ferguson Gary Ferguson (born March 19, 1963), a specialist of French Renaissance literature and culture, is the Douglas Huntly Gordon Distinguished Professor of French at the University of Virginia. From 1989, he taught at the University of Delaware, where ...

- drums *

David Hungate William David Hungate (born August 5, 1948) is an American bass guitarist noted as a member of the Los Angeles pop-rock band Toto from 1976 to 1982 and again from 2014 to 2015, and the son of judge William L. Hungate. Along with most of his T ...

- bass *Jeremy Lubbock - keyboards, instrumental arrangement *

Michael Boddicker Michael Lehmann Boddicker (born January 19, 1953) is an American film composer and session musician, specializing in electronic music. He is a three times National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (N.A.R.A.S.) Most Valuable Player "Synthesi ...

- synthesizers *Gerald Vinci - concertmaster *Jules Chaikin - contractor *Background vocals: David Lasley, Arnold McCuller, Marcy Levy,

Tommy Funderburk Tommy may refer to: People * Tommy (given name) * Tommy Atkins, or just Tommy, a slang term for a common soldier in the British Army Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Tommy'' (1931 film), a Soviet drama film * ''Tommy'' (1975 fil ...

, Sharon Reid, Allee Willis, Lani Hall

La Toya Jackson version

"I Don't Want You to Go" is the second single from American singer

La Toya Jackson La Toya Yvonne Jackson (born May 29, 1956) is an American singer and television personality. The fifth child and middle daughter of the Jackson family, Jackson first gained recognition on the family's variety television series, ''The Jacksons'', ...

's second album ''

My Special Love ''My Special Love'' is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter La Toya Jackson. Released in 1981, the album peaked at #175 on the ''Billboard'' 200 albums chart. After the album's limited success, it fell into obscurity, receiving ...

''. It was released on 7" format with the album track "Love Song" as its B-side. Jackson performed "I Don't Want You to Go" on the October 10, 1981 episode of ''

Soul Train ''Soul Train'' is an American musical variety television show. It aired in syndication from October 2, 1971, to March 25, 2006. Across its 35-year history the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists. The series w ...

''.

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

reviewer Justin Kantor praised Jackson's vocal performances on the other songs on ''My Special Love'' but said that her performance of "I Don't Want You to Go" "isn't up to the task."

Track listing

;US 7" vinyl (PD 2188DJ) #"I Don't Want You to Go" - 3:58 # "Love Song" - 4:03

Other versions

In 1982,

Tanya Tucker Tanya Denise Tucker (born October 10, 1958) is an American country music singer and songwriter who had her first hit, "Delta Dawn", in 1972 at the age of 13. Over the succeeding decades, Tucker became one of the few child performers to mature int ...

covered the song on her fourteenth studio album ''

Changes Changes may refer to: Books * ''Changes'', the 12th novel in Jim Butcher's ''The Dresden Files'' Series * ''Changes'', a novel by Danielle Steel * ''Changes'', a trilogy of novels on which the BBC TV series was based, written by Peter Dickinson ...

''. A popular song in the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

, it has been covered by a number of local artists, including the following: *In 1981,

Sharon Cuneta Sharon Gamboa Cuneta-Pangilinan ( , ; born January 6, 1966) is a Filipino actress, singer, television host, and socialite. Regarded as one of the most successful and highest-earning individuals in the Philippine entertainment industry, she has ...

covered the song for the soundtrack to the film ''P.S. I Love You'' and re-recorded again in 2006 on her nineteenth studio album ''Isn't It Romantic?''. The song is a staple of Cuneta's repertoire. Of the songs on ''Isn't It Romantic'', "I Don't Want You to Go" was called "the best of the lot" by the ''Philippine Headline News Online''. *In 1999,

Martin Nievera Martin Ramon Razon Nievera (; born February5, 1962) is a Filipino-American singer and television host. In his career spanning more than three decades, Nievera has garnered eighteen platinum, five double platinum, three triple platinum, and one ...

covered the song on his eleventh studio album ''Forever, Forever''. *In 2007,

Mark Bautista Mark Arazo Bautista (born August 10, 1983) is a Filipino singer, actor and commercial model. Bautista received his career break when he became a grand finalist on the Philippine reality TV talent search ''Star for a Night'' where he placed thir ...

covered the song on his third studio album ''Every Now and Then''. The ''

Philippine Daily Inquirer The ''Philippine Daily Inquirer'' (''PDI''), or simply the ''Inquirer'', is an English-language newspaper in the Philippines. Founded in 1985, it is often regarded as the Philippines' newspaper of record. The newspaper is the most awarded bro ...

'' offered a mixed review of Bautista's performance of the song, calling it "serviceable", but describing it as "emotionally pared down." The same year,

Kyla Kyla may refer to: *Kyla (given name), including a list of people with the name ** Kyla (Filipino singer) (born 1981), Filipino R&B singer **Kyla (British singer) Kyla Reid ( Smith; born 22 September 1983) is a British house music singer in the ...

covered the song for her sixth studio album '' Heartfelt''. *In 2009,

Piolo Pascual Piolo Jose Nonato Pascual (, born January 12, 1977) is a Filipino film and television actor, singer, model, and producer. Early life Piolo Jose Nonato Pascual was born on January 12, 1977, in Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center located in Malate ...

covered the song for the soundtrack to the film '' Love Me Again''. The same year on October 25, 2009,

Regine Velasquez Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez ( ; born April 22, 1970) is a Filipina singer, actress, and record producer. She is considered one of the most influential figures in Philippine popular culture and is known for her vocal range and beltin ...

performed the song for the television program ''

SOP A sop is a piece of bread or toast that is drenched in liquid and then eaten. In medieval cuisine, sops were very common; they were served with broth, soup, or wine and then picked apart into smaller pieces to soak in the liquid. At elaborate ...

''.

References

{{authority control 1980 songs 1981 singles 1983 singles Lani Hall songs La Toya Jackson songs Songs written by Allee Willis Songs written by Bruce Roberts (singer) A&M Records singles Polydor Records singles Pop ballads