"It's Too Late" is a song written by and performed by

Chuck Willis Harold "Chuck" Willis (January 31, 1926 – April 10, 1958) was an American blues, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll singer and songwriter. His biggest hits, " C. C. Rider" (1957) and "What Am I Living For" (1958), both reached No.1 on the ''Bil ...

. It reached #3 on the U.S. R&B chart in 1956. The song was featured on his 1958 album, ''King of the Stroll''.

Other charting versions

Johnny O'Keefe John Michael O'Keefe (19 January 1935 – 6 October 1978) was an Australian rock and roll singer whose career began in the 1950s. Some of his hits include " Wild One" (1958), " Shout!" and "She's My Baby". In his twenty-year career, O'Keefe rel ...

released a version of the song as a single in Australia in 1960 which reached #17. * Ted Taylor released a version of the song which reached #30 on the U.S. R&B chart and #118 on the U.S. pop chart in 1969.

Other versions

Dorothy Collins Dorothy Collins (born Marjorie Chandler;
''

B-side to her 1957 single "Rock Me My Baby". *

The Crickets The Crickets were an American rock and roll band from Lubbock, Texas, formed by singer-songwriter Buddy Holly in January 1957. Their first hit record, "That'll Be the Day", released in May 1957, peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, ...

released a version of the song on their 1957 album ''

The "Chirping" Crickets ''The "Chirping" Crickets'' is the debut album from the American rock and roll band the Crickets, led by Buddy Holly. It was the group's only album released during Holly's lifetime. In 2012, it was ranked number 420 on ''Rolling Stone'' magazi ...

''. * Roy Orbison released a version of the song on his 1961 album ''At the Rock House''. * Les Paul and Mary Ford released a version of the song as the B-side to their 1961 single "Mountain Railroad". * Charlie Rich released a version of the song as the B-side to his 1961 single "Just a Little Bit Sweet". * Ruth Brown released a version of the song on her 1962 album ''Along Came Ruth''. *

Jerry Keller Jerry Paul Keller (born June 20, 1937) is an American pop singer and songwriter, best known for his 1959 hit song "Here Comes Summer". Career Born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Keller moved with his family to Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he was six, and ...

released a version of the song as the B-side to his 1963 single "What Will I Tell My Darling?" *

Sunny and the Sunliners Sunny is a daytime weather condition. It may refer to: People * Sunny (name), including a list of people and characters with the name * Sunny (singer), member of Girls' Generation * Sunny, of Sue and Sunny, who also recorded as a solo artist ...

released a version of the song as a single in 1964, but it did not chart. *

Otis Redding Otis Ray Redding Jr. (September 9, 1941 – December 10, 1967) was an American singer and songwriter. He is considered one of the greatest singers in the history of American popular music and a seminal artist in soul music and rhythm and blues. ...

released a version of the song on his 1965 album ''

The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads ''The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads'', simply referred to as ''Soul Ballads'' or ''Sings Soul Ballads'', is the second studio album by American soul singer-songwriter Otis Redding, released in 1965. The album was one of the first issued ...

''. *

Freddie King Freddie King (September 3, 1934December 28, 1976) was an American blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He is considered one of the "Three Kings of the Blues Guitar" (along with Albert King and B.B. King, none of whom were blood related). Most ...

released a version of the song on his 1969 album ''Freddie King Is a Blues Master''. *

Derek and the Dominos Derek and the Dominos was an English–American blues rock band formed in the spring of 1970 by guitarist and singer Eric Clapton, keyboardist and singer Bobby Whitlock, bassist Carl Radle and drummer Jim Gordon. All four members had previous ...

released a version of the song on their 1970 album ''

Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs ''Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs'' is the only studio album by the English–American rock band Derek and the Dominos, released in November 1970 as a double album. It is best known for its title track, " Layla", and is often regarded as Eri ...

''. The band also performed the song on ''

The Johnny Cash Show ''The Johnny Cash Show'' is an American television music variety show hosted by Johnny Cash. The Screen Gems 58-episode series ran from June 7, 1969, to March 31, 1971, on ABC; it was taped at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. ...

'' which was the band's only television appearance. * John Hammond released a version of the song on his 1970 album ''Southern Fried''. * Conway Twitty released a version of the song on his 1976 album ''20 Greatest Hits by Conway Twitty''. *

Freddy Fender Freddy Fender (born Baldemar Garza Huerta; June 4, 1937 – October 14, 2006) was an American Tejano, country and rock and roll musician, known for his work as a solo artist and in the groups Los Super Seven and the Texas Tornados. He was best ...

released a version of the song on his 1972 album ''

If You're Ever in Texas ''If You're Ever in Texas'' is an album by Freddy Fender that was released in 1976. Track listing #"Don't Do It Darling" #" It's All in the Game" #"San Antonio Lady" #"What a Difference a Day Made" #" Living It Down" #"Pass Me By (If You're On ...

''. *

Merl Saunders Merl Saunders (February 14, 1934 – October 24, 2008) was an American multi-genre musician who played piano and keyboards, favoring the Hammond B-3 console organ. Biography Born in San Mateo, California, United States, Saunders attended Polyt ...

, Jerry Garcia,

John Kahn John Kahn (June 13, 1947 – May 30, 1996) was an American electric and acoustic bassist. From 1970 to 1995, Kahn was Jerry Garcia's principal musical collaborator outside of the Grateful Dead. Biography John Kahn was born in Memphis, Tennessee ...

, and

Bill Vitt Bill Vitt (May 6, 1943 - July 16, 2019, aged 76) was an American drummer and keyboardist. He worked extensively as a live performer and as a session musician. In the 1970s he played with Brewer & Shipley, Jerry Garcia, Merl Saunders, and the S ...

released a version of the song on their 1988 album '' Keystone Encores''. * The Alligators featuring

The Jordanaires The Jordanaires were an American vocal quartet that formed as a gospel group in 1948. Over the years, they recorded both sacred and secular music for recording companies such as Capitol Records, RCA Victor, Columbia Records, Decca Records, Vocal ...

released a version of the song on their 1996 album ''The History of Rock'n'Roll''.

Samplings

Kanye West Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...

sampled Redding's version in the song " Gone" on his 2005 album ''

Late Registration ''Late Registration'' is the second studio album by American rapper and producer Kanye West. It was released on August 30, 2005, through Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records. West recorded the album over the course of a year during sessions ...

''.

References

1956 songs 1956 singles 1964 singles 1969 singles Songs written by Chuck Willis Chuck Willis songs Buddy Holly songs Roy Orbison songs Les Paul songs Mary Ford songs Charlie Rich songs Ruth Brown songs Otis Redding songs Freddie King songs Derek and the Dominos songs Conway Twitty songs Freddy Fender songs Song recordings produced by Huey P. Meaux Atlantic Records singles The Crickets songs {{1950s-single-stub