"Till I Can't Take It Anymore" is a song written by

Clyde Otis Clyde Lovern Otis (September 11, 1924 – January 8, 2008), was an American songwriter and record producer, best known for his collaboration with singer Brook Benton, and for being one of the first African-American A&R executives at a major label ...

and Ulysses Burton. It was first recorded by

Ben E King Benjamin Earl King (né Nelson; September 28, 1938 – April 30, 2015) was an American soul and R&B singer and record producer. He is best known as the singer and co-composer of " Stand by Me"—a US Top 10 hit, both in 1961 and later i ...

in 1968. The song was featured in The Soul Clan's self-titled album ''The Soul Clan''.

Dottie West Dorothy Marie Marsh West (October 11, 1932 – September 4, 1991) was an American country music singer and songwriter. Along with her friends and fellow recording artists Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, she is considered one of the genre's most in ...

and

Don Gibson Donald Eugene Gibson (April 3, 1928 – November 17, 2003) was an American songwriter and country musician. A Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Gibson wrote such country standards as " Sweet Dreams" and "I Can't Stop Loving You", and enjoy ...

's version charted at 46 on the

Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data from Nielsen BDS along with digital sal ...

in 1970. Since then, it has also charted as a single by

Andra Willis Andra Willis (born August 27, 1943) is an American singer best known from television's ''The Lawrence Welk Show'' from 1967 to 1969. Born and raised in Danville, Virginia. Andra began singing professionally with her sisters Toneda and Sheryl. Bi ...

, whose version went to number 85 on the same chart in 1973.

Pal Rakes Palmer Crawford "Pal" Rakes (born in Tampa, Florida) is an American country music singer. He recorded for Warner Bros. Records between 1977 and 1979, and for Atlantic Records between 1988 and 1989. During his tenure on Warner, he charted in the To ...

's version went to number 31 in 1977. The highest-charting rendition of the song was by

Billy Joe Royal Billy Joe Royal (April 3, 1942 – October 6, 2015) was an American country soul singer. His most successful record was " Down in the Boondocks" in 1965. Life and career Born in Valdosta, Georgia, to Clarence and Mary Sue Smith Royal, and rai ...

, released in September 1989 from the album '' Tell It Like It Is''. His version of the song peaked at number two on the country charts in early 1990, making for his second single to reach that position. In 1969

Rocky Roberts Rocky Roberts (born Charles Roberts, Tanner, August 23, 1940 – Rome, January 13, 2005) was an American-born Italian rhythm and blues singer. Born in Alabama, Roberts served in the United States Navy and was a Navy champion boxer. He first go ...

realized a cover in Italian titled "Ma non ti lascio" in his album ''This is Rocky Roberts''. In 2004,

The Beautiful South The Beautiful South were an English pop rock group formed in 1988 by Paul Heaton and Dave Hemingway, two former members of the Hull group The Housemartins, both of whom performed lead and backing vocals. Other members throughout the band's exi ...

included a faster-tempo version of the song on their covers album ''

Golddiggas, Headnodders and Pholk Songs ''Golddiggas, Headnodders and Pholk Songs'' is the ninth and penultimate album by The Beautiful South, released in 2004. It is almost entirely a covers album, with one notable exception. The track "This Old Skin" was originally claimed to ha ...

''. Other artists who have also previously recorded this song include

Clarence Carter Clarence George Carter (born January 14, 1936) is an American singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. His most successful songs include " Slip Away", " Back Door Santa" (both released 1968), " Patches" (1970) and "Strokin" (1986). Ea ...

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...

, Jimmy James, Tom Jones,

Charlie Rich Charles Allan Rich (December 14, 1932July 25, 1995) was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. His eclectic style of music was often difficult to classify, encompassing the rockabilly, jazz, blues, country music, country, sou ...

, and

Don Williams Donald Ray Williams (May 27, 1939 – September 8, 2017) was an American country singer, songwriter, and 2010 inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He began his solo career in 1971, singing popular ballads and amassing seventeen number ...

Chart performance

Year-end charts

References

1970 singles 1973 singles 1977 singles 1989 singles Billy Joe Royal songs Dottie West songs Don Gibson songs Pal Rakes songs Male–female vocal duets 1970 songs Songs written by Clyde Otis Atlantic Records singles {{1989-country-song-stub