"I Can't Stop Loving You (Though I Try)" is a song written by singer-songwriter
William Nicholls and first recorded by his short-lived project, White Horse – a collaboration between himself, Kenny Altman, and
Jon Lind
Jonathan Gus Lind (April 14, 1948 – January 15, 2022), professionally known as Jon Lind, was an American songwriter, performer and A&R executive.
Biography
Lind was born in Brooklyn, New York on April 14, 1948, and raised in New York City. He ...
– and featured on the group's 1977 self-titled album.
The following year,
Leo Sayer
Leo Sayer (born Gerard Hugh Sayer, 21 May 1948) is an English-Australian singer and songwriter who has been active since the early 1970s. He has been an Australian citizen and resident since 2009.
Sayer launched his career in the United Kingd ...
featured a version on his
self-titled album on the
Chrysalis
A pupa (; : pupae) is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation between immature and mature stages. Insects that go through a pupal stage are holometabolous: they go through four distinct stages in their life cycle, the stages the ...
label. It reached number six on the
UK Singles Chart and was classified silver. In 2002,
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles Collins (born 30 January 1951) is an English musician, songwriter, record producer and actor. He was the drummer and later became the lead singer of the rock band Genesis (band), Genesis and had a successful solo career, ac ...
also covered the song, as "Can't Stop Loving You". His version reached number 28 on the UK Singles Chart. For other versions of the song, see section below.
Release history
The Leo Sayer single was released in 1978 with "No Looking Back" as the b-side.
Charts
Personnel
*
Leo Sayer
Leo Sayer (born Gerard Hugh Sayer, 21 May 1948) is an English-Australian singer and songwriter who has been active since the early 1970s. He has been an Australian citizen and resident since 2009.
Sayer launched his career in the United Kingd ...
– vocals
*
Greg Phillinganes
Gregory Arthur Phillinganes (born May 12, 1956) is an American keyboardist, vocalist, and arranger. A session musician, Phillinganes has contributed to numerous albums over a broad array of artists and genres. He has toured with artists includin ...
– acoustic piano
*
Steve Porcaro
Steven Maxwell Porcaro (born September 2, 1957) is an American keyboardist, songwriter, singer, and film music composer, known as one of the founding members of the rock band Toto and the last surviving Porcaro brother (after the deaths of Jeff ...
– synthesizers
*
Waddy Wachtel
Robert "Waddy" Wachtel (born May 24, 1947) is an American musician, composer and record producer, most notable for his guitar work. Wachtel has worked as session musician for other artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Beth Hart, Stevie Nicks, Miranda ...
– electric guitar, acoustic guitar
*
Leland Sklar
Leland Bruce Sklar (born May 28, 1947) is an American bassist and session musician. He rose to prominence as a member of James Taylor's backing band, which coalesced into a group in its own right, The Section, which supported so many of Asylu ...
– bass
*
Russ Kunkel
Russell Kunkel (born September 27, 1948) is an American drummer who has worked as a session musician with many popular artists, including Jackson Browne, Jimmy Buffett, Harry Chapin, Rita Coolidge, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Cass Elliot, Dan Fo ...
– drums
*
Lenny Castro
Lenny Castro (born September 19, 1956) is an American percussionist from the Los Angeles area. He is one of the most prolific percussionists of all time, appearing on hundreds of albums, including those by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Adele, Maroon ...
–
conga
The conga, also known as tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed drum from Cuba. Congas are staved like barrels and classified into three types: quinto (lead drum, highest), tres dos or tres golpes (middle), and tumba or salidor (lowest ...
s
*
David Campbell – string arrangements
Phil Collins version
"Can't Stop Loving You" was the lead single from English singer
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles Collins (born 30 January 1951) is an English musician, songwriter, record producer and actor. He was the drummer and later became the lead singer of the rock band Genesis (band), Genesis and had a successful solo career, ac ...
' solo album ''
Testify'', released in 2002. It also appears on Collins' 2004 album ''
Love Songs: A Compilation... Old and New''. Although it received minor airplay, the song became Collins' eighth number-one ''Billboard''
adult contemporary
Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the 1980s to the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul ...
hit.
The song also reached the number ten on the Eurochart.
Collins originally recorded the song in 2000 for a love songs project, along with "The Least You Can Do", but both tracks were released on ''Testify'' instead.
Collins' version has some minor changes in the lyrics and introduces a bridge after the second chorus.
Track listing
# "Can't Stop Loving You" – 4:18
# "High Flying Angel" (U.S. single and Japan ''Testify'' only) – 4:44
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Personnel
*
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles Collins (born 30 January 1951) is an English musician, songwriter, record producer and actor. He was the drummer and later became the lead singer of the rock band Genesis (band), Genesis and had a successful solo career, ac ...
– vocals, drums, percussion
*
Jamie Muhoberac
Benjamin Edward "Jamie" Muhoberac (born September 11, 1965) is an American session keyboardist with numerous credits. He is best known for his work with Seal and Was (Not Was). He is a touring member of New Jersey rock band My Chemical Romance. ...
– keyboards
*
Daryl Stuermer
Daryl Mark Stuermer (born November 27, 1952) is an American musician, songwriter, singer, and record producer best known for playing the guitar and bass for Genesis during live shows, and lead guitar for Phil Collins during most solo tours and ...
– lead guitar
*
Tim Pierce
Tim Pierce (born 1958 in Albuquerque) is an American session guitarist. He has worked for artists such as Joe Cocker, Crowded House, Goo Goo Dolls, Michael Jackson, Beth Hart, Roger Waters, Alice Cooper, Johnny Hallyday, Phil Collins, and th ...
– rhythm guitar
*
Paul Bushnell – bass guitar
See also
*
List of Billboard Adult Contemporary number ones of 2002
References
External links
*
*
{{Authority control
1978 singles
2002 singles
Leo Sayer songs
Rock ballads
Phil Collins songs
Chrysalis Records singles
Atlantic Records singles
Songs written by Billy Nicholls
Song recordings produced by Rob Cavallo
1978 songs