"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 Dorian Burton. It was first recorded by Ben E King in 1968. The song was featured in The Soul Clan's self-titled album ''The Soul Clan''.

Dottie West Dottie West (born Dorothy Marie Marsh; October 11, 1932 – September 4, 1991) was an American country singer and songwriter. She also had several credits as an actress. A distinguished figure in the country genre, West was among several people ...

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 enjo ...

'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 along with digital sales and streaming. ...

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

, 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 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 Kingston upon Hull, Hull group the Housemartins, both of whom performed lead and backing vocals. Other members stayin ...

included a faster-tempo version of the song on their covers album '' Golddiggas, Headnodders and Pholk Songs''. 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 (Clarence Carter song), Slip Away", "Back Door Santa" (both released 1968), "Patches (Ch ...

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

, Jimmy James,

Tom Jones Tom Jones may refer to: Arts and entertainment *Tom Jones (singer) (born 1940), Welsh singer *Tom Jones (writer) (1928–2023), American librettist and lyricist *''The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling'', a novel by Henry Fielding published in 1 ...

Charlie Rich Charles Allan Rich (December 14, 1932July 25, 1995) was an American country singer. His eclectic style of music also blended influences from rockabilly, jazz, blues, soul, and gospel. In the later part of his life, Rich acquired the nickname t ...

, and

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

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