Don't Let Him Go

"Don't Let Him Go"
"Don't Let Him Go"
Single by REO Speedwagon
from the album Hi Infidelity
B-side	"I Wish You Were There"
Released	June 1981
Recorded	August 19, 1980
Genre	Hard rock, power pop
Length	3:47
Label	Epic
Songwriter(s)	Kevin Cronin
Producer(s)	Kevin Beamish; Kevin Cronin; Alan Gratzer; Gary Richrath
REO Speedwagon singles chronology
Music video
	"Don't Let Him Go" on YouTube

"Don't Let Him Go" is a song written by Kevin Cronin. It was originally released as the opening song for REO Speedwagon's #1 album Hi Infidelity. It was also released as a single, reaching #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.^[2] "Don't Let Him Go" has appeared on several REO Speedwagon greatest hits albums.^[3]

Cronin recalls "Don't Let Him Go" being the first song he wrote for Hi Infidelity.^[4] Like the #1 single from the album, "Keep on Loving You," the lyrics of "Don't Let Him Go" are about breaking up with a longtime girlfriend.^[5] According to Joseph Timmons of Seattle Post Intelligencer, the song is a "warning to not take the man you love for granted."^[6] Casandra Armour of vintagerock.com described the lyrics as having the singer pleading on behalf of a friend who has "a lot of swag but not much substance" but "just needs a chance to grow."^[7] Cronin has said that the song is based on the experiences of all the band members and is basically a plea to all their girlfriends to have patience with them.^[4]

Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine remarked on the song's "insistent beat."^[8] He and other critics have also pointed out that the song was influenced by Bo Diddley.^[8]^[9]^[10] Cronin himself has stated that it is based on a slightly modified Bo Diddley beat.^[4] Author Chuck Eddy described it as a "Bo Diddleyed do-si-do."^[9] Armour describes the music as "a jaunty kind of hand-jive peppered with power chords."^[7] Pete Bishop of The Pittsburgh Press described "Don't Let Him Go" as a "straight-ahead melodic rocker."^[11] Allmusic critic Barry Weber described the song as an "underrated rocker."^[12] Record World said that "pounding drums, ringing guitars and synthesizer swooshes surround Kevin Cronin's lead vocal cry."^[13]

"Don't Let Him Go" was also included on the compilation albums The Hits and The Essential REO Speedwagon. A live version was included on The Second Decade of Rock and Roll, 1981-1991, Arch Allies: Live at Riverport, and Setlist: The Very Best of REO Speedwagon Live. In 1981, the band performed the song on the television show America's Top 10.^[14]

The band routinely opens its concerts with this song.

Personnel

REO Speedwagon

Kevin Cronin - lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar
Gary Richrath - lead guitar
Bruce Hall - bass
Neal Doughty - synthesizer
Alan Gratzer - drums

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1981)	Peak position
Canada (CHUM)^[15]	2
Canadian RPM Singles Chart^[16]	10
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[17]	27
Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)^[18]	22
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[19]	15
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[20]	22
US Billboard Hot 100^[21]	24
US Top Tracks^[21]	11
US Cash Box^[22]	26
US Record World^[23]	22
US Radio & Records (R&R)^[24]^[25]	20

Year-end chart

Chart (1981)	Rank
Canada (RPM Top 100 Singles)^[26]	100
US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)^[27]	146

References

^ "Great Rock Discography". p. 685.
^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Top Pop Singles 1955-2012. Menomonee Falls, WI: Record Research, Inc. p. 703. ISBN 978-0-89820-205-2.
^ "REO Speedwagon, Don't Let Him Go (Appears On)". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
^ ^a ^b ^c Wardlaw, Matt (November 21, 2017). "The History of REO Speedwagon's 'Hi Infidelity': Interview". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2017-11-25.
^ Takiff, J. (November 14, 1982). "REO Speedwagon: Barometer for Performers". Boca Raton News. p. 26.
^ Timmons, J. (July 7, 2011). "Music Review: REO Speedwagon - Hi Infidelity [30th Anniversary Edition]". Hearst Communications. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
^ ^a ^b Armour, Casandra. "Hi Infidelity (30th Anniversary Edition)". vintagerock.com. Retrieved 2016-09-24.
^ ^a ^b Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Hi Infidelity". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
^ ^a ^b Eddy, C. (1997). The Accidental Evolution of Rock'N'Roll: A Misguided Tour Through Popular Music. Da Capo Press. p. 23. ISBN 9780306807411.
^ Swenson, J. (1981). The Year in rock, 1981-82. Delilah Books. p. 254.
^ "Speedwagon Back on Fast Track". The Pittsburgh Press. February 12, 1985. p. B8. Retrieved 2016-09-24.
^ Weber, Barry. "The Hits". Allmusic. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. June 13, 1981. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
^ TV Guide. Triangle Publications. 1981. p. 222.
^ "CHART NUMBER 1283 – Saturday, August 15, 1981". Archived from the original on 7 November 2006. Retrieved 2015-02-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). CHUM. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
^ "Top Singles – Volume 35, No. 6, September 5, 1981". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. September 5, 1981. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
^ "REO Speedwagon – Don't Let Him Go" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
^ "REO Speedwagon – Don't Let Him Go" (in Dutch). Top 30. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015. Hoogste notering in de top 30 : 22
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – REO Speedwagon - Don t Let Him Go" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
^ "REO Speedwagon – Don't Let Him Go" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
^ ^a ^b "Artist Chart History – REO Speedwagon". Billboard charts. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending AUGUST 1, 1981". Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 2015-02-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
^ "Song artist 607 - REO Speedwagon". TsorT. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
^ REO Speedwagon
^ "Charts!". Archived from the original on 2015-02-11. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
^ "Top Singles – Volume 35, No. 22, December 26, 1981". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
^ Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.

[1] "Great Rock Discography". p. 685.

[2] Whitburn, Joel (2013). Top Pop Singles 1955-2012. Menomonee Falls, WI: Record Research, Inc. p. 703. ISBN 978-0-89820-205-2.

[3] "REO Speedwagon, Don't Let Him Go (Appears On)". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2015-02-18.

[hi-4] Wardlaw, Matt (November 21, 2017). "The History of REO Speedwagon's 'Hi Infidelity': Interview". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2017-11-25.

[5] Takiff, J. (November 14, 1982). "REO Speedwagon: Barometer for Performers". Boca Raton News. p. 26.

[6] Timmons, J. (July 7, 2011). "Music Review: REO Speedwagon - Hi Infidelity [30th Anniversary Edition]". Hearst Communications. Retrieved 2012-06-13.

[vintage-7] Armour, Casandra. "Hi Infidelity (30th Anniversary Edition)". vintagerock.com. Retrieved 2016-09-24.

[allmusic-8] Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Hi Infidelity". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-06-13.

[eddy-9] Eddy, C. (1997). The Accidental Evolution of Rock'N'Roll: A Misguided Tour Through Popular Music. Da Capo Press. p. 23. ISBN 9780306807411.

[10] Swenson, J. (1981). The Year in rock, 1981-82. Delilah Books. p. 254.

[11] "Speedwagon Back on Fast Track". The Pittsburgh Press. February 12, 1985. p. B8. Retrieved 2016-09-24.

[12] Weber, Barry. "The Hits". Allmusic. Retrieved 2016-09-26.

[rw-13] "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. June 13, 1981. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-27.

[14] TV Guide. Triangle Publications. 1981. p. 222.

[15] "CHART NUMBER 1283 – Saturday, August 15, 1981". Archived from the original on 7 November 2006. Retrieved 2015-02-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). CHUM. Retrieved 18 February 2015.

[16] "Top Singles – Volume 35, No. 6, September 5, 1981". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. September 5, 1981. Retrieved August 12, 2014.

[sc_Flanders_REO_Speedwagon-17] "REO Speedwagon – Don't Let Him Go" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 18 February 2015.

[18] "REO Speedwagon – Don't Let Him Go" (in Dutch). Top 30. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015. Hoogste notering in de top 30 : 22

[sc_Dutch40_REO_Speedwagon_-_Don_t_Let_Him_Go-19] "Nederlandse Top 40 – REO Speedwagon - Don t Let Him Go" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 18 February 2015.

[sc_Dutch100_REO_Speedwagon-20] "REO Speedwagon – Don't Let Him Go" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 18 February 2015.

[US-21] "Artist Chart History – REO Speedwagon". Billboard charts. Retrieved 2016-10-01.

[22] "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending AUGUST 1, 1981". Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 2015-02-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 18 February 2015.

[23] "Song artist 607 - REO Speedwagon". TsorT. Retrieved September 9, 2017.

[24] REO Speedwagon

[25] "Charts!". Archived from the original on 2015-02-11. Retrieved 2015-02-18.

[26] "Top Singles – Volume 35, No. 22, December 26, 1981". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2015.

[27] Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.

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