| Don't Let Him Go | |
| Cover: | Don't_Let_Him_Go_cover.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | REO Speedwagon |
| Album: | Hi Infidelity |
| B-Side: | I Wish You Were There |
| Released: | June 1981[1] |
| Recorded: | August 19, 1980 |
| Genre: | Hard rock, power pop |
| Length: | 3:47 |
| Label: | Epic |
| Producer: | Kevin Beamish Kevin Cronin Alan Gratzer Gary Richrath |
| Prev Title: | Take It on the Run |
| Prev Year: | 1980 |
| Next Title: | In Your Letter |
| Next Year: | 1981 |
"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] 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."[10] 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, , 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.
REO Speedwagon
| Chart (1981) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (CHUM)[15] | 2 | |
| Canadian RPM Singles Chart[16] | 10 | |
| Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[17] | 22 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[18] | 24 | |
| US Top Tracks | 11 | |
| US Cash Box[19] | 26 | |
| US Record World[20] | 22 | |
| US Radio & Records (R&R)[21] [22] | 20 |
| Chart (1981) | Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (RPM Top 100 Singles)[23] | 100 | |
| US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)[24] | 146 |