I Can't Turn You Loose
Encyclopedia
"I Can't Turn You Loose" is a song written and first recorded by American soul
singer Otis Redding
. It was released as the B-side to his 1965 single "Just One More Day". The up-tempo song became a bigger hit on the US R&B chart than its A-side and has become one of Redding's signature songs and often appeared in his live performances.
In 1968, The Chambers Brothers
version of this song reached #37 on the Billboard Magazine pop singles chart.
An instrumental version of the song was used by The Blues Brothers
in their live performances to introduce "Joliet Jake" (John Belushi
) and "Elwood" Blues (Dan Aykroyd
). The song is played by the band in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers
. It did not appear on the soundtrack, but did appear as both the opening and closing tracks on their 1978 album Briefcase Full of Blues
.
Aretha Franklin
recorded the song for her album "Aretha
" (1980).
The Booker T. & the MG's song "Time Is Tight" is very similar to "I Can't Turn You Loose", sharing the bassline, which was something of a "happy accident". Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn & Booker T' Jones have all acknowledged that this song inspired "Time Is Tight" in part. Steve Cropper and Donald Dunn are both members of the Blues Brothers Band and Booker T & The MG's. Booker T & the MG's were also the Stax house band & collaborated with & played behind Otis Redding on the studio version of this song.
In 1987 Was (Not Was)
released a cover version on their album What Up, Dog?
.
The song was also covered by The Rolling Stones in concert.
The Philadelphia Phillies
play this song over the loudspeakers at Citizens Bank Park
immediately following the conclusion of any home victory.
In the summer of 2011 the song was featured in a series of commercials for the CFL on TSN
football broadcasts.
Jon Bon Jovi
and Lea Michele
will perform a cover of the song in the upcoming feature film, New Year's Eve
.
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Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer Otis Redding
Otis Redding
Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B...
. It was released as the B-side to his 1965 single "Just One More Day". The up-tempo song became a bigger hit on the US R&B chart than its A-side and has become one of Redding's signature songs and often appeared in his live performances.
In 1968, The Chambers Brothers
The Chambers Brothers
The Chambers Brothers is a soul-music group, best known for its 1968 hit record, the 11-minute long song "Time Has Come Today". The group was part of the wave of new music that integrated American blues and gospel traditions with modern psychedelic and rock elements, spawning a heady mix...
version of this song reached #37 on the Billboard Magazine pop singles chart.
An instrumental version of the song was used by The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers are an American blues and soul revivalist band founded in 1978 by comedy actors Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi as part of a musical sketch on Saturday Night Live...
in their live performances to introduce "Joliet Jake" (John Belushi
John Belushi
John Adam Belushi was an American comedian, actor, and musician, best known as one of the original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, The Star of the Films National Lampoon's Animal House and the The Blues Brothers and for fronting the American blues and soul...
) and "Elwood" Blues (Dan Aykroyd
Dan Aykroyd
Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd, CM is a Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, musician, winemaker and ufologist. He was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, an originator of The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters and has had a long career as a film actor and screenwriter.-Early...
). The song is played by the band in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers (film)
The Blues Brothers is a 1980 musical comedy film directed by John Landis and starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as "Joliet" Jake and Elwood Blues, characters developed from a musical sketch on the NBC variety series Saturday Night Live. It features musical numbers by R&B and soul singers James...
. It did not appear on the soundtrack, but did appear as both the opening and closing tracks on their 1978 album Briefcase Full of Blues
Briefcase Full of Blues
-External links:* *...
.
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
recorded the song for her album "Aretha
Aretha (1980 album)
Aretha is the debut album by Aretha Franklin released on Arista Records in 1980. Franklin's first Arista single release, "United Together", reached #3 on the Soul chart and crossed over to #56 on Billboard's Hot 100. The album itself peaked at #47 and spent 30 weeks on Billboard's main album...
" (1980).
The Booker T. & the MG's song "Time Is Tight" is very similar to "I Can't Turn You Loose", sharing the bassline, which was something of a "happy accident". Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn & Booker T' Jones have all acknowledged that this song inspired "Time Is Tight" in part. Steve Cropper and Donald Dunn are both members of the Blues Brothers Band and Booker T & The MG's. Booker T & the MG's were also the Stax house band & collaborated with & played behind Otis Redding on the studio version of this song.
In 1987 Was (Not Was)
Was (Not Was)
-Studio albums:-Compilation albums:-Singles:-Contributions:* A Christmas Record - "Christmas Time In The Motor City"* That's The Way I Feel Now: A Tribute to Thelonious Monk - "Ba-Lue-Bolivar-Ba-Lues-Are"...
released a cover version on their album What Up, Dog?
What Up, Dog?
-LP edition:-UK CD edition:* The UK CD edition and Cassette editions featured this configuration-Personnel:* David "Michigan-Boy Snake" Was — flute, keyboards, harmonica, vocals* Don "Rope Drink" Was — bass, keyboards, guitar, mandolin...
.
The song was also covered by The Rolling Stones in concert.
The Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
play this song over the loudspeakers at Citizens Bank Park
Citizens Bank Park
Citizens Bank Park is a 43,647-seat baseball park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, and home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Citizens Bank Park opened on April 3, 2004, and hosted its first regular season baseball game on April 12 of the same year, with the...
immediately following the conclusion of any home victory.
In the summer of 2011 the song was featured in a series of commercials for the CFL on TSN
CFL on TSN
The CFL on TSN is TSN's presentation of the Canadian Football League. TSN has broadcast CFL games since the 1987 season, and as part of a new broadcast contract with the league, became the exclusive broadcaster of all CFL games beginning in the 2008 season...
football broadcasts.
Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as the founder, occasional rhythm guitarist, and lead singer of rock band Bon Jovi, which was named after him...
and Lea Michele
Lea Michele
Lea Michele Sarfati , known professionally as Lea Michele, is an American actress and singer. Michele began working professionally as a child actress on Broadway in productions such as Ragtime and Les Misérables. She originated the role of Wendla in the musical Spring Awakening and currently plays...
will perform a cover of the song in the upcoming feature film, New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve (film)
New Year's Eve is an upcoming romantic comedy film directed by Garry Marshall. Like Valentine's Day, Marshall's previous film, it depicts a series of holiday vignettes of the state of several romances.-Cast:...
.
Chart history
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{|class="wikitable"
!align="left"|Chart (1965)
!align="center"|Peak
Position
|-
|align="left"|US Billboard Hot Black Singles
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
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