I Won't Hold You Back

"I Won't Hold You Back"
Single by Toto
from the album Toto IV
B-side
Released March 1983
Recorded 1982
Studio Sunset Sound (Hollywood)
Genre Soft rock
Length 4:53
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Steve Lukather
Producer(s) Toto
Toto singles chronology
"Africa"
(1982)
"I Won't Hold You Back"
(1983)
"Waiting for Your Love"
(1983)

"I Won't Hold You Back" is a song by American rock band Toto, written and sung by Steve Lukather for their fourth album, Toto IV, released in 1982 (see 1982 in music). The song features the Eagles' bass player Timothy B. Schmit on backing vocals during the choruses.

Reception

Cash Box described it as "a soft torch tune about a man letting go of his lover, praising the "somber vocals, light piano and electric guitar flourishes." Billboard described it as a "grandly-orchestrated ballad".

Chart performance

The power ballad peaked at number 10 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on May 7, 1983; becoming their fourth and last top ten hit. It also spent three weeks at number one on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart. The single only managed to scrape into the top 40 on the UK Singles Chart at No. 37. In Canada, it peaked at number 17 on the RPM Top Singles chart, as well as reaching No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. It also peaked at number 11 in Ireland.

Personnel

Toto

Additional musicians

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1983) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) 80
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) 1
Canada Top Singles (RPM) 17
Ireland (IRMA) 11
UK Singles (OCC) 37
US Cash Box Top 100 14
US Billboard Hot 100 10
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 1

Year-end charts

Year-end chart (1983) Rank
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard) 69
Cashbox (magazine) 95

Sampling

The song was later sampled by house DJ Roger Sanchez in 2001 for his song "Another Chance", reaching number one in the UK Singles Chart.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "I Won't Hold You Back"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States March 1983
  • 12-inch vinyl
Columbia
United Kingdom June 1983
  • 12-inch vinyl
CBS

See also