"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 (1982), and first released as a single in The Netherlands in October 1982, backed with "Waiting for Your Love". It was released in March 1983 in the United States with "Afraid of Love" as the B-side. The song features the Eagles' bassist Timothy B. Schmit on backing vocals during the choruses.
Composition The track was originally written on piano by guitarist Steve Lukather, though Paich played the piano on the record. He has since recalled that when it was decided the song needed a guitar solo, he improvised it in one take when recording with the Martyn Ford Orchestra.
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 on that chart. It also spent three weeks at number one on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart.Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th Edition (Billboard Publications) 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.RPM Adult Contemporary, May 21, 1983 It also peaked at number 11 in Ireland.
Personnel Taken from the Toto IV liner notes.
Toto Steve Lukather – lead and backing vocals, guitars Bobby Kimball - backing vocals David Paich – piano, orchestral arrangements Steve Porcaro – synthesizers, programming David Hungate – bass Jeff Porcaro – drums
Additional musicians
Timothy B. Schmit – backing vocals The Martyn Ford Orchestra – orchestra James Newton Howard – orchestral arrangements, conducting Marty Paich – orchestral arrangements Production
Al Schmitt – recording/tracking John Kurlander – string recording Greg Landanyi – mixing George Marino – mastering
Charts Weekly charts Chart (1983) PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report) N.B. The Kent Report chart was authorized by ARIA from 1970 to 1988.80Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)1US Cash Box Top 100 14
Year-end charts Year-end chart (1983) RankUS Top Pop Singles (Billboard)69Cashbox (magazine) 95
Sampling The song was 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"RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)NetherlandsColumbiaUnited StatesColumbiaUnited KingdomCBS
See also List of Billboard Adult Contemporary number ones of 1983
References