"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' 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. 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

Year-end charts

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