I Can't Stop Loving You (Though I Try)

"I Can't Stop Loving You (Though I Try)" is a song written by Billy Nicholls and first released by Leo Sayer from his 1978 self-titled album on the Chrysalis label. It reached number six on the UK Singles Chart and was classified silver. An American Southern rock group, the Outlaws, recorded "I Can't Stop Loving You" on their 1980 release Ghost Riders. In 2002, Phil Collins also covered the song, as "Can't Stop Loving You". His version reached number 28 on the UK Singles Chart.[1] For other versions of the song, see section below.

For songs with a similar title, see I Can't Stop Loving You (disambiguation).

"I Can't Stop Loving You (Though I Try)"
Netherlands picture sleeve
Single by Leo Sayer
from the album Leo Sayer
B-side	"No Looking Back"
Released	23 June 1978
Genre	Pop rock soft rock
Label	Chrysalis
Songwriter(s)	Billy Nicholls
Producer(s)	Richard Perry
Leo Sayer singles chronology
"Thunder in My Heart" (1977) "I Can't Stop Loving You (Though I Try)" (1978) "Raining in My Heart" (1978)

Release history

Track listing

The Leo Sayer single was released in 1978 as follows:

• A-side: "I Can't Stop Loving You (Though I Try)"
• B-side: "No Looking Back"

Charts

Chart (1978)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[2]	37
South Africa (Springbok)[3]	18
UK Singles Chart[4]	6

Credits

• Leo Sayer – vocals
• Leland Sklar – bass
• Steve Porcaro – synthesizer and piano
• Lenny Castro – congas
• Russ Kunkel – drums
• Waddy Wachtel – electric and acoustic guitar

Phil Collins version

"Can't Stop Loving You"
Single by Phil Collins
from the album Testify
B-side	"High Flying Angel"
Released	28 October 2002
Recorded	2001
Genre	Pop rock pop
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Billy Nicholls
Producer(s)	Phil Collins Rob Cavallo
Phil Collins singles chronology
"In the Air Tonite" (2001) "Can't Stop Loving You" (2002) "Come with Me" (2003)

"Can't Stop Loving You" is the tenth song by English drummer Phil Collins on his seventh solo album Testify, released in 2002. The song was the lead single from Testify. It is also released as the 12th track on the first CD of the 2004 compilation album, Love Songs: A Compilation... Old and New. Although it had minor airplay, the song was yet another number one Billboard adult contemporary smash hit for Collins, his eighth.[5] The song also reached the number ten on the Eurochart.

The song was originally recorded by Collins in 2000 for a love songs project along with "Least You Can Do", but both tracks were released in 2002 for Testify.[6] Collin's version has some minor changes in the lyrics and introduces a bridge after the second chorus.

Accolade

Year	Organization	Award	Result	Ref.
2020	iHeartRadio Music Awards	Best Cover Song (Taylor Swift)	Pending	[7]

Track listing

1. "Can't Stop Loving You" – 4:18
2. "High Flying Angel" (U.S. single and Japan Testify only) – 4:44

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2002–03) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8] 23 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] 16 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[10] 7 France (SNEP)[11] 3 Germany (Official German Charts)[12] 11 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[13] 9 Ireland (IRMA)[14] 39 Italy (FIMI)[15] 20 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[16] 3 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[17] 3 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[18] 48 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[19] 20 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 23 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[21] 28 US Billboard Hot 100[22] 76 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[23] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2002) Position Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[24] 98 Chart (2003) Position Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[25] 97 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[26] 42 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[27] 38 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[28] 32

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Belgium (BEA)[29]	Gold	25,000^*
France (SNEP)[30]	Gold	250,000^*
^*sales figures based on certification alone

Credits

• Phil Collins: vocals and drums
• Paul Bushnel: bass
• Daryl Stuermer: lead guitar
• Tim Pierce: rhythm guitar
• James Muhoberac: synthesizers

Other cover versions

• 1980: Outlaws have a version of this song on their album Ghost Riders.
• 2006: Australian country music singer Keith Urban recorded the song on his album Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing.
• 2009: The Quireboys, on the album Halfpenny Dancer
• 2013: A version of the song by Samantha Whates was used in an advertisement for the Barclay's Premier League.
• 2019: Taylor Swift covered the Phil Collins version of the song at the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge.[31]

References

1. "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 16 September 1978. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
2. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
3. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 17 July 2020.
4. "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 16 September 1978. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
5. "Phil Collins – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
6. "Leo Sayer Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
7. Fields, Taylor (8 January 2020). "2020 iHeartRadio Music Awards Nominees Revealed". iHeartRadio. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
8. "Austriancharts.at – Phil Collins – Can't Stop Loving You" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
9. "Ultratop.be – Phil Collins – Can't Stop Loving You" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
10. "Ultratop.be – Phil Collins – Can't Stop Loving You" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
11. "Lescharts.com – Phil Collins – Can't Stop Loving You" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
12. "Offiziellecharts.de – Phil Collins – Can't Stop Loving You". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
13. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
14. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Phil Collins". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
15. "Italiancharts.com – Phil Collins – Can't Stop Loving You". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
16. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 1, 2003" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 31 March 2020.
17. "Dutchcharts.nl – Phil Collins – Can't Stop Loving You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
18. "Charts.nz – Phil Collins – Can't Stop Loving You". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
19. "Swedishcharts.com – Phil Collins – Can't Stop Loving You". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
20. "Swisscharts.com – Phil Collins – Can't Stop Loving You". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
21. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
22. "Phil Collins Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
23. "Phil Collins Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
24. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2002". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
25. "Jaaroverzichten 2003". Ultratop. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
26. "Rapports Annuels 2003". Ultratop. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
27. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2003". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
28. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2003". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
29. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2003". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
30. "French single certifications – Phil Collins – Can't Stop Loving You" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
31. Peters, Mitchell (2 September 2019). "Taylor Swift Covers Phil Collins, Sings 'Holy Ground' & More at BBC Live Lounge: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 3 September 2019.

See also

• List of Billboard Adult Contemporary number ones of 2002

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
• Leo Sayer - I Can't Stop Loving You (Though I Try) on YouTube
• Phil Collins - Can't Stop Loving You on YouTube