I Can't Stop Loving You by Ray Charles

Album: Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music (1962)

Charted: 1 1

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Songfacts®:

This was written and originally recorded by a country singer named Don Gibson in 1958. His version was released as the B-side of his #7 hit "Oh Lonesome Me," which he wrote the same day. Kitty Wells, who was a very popular country singer, recorded this later in 1958. Her version was a huge country hit, and was on the carts at the same time as Gibson's version.
Charles was known as a gospel and R&B singer, but he defied convention and decided to record an album of country and western songs. His producer, Sid Feller, put together tapes containing about 150 classic country songs so Charles could choose which ones to record. Included on the tapes was "I Can't Stop Loving You," which Charles remembered from when he would listen to The Grand Ole Opry.

The resulting album, Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music, was wildly successful, selling about 700,000 copies the first month it was released. For Ray Charles, country and R&B were a natural fit. "You take country music, you take black music, it's exactly the same thing," he said.
At first, this was not released as a single, but many DJs played it from the album and it started getting popular. A white singer named Tab Hunter heard Charles' version and recorded his own, which was rushed out as a single. This infuriated Charles, so ABC Records quickly edited down the 4-minute album version and released it as a single with lots of publicity, including a full page ad in Billboard magazine. Charles' version became a huge hit and went to #1 on the US Pop, R&B and Easy Listening charts.
Ray Charles recorded the album at United Western Recorders in Los Angeles, which is where Brian Wilson later recorded the Beach Boys Pet Sounds album. Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music was recorded live to a 2-track recorder with the room providing the reverb. Bill Putnam, who owned the studio, was the engineer on the session and helped Charles coax a rich, warm sound out of the equipment. Recording live eliminated any distortion that could appear when mixing a song, which was a problem at the time.
This was the third of three #1's for Brother Ray, following "Georgia On My Mind" and "Hit The Road Jack." It was his first gold record.
This won the Grammy for Best Rhythm and Blues Recording, 1962.

Comments: 9

Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1962 {May 20th} "I Can't Stop Loving You" by Ray Charles peaked at #1 {for 10 weeks}* on Billboard's Hot R&B Sides chart...
"I Can't Stop Loving You" prevented four other records from reaching #1...
The four were:
"Don't Play That Song (You Lied)" by Ben E. King peaked at #2 for four weeks...
"Any Day Now" by Chuck Jackson peaked at #2 for three weeks...
"Snap Your Fingers" by Joe Henderson peaked at #2 for one week...
"Twist and Shout" by The Isley Brothers peaked at #2 for one week...
* For "I Can't Stop Loving You"'s ninth week at #1, "You'll Lose At Good Thing" by Barbara Lynn was at #2, the following week The Isley Brothers were at #2, one week later Ms. Lynn's "You'll Lose a Good Thing" moved into the #1 position for a three week stay...
And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the Hot R&B Sides' Top 10 on May 20th, 1962:
At #1. the above "I Can't Stop Loving You"
#2. "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)" by Ben E. King
#3. "Soldier Boy" by The Shirelles
#4. "Mashed Potato Time" by Dee Dee Sharp {the #1 record for the four previous weeks}
#5. "The One Who Really Loves You" by Mary Wells
#6. "Night Train" by James Brown and The Famous Flames
#7. "Any Day Now" by Chuck Jackson
#8. "I Found A Love" by The Falcons
#9. "Soul Twist" by King Curtis
#10. "Snap Your Fingers" by Joe Henderson
Meocyber from Alma. Co.Wow, one of the most versatile , open minded musicians of pop, blues or rock history. His blindness really seemed to let him see the depth of others compositions instead of their skin color. His giant admiration. for people like. Hank. William's will always b amazing in my eyes.
Randy from Houghton Lake, MiThis is the best version of this song as far as I'm concerned. It's the only version I had heard for most of my life.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 26th 1958, Don Gibson performed "Oh Lonesome Me" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
At the time it was at #32 on Billboard's Top 100 chart; and on April 8th, 1958 it reached #1 {for 7 weeks} on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart...
{See next post below}.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 3rd, 1957 Don Gibson recorded "I Can't Stop Lovin' You" and "Oh, Lonesome Me" in Nashville in RCA Studio B...
Two months later on February 24th, 1958 it entered Billboard's Top 100 chart for a six week stay, peaking at #81...
The flip-side fared a little bit better, "Oh, Lonesome Me", it reached #7 on the Top 100 and stayed on the chart for 21 weeks...
R.I.P. Mr. Gibson (1928 - 2003).
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn May 26th, 1962 "I Can't Stop Loving You" reached #1 on the R&B chart and stayed there for ten consecutive weeks!!! {The song that ended his reign was "You'll Lose a Good Thing" by Barbara Lynn}
Barry from Sauquoit, NyRay Charles was a guest on the 1970s radio show 'Pop! Goes the Country', hosted by Ralph Emery. He stated he considered this song as a great blues song. He said the lyrics "I've can't stop loving you, I've made up my mind" were the saddest he ever heard...
Esteban from ., --In the Van Halen Song with the same name "I Can't Stop Loving You" they say this in the lyrics "Hey Ray, What You Said Is True, Oh I Can't Stop Loving You" making a reference to Ray Charles
Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScI have never heard any other version, but this one is a classic! Btw, I thought Tab Hunter was an actor too.