I've Been Loving You Too Long

"I've Been Loving You Too Long"
Single by Otis Redding
from the album Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul
B-side	"I'm Depending on You"
Released	April 19, 1965 (1965-04-19)
Recorded	April 1965 [lower-alpha 1]
Genre	Soul
Length	2:49
Label	Volt (V-126)
Songwriter(s)	Otis Redding, Jerry Butler
Producer(s)	Steve Cropper
Otis Redding singles chronology
"Mr. Pitiful" (1965) "I've Been Loving You Too Long" (1965) "Respect" (1965)

"I've Been Loving You Too Long" (originally "I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)") is a soul music ballad written by Otis Redding and Jerry Butler. ^[2] Considered by music critics and writers to be one of Redding's finest performances and a soul classic, it is a slow, emotional piece with Redding's pleading vocals backed by producer Steve Cropper's arpeggiated guitar parts and a horn section. ^[3]

Redding recorded the song in 1965 and when released as a single in April 1965, became his second best selling single. The song was subsequently included on his third album, Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul (1965). ^[2] The song reached number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 on the Billboard Rhythm & Blues chart. ^[4] Billboard described it as a "winning tender and soulful piece of material and performance by 'Mr. Pitiful' himself." ^[5] Cash Box described it as "a tender, slow-moving heartfelt lament about a fella whose love for his gal is growing cold." ^[6]

Notable cover versions include performances by the Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Ike & Tina Turner, and a country music version by Barbara Mandrell—her first single. ^[7] In Australia, Johnny Diesel charted with a cover version in 1993. ^[8] The song was added to the United States National Recording Registry in 2003. ^[7] In 2011, the 1965 recording by Redding on Volt Records was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. ^[9]

Background and composition

Songs by Redding appeared in the U.S. Billboard pop and R&B charts as early as 1962, but "I've Been Loving You Too Long" became his biggest hit upon its release. ^[4]

Although the tempo is exactly the same, two versions of the song have been recorded in 1965; one lasts 2'50 and the second one is 3'10 long (in the original LP version), i.e., with an extra verse. Booker T. Jones plays piano on one version while Isaac Hayes is on the other. ^[10]

Recording and personnel

• Otis Redding – vocals
• Booker T. Jones – keyboards, piano
• Isaac Hayes – keyboards, piano
• Steve Cropper – guitar
• Donald Dunn – bass guitar
• Al Jackson Jr. – drums
• Wayne Jackson – trumpet
• Gene Miller – trumpet
• Andrew Love – tenor saxophone
• Floyd Newman – baritone saxophone

Ike & Tina Turner version

"I've Been Loving You Too Long"
Single by Ike & Tina Turner
from the album Outta Season
B-side	"Grumbling"
Released	April 1969
Genre	Soul, R&B
Length	3:40
Label	Blue Thumb
Songwriter(s)	Otis Redding, Jerry Butler
Producer(s)	Bob Krasnow, Tina Turner
Ike & Tina Turner singles chronology
"I'm Gonna Do All I Can (To Do Right by My Man)" (1969) "I've Been Loving You Too Long" (1969) "I Wish It Would Rain" (1969)

Ike & Tina Turner recorded the song for their 1969 album, Outta Season . ^{[11] [12]} Produced by Tina Turner and Bob Krasnow, the single peaked at number 23 on the Billboard R&B chart and number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100. ^[13] It was reissued in 1971, reaching number 56 on the Cash Box R&B chart and number 44 on Record World 's R&B chart. ^{[14] [15]}

Live performances

The Turners can be seen performing the song at Madison Square Garden in the Rolling Stones concert film Gimme Shelter (1970). ^[16] Their version differs from the original because they added an additional section with an explicit interaction. During their live performances they simulated oral sex. Tina caressed the microphone and moaned while Ike made suggestive slurping noises. Prior to Tina, a former member of the Kings of Rhythm named Jimmy Thomas would perform that song. In her autobiography I, Tina , she said:

Then when Jimmy left, I started singing the song, because it was a very good show song, and I started mimicking Jimmy, but putting my own female thing into it. I was really involved with that song in the beginning. Then I became bored with it, but Ike wouldn't let me stop. He started making those noises in the background, and it became really pornographic. Embarrassing. But the people loved it. ^[17]

Track listing

1969

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"I’ve Been Loving You Too Long"	Jerry Butler, Otis Redding	3:40
2.	"Grumbling"	Ike Turner	2:35

1971

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"I've Been Loving You Too Long"	Jerry Butler, Otis Redding	3:40
2.	"Crazy 'Bout You Baby"	Sonny Boy Williamson	3:45

Johnny Diesel version

"I've Been Loving You Too Long"
Single by Johnny Diesel
from the album The Lobbyist
B-side	"Come to Me"
Released	29 November 1993 [18]
Label	EMI Records
Songwriter(s)	Otis Redding, Jerry Butler
Producer(s)	Diesel, Don Gehman
Johnny Diesel singles chronology
"Masterplan" (1993) "I've Been Loving You Too Long" (1993) "Still Got a Long Way to Go" (1994)

In 1992 Australian musician, Diesel recorded the song for his ARIA Chart number 1 album, The Lobbyist (1993). It was released as the third and final single and peaked at number 41 on the Australian ARIA Chart on 29 November 1993. ^[8]

Track listing

1. "I've Been Loving You Too Long"
2. "Come to Me" (UK Remix)

Other versions

• The first cover of the song was a recording by the Rolling Stones in 1965, shortly after Redding's original version became a hit. It was included on the Stones' first live album, Got Live If You Want It! (1966), although the track was a studio recording that had been overdubbed with audience noises. ^[19] Returning the compliment, Redding covered the Rolling Stones song "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
• Aretha Franklin covered the song on her 1972 album Young, Gifted And Black . ^[7]

Chart performance

Otis Redding

Chart (1965)	Peak Position
US Billboard Hot 100 [4]	21
US Billboard R&B [4]	2

Ike & Tina Turner

Chart	Year	Peak Position
US Billboard Hot 100 [13]	1969	68
US Billboard R&B [20]		23
US Cash Box Top 100 [21]		91
US Record World Top 100 [22]		94
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 [23]	1971	120
US Cash Box R&B [14]		56
US Record World R&B [15]		44

Johnny Diesel

Chart (1993)	Peak Position
Australia (ARIA) [8]	41

Notes

1. The original version was recorded in mono in April 1965. A stereo version for inclusion on Otis Blue was recorded July 9–10. ^[1]

References

1. Bowman, Rob (2015). Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul (Liner notes). Otis Redding. Rhino, ATCO. 081227951856. For the Otis Blue sessions, Redding decided to recut 'I've Been Loving You Too Long' in stereo. The song had undergone substantial change since it was originally recorded in April.
2. Eder, Bruce. "Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul – Review". AllMusic . Retrieved October 23, 2016.
3. Layne, Joslyn. "Otis Redding: I've Been Loving You Too Long – Review". AllMusic . Retrieved October 23, 2016.
4. Whitburn, Joel (1988). Top R&B Singles 1942–1988 . Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. pp.  344, 418. ISBN   0-89820-068-7.
5. "Singles Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. May 8, 1965. p. 37. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
6. "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. May 8, 1965. p. 12. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
7. O'Dell, Cory. "2003 | National Recording Preservation Board". Library of Congress.
8. "JOHNNY DIESEL I've Been Loving You Too Long (SONG)". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
9. "GRAMMY Hall Of Fame | Hall of Fame Artists | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com.
10. Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. Billboard Books. ISBN   9780823076772.
11. "Cash Box Album Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box: 30. March 29, 1969.
12. Ron Wynn. "Outta Season - Ike & Tina Turner | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 2016-07-27.
13. "I've Been Loving You Too Long (song by Ike & Tina Turner)". Music VF, US & UK hits charts. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
14. "Cash Box R&B Top 60" (PDF). Cash Box: 15. August 14, 1971.
15. "The R&B Singles Chart" (PDF). Record World: 10. September 4, 1971.
16. "Spotlight Singles: Special Merit Spotlight" (PDF). Billboard. July 10, 1971. p. 51.
17. Turner, Tina (1986). I, Tina : My Life Story. Loder, Kurt (1st ed.). New York: William Morrow and Company. pp. 122–123. ISBN   9780670808731.
18. "ARIA New Releases 29 November 1993". Ariacharts.com.au. 29 November 1993. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
19. Richie Unterberger (1966-11-04). "Got Live If You Want It! - The Rolling Stones | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 2016-07-27.
20. "Best Selling Rhythm & Blues Singles" (PDF). Billboard. June 14, 1969. p. 42.
21. "Cash Box Top 100" (PDF). Cash Box: 4. May 10, 1969.
22. "100 Top Pops" (PDF). Record World: 25. June 7, 1969.
23. "Bubbling Under The Hot 100" (PDF). Billboard. July 31, 1971. p. 51.