Do n't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight - wikipedia Do n't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight For The Band Perry song, see Do n't Let Me Be Lonely. `` Do n't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight '' Single by James Taylor from the album One Man Dog B - side `` Woh, Do n't You Know '' Released November 1972 Format 7 '' Genre Folk rock Length 2 : 34 Label Warner Bros. Songwriter ( s ) James Taylor Producer ( s ) Peter Asher James Taylor singles chronology `` Long Ago and Far Away '' ( 1971 ) `` Do n't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight '' ( 1972 ) `` One Man Parade '' ( 1973 ) `` Long Ago and Far Away '' ( 1971 ) `` Do n't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight '' ( 1972 ) `` One Man Parade '' ( 1973 ) `` Do n't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight '' is a song written and performed by American singer - songwriter James Taylor, from his 1972 album One Man Dog. It was released as the lead single from the album, and peaked at # 14 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on January 13, 1973. It also reached # 3 Easy Listening. The song has been included on three of Taylor 's greatest - hits collection albums : Greatest Hits ( 1976 ), Classic Songs ( 1987 ) and The Best of James Taylor ( 2003 ). It has been recorded by various pop and jazz artists, notably The Isley Brothers and Isaac Hayes, along with saxophonist Boney James, whose version was also released as a single. Reception AllMusic reviewer Bill Janovitz wrote that the song is `` a stunning example of the Tin Pan Alley - type of jazzy romantic ballad '', and that the song 's lyrics, about `` a betrayed lover who allows his lonely heart to control his head '', were unusual in that songs on that theme were usually performed by female artists. Covers and samples The song has been recorded by the following artists : Johnny Mathis, on Me and Mrs. Jones ( 1973 ) Liza Minnelli, on The Singer ( 1973 ), her best - selling album The Isley Brothers, on their platinum - selling album 3 + 3 ( 1973 ). This version was done in 12 / 8 time, with a rhythm and blues feel. Nancy Wilson, on Come Get to This ( 1975 ) Isaac Hayes, on For the Sake of Love ( 1978 ), in a 7 - minute, funk - infused version with a long instrumental introduction. The instrumental portion has been sampled in songs including `` You Keep Leading Me On '' by Mona Lisa ( 1996 ), `` Rhyme No More '' by Jay - Z ( 1997 ), `` It 's All Mo ' Thug '' by Bone Thugs - n - Harmony ( 1997 ) and `` Lovin You ( On My Mind ) '' by Slim Thug featuring Z - Ro ( 2013 ). Mary MacGregor, on... In Your Eyes ( 1978 ) Oleta Adams, on Evolution ( 1992 ) Eric Clapton, on Reptile ( 2001 ) Euge Groove, on Livin ' Large ( 2004 ) Joe Cocker, on Heart & Soul ( 2005 ) David Sanborn featuring Lizz Wright on Closer ( 2005 ) Diane Schuur on Schuur Fire ( 2005 ) Jazz saxophonist Boney James, on Send One Your Love ( 2009 ). Vocals were by Quinn, in a style similar to the Isley Brothers ' version. It was released as a single, and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance in 2010, losing to Beyoncé 's cover of `` At Last ''. Garth Brooks, on The Melting Pot album of the compilation box set Blame It All on My Roots : Five Decades of Influences ( 2013 ) `` Do n't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight '' has also been performed live by artists including George Benson Pat Metheny and Earth Wind and Fire Tyrone Sanders, Nathan Sanders featuring Silver Angelina ( 2017 ). < ref > ( 1 ) References Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 1993 ). Top Adult Contemporary : 1961 -- 1993. Record Research. p. 237. Jump up ^ `` Do n't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight '' review, Bill Janovitz, AllMusic Jump up ^ Isaac Hayes ' Do n't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight cover, WhoSampled.com James Taylor Studio albums James Taylor Sweet Baby James Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon One Man Dog Walking Man Gorilla In the Pocket JT Flag Dad Loves His Work That 's Why I 'm Here Never Die Young New Moon Shine Hourglass October Road Covers Before This World Live albums Live / Best Live One Man Band Amchitka Live at the Troubadour Holiday albums James Taylor : A Christmas Album James Taylor at Christmas Compilation albums Greatest Hits Classic Songs Greatest Hits Volume 2 The Best of James Taylor Video albums Live at the Beacon Theatre Extended plays Other Covers Singles `` Carolina in My Mind '' `` Knocking ' Round the Zoo '' `` Sweet Baby James '' `` Fire and Rain '' `` Country Road '' `` You 've Got a Friend '' `` Long Ago and Far Away '' `` Do n't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight '' `` One Man Parade '' `` Hymn '' `` Mockingbird ( with Carly Simon ) `` How Sweet It Is ( To Be Loved by You ) '' `` Mexico '' `` Shower the People '' `` Woman 's Gotta Have It '' `` Handy Man '' `` Your Smiling Face '' `` Honey Do n't Leave L.A. '' `` Devoted to You '' ( with Carly Simon ) `` Up on the Roof '' `` Her Town Too '' `` Hard Times `` Everyday '' `` It 's Growing '' Other songs `` Night Owl `` Something in the Way She Moves '' `` Sunny Skies '' `` Steamroller Blues '' `` You Can Close Your Eyes '' `` Highway Song '' `` Bartender 's Blues '' `` Secret O ' Life '' `` Millworker '' `` Summer 's Here '' Related articles Discography James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine Working Vote for Change Tour Troubadour Reunion Tour Carly Simon Ben Taylor Sally Taylor Kate Taylor Livingston Taylor Alex Taylor Isaac M. Taylor Two - Lane Blacktop Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Don%27t_Let_Me_Be_Lonely_Tonight&oldid=813527039 '' Categories : 1972 singles Songs written by James Taylor James Taylor songs The Isley Brothers songs Isaac Hayes songs Song recordings produced by Peter Asher Songs about loneliness Warner Bros. Records singles Epic Records singles Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats Talk About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 3 December 2017, at 22 : 21. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: who wrote don't let me be lonely tonight
Answer: James Taylor