Co-written and first recorded by Carole Bayer Sager (1977).
Also recorded by Peter Allen, co-writer (1979).
Hit version by Rita Coolidge (US #38/MOR #3/C&W #32/CAN AC #1 1979).
From the wiki: “I’d Rather Leave While I’m In Love” is a song co-written by Peter Allen (‘Don’t Cry Out Loud‘) and Carol Bayer-Sager, and popularized in 1979 by Rita Coolidge, was first recorded in 1977 by Bayer Sager. Co-writer Allen recorded his own version of ‘I’d Rather Leave While I’m In Love’ in 1979 for his album I Could Have Been a Sailor.
“The song about breaking up was sung originally by its two songwriters, who both had married and later split up with famous spouses: Allen, from Liza Minnelli; Bayer Sager, from producer Andrew Sager.
“‘I’d Rather Leave While I’m In Love’ was something of a comeback single for Coolidge whose four previous singles between 1978 and 1979 had not cracked the Adult Contemporary Top 20 charts. The lead promotional single from her album Satisfied peaked at #3 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, and topped the Canadian A/C chart at #1.”
Peter Allen, “I’d Rather Leave While I’m in Love” (1979):
Rita Coolidge, “I’d Rather Leave While I’m in Love” (1979):