Written by Clifton Davis Key Recordings
|
The first recording of Never Can Say Goodbye was a serendipitous event. Motown producer Hal Davis was in the Los Angeles offices of Motown when he heard Clifton Davis playing the melody on a piano nearby. Clifton Davis had arrived at the Motown offices to try and sell his new song Never Can Say Goodbye. Apparently Hal Davis was so impressed by the tune that he booked a recording session for that night. Those initial sessions ended up as backing tracks for the Jackson Five hit version of the song. It was another number one R&B and top 10 Pop hit for the group.
Hal Davis wasn't the only musician impressed by Never Can Say Goodbye. Before 1971 was over, the song had also shown up on albums by Isaac Hayes and Jazz musician Herbie Mann. Hayes' version reached the R&B top 5. Never Can Say Goodbye was selected as one of the first songs for new singer Gloria Gaynor to perform for MGM Records. The initial recording was put together in late 1973 and featured swirling strings with a pounding beat similar to other very early Disco recordings such as Love's Theme by Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra. Released in 1974, the song built up a strong underground following in clubs, but received little radio airplay. Tom Moulton was hired to help out with mixing on the Never Can Say Goodbye album. He built a Disco suite with one song moving effortlessly into another. The first side of the album, lasting 18 minutes, was the first extended Disco suite. Ironically, Tom Moulton is left off the credits on the album due to concern over a possible conflict with his writing in the 'Disco Mix' column in Billboard. The resulting acclaim for the new mix pushed the Never Can Say Goodbye album suite to the top of the Disco chart and the song ended up in the Pop Top 10.
In 1987 the Communards chose Never Can Say Goodbye to be the leadoff single for their second album Reds. Produced by Stephen Hague, and influenced by the popularity of Northern Soul in the U.K., the Communards version is faithful to the style of the Gloria Gaynor release. Swirling strings, a quick, pounding 4/4 beat and Jimmy Somervilles' glorious falsetto combine for a retro delight. This version of Never Can Say Goodbye just missed the top of the U.S. dance chart.
Never Can Say Goodbye continues to be popular as a dance recording. Among the most recent recorded versions are youth prodigy Kimberly Scott's version on her debut album and Sheena Easton's rendering on her all Disco album Fabulous.
