CAFFE` LATTE` TOP 2000 TRACKS
THE TOP 100
#11 NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE
GLORIA GAYNOR
(1974)
Writers: Clifton Davis
The Jackson 5 released the first version of "Never Can Say Goodbye" in 1971, providing a #2 Pop and #1 R&B hit for the Motown label. A soul-drenched interpretation followed that same year from Isaac Hayes on his 'Black Moses' album. The Supremes also recorded a version around that time, although it remained in the vaults for decades. In the meantime, a new genre was in the ascent 3 years later when Gloria Gaynor recorded her remake.
Disco was about to emerge from gay and African-American discotheques and cross over into the mainstream, ushered in with the success of the singer's dance-oriented cover of "Never Can Say Goodbye". While previous release "Honey Bee" barely dented the charts, it established a following for her music. Fortunately, Gaynor persisted with the burgeoning genre.
When I interviewed Gaynor in 2012, I asked her what led to the recording of "Never Can Say...". She explained that: "when I recorded "Honey Bee" and I had a band and we were working up and down the East Coast... we had to have a show... And 1 of the songs we chose for the show was "Never Can Say Goodbye"... The band did a completely new arrangement of it."
"It was getting so much response in my show," Gaynor continued. "That I called the record company. By this time, I had moved from Columbia Records to MGM Records, and they wanted to do an album with me". Gaynor urged her label to send someone to witness the response during her club act to "Never Can Say..."; "... I thought it should be the next single and the title song for the next album," Gaynor explained. "They came down, they listened, they watched, they saw and they agreed".
Gaynor's instincts proved accurate. The remake became the 1st #1 title on Billboard's Disco Chart when it premiered in late October 1974. On the American Pop chart, "Never Can Say..." peaked at #9. It also appeared on the R&B and Adult Contemporary charts there. In Britain, the disco smash reached #2.
The Motown catalogue provided Gaynor with her next hit. After the success of her remake of the Jackson 5 smash, she covered a 1960s classic originally by The Four Tops: "Reach Out, I'll Be There". Many other integral disco tracks followed and consolidated Gaynor' as the 'Queen of Disco'.
Meco Monardo, 1 of the co-producers of Gaynor's version of "Never Can Say...", went on to enjoy his own success with "Star Wars Theme / Cantina Band". The disco version of the music from the box office hit film became a US #1 Pop hit in 1977. The single also topped the Canadian chart.
"Never Can Say..." has been recorded by a wide array of acts since the 1970s. The song became a major pop hit again in 1987 when covered by the British duo The Communards. This interpretation reached #4 on the UK chart as well as making the Top 10 in Europe and peakng at #13 in Australia.
Disco was about to emerge from gay and African-American discotheques and cross over into the mainstream, ushered in with the success of the singer's dance-oriented cover of "Never Can Say Goodbye". While previous release "Honey Bee" barely dented the charts, it established a following for her music. Fortunately, Gaynor persisted with the burgeoning genre.
When I interviewed Gaynor in 2012, I asked her what led to the recording of "Never Can Say...". She explained that: "when I recorded "Honey Bee" and I had a band and we were working up and down the East Coast... we had to have a show... And 1 of the songs we chose for the show was "Never Can Say Goodbye"... The band did a completely new arrangement of it."
"It was getting so much response in my show," Gaynor continued. "That I called the record company. By this time, I had moved from Columbia Records to MGM Records, and they wanted to do an album with me". Gaynor urged her label to send someone to witness the response during her club act to "Never Can Say..."; "... I thought it should be the next single and the title song for the next album," Gaynor explained. "They came down, they listened, they watched, they saw and they agreed".
Gaynor's instincts proved accurate. The remake became the 1st #1 title on Billboard's Disco Chart when it premiered in late October 1974. On the American Pop chart, "Never Can Say..." peaked at #9. It also appeared on the R&B and Adult Contemporary charts there. In Britain, the disco smash reached #2.
The Motown catalogue provided Gaynor with her next hit. After the success of her remake of the Jackson 5 smash, she covered a 1960s classic originally by The Four Tops: "Reach Out, I'll Be There". Many other integral disco tracks followed and consolidated Gaynor' as the 'Queen of Disco'.
Meco Monardo, 1 of the co-producers of Gaynor's version of "Never Can Say...", went on to enjoy his own success with "Star Wars Theme / Cantina Band". The disco version of the music from the box office hit film became a US #1 Pop hit in 1977. The single also topped the Canadian chart.
"Never Can Say..." has been recorded by a wide array of acts since the 1970s. The song became a major pop hit again in 1987 when covered by the British duo The Communards. This interpretation reached #4 on the UK chart as well as making the Top 10 in Europe and peakng at #13 in Australia.
Each week, 1 new songs from the remaining Top 10 will be added, while another 2 are also included from #1501-2000 on the other weekdays. Check back here for an update of the 2000.
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