Never Can Say Goodbye (Gloria Gaynor album)

Never Can Say Goodbye
Studio album by
Gloria Gaynor
ReleasedJanuary 23, 1975
Recorded1974
GenreDisco, R&B
Length33:58
LabelMGM
ProducerPaul Leka, Tony Bongiovi, Meco Monardo, Jay Ellis
Gloria Gaynor chronology
Never Can Say Goodbye
(1975) 		Experience Gloria Gaynor
(1975)
Singles from Never Can Say Goodbye
  1. "Honey Bee"
    Released: January 1974
  2. "Never Can Say Goodbye"
    Released: October 27, 1974
  3. "Reach Out, I'll Be There"
    Released: March 12, 1975
  4. "All I Need Is Your Sweet Lovin'"
    Released: August 1975
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Christgau's Record GuideB[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[4]

Never Can Say Goodbye is the debut album by Gloria Gaynor, released on MGM Records in January 1975.[5] It is most notable for including several early disco recordings. The album charted in the US Billboard at number 25 in the US Pop chart, and at number 21 in the US R&B chart. In the UK the album peaked at number 32,[6] "Never Can Say Goodbye" was released in the UK as a single and reached number 2 in early 1975.[6]

History

The album features three hit singles – "Honey Bee", "Never Can Say Goodbye", and "Reach Out, I'll Be There" – which are featured full-length on the album's first side in a 19-minute disco suite, then a famous first devised by Tom Moulton (not credited on the record itself). This album version of "Never Can Say Goodbye" features double drum beats during the verse links, which is not heard in the single version. Gloria Gaynor also was involved in the songwriting of two tracks, including "Real Good People".

The album was remastered and reissued with bonus tracks in 2010 by Big Break Records.[7]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Honey Bee"Mervin Steals, Melvin Steals, Matthew Ledbetter6:00
2."Never Can Say Goodbye"Clifton Davis6:18
3."Reach Out, I'll Be There"Holland–Dozier–Holland6:15
4."All I Need Is Your Sweet Lovin'"Bobby Flax, Larry Lambert2:47
5."Searchin'"Casey Spencer2:55
6."We Belong Together"Lester Hodelin, Patricia Shells2:51
7."False Alarm"Don Coan, Gloria Gaynor3:40
8."Real Good People"Gloria Gaynor3:02
2010 remastered reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
9."Honeybee" (Columbia Single Version)3:44
10."All It Took Boy Was Losing You" (B-Side)5:14
11."Come Tonight" (B-Side)2:38
12."Never Can Say Goodbye" (Single Version)2:59
13."We Just Can't Make It" (B-Side)3:16
14."Reach Out, I'll Be There" (Single Version)3:06
15."Honey Bee" (MGM Single Version)2:56

Personnel

Production

  • Meco Monardo – arrangers
  • Norman Harris – arrangers
  • Harold Wheeler – arrangers
  • Lou Del Gatto – arrangers
  • Tony Bongiovi – producer
  • Meco Monardo – producer
  • Jay Ellis – producer
  • Paul Leka – producer
  • Tony Bongiovi – recording engineer
  • Bernie Block – cover photography
  • David Krieger – cover design
  • Bill Leby – art direction
  • Tom Moulton – mixing

Charts

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[16] Gold 30,000^
Australia (ARIA)[17] Gold 20,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[18] Gold 50,000^
France (SNEP)[19] Gold 100,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] Silver 60,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Henderson, Alex. Never Can Say Goodbye review at AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: G". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via Robertchristgau.com.
  3. ^ Colin Larkin (2006). "Gaynor, Gloria". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3 (4th ed.). Muze, Oxford University Press. p. 705. ISBN 978-0-19-531373-4.
  4. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 275.
  5. ^ Gloria Gaynor Never Can Say Goodbye Never Can Say Goodbye at AllMusic
  6. ^ a b "GLORIA GAYNOR". Officialcharts.com. December 7, 1974. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  7. ^ "Cherry Red Records | The Unmistakable Sound of Independence Since 1978". Cherryred.co.uk. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  8. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 121. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  9. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Gloria Gaynor – Never Can Say Goodbye" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Gloria Gaynor – Never Can Say Goodbye" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Gloria Gaynor – Never Can Say Goodbye". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  12. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  13. ^ "Gloria Gaynor Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  14. ^ "Gloria Gaynor Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  15. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. 1975. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  16. ^ "Gaynor Gold" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 38, no. 46. April 2, 1977. p. 58. Retrieved September 1, 2020 – via World Radio History.
  17. ^ "Golden Gloria" (PDF). Cash Box. November 22, 1975. p. 53. Retrieved November 15, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  18. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Gloria Gaynor – Never Can Say Goodbye". Music Canada. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  19. ^ "French album certifications – Gloria Gaynor – Never Can Say Goodbye" (in French). InfoDisc. Select GLORIA GAYNOR and click OK. 
  20. ^ "British album certifications – Gloria Gaynor – Never Can Say Goodbye". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
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