Never Can Say Goodbye (Gloria Gaynor album)
Encyclopedia
Never Can Say Goodbye is a 1975 album by Gloria Gaynor
, released on MGM Records in January 1975. It is most notable for including several early Disco recordings. The album charted in the US Billboard at #25 in the US Pop chart, and at #21 in the US R&B chart.
In the UK the album peaked at #32, "Never Can Say Goodbye" was released in the UK as a single and reached #2 in early 1975.
The album features three hit singles; "Honey Bee", "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "Reach Out, I'll Be There" which are featured on the album's first side in a 19-minute disco suite. Which is now referred to as a megamix
, then a famous first devised by Tom Moulton
. The second side of the album favours slower Soul music
songs commonplace at the time. Notably, vocalist Gloria Gaynor also was involved in the songwriting of a number of the tracks, including "Real Good People".
The album was re-issued on CD in 2010, with seven bonus tracks, by the UK based Big Break Records.
("A Tom Moulton Mix") - 18:36
Side two
10."All It Took Boy Was Losing You" (M. Steals, M. Steals) (A-side single, released in 1973)
11."Come Tonight" (B-Side of "Honey Bee" single, released in 1974)
12."Never Can Say Goodbye" (Single Version) (A-side single, released in 1974)
13."We Can Just Make It" (Gloria Gaynor) (B-Side of "Never Can Say Goodbye" single, released in 1974)
14."Reach Out, Ill Be There" (Single Version) (A-side single, released in 1975)
15."Honey Bee" (MGM Single Version) (A-side single, released in 1974)
Gloria Gaynor
Gloria Gaynor is an American singer, best known for the disco era hits; "I Will Survive" , "Never Can Say Goodbye" , "Let Me Know " and "I Am What I Am" .-Early career:Gaynor was a singer with the Soul...
, released on MGM Records in January 1975. It is most notable for including several early Disco recordings. The album charted in the US Billboard at #25 in the US Pop chart, and at #21 in the US R&B chart.
In the UK the album peaked at #32, "Never Can Say Goodbye" was released in the UK as a single and reached #2 in early 1975.
The album features three hit singles; "Honey Bee", "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "Reach Out, I'll Be There" which are featured on the album's first side in a 19-minute disco suite. Which is now referred to as a megamix
Megamix
A megamix is a medley remix containing multiple songs in rapid succession. There may be only one verse or even just a brief chorus of each song used, sometimes in addition to samples of the same or other songs. There may also be some elements of bastard pop in some, though not as much as a mashup...
, then a famous first devised by Tom Moulton
Tom Moulton
Tom Moulton is an American record producer, and originator of the remix, the breakdown section, and the 12-inch single vinyl format.-Life and career:Thomas Jerome Moulton was born in Schenectady, New York, United States....
. The second side of the album favours slower Soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
songs commonplace at the time. Notably, vocalist Gloria Gaynor also was involved in the songwriting of a number of the tracks, including "Real Good People".
The album was re-issued on CD in 2010, with seven bonus tracks, by the UK based Big Break Records.
Track listing
Side one("A Tom Moulton Mix") - 18:36
- "Honey Bee" (Melvin Steals, Matthew Ledbetter) - 6:00
- "Never Can Say GoodbyeNever Can Say Goodbye"Never Can Say Goodbye" is a song written by Clifton Davis and originally recorded by The Jackson 5. Released as a single in 1971, it was one of the group's most successful songs...
" (Clifton Davis) - 6:19 - "Reach Out, I'll Be There" (Holland, Dozier, Holland) - 6:17
Side two
- "All I Need Is Your Sweet Lovin'All I Need Is Your Sweet Lovin'"All I Need Is Your Sweet Lovin" is a song by American singer Gloria Gaynor, released in August 1975...
" (Bobby Flax, Larry Lambert) - 2:48 - "Searchin'" (Casey Spencer) - 2:55
- "We Belong Together" (Lester Hodelin, Patricia Shells) - 2:51
- "False Alarm" (Don Coan, Gloria Gaynor) - 3:42
- "Real Good People" (Gloria Gaynor) - 3:07
CD bonus tracks
9."Honeybee" (M. Steals, M. Steals, M. Ledbetter) (Columbia Single Version) (A-side single, released in 1973)10."All It Took Boy Was Losing You" (M. Steals, M. Steals) (A-side single, released in 1973)
11."Come Tonight" (B-Side of "Honey Bee" single, released in 1974)
12."Never Can Say Goodbye" (Single Version) (A-side single, released in 1974)
13."We Can Just Make It" (Gloria Gaynor) (B-Side of "Never Can Say Goodbye" single, released in 1974)
14."Reach Out, Ill Be There" (Single Version) (A-side single, released in 1975)
15."Honey Bee" (MGM Single Version) (A-side single, released in 1974)
Personnel
- Gloria Gaynor - vocals
- Allan SchwartzbergAllan SchwartzbergAllan Schwartzberg is a famous studio musician drummer, most of whose recordings were made in the 1970s. He has played on hits such as Gloria Gaynor's "Never Can Say Goodbye". He has played with KISS, James Brown and Peter Gabriel as well...
- drums - Bob BabbittBob BabbittBob Babbitt is an American bassist, most famous for his work as a member of Motown Records' studio band, the Funk Brothers, from 1966–1972, as well as his tenure as part of MFSB for Philadelphia International Records afterwards. Also in 1968-1970, with Mike Campbell, Ray Monette and Andrew Smith...
- bass - Pat RebillotPat RebillotPat Rebillot, born April 21, 1935, is a US-based keyboard session and studio musician.He is associated with fellow session and studio musicians Hugh McCracken, Tony Levin, Steve Gadd, Ray Barretto and Ralph MacDonald....
- keyboards - Carlos Martin - congos
- Lance Quinn, Jerry Freidman, Jeff Miranov - guitars
Production
- Producers - Paul LekaPaul LekaPaul Leka was an American songwriter, pianist, arranger, and orchestrator, most notable for his writing associations with the 1960s hits "Green Tambourine" and "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye", the latter of which has become a standard song at sporting events.-Life and career:Born in Bridgeport,...
, Tony BongioviTony BongioviTony Bongiovi is a record producer and recording engineer with expertise in Electrical & Acoustical Engineering. He helped to remodel an old building in Manhattan—once a power plant for Edison, and later a television studio—into the Power Station recording studio in 1977.Bongiovi was born in the...
, Meco MonardoMecoMeco is an American record producer and musician, as well as the name of a band or production team based around him...
, Jay Ellis - Arrangers - Norman HarrisNorman HarrisNorman Harris was an American guitarist, producer, arranger and songwriter associated with Philly soul. He was a founding member of MFSB and one-third of the production trio of Baker-Harris-Young...
, Harold WheelerHarold WheelerHarold Wheeler is an orchestrator, composer, conductor, arranger, record producer, and music director. He has received numerous Tony Award and Drama Desk Award nominations for orchestration, and won the 2003 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestrations for Hairspray.-Biography:Wheeler was named...
, Lou Del Gatto, Mecco Menardo - Mixing - Tom MoultonTom MoultonTom Moulton is an American record producer, and originator of the remix, the breakdown section, and the 12-inch single vinyl format.-Life and career:Thomas Jerome Moulton was born in Schenectady, New York, United States....
- Photography - Bernie Block