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Never Can Say Goodbye

"Never Can Say Goodbye" is a song written by Clifton Davis and originally recorded by the Jackson 5. The song was originally written and intended for the Supremes; however, Motown decided it would be better for the Jackson 5. It was the first single released from the group's 1971 album Maybe Tomorrow, and was one of the group's most successful records. It has been covered numerous times, most notably in 1974 by Gloria Gaynor and in 1987 by British pop group the Communards.

This article is about the song. For the album by Gloria Gaynor, see Never Can Say Goodbye (Gloria Gaynor album). For the album by Joey DeFrancesco, see Never Can Say Goodbye: The Music of Michael Jackson.

"Never Can Say Goodbye"

"She's Good"

March 16, 1971 (1971-03-16) (U.S.)

June 1970

Hitsville West (Los Angeles, CA)

2:58

, November 4, 1971 – this recording appears on the 2009 Jackson 5 CD I Want You Back! Unreleased Masters

The Flip Wilson Show

One More Time (Jackson 5 TV special), January 10, 1974

, April 4, 1974

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

, March 16, 1975

Cher

, July 7, 1976

The Jacksons

, May 16, 1983

Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever

"Never Can Say Goodbye"

April 1971 (U.S.)

1971

  • 5:07 (original album version)
  • 3:32 (7-inch single version)

Clifton Davis

Isaac Hayes

"We Just Can't Make It"

October 27, 1974 (U.S.)

1974

  • 6:19 (original album version)
  • 2:58 (7-inch single version)

Clifton Davis

  • "'77, The Great Escape" (7-inch)
  • "Tomorrow" (Remix) (U.S. 12-inch)

26 October 1987[33]

1987

  • 4:30 (7-inch 45 RPM)
  • 4:53 (Album Version)
  • 7:50 (12-inch single)

Clifton Davis

Stephen Hague (Remix and additional production by Shep Pettibone)

on the 1971 album You've Got A Friend

Mark Lindsay

on the 1971 album Visions

Grant Green

on the 1971 album You've Got a Friend

Andy Williams

on the 1971 album Push Push

Herbie Mann

on the 1971 album Breakout

Johnny "Hammond" Smith

on the 1971 album A Gift of Song

The Sandpipers

on the 1971 album Moody Jr.

Junior Walker

performed a Talkbox medley of the songs "Close To You" and "Never Can Say Goodbye" on the David Frost Show in 1972. He performed the song again in 2009 as a tribute to Michael Jackson.

Stevie Wonder

on the 1972 album Blacknuss

Rahsaan Roland Kirk

on the 1973 album Smokey[58]

Smokey Robinson

in her debut album “Sombras”, included a version in Spanish called No Puedes Volver A Mí in 1975.

Paloma San Basilio

on the 1973 album Last Bolero in Berkeley

Cal Tjader

on the 1995 album Supremely Yours

Former Ladies of the Supremes

on the 1997 album Uptown Groove

Zachary Breaux

on the 1997 album The Natural Life

Yazz

as part of the "70's Moment Medley", a b-side to her 1998 single "Don't Let This Moment End"

Gloria Estefan

on the 2000 album Fabulous

Sheena Easton

originally recorded for the shelved 1971 album Promises Kept, finally released on the 2002 album The '70s Anthology[59]

The Supremes

and Dave Grusin, on the 2003 album Twist of Motown

Lee Ritenour

featuring George Benson, on the 2005 album Everlasting Love

Vanessa Williams

on the 2008 covers album Heroes[60][61]

David Benoit

on the 2009 album Sax for Stax[62][63]

Gerald Albright

featuring Chuck Loeb, on the 2009 album Lookin' Back[64][65]

Bob Baldwin

on the 2010 album Olivia

Olivia Ong

on the 1973 album David T. Walker

David T. Walker

performed the song live in 2001 for BBC Children in Need.

Westlife

covered the song as a medley alongside "Close To You" during his Blonde Tour in Summer 2017, It was inspired by Stevie Wonder's medley from 1972.

Frank Ocean

Jack Stratton of performed a version of the song with bassist Solomon Dorsey and original guitarist David T. Walker on the 2022 album Vulf Vault 006: Here We Go Jack. Walker played a chord melody to lead the song.

Vulfpeck

Other artists who have covered the song include:

sings a few lines of the song in the animated film Happy Feet (2006)

Nicole Kidman

sang the song on the first episode of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

Will Ferrell

Jorge Núñez sang the song on the top 13 show on

American Idol season 8

The song is used in the Broadway musical .

Disaster

A cover sung in Vietnamese by plays in Gleaming the Cube.

Khánh Hà

sings a near 2 minute version of the song in an episode of Ally McBeal

Loretta Devine

Samples and remixes[edit]

The Neptunes remixed "Never Can Say Goodbye" on the 2009 Michael Jackson remix album The Remix Suite.[72]


Astro rapped over the song on a 2011 episode of The X Factor USA.


In 2012, Wu-Tang Clan rapper Raekwon released his cover version of the song in which he raps over the instrumental.[73]

In popular culture[edit]

While appearing on The Hollywood Squares Clifton Davis sang a bit of the song a capella and then was asked who wrote the song. His answer was "I did" to which the contestant agreed (and was correct).

Written by

Clifton Davis

on YouTube

The Jackson 5 - Never Can Say Goodbye

on YouTube

Gloria Gaynor - Never Can Say Goodbye