Never Let Me Go (Johnny Ace song)

"Never Let Me Go" is a blues ballad song by American R&B/blues singer Johnny Ace, written by Joseph Scott and released in 1954 under Duke Records. The song is featured on the albums My Songs and Memorial.[1] "Never Let Me Go" was one of his eighth consecutive top ten R&B hits in a row, including "My Song", "Cross My Heart," "Please Forgive Me," "The Clock," "Pledging My Love," "Saving My Love for You," and "Anymore". The song was R&B hit and peaked to No. 9 in October 1954 on Billboards Rhythm & Blues Records chart.[2]

"Never Let Me Go"
Single by Johnny Ace
from the album Memorial
B-side"Burley Cutie" (Instrumental)
Released1954
Recorded1953
GenreR&B, Blues
Length2:55
LabelDuke
Songwriter(s)Joseph Scott
Producer(s)Johnny Board, Johnny Otis
Johnny Ace singles chronology
"Please Forgive Me"
(1954)
"Never Let Me Go"
(1954)
"Pledging My Love"
(1955)
Luther Vandross singles chronology
"Heaven Knows"
(1993)
"Never Let Me Go'"
(1993)
""Endless Love" (Mariah Carey)"
(1994)

Track list

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US Vinyl, 10", 78 RPM Single (1954)[3]

  1. A1 "Never Let Me Go" - 2:48
  2. B1 "Burley Cutie" - 2:35

Charts

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Chart (1954) Peak
position
US Rhythm & Blues Records (Billboard) 9

Luther Vandross version

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R&B/soul singer-songwriter Luther Vandross recorded a cover of the song for his 1993 album of the same name; the saxophone solo on this version is performed by Kirk Whalum.

Critical reception

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Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "LV wraps those golden vocal cords around a more tried and true R&B ballad—the likes of which his legion of fans have come to love. He is aided by an arrangement that is chock full of stately piano lines, as well as a lush sax solo and a slow, swaying rhythm base."[4]

Charts

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Chart (1993) Peak
position[5]
US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard) 31

Other cover versions

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References

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  1. ^ Memorial Album For Johnny Ace at Discogs
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 7.
  3. ^ "Never Let Me Go" at Discogs
  4. ^ Flick, Larry (6 November 1993). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 67. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  5. ^ Luther Vandross - Singles Chart history.Billboard.com