Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up



"Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up" is a song written, produced and recorded by Barry White for his second album, Stone Gon' (1973). In June 1973, it was released as the first single in the United States and reached number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. It became a gold record. In Europe, it was issued in early 1974 and peaked at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart.

Track listings
Australian 7" single
 * 1) "Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up" – 3:58
 * 2) "I've Found Someone" – 5:55

European 7" single
 * 1) "Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up" – 3:58
 * 2) "Honey Please, Can't Ya See" – 2:54

UK 7" single
 * 1) "Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up" – 3:05
 * 2) "Standing in the Shadows of Love" – 3:00

North American 7" (original) single
 * 1) "Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up" (short version) – 3:05
 * 2) "Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up" (long version) - 4:44

North American 7" (re-release) single
 * 1) "Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up" – 3:05
 * "No, I'm Never Gonna Give Ya Up" (Instrumental) - 4:24

Lisa Stansfield version
In 1997, British singer Lisa Stansfield covered "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" for her eponymous album. It received favorable reviews from music critics who called it "excellent" and "strong," and described Stansfield's voice as "seductive" and "sexy." The song was released as the second single from Lisa Stansfield in Europe, Australia and Japan on 9 June 1997 and first proper single in North America on 21 July 1997.

An accompanying music video, directed by Rocky Schenck, was also released. The song was remixed by prominent US producers: Frankie Knuckles, Mark Picchiotti, Hani, Steven Nikolas and Brendon Sibley. In February 1998, Knuckles won the Grammy Award for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical. "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" reached number twenty-five on the UK Singles Chart and seventy-four on the Billboard Hot 100. It also peaked at number one the Hot Dance Club Songs in October 1997 and number thirty-eight on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The song was later included on The Remix Album (1998) and Biography: The Greatest Hits (2003).

In 2014, remixes of "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" were included on the deluxe 2CD + DVD re-release of Lisa Stanssfield. Additional remixes were featured on People Hold On ... The Remix Anthology (2014), including three previously unreleased: Frankie's Classic Club Mix, Franktified Off the Hook Dub and After Hours Mix. All was included on The Collection 1989–2003.

Track listings
European CD single
 * 1) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Radio Mix) – 4:26
 * 2) "Change" (Live) – 5:19

Australian/European/Japanese CD maxi-single
 * 1) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Radio Mix) – 4:26
 * 2) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Album Edit) – 4:04
 * 3) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Touch 2 Mix) – 5:34
 * 4) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Frankie Knuckles Hard & Sexy Radio) – 4:15
 * 5) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Mark!'s Transparent Vocal) – 9:54

European CD maxi-single #2
 * 1) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Live) – 5:15
 * 2) "Suzanne" (Live) – 4:38
 * 3) "People Hold On" (Live) – 3:47
 * 4) "Change" (Live) – 5:19

European 12" single
 * 1) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Mark!'s Transparent Vocal) – 9:54
 * 2) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Radio Mix) – 4:26
 * 3) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Frankie Knuckles Hard & Sexy Radio) – 4:15
 * 4) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Touch 2 Mix) – 5:34

UK 12" single
 * 1) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Main Mix) – 5:02
 * 2) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Frankie's Hard & Sexy Radio) – 4:15
 * 3) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Mark!'s Transparent Vocal) – 9:54

UK promotional 12" single
 * 1) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Frankie's Hard R&B Club) – 6:54
 * 2) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Frankie's Hard & Sexy Radio) – 4:13

UK promotional 12" single
 * 1) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Mark!'s Transparent Vocal) – 9:54
 * 2) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Mark!'s Shelter Dub) – 10:57

UK promotional 12" single
 * 1) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Main Mix) – 5:02
 * 2) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Touch 2 Mix) – 5:34
 * 3) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (77th Heaven Mix) – 7:10
 * 4) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Radio Mix) – 4:26

US CD single
 * 1) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" – 4:45
 * 2) "People Hold On" (DRS Mix) – 3:42

US promotional CD single
 * 1) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Radio Edit) – 4:10
 * 2) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Album Version) – 4:45

US promotional 12" single
 * 1) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Album Mix) – 4:40
 * 2) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Groove Mix) – 5:01
 * 3) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Frankie's Hard & Sexy Mix) – 4:13
 * 4) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Frankie's Hard R&B Club Mix) – 6:54

US promotional 2x12" single
 * 1) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Hani Num Club Mix) – 9:03
 * 2) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Mark Picchiotti Dub) – 8:18
 * 3) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Nikolas & Sibley Club Mix) – 8:36
 * 4) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Frankie's Classic Morning Mix) – 8:46
 * 5) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Mark Picchiotti Club Mix) – 9:55
 * 6) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Hani's Vocal Reprise) – 1:56
 * 7) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Hani's Bonus Beats) – 2:03
 * 8) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Hani's Analog Bubble Bath) – 8:30
 * 9) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Nikolas & Sibley Dub) – 5:23

Other remixes
 * 1) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Hani Mix) – 8:54
 * 2) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Frankie Knuckles Mix) – 8:42
 * 3) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Frankie's Classic Club Mix) – 8:15
 * 4) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Franktified Off the Hook Dub) – 7:14
 * 5) "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (After Hours Mix) – 7:10

Other cover versions
Jazz musician Peter White recorded an instrumental version of the song for his 1994 album, Reflections. In late 1997, American alternative rock band Cake recorded the song for An American Werewolf in Paris soundtrack. In 2007, it was also included on Cake's album, B-Sides and Rarities. Smooth jazz bassist Wayman Tisdale covered the song for his album Rebound (2008). It features vocals by country musician Toby Keith.

In popular culture
The track can be heard in the 1995 social drama film Dead Presidents in a mid 70's era bar as the film's protagonist, unable to adjust to the real world after his service in Vietnam, reveals his desperate plan for a heist job. In the 1996 crime-drama film Bullet it is heard when Butch, his brother and Lester are driving in their convertible after shooting up. The song is also heard during a romantic scene between Jim Carrey and Jennifer Aniston in 2003 Bruce Almighty film. On an episode of The Steve Harvey Show, Steve shows up at Regina's doorstep to serenade her with "Never Never Gonna Give You Up" to get back into her good graces.