Never Gonna Let You Go (Tina Moore song)

"Never Gonna Let You Go" is a song by American singer Tina Moore. Originally released as a single in May 1995 from her self-titled debut album, the song reached number 27 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In August 1997, a UK garage remix of the song by Kelly G was released on the Delirious label and became a top-10 hit in the UK, peaking at number seven on the UK Singles Chart. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it reached number 23 in September 1997. Several remixes are included on the CD and 12-inch formats, such as the 'Tuff Jam Classic Vocal Mix' and 'Warehouse Junkie Mix'.

"Never Gonna Let You Go"
Single by Tina Moore
from the album Tina Moore
ReleasedMay 23, 1995 (1995-05-23)
Genre
Length4:14[1]
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Tina Moore
  • Tommie Ford
Producer(s)
  • Jere MC
  • M. Doc
  • Kelly G
Tina Moore singles chronology
"All I Can Do"
(1995)
"Never Gonna Let You Go"
(1995)
"Nobody Better"
(1997)
Music video
"Never Gonna Let You Go" on YouTube

Critical reception

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Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that Moore "skips and slinks over hand-clapping R&B rhythm with a youthful, thoroughly appealing style." He noted that "there are moments when her fluttering range takes on a tone that is notably close to Mariah Carey", and complimented its "festive sing-along chorus."[2] An editor from Daily Record viewed it as "impressive".[3] Music Week rated it four out of five, adding that "this wailing vocal garage track has been lapped up by Kiss 100 and may cross over in the wake of Rosie Gaines."[4] James Hyman from the magazine's RM Dance Update gave it five out of five, picking it as Tune of the Week. He noted that it "bounds along with skipping beats, scat prods, deep probing bassline and instantly recognisable Kelly G vocals that hook most effectively when heard in their looped wailing whiney hi-tempo fashion (familiar from Double 99's 'RIP Groove')." He concluded, "Echoing the classic status of tracks such as Jomanda's 'Got A Love For You' and Roberta Flack's 'Uh-uh ooh ooh' and more recently Rosie Gaines' 'Closer Than Close', this will undoubtedly achieve the chart success it deserves."[5] Ian Hyland from Sunday Mirror rated the track eight out of ten. He added, "All the big labels were fighting to get their hands on this dance monster. Top tune in the same mould as chart biggies Ultra Nate and Rosie Gaines. Watch it fly."[6]

Music video

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A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Daniel Zirilli.[7]

Impact and legacy

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DJ Magazine ranked it number 62 in their list of the "Top 100 Club Tunes" in 1998.[8]

MTV Dance placed "Never Gonna Let You Go" at number 92 in their list of "The 100 Biggest 90's Dance Anthems of All Time" in November 2011.[9]

Porcys listed the song at number 54 in their ranking of "100 Singles 1990-1999" in 2012.[10]

In November 2016, UK duo Gorgon City compiled a list of their top UK garage songs for Billboard, with "Never Gonna Let You Go" at number 9.[11]

The Guardian ranked the song at number 11 in their list of "The best UK garage tracks - ranked!" in 2019. They wrote:

An early sign of UK garage’s chart appeal, this track by a minor US R&B singer was transformed into a club smash and a mainstream hit by the application of a monster bassline and the kind of skipping beat that would come to be known as two-step. This B-side remix – by Kelly G, an acolyte of Chicago house legend Steve "Silk" Hurley – became an A-side two years on.[12]

Redbull.com included the song in their list of "10 underground UK garage classics that still sound fresh today".[13]

Capital Xtra included the song in their list of "The Best Old-School Garage Anthems of All Time".[14]

Track listing

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  • CD maxi-single (1997)
  1. "Never Gonna Let You Go" (Kelly G Bump-N-Go Vocal Mix) (4:12)
  2. "Never Gonna Let You Go" (Kelly G Bump-N-Go Dub Edit) (3:55)
  3. "Never Gonna Let You Go" (Tuff Jam Classic Vocal Mix) (5:13)
  4. "Never Gonna Let You Go" (Tuff Jam UVM Dub) (6:27)
  5. "Never Gonna Let You Go" (Warehouse Junkie Mix) (5:55)
  6. "Never Gonna Let You Go" (LP Mix) (4:14)

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[22] Platinum 300,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States May 23, 1995 (1995-05-23) Rhythmic contemporary radio
[23]
United Kingdom August 18, 1997 (1997-08-18)
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
Delirious [24]

References

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  1. ^ "Never Gonna Let You Go Length". Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  2. ^ Flick, Larry (May 6, 1995). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 57. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  3. ^ "Chart Slot; Top 10 Singles Chart". Daily Record. September 26, 1997. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  4. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. July 26, 1997. p. 27. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  5. ^ Hyman, James (July 26, 1997). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in RM (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 4. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  6. ^ Hyland, Ian (August 3, 1997). "Music: Raunchy Robyn Makes Such Swede Music!". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  7. ^ "Daniel Zirilli - Other Works". IMDb. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  8. ^ "DJ Magazine Top 100 Club Tunes (1998)". discogs.com. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
  9. ^ MTV Dance. December 27, 2011.
  10. ^ "100 Singli 1990-1999". Porcys (in Polish). August 20, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  11. ^ "The 31 Best UK Garage Songs Ever". Billboard. November 22, 2016.
  12. ^ Petridis, Alexis. "The best UK garage tracks". The Guardian. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  13. ^ "10 underground UK garage classics that still sound fresh today". Red Bull.
  14. ^ "The Best Old-School Garage Anthems Of All Time". Capital XTRA.
  15. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. July 29, 1995. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  16. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 36. September 9, 1997. p. 12. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  17. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  18. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  19. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  20. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  21. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1997". Music Week. January 17, 1998. p. 27.
  22. ^ "British album certifications – Tina Moore – Never Gonna Let You Go". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  23. ^ "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1095. May 19, 1995. p. 37. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  24. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. August 16, 1997. p. 35. Retrieved August 9, 2021.